Thirteen and a half years ago on the morning of the 17th of June 1990 something strange and magical happened. A group of merry youths turned up at my confirmation class and made a joyful noise. They sang with such passion and danced straight into my heart. They called themselves Genesis II. A New Beginning.

When I was young and searching for an identity, these youths accepted me and taught me right from wrong. They educated me on morality and the principles of Christ. With these I began to build my house to protect myself with what I saw was bricks of moral values and principles.

And it served me well for many years. Even when the wind blew and the building began to shake I trusted that it was right.

But it all changed when I came back a year and half ago. I was greeted with sickness, death, betrayal, anger, bitterness, hatred and more betrayal. All of which I was taught was part of life, so I sucked it in and accepted it blaming all that happened only on myself. My life as I knew it crumbled, and I felt like giving it all up. My house that I thought was once built of bricks soon fell like a house built of straws. It no longer protected me from abuse and betrayal. The environment changed and I wasn’t prepared.

But I never gave up. I did not want to believe that the only thing that could protect me were bricks of hate, anger and betrayal. So, every time when a strong wind blew, I took the beating willfully, only to rise the next day to repair my straw house of values and principles. And with every straw I laid, I said a short prayer, asking not to be put to the test again. But the wind kept on blowing. And the house kept falling.

I began to spread myself everywhere looking for an answer. I volunteered anywhere that needed my help. Thinking that only through helping others could I really understand the meaning of life.

I joined the Youth Council, teaching Sunday soccer to kids, hoping to find the answer. I had lots of fun and felt pleased with myself but the house came down. And I prayed.

I volunteered by meeting the people and helping the poor and homeless. It was very rewarding but the house came down. And I kept on praying.

I volunteered at the Community Center, organizing sports events. I have never felt physically healthier. But the house came down. And I kept on praying.

I even thought that perhaps I needed to lower myself, to get down on my hands and knees to be able to appreciate and understand the simple things in life. Hence I volunteered to clean, scrub and paint a factory office. But that didn’t turn up positively and the house came down again. And I kept on praying.

I even took sabbaticals away from Singapore to meditate. The sun came out for a few days but when the wind blew, the house came down. And I started to question.

I even thought of going back to Genesis II. So I tried attending the Masses whenever I could. But they did not need me. They have an excellent group of young leaders and rising potentials. I was afraid that I wouldn’t be accepted and my coming back would not be warmly received, as there is nothing I could give them. So I stayed my distance, looking from afar, reminiscing what used to be and how right it was.

Nothing seemed to work and the more I prayed the stronger the wind blew. I felt like giving up.

When I was asked to go for the GII camp, I wondered why? Why they asked me? But I thought I’d give it a try. At the back of my head maybe I was hoping… and I prayed. When I arrived at the camp, something magical happened. A magical sensation I experienced thirteen and a half years ago reappeared. And I was enlightened.

Surprisingly, instead of volunteering my services, you volunteered your services to me. It was not only a simple “How are you?” but also the attentive listening to what I really wanted to say about how I felt that did it. You helped me with my load and I felt belonged. I was searching high and low looking for meaning in my life but now I know that what I really needed was a place to belong. A place where I could call home. A FAMILY.

My House was getting old, all I needed was to ask the help of the vary people whom helped me built it for a service and an upgrade. And when the wind started to blow, you stood shoulder to shoulder with me protecting my house. A House built from bricks of moral values and principles of Christ and a home built from love and understanding.

The renovation and upgrading took 4 days and 3 nights. Thanks for the call.

We call ourselves Genesis II. A New Beginning. How appropriate…

Your Brother, Ferd