I feel that way right now in the aftermath of having helped organised the Philip Yancey Meeting (planned for the 27th of Nov and aborted due to the terror attacks in Mumbai) and the Youth Against AIDS Festival which we held last weekend.
I think that its going to take some time to come back to earth - or more precisely - to come to the surface from what seems to be a walking dream (fatigue is certainly a reality).
But lets rewind back to Saturday the 6th of December - the day we had planned for the YAA Fest 08.
Our helpful friends from OASIS had loaned us their vehicle. The first load of materials left at 7 AM. The timing tells you two things - the dedication of our staff and UBS interns who really ran this programme - and the generosity of our partners who bent over backwards to help us out.The whole Church - with its cavernous middle area and the warren of little rooms which housed different classes of the school they run - was re-arranged to form a set of seminar rooms, a meeting place where different NGOs and churches shared about their work - and where AIDS prevention related activities were held - and the hall where the band set up and the final meeting was held.
How was this done? By many, many people coming along and helping our core of staff and UBS students to move tables, put up posters, clean floors, set up signs, get the computers and LCD projectors ready, prepare areas for registration... the list goes on - as did the happy workers.
At 3 PM we were ready.
People had been trickling already - most of them being volunteers and facilitators for YAA. But we soon realised that the hoped for flood of people just wasn't coming. Folks coming by remained a trickle - which was a pity - because the seminars and film shows got underway catering to only a small hand-full in each area.
What the small hand-full got though, however, was a real treat. Excellent - really excellent seminars tailored to young people. Aaboo Varghese (above) facilitated a workshop on dating and relationships. Daniel Kautikkar reviewed the basics of HIV. The team from OASIS Aruna project did an excellent seminar on reaching out to women in prostitution - and the men who are their clients. Sheba took a girl-centered approach and reported that the young women who attended were so eager to learn. I helped 2 small groups explore the issue of sexual addiction in pornography - and was blessed to see that it was really hitting home. Vijay Thangiah explored preparing for marriage and Martin Abraham shared about his experiences of being a light in the world of advertising. All in all, the seminars were meaty, intimate and a great blessing to each person who attended. At the same time the film-show room had one full show of Mein Jeena Chatha Hun - the first IM Cares film on AIDS - but was empty afterwards due to the low turnout.
In the mean-time, however, the NGOs had arrived in force. ACT-Chiraag, IM Cares, Children's Bible Ministries, In-Touch, Salvation Army, World Vision, JSK and OM Books put up stalls to share about how they are making a difference for people with HIV - and how they are working to prevent the further spread of the disease. This area had interested folks stopping by an HIV leadership pledge and a small contest to guess the number of peanuts in a jar - which then framed to question of having to estimate how many people a partner has slept with based on their appearance. A small spot-poster contest was also underway - while at the same time snacks were sold by church members from Borivali and and tea was sold by women from the JSK Self-Help groups.
Looking back we have such a super feeling of wonder at how everything just worked out great. The one bit of shadow that falls across the story is how few people actually were there - only 160 odd in total - including all the wonderful volunteers and resource people. How many more could have been blessed by what we had in store.
We will have to analyse why so few actually turned out - but some of the issues at least were out of our hands. The recent terror attacks in South Mumbai were still less than 10 days old. It was a miracle, actually that we were even able to have the YAA Fest 08 at all, considering how many other public programmes have been cancelled. But the fear of going out is still strong - and was probably only strengthened by December 6th being important for two other reasons. December 6th is the day when in 1992 the Babri Masjid Mosque was demolished by Right-wing Fundamentalists in Ayodhya, and is thus commemorated as 'black day' by many in the Muslim community. It is also the day on which Dr. Balasaheb Ambedkar - the man who gave the modern Dalit movement its direction - was cremated and his ashes put into the sea. He had famously lived out his statement that he was born a Hindu - but would not die one - and had chosen Buddhism as his path. Each year thousands of his Neo-Buddhist followers come from all over Maharashtra to pay homage to him on this day.
The other - and more disturbing factor - is the ancient one we have of sheer apathy. This is what stings - because we know that what we had on that afternoon was such a wonderful time for young people, but so few were impacted by it.
On a more positive note, however, our hopes are that the ones who did take part will be able and energised to share what they have learned with their own youth groups and make a long-term change. So lets get back to the story...
The afternoon was ripe. Evening had crept in. We gathered in the long narrow hall of the Free Methodist Church, Andheri for the final part of the YAA Fest 08.
Commonunion started up with their normal zest - a good peppy number which was all about their joy in God!After their music it was time to listen. Two of our friends with HIV got up and told their stories. It was sobering and challenging to hear our friends tell it like it is - and challenge young people not to make the choices they did. At the same time - what a blessing to see their courage - and to hear how God is working in their lives. We got Nitin Thakor to come up and pray - and did he ever. God is doing His work we know.
The stage ws set for our main speaker - Aaboo Varghese - to get going.
Safe sex? Or Saved Sex? That's the question.
Using powerful images - and some hilarious video clips - Aaboo put the message home.
Its not enough to play the field. We need more. We need to live out the truth - and we can't do that on our own. We need God in the picture.
At the same time, Aaboo painted a picture which showed how possible it is to live a life of purity and joy.
Aaboo's challenge was to let God make a difference. To make a change and do commit ourselves to a life of purity.It was a sobering and bracing challenge that touched our hearts.
Commonunion then took the floor again and we went into our last two songs. The finale being a heart-felt rendition of Tere Bina while the participants sang along by candle light.
The reality of seeing those many little lights fill the hall was powerful.
The YAA Fest 08 drew to a close with a blaze of light. Many lights. Many young individuals who were deeply moved by what God has been telling them for this generation.
Our hearts are full of gratitude to God. Its been an amazing trip and we are amazed at how everything turned out so beautifully. We continue on the path of seeking to see this young generation take the lead and make a change in an age of AIDS.
The YAA Fest 08 is over. Its been a sign-post on the road. The journey continues.
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