Sri Lanka: Level Up

Last November, Ghie along with GYMN trainers Herman and Eric went to two countries in Asia to train youth leaders. The following is a post on their time in Sri Lanka, the third visit of GYMN to train youth leaders here. This was written by Herman Dionson. As you will see, he is not only a great trainer but an avid bird-watcher as well.

House Crow, Large-billed Crow, Common Mynah, Red-vented Bulbul, Yellow-billed Babbler, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Black-hooded Oriole, White-rumped Munia, Common Tailorbird, Little Egret

Mama Oyata Adderei!

It’s back to paradise! Lalantha sent me those words with their English equivalents.  Arriving at one o’clock past midnight of October 28, there was Lalantha beaming with the smile he always wears, somewhat thinner than last year. There was Pastor Rohan, too, wearing the same semi-white bearded face with the fashionable unkempt hair. Einstein-look is a fashion statement of the intellectuals.

The first two days were times of getting settled for me and Pastor Eric. Ghie on the other hand barely slept and together with Mr. Einstein went back to the airport to pick up Sheryl who was to join us. She flew from Singapore where she has been working for the past year.

I and Pastor Eric stayed at the suite of the Margaya Hotel. While Ghie was to be content at the home of those who hosted us. While the two of us devoured lavish hotel meals, Ghie and Sheryl have to content themselves with the good offerings of Sri Lankan meals.

Of course, Margaya is not a hotel but a church and our suite is the two-bedroom fifth-floor of the church complex. Our food came in a box and it was good.

Purple-rumped Sunbird, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Loten’s Sunbird, Purple Heron, Ashy Drongo, Greater Coucal, Spotted Dove, Yellow Bittern, White-breasted Waterhen, White-throated Kingfisher

Next stop was Ragama. We headed off to Diyagala Boys’ Town, a Catholic-run facility that provides vocational training for orphaned and poor children. So far, two students for the Level 3 Training of Trainers have arrived. Sheryl sat with me, enjoying the sunset of the soccer field at the back side of the conference and lodging building. Dark had not fully set in when something like a falling star breaking into pieces dashed through the horizon. We were awed at the sight of the split-second galactic entertainment. We would then talk about it to almost everyone we met.

The day after, there was news that at past eleven that night, the LTTE (Tamil Tigers) flew a small plane and tried to hit the electric power plant of Colombo. Maybe connected to what we saw earlier in the night? But who knows. My adventure side longed for more action. But I was praying too, that it would not be as I wished.

That’s life presently in Colombo. People going on their way but also quite wary of when and where the next attack will come from. There is the political-religious problem, too, where Christians being the minority facea a lot of pressure from the government.

Olive-backed Sunbird, Oriental Magpie Robin, Brown-headed Barbet, Red-wattled Lapwing, Hill Mynah, Asian Koel, White-bellied Drongo, Indian Pond Heron, Intermediate Egret, Brown Shrike

So we set off with the Level 3 training. Ten students arrived full of smiles and warm greetings took place. Some had traveled 15 hours just to reach our venue. The training erupted into the renewing of friendship ties and remembering great memories we have had in the last two levels of our trainings. Finally, they’re getting it. Finally, the pyramid is understood. Then they each took their role of teaching before each other. Three stood up as the better teachers: Chaminda, Asanga and Lalantha.

On our Level 3 graduation day, Pastor Eric spoke. He asked the pastors and leaders of the group to stand before the class. Then he asked each of the trainees to shake the hands of the leaders and say the words in their Singhalese language, “I will take your place and do greater things.” There were tears welling up as each understood what it will take to reach that goal.

Ghie would be choking in mid-sentence as she spoke later. I would, too, knowing that three years of coming to Sri Lanka has finally budded into something that will stay. I had on the on-set told the class that this might be my last year of visit. And my wonderful interpreter would not translate it.

Just as we finished our Level 3 training, one-by-one the next line of students that would take Levels 1 and 2 were arriving. There was again excitement in the air. Some of those in Level 3 were welcoming the new batch and some were getting themselves busy with many other things.

On this short break, Mr. Einstein came and gave us a short visit to the tourist town of Negombo, not far from the airport. The place was teeming with life. Local and foreign tourists were aplenty. But secretly, we were eyeing the last two days in Sri Lanka where we would finally go to the city of Kandy. For the past two years, we were stuck in Colombo but this year plans were set for a visit to the highlands.

Greater Flameback Woodpecker, Scaly-breasted Munia, Vernal Hanging Parrot, Cattle Egret, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Zitting Cisticola, White-eared Bulbul, Purple Swamphen, Brahminy Kite, Little Cormorant

Freshening up quickly from the short trip and then heading off to the opening night for the Levels 1 and 2, I would be speaking on the first session of the combined group. Again, a challenge would be given for those who felt God’s call upon their lives to serve full-time. A group came forward, tears were readily flowing and a sense of surrender was in the air.

Forty-eight came for Level 1 and ten came for the Second Level of Training. I was mostly glued to the later group. Good reports were pouring in on how they had grown and been challenged since the last year. Margaya Fellowship of Wattala has dramatically increased their number and is seeing a good direction for their youth ministry. Their leaders were even quite active at the seminar with really funny and cultural skit presentations. Some also have faced difficulties.

The Level 1 had a diverse group. You could see from this group the struggle of the youth culture seeping into the mainline culture. One young woman was in her beautiful traditional sari and another young lady was in tight jeans and tight t-shirt. A very short haircut with shaved design akin to the African-americans was sported, one was wearing a standard black-“Tupac” shirt and you have one wearing leather shoes with trousers, a fashion of the eighties. I’m wondering what implication does this have to the Sri Lankan youth ministries. On the other hand, our sessions can readily help them have better perspectives in reaching out the lost generation for Jesus Christ!

And finally, graduation came and how great to see that those who joined Level 3 were able to lend a hand. Some who left earlier tried to come back and some stayed the longest they could.

Pacific Swallow, Indian Cormorant, Great Cormorant, Barn Swallow, Pied Kingfisher

Suddenly, there was a change of schedule. Instead of going to Kandy on the Thursday, we opted to meet some key people of various organizations and denominations. We had our day meeting, or better yet, ambushing leaders of a seminary, youth ministries, a rehab center, and churches. Very fruitful meetings! We ended our day very exhausted.

Now, we were wondering how the Kandy trip would fare. And I guessed it right, there was not going to be one. Our faithful van could not cope up.  With the trouble it had tread for the past couple of weeks that it had served us it could not survive the three-hour drive required.

Asian Openbill, Ashy Woodswallow, Pied Cuckoo, Black-necked Stork

Where would you find me at such a dilemma? No brainer! I would be scouring the countryside looking for the avian creatures that were a plenty. With a very fruitful training and a great bird-watching experience: That’s a double blessing!

*Bird pictures were actually taken from Wikimedia Commons and may not be the actual birds observed