A missionary

Movement
at the service
June 4th – June 5th of the Church
(Semliguda – Orrisa)

“For God so loved the world that he gave his

only Son, so that who
believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” John3:
16.
When the Lord calls us all we have to say is “Yes Lord”, for God
has already planned everything for us. The same could be told about
this mission that Jesus youth of Hyderabad had taken up. The call for
the one and half day prayer camp in Orrisa came at such short notice
that all we could say is just a yes. The Jesus Youth of Hyderabad were
asked to commence the session in Hindi, which not many knew. So a
team of three comprising of Shibu Devasia, Annie George & Prashanth
Kumar started for Orrisa after many prayers on Jun 3rd.
“For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good
works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.”
Ephesians2: 10.

After a hectic journey, the team reached Semliguda, Orrisa – a town

amidst mountains and hills, our destination. With everything
surrendered to the Holy Spirit as it was the day of the Pentecost we
the team were excepting for the presence of the trinity right from the
beginning. We were expecting the grace of the Holy Spirit as not all
could speak proper or fluent Hindi. We constantly reminded ourselves
of what had happened 2000yrs ago to the apostles when they were
filled with the Holy Spirit.

When we reached Jeevan Jyothi School, the mother superior, Sr. Jhansi,
received us warmly. Fr. Francis the Youth Director organized the camp
along with Fr. Joy the dean of the parish and Fr. Pious the parish priest
of Semliguda. Later on Pratap, a full timer of JY in Orrisa joined the
team from Hyd.

June 4th, 12: 30 pm. Sunday

“Time for action for the Lord.”
The day was a special one as it was the day of Pentecost. The
program started off with the Holy Mass. After the mass the lunch was
served which was followed by,”Ice Breaking” where the team
introduced themselves and some activities were done so as to
introduce everyone to everyone. Then for sometime praise and
worship was done. After which Shibu shared the word of God where in
he conveyed the message of God’s abundant and everlasting love for
his children that is we. He gave such simple examples that the youth
anticipated it well. Of the many verses from the scriptures that he
quoted was,

“God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son
into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not
that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the
atoning sacrifice for our sins.”1John4: 9-10.

After the brief session with Shibu, the youth were assigned
various tasks as part of games which had them on their feet all the
time. Then they were asked to enact various situations in the gospels.
The youth put in their ideas to make it very lively. A skit on Sin was
performed with a few volunteers from the youth who were attending
the camp. After which Shibu took a session on Sin and repentance. He
showed them through examples how we turn away from God’s love
and sin against him. Even though we sinned still God will forgive our
iniquities if we ask for forgiveness with a repentant heart. For God’s
mercies are so great that he allows nothing to separate us from him.
As the scriptures says,
“Nor heights, nor depths, nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our
Lord.” Romans8: 39.

The session ended with the importance of confession and the impact it
has. After almost everyone had done his or her confession Annie &
Prashanth led the youth in a touching adoration of “The Blessed
Sacrament” where the presence of the Holy Spirit was overwhelming
throughout the adoration. It was as if it had been on the day of
Pentecost. Holy Spirit was filling everyone in the hall with his presence.
The priest went around and prayed over all the youth anointing them.
Everybody departed in silence for the day

June 5th 6:45 am. Monday.

The day started with praise and worship by Prashanth and Pratap
in the native language and Hindi. After breakfast, praise and worship
was done followed by a skit on the power of the Holy Spirit when He is
with us. Then Annie inspired the youth by the session on how we could
remain in the Lord without indulging in the ways of the world in our
day-to-day lives. How by living in the word we can stay pure for it is
written,
“I treasure your word in my heart so that I may not sin
against you.” Psalm119: 11.
Various scripture portions were quoted where in the marks of a true
Christian are written. And if we are in the Lord how he would teach us
everyday? How we all have been set free from the bondages of sin?
Through the passion and crucifixion we have been released from the
clutches of evil.
 “For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do
not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5: 1.
And if God stands with us then there would be nothing to be feared.
And that we can take Christ with us wherever we go, carrying him in
our hearts everyday of our lives. That by walking in righteousness they
could be a living example of Christ himself. We should all attain this
attitude as the scriptures says,
“If we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the
Lord.” Romans14: 8.
After the session there was Panel Sharing – Testimonies by the JY team
(Pratap, Prashanth, Annie, and Shibu.) The day ended with the Holy
Mass.

Every prayer camp has its own complaints about what should have
been done and not done. Even this prayer camp had one. “Why had
the camp been organized for such a short time only?”
This only showed their thirst for the word of God. Their beaming faces
told their whole story that they carried Christ within them. Jesus Youth
set afire all those who were present. And never again will the churches
of Orrisa be the same after, “Pentecost –Outreach”. And God’s people
said, “Amen”.
This retreat was a success entirely because of the constant
presence of the Holy Spirit and the intercessions of our Blessed Mother
Mary. All thanks be to God and His Son Jesus Christ who reigns forever
and ever.
JAI YESU!
In Christ,
Annie George,
Jesus Youth, Hyderabad

A Jesus Youth Initiative