Thanh Nien Retreat66 for me was one of the most refreshing social events ever! The thrill of being able to meet a range of new people sharing the same beliefs is absolutely rewarding. I loved it how Thanh Niem team was all well prepared and friendly which allowed us newbies to feel comfortable as we were welcomed in.
On the first day we were greeted by two amazing holy people; Cha Hong and Cha Liem. By playing ice breaker games we were able to settle down and relax knowing that everyone in that room was friendly. One of the activities which I really enjoyed was the activity called World Combined. This activity consisted of everyone taking a piece of wooden tiles and decorating it with symbols and words that we thought represented ourselves, then each tile was combined to create an image of Christ symbolizing that we are all important members of God’s family.
The second day consisted of fun and games and the various inspirational talks by Cha Hong, However the highlight of the day was the spiritual activity at night. This was the time where everyone was able to reflect and pour their hearts out share their life stories, troubles and lessons they had learnt in life. With only candles lighting up the room the atmosphere was sincere and a bit solemn. This activity really allowed us all to understand that we are not all alone, by sharing with friends and family our burdens can be lifted and help can always be found right beside us. Brightening up the night the lovely Thanh Nien crew organized midnight games, these included random quizzes and the making of the Harlem Shake, bring laughter and building up relationships with each other.
Overall this retreat was amazing. It was seen as a getaway from stress, a social event or even a place just to relax and reunite with God. It was an exceptional experience that could never be replaced or replicated. I had learnt so many new things and was given a new view of life, allowing me to understand more about myself and others.
I would recommend this experience to anyone who is able to attend. It was amazing. I could almost see them as a new family to me.
I’d like to thank all the people involved to make this retreat possible, Cha Hong and Cha Liem, the Thanh Nien crew, the master chefs mothers and fathers and of course those who attended the retreat who I can now call my family.
Every blood donation saves lives and Thanh Nien will be organising blood donation.
Who can give blood - Most people are able to give blood if they: - Are fit, healthy and not suffering from a cold, flu or other illness at the time of donation - Are aged between 18 - 70 Years - Weigh more than 45kg
Please register yourself before going either by the link below or calling 13 14 95 and tell them you want to book under Thanh Nien group.
You are warmly invited to join us on our 66th annual retreat with the theme: Who Am I?. Come share a weekend of fun, laughter, lessons, friendship and memories. Please bring comfortable sport shoes, sunscreen, sun glasses and hats for fun outdoor activities.
Our special speaker is Cha Hong who will be leading discussions at the retreat. So invite your friends and share this journey with us.
Cost: $90 per person (Accommodation and Food Included)
 When I was asked to write this testimony about the Thanh Nien Ski Trip, only a few things come to mind: new friends, new experiences and AWESOME fun. The ski trip is one that will stay with me for a while as I have never been to the snows before in my life. As a first timer to the snows, it is safe to say that it couldn’t have went any better than it had.
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The bus ride to our accommodation was an enjoyable one, even though we left from Cabramatta church at 7pm. The quick stop at Goulburn for dinner was a refreshing one even though we were greeted with the cold, freezing weather when we got off the bus. After a quick meal, we set off again to our destination which included a quick restroom visit before arrival at 1am at our accommodation. When we arrived, everyone gave a helping hand to quickly unload so we all could get out of the freezing cold and get some sleep before a full day of snow.
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After only a few hours of sleep, we woke up to the smell of bacon and eggs and early morning chatter as breakfast was being prepared. After a short while, we were eating breakfast and soon prepping ourselves for a full day of snow. When we arrived at the Mt Selwyn resort, we quickly sorted ourselves out to the activities that we had chosen prior going when we filled out our forms. After getting our gear, we set off to our activities. It seemed that we had only spent a short while in the snow when it was lunchtime. Lunch was not bad even though the food was pretty expensive. After our feed, we set back out into the snow for the rest of the day of fun.
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It was not long when we had to gather together to return all our borrowed gear and head back for a quick mass followed by dinner. Mass was one that I haven quite experienced before; listening to the readings from an iPhone? Father Liem reading the missal from an iPhone? It was different from usual. After an interesting mass, we had dinner. Dinner was steamboat which we had 6 pots to share among everyone, where we retold our experiences about our day to everyone, laughing and enjoying our food. After satisfying dinner and cleaning up (which the girls did because the guys prepped and cooked the food), Father Liem showed us a few of his magic card tricks as part of night’s entertainment. After his tricks, some of us went to bed to rest and recover while the rest stayed up and enjoyed a few card games taught by Ann. One of them being Mafia, which we all enjoyed right til the very end (especially Fr. Liem).
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The next morning, we set off to head back to Cabramatta. After packing up our belongings and loading them onto the bus, we set back home, which included a wonderful BBQ lunch in Canberra. After our lunch, we headed back to Cabramatta.
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Overall, the ski trip was an awesome experience and one that I would go again if there was an opportunity and all the fun and wonderful memories of new experiences and new friends will stay with me for a lifetime.
