Munich / Pamunugama Cultural Evening

Last event of the Pamunugama Munich joint Easter Mission Programme was the cultural evening. During the colorful evening both Pamunugama YMCA members and 4 youth leaders of Munich YMCA performed several acts including dances, singing, drama and a German quiz competition. There were a crowd of over 100 attended to witness the performences. Munich YMCA friends also offered a special bun made in the German style to all the people who came to watch the show. 

Drama, Sri lankan dance performed by Munich were the highlights of the event. During the programme a muc printed with a picture from the Mission camp also presented to Munich friends as a taken of gratitude for all the good work they did together with Pamunugama YMCA during the entire programme. 

Mission Camp with young people

Group photo

Pamunugama YMCA together with Munich YMCA volunteers conducted a Mission camp for young people on 24th and 25th March, 2018 at the YMCA of Pamunugama. There were 21 participants including 4 youth from Moratuwa Island Rovers Group, 2 from Union Church, 4 from Colombo YMCA, 9 youth of Pamunugama YMCA and 4 young Board Members of Pamunugama YMCA.

Programme started with a opening session where the participants were welcomed and introduced themselves and explained the programme schedule. On the first day, there were sessions about God's love, prayer, Holy Spirit and the relationship between God and us. There were several group discussion about the topics based on gospel as well as a training session on different methods to read the bible. In the evening there was a worship time where the participants took part in activities including singing, praying and repenting.

Sunday morning there was a group discussion about life challenges. Relationships, self-confidence, media and iconography were the topics. Final session of the event was to understand the Christian Mission in the YMCA and to make some plans for the future. Participants expressed their willingness to continuous learning about the gospel and Jesus. Bible reflections, activities for youth, usage of social media to discuss about gospel were among some of the suggestions. Both Pamunugama YMCA and Munich leaders were impressed by the response of the participants and their willingness to learn the gospel. Some of the discussions were very encouraging and interesting. Pamunugama YMCA thank all the groups who sent participants for the programme and tireless efforts of Munich YMCA leaders to make the camp a success.

Opening session

Anna leading a session

Bible reading sessions

Game evening

Different activities conducted under the Mission Programme

With Pre-School kids

Following the leadership training for YMCA leaders on Christian Mission, the Munich volunteers engaged in several activities. 

On Monday 19 March 2018 they spent time with the children of Pamunugama YMCA Pre-school. Then they went to the beach to experience the daily life of the fishermen in the area. In the afternoon they joined a boat trip in the Negombo lagoon. The day ended with a bible study together with some leaders of Pamunugama YMCA.

On 20th and 21 March, 2018 the group joined a trip to Atanwala in the Matale District to enjoy the nature and the rural life of Sri lanka. 4 members from Pamunugama YMCA also joined the trip. During the visit group went on a hike to Manigala, enjoyed the river bath and had a devotion on the great creation of the Lord.

On 22nd there was a game evening together with the children members of Pamunugama YMCA. Munich volunteers played Frisbee, Indiaca and Kubb.  Children enjoyed the evening very much. Meanwhile the group also had rehearsals for the Cultural event to be held on 26th March, 2018.  There was another bible study session with the leaders of Pamunugama YMCA later in the evening.
 

Hiking in Atanwala

Host family in the Atanwala villege

Game evening

Pamunugama & Munich YMCAs are on a Christian Mission

Triangular partnership between Pamunugama, Munich and Salem YMCAs began last year to emphasies the Christian aspects of the YMCA work and to promote the original idea of starting the YMCA movement by George Williams way back in 1844. Under this mission, there were a a chain of activities conducted last year in February and followed up with number of bible studies and online meetings by local youth in Pamunugama.

At the moment a 4 member group (Uli, Martin, Jonathan and Anna) of volunteers from Munich YMCA are in Pamunugama to conduct another joint event. Group arrived on 15the March and they were welcomed by Pamunugama YMCAs with a welcome meeting held at the YMCA Pamunugama.

First major activity of the programme is a training for leaders of Pamunugama YMCA. topics such as faith, salvation, discipleship and bible study methods are being discussed at the programme which started on yesterday (17. 03. 2018) and it is to be concluded today (18. 03. 2018) 

Training for parents on First Aid

Parents of the Pamunugama YMCA Pre-School kids went through a training on basic First Ait at the YMCA of Pamunugama on 28 February, 2018. Session was led by the visiting students of the Peace Maker Class of Sunnfjord Folk High School in Forde in Norway.

Bronnoysund Scouts in Pamunugama

19 scouts who are currently in Sri Lanka visited Pamunugama on 28th Feb and 01 March, 2018. Group were welcomed by the Board members and Youth members with a welcome dinner held at Green Banks Dungalpitiya. On the next day group met scouts and guides of Pamunugama YMCA and enjoyed a boat trip in the Negombo lagoon. They did not forget to enjoy the nice beach in Kepungoda and to have a sea bath together with Pamunugama YMCA friends. Bronnoysund Scout Group was led by Kirsten Ostagaard and her husband Jens Kristian. There were also 3 scouts from Island Rovers Scout group of Moratuwa joined the visit accompanying the Bronnousynd Scouts,

During the visit Bronnoysund scouts extended an invitation to Pamunugama YMCA to participate at their next friendship camp t be held in 2019. Pamunugama YMCA thank Bronnoysund Scouts for visiting Pamunugama and look forward to meet again.