Retreat at Mount Kinabalu 往神山避靜 ~

We are told by the locals that Mount Kinabalu also named as Chinese Widow Mountain (Kina=Chinese, balu=widow).
The mountain is named from a legend about a Chinese widow who waited for the return of her deceased husband every day
and night on the mountain, who finally turned into a rock.
當地人告訴我們「神山」，又名「中國寡婦山」。
傳說很久以前有一位華人寡婦日夜在山上等候逝去的丈夫歸來，最終化為石頭，此山因而得名。

一清早天還未亮，我們就起來準備起程出發去避靜。
We got up early at the dawn and soon be ready for the trip to the retreat.

在前往避靜屋的途中, 我們經過Damat一處的吊橋，周圍更是美不勝收，阿樂當然不會錯過這拍攝的好機會！
On the way to the retreat house, we passed by a hanging bridge at Damat; looking at the beautiful scenic around,
for sure Ah Lok would not miss such a good chance for video shooting!

經過大約兩小時的車程， 我們到達位於神山山腰一個山谷的避靜屋，這裡被稱為「Bundu Tuhan」，意即天主的山谷。
After a 2 hours trip, we arrived the retreat house at Bundu Tuhan, which means "The valley of God", a valley at the mountainside of the Mountain Kinabalu.

 

這次的避靜主要藉著讀經、靜默、個人反思和小組分享，回顧這次福傳之旅的得失。
Through reading, meditation, personal reflection and group discussion, we review our journey.

其中一個環節，是由恩神父分享他過往福傳的經驗，當中充滿了挑戰。
One of the retreat items was the sharing of Father Yan about the experience of his previous evangelization journeys and the hardship.

避靜當中我們也進行了守齋，通過只吃白麵包和清水， 希望在克己中更能親近天主。
During our retreat, we decided to have fasting with bread and water only, in order to be self-restraint and close to God.

我們也通過這次的機會，寫下心聲給每位成員。
We also get the chance to leave some messages to every members.

我們在下午五點左右離開， 中途又經過了一處可清楚看到神山全景的地方，於是我們把握最後的機會進行拍攝。
We left at around 5 in the afternoon, on the way down we passed a spot where we can get the whole picture of the Mountain Kinabalu, so we took the last chance to do the shooting.

經過十小時的守齋，我們終於可以享用一頓簡單而美味的晚餐。
After ten hours' fasting, we can finally enjoy a simple but delicious dinner at a local food court.

晚餐後，我們回到神父住處的小聖堂繼續完成今天避靜中未完成的部分，把我們的感想砌成一個心。
After dinner, we back to the chapel next to where Father Yan stays, continuous the unfinished part of our retreat, to merge our sharing papers into one heart.

今天晚上的彌撒中，我們慶祝聖母蒙召升天節，也為這一天畫上句號。
In the evening we have the Mass to celebrate Our Lady of Assumption.