Volume : 4 April/June Year : 2016/17

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From the Editor’s Desk

In the automotive industry, if a certain make or model has the good reputation of lasting longer, then it’s going to have a higher price. The sam goes for dishwashers, refrigerators, wristwatches, televisions etc. The value of something is linked to its enduring qualities.

This should cause us to consider how much value we place on our relationships. Fewer things in life have the ability to influence us mre than our relationships. And if these relationships are influencing us to live our lives for God’s greater glory, then we also know that our spiritual account in heaven is being bolstered. People may build on earth with Gold, Silver, precious stones, wood or hay. But these may banish like nothing in a storm or earthquake or we may have to leave them on earth at the end of our lives.

We also know that the heavenly riches are beyond the reach of this world’s devices. They are permanently eternal, unable to be touched by anything or by anybody. They are beyond any earthly value. When a Christian challenges you to explore your faith, they are leading you to reap an eternal reward. Or when a friend encourages you to press on when you feel like giving up in your service to God, it is more precious than the entire material in universe.

God based relationships are far more valuable than we give them credit for. Let’s appreciate what they’re worth by what they allow us to accomplish, like what we do in our Y’s Service and let’s thank God for blessing us with these very valuable relationships, in bringing us together as a Club and give Glory to God in serving the poor and the needy.

“Stop storing up treasures for yourselves on earth, where moths and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal. Instead, store up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where moths and rust don’t destroy and thieves don’t beak in and steal.” (Matthew 6:19-20)

YL Suranganie Francis

Young Moratuwa Club once again was adjudged as the Best Club at the 42nd Annual Convention held on 24th June, 2017 at Grand Oriental Hotel, Colombo 1. This is the 04th Consecutive year they won this award with 07 other trophies for the hard work carried out by them for the year 2016/17. Congratulations to all the members for your Team spirit which made it possible to be the Best club of the year.

President YM Sunil Perera receiving the Best Club award fromthe Chief Guest, Area President Dr. Tung Ming Hsiao - Congratulations !

Inside this Issue

Christian Emphasis Pg. 2

Club Activities & Pg. 3Special Projects

YMCA / Brother Club Activities Pg. 4

Interclub Activities/ Inspirational Quotes pg. 5

Laugh it off pg. 6Special Announcements pg. 7 Appreciation/Photo Gallery pg.8 ,9 & 10

Christian Emphasis

Looking at life in a certain way allows us to realize that are many losses that we 0065perience on a daily basis. Sometimes we lose peace when we quarrel or hold grudges; sometimes we lose love, because of the hatred we let in; and sometimes we lose our precious faith whatever it is that keeps us going. There is one thing, however, that still remains despite all this. Read this and be inspired to live by it and share with friends.

Four (04 Candles)

04 Candles flickered in darkness. They are the only source of sound and light in otherwise silent black abyss.

1st Candle announced : I am Peace. How can I stay lit when the world is full of war, death and destruction. Peace quietly petered out.

2nd Candle declared : I am Faith. How can I stay lit when people dispense me of like yesterday’s trash. Faith blew out instantly following a sudden gust of wind.

3rd Candle who said sadly : I am Love. People case me aside and think they can live without me. Love went in a puff of smoke.

A moments later a little boy emerged from the darkness and began to cry at the sight of the 03 extinguished flames of virtues.

Why aren’t you burning, he sobbed, your flames are supposed to flicker until the very end.

Fear not young man, 4th Candle exclaimed : I am hope. You can use me to return the light to the others.

The boys expression changed. His eyes began to shine realizing he could re-ignite Peace, Faith and Love once again.

While Love is the most beautiful virtue of all, it is the flame of Hope that should always flicker brightly through the darkest days of your life.

Only with hope can there be Peace, Faith and Love.

Jesus said : I am the light of the World. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. (John 8:12)

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Club Activities/Projects :

Service Projects – Following Micro Projects have been undertaken to be sponsored by the members monthly.

Donated 10 kg of rice to the David Jayasundera Home for Elders monthly, sponsored by RDE Ranarajah and Menette Mystica. Cost Rs.1,000/-

A deserving student coming to YMCA Moratuwa was given Rs.1,500/- for educational purposes monthly, sponsored by YM Mahes and Mnt.Sunethra.

A deserving student coming to YMCA Moratuwa was given Rs.1,000/- for educational purposes monthly, sponsored by YM Deepthi and Mnt.Shanthikusum.

Rs.4,000/- worth of milk powder packets were given to the The Blessings Child Care Centre - Moratumulla monthly by PRD Godfrey and YL Suranganie.

PRD Godfrey and YL Suranganie sponsored a child for Rs.1,000/- for educational purposes monthly, through the YMCA Moratuwa.

Rs.1, 000/-was given to a deserving student of Princess of Wales’ College, Moratuwa for educational purposes monthly, sponsored by YM Anil and Mnt. Srikanthi.

Rs.2, 500/- was provided to a poor family in the community for sustenance,sponsored by RDE Ranarajah and Mnt.Mystica.

Provide financial assistance monthly to two under-privileged children in the community for educational purposes at Rs.500/- x 2 = Rs.1,000/- sponsored by YM Deepthi and Mnt. Shanthikusum.

Rs.2,000/- was given monthly to David Jayasundera Home for Elders for their expenses, sponsored by YM Sunil and Mnt.Madubala.

Rs.1,500/- is given monthly to a deserving boy of Boys Industrial Home,Wellawatte for his educational purposes by YM Joe and Mnt.Sayana.

Rs.3,500/- is provided monthly to a poor family for sustenance by YM Sunil and Mnt.Madubala. Rs.1,000/- is provided monthly for a child at the Moratumulla Methodist Church Day Care

Centre by YM Deepthi and Mnt.Shanthikusum.

The total cost of the micro projects During the quarter ended June 2017- Rs. 63,000/-.

Special Projects:

30 Nos. Sinhala Bibles were donated to Rev. Malinda De Mel, Vicar of St. Mathias Church, Laxapathiya Moratuwa to the value of Rs.16,470/ in April 2017.

Donated Rs.24,300/- to Mr.Roshan Fernando to repair the roof and the floor of his house in May 2017.

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YMCA Activities

The following members of our club serve on the Board as Directors of the YMCA Moratuwa.

YM Deepthi Perera - President YM Nihal Ferdinando - Vice President RD Prasantha de Silva - Vice President PRD Nihal Peiris - Director PRD Godfrey Francis - Director DG Errol Gibson - Director RDE Ranarajah Seresinhe - Director YL Nilani Manthrinayake – Director

Members serving in Committes of YMCA

YM Deepthi, PRD Nihal Peiris and YM Nihal Ferdinando – Engineers are members of the Building Committee YMCA Moratuwa chaired by YM Deepthi which meets once a month.

YM Deepthi, YM Nihal Ferdinando and RD Prasantha are member of the Finance Committee which meets once a month.

DG Errol chairs the Membership Committee co-chaired by RD Prasantha de Silva which includes PRD Nihal, and YM Deepthi. This Committee meets once a month.

Y/L Nilani Manthrinayake chairs the Human Rights/Legal Aid and the “Outreach Programme” Committees and The Childrens’ Committee. These Committees meet once a month.

YM Deepthi chairs and PRD Nihal P co-chairs the Vocational Training Committee which meets once a month.

PRD Godfrey chairs and YM Nihal F. Co-chairs The International Projects Committee which meets once a month. YM Deepthi is also a member of this committee. They meet weekly when a project is planned.

ii) With the National Council of YMCAs Sri Lanka.

YL Nilani serves on the following Committees: Development & Emergency Committee (Co-Chairperson) Legal Committee & Good Governance Committee.

YM Deepthi Perera serves in the Sustainable Development &Emergency Committee. PRD Godfrey serves in the Sustainable Development & Emergency Committee.

Brother Club Activities

We are in contact with our Brother Clubs in CharlotteeTown- Canada, Gobichattipalayam-India, Kenya and Adelaide- Australia. We exchange our quarterly club bulletins with our brother clubs.

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Interclub Activities

One member attended the Lecture by Prof.Sarath Kotagama on “Global warming and Climate Change” organized by Colombo Club on 25th April 2017 at YMCA Colombo.

10 members including RD Prasantha and RDE Ranarajah attended the Chartering of Menettes Club of Bandarawela along with DGE Shane, YM Asoka, YM Gladwin of Dehiwela club, DG Central Eastern Sarath, DGE Ranjith and RSD Menettes YL Srimathie on 28th April at Pastoral Center in Bandarawela.

03 member, RD Prasantha, RDE Ranarajah and PRD Godfrey along with DG CE Sarath and DGE CE Ranjith Dayarathna attended a meeting in Nuwara Eliya to discuss the formation of a club in Nuwara Eliya on 28th April, 2017.

Inspirational Quotes

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Laugh it off

A man was sitting quietly reading his paper one morning, peacefully enjoying himself, when his wife sneaks up behind him and whacks him on the back of his head with a huge frying pan. Man: "Ow! What was that for?"

Wife: "What was that piece of paper in your pants pocket with the name Marylou written on it?"

Man: "Oh honey, remember two weeks ago when I went to the horse races? Marylou was the name of one of the horses I bet on."

The wife looked all satisfied, apologized and did some work around the house.  

Three days later, he’s sitting in his chair again, reading the newspaper. She whacks him with the frying pan once again, this time even harder than she did before.

Man: "OW!! What was that for this time?"

"Your horse just called."

An elderly man was quite unhappy because he had lost his favorite hat. Rather than purchasing a new one, he decided he would go to church and steal one out of the vestibule. When he got there, an usher intercepted him at the door and took him to a pew where he had to sit and listen to an entire sermon on the Ten Commandments. 

 After church, the man met the preacher in the vestibule doorway, shook his hand vigorously and said, "I want to thank you for saving my soul today, preacher. I came to church to steal a hat, but after hearing your sermon on the Ten Commandments, I decided against it." 

 

You mean the Commandment, Thou shall not steal, changed your mind?" the preacher asked. 

"No, the one about adultery did," the old man said. "As soon as you said that, I remembered where I left my old hat." 

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I am proud to inform you that at the Annual Convention of Y’s Men’s Club of International – Sri Lanka Region, held on 24th June, 2017 at Grand Oriental Hotel - Colombo 1 , Young Moratuwa Club was adjudged as the Best Club and we were awarded with 07 trophies on the following categories.

Alexander Scholarship Fund - Young MoratuwaTime of Fast - Young MoratuwaMembership Conservation - Young MoratuwaYMCA Services - Young MoratuwaInternational Brother Clubs - Young MoratuwaInter Club Activities - Young MoratuwaBrotherhood Fund - Young Moratuwa/ Colombo/

` Wellawatte

Best Club (Overall) - Young Moratuwa

I also wish to mention that 06 of our members will be serving in the Regional Board, lead by our own RD Prasantha De Silva once again for the year 2017/18.

Regional Director Elect - YM Ranaraj Seresinhe

Regional Secretary - YL Suranganie Francis

Regional Service Director - YM Errol Gibson ( International Brother Clubs) Regional Service Director (RSD) - YM Deepthi Perera (YMCA Liaison/Travel Coordinator)

Regional Service Director (RSD) - YM Joe Daniels Youth Mentor & Youth Activities

Regional Service Director (RSD) – PRD Godfrey Francis (Extension/Membership conservation/YES Extension)

Congratulations !

Announcement

Appreciation :

My profound thanks to YM Sunil Perera , President of Young Moratuwa Club for leading the club to its present height in achieving the Best Club award during the year 2016/17. YM Sunil in his quiet way supported the club in having a much sought after “Sing a Long” in obtaining sponsorships to strengthen the financial position of the Club to go ahead with their Community Service Projects. His wife Madhubala took a keen interest in Organizing the Sing a Long and selling most of the tickets and gave her wholehearted support to everything the Club did. Both of them

are due to leave the country very soon to be with their children and it is an immense loss to the Club.

While appreciating your services and advice at times dear Sunil, I take this opportunity to extend a Sincere “Thank You” to both of you on behalf of the Club for everything you did. Thank you once again and I bid you farewell with God’s Blessings in everything you do and wish you both a very happy and a healthy Life.

Pic. Below - Group Photograph of Young Moratuwa Club Members at the Convention

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Above : YM Ravi at the Flag Ceremony Master of Ceremonies – YM Oswald Perera

Below : Our members at Registration Desk Below : Receiving the Best club Award

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Head Table

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Pic. Above - Prayer by DGE Shane Balthazaar at the commencement of Convention.

Pics. Below - Members Enjoying the Fellowship and Dinner after the Convention

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