Zarinna heard claps of praise as she and David stepped into the grassy ground once more.

"Good job teachers!" Macy exclaimed, "I see a tight battle here! Now for the final round, fold your papers please!"

Cheers of glee filled Zarinna's ears as she saw David fold their newspaper, its size now of a single smartphone.

"What do we do now?" She asked, worry ringing from her voice as they heard the music start.

"I do have an idea," David replied, a smile on his lips whilst he walked.

"What?" Zarinna eyed him intensely, her gaze demanding an answer.

"But I'm gonna need your permission first," She felt her heart race. What now?

"What is it, Manung?" She asked in panic, "You're gonna have to tell me fast the music is gonna stop any second!" As though her words foreshadowed it, the music that filled the air gradually ceased. "Fine, fine. Do it!"

With a nod, David slowly bent down and scooped her in his arms, regaining his posture as he established his foot upon the paper. Zarinna's cheek bloomed crimson, her heart racing as she felt her feet leave the ground.

A louder wave of cheers echoed in the place. "Way to go Sir David!" Macy exclaimed, a wide grin upon her face.

Zarinna bit her lip in apprehension, unsure of how to respond. Slowly she lifted her gaze, only be met by David's raven black eyes. She felt her heart lurch. How can someone be this handsome? Her eyes widened upon realization. Stop it Zarinna! She rebuked in silence.

David lifted his gaze, a wide smile now upon his lips as the sound of the whistle marked the end of the game.

Zarinna gazed towards the opposing pair, still unable to establish a stance in the paper. She saw Lauren shift, stepping on to the other teacher's foot in hopes of fitting in the paper, but failed to do so as Sir George stepped away in response to the pain.

"Alright!!!" Ma'am Macy lifted her voice, her hands clapping along with the others who lauded their victory. Slowly, she felt her feet touch the grassy ground.

"You okay?" David asked, a playful smile upon his lips. Zarinna resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

"You're really enjoying this, huh?" Immediately David pulled his head back in laughter, and Zarinna couldn't help but laugh along.

Zarinna released a long sigh as she got out of the tent, finally fully at ease that all the games were over. After the game she won with David, all else began to go downhill, proving all the more that it was his skill and effort alone that lead to their success. She walked towards the large bonfire in the midst of the camp, aware of the pout on her lips as she thought of the events.

"Hurry up, Rinna!" She heard Gina call out, and with this, she began to walk in haste.

"Sorry," She breathed.

"What, are you still thinking of your 'moment' with Sir David earlier?" Gina teased, a playful smile upon her lips.

Zarinna pinched her in the arm, "Ouch! Okay okay!" Gina giggled, "You guys looked really cute though,"

"Ugh Gina, stop!" She rolled her eyes, "Stop reminding me." Once more Gina laughed, maintaining her arm locked with Zarinna as they took a seat on the rug covered ground. Warmth emitted by the fire overwhelmed her body, its bright red flames setting the place alight.

"Come on, everybody, gather around now!" The Principal beckoned, "The fellowship is gonna start in five minutes." Zarinna's lips curved into a smile as she heard the words.

"Ah finally," She sighed in satisfaction, "Something I can actively participate in,"

"I know right," Gina replied in assent, "It's a good thing a majority of us faculty are believers. Well, except..." Their gazes probed the circle of teachers around the bonfire, both in search of Ma'am Mylene. She wasn't around.

"Let's pray that the Holy Spirit somehow moves her to join," Zarinna advised, smiling towards Gina as the lady nodded in assent.

Upon David's appearance, the Principal once more stood and formally announced the start of the activity. Zarinna pulled her jacket closer to her skin, incited as the crowd gradually hushed down. The Principal unzipped the case beside him, revealing a charcoal painted guitar. Zarinna's lips curved to a grin.

"Principal Dawayen can play the guitar?" She asked in excitement, leaning towards Gina's ear.

"Yeah!" Gina whispered, "He's a really talented musician. Don't you know he was a MAPEH major before he got promoted?"

"I see," Zarinna nodded in percipience, fascinated as she gazed upon the principal. He began plucking the strings, and instantly music began to fill the atmosphere. After playing an intro of a song Zarinna recognized, he began to sing, influencing the others as his husky voice hit each note. Instinctively, Zarinna closed her eyes and sang along...

Cast me not away from Thy Presence Oh Lord

And take not Thy Holy Spirit from me

Restore unto me the joy of my Salvation

And renew the right Spirit within me...

Voices singing in chorus echoed in their midst as each sang along, and upon reaching the song's end, Principal Dawayen gradually decreased the pressure he applied in each strum.

"Good evening, fellow teachers," David began, scattering his gaze as he stood up. "I'm very grateful for this opportunity you've given me to share God's word. My hope for tonight is that, before this camping will end, we will all go home tomorrow with a sense of God's Presence in our lives." Zarinna gazed up at him appreciatively, her ears inclined to his words. With the anointing that was so evident in his life, Zarinna wasn't surprised that Principal Dawayen chose him to speak.

"As teachers," He began, "We were taught the value of critical thinking and empirical principles from day one. And to tell you honestly, I have nothing against these things! In fact, I uphold them as crucial factors in teaching." He confessed, "Unfortunately, these ideas have been used to have allegedly put God out of the equation. With the flowering of Darwinistic thought in the 1800s people began to draw away from God, accepting the Theory of Evolution as a more 'Reasonable' replacement of the faith-demanding, evidence-lacking Bible narrative."

With a smile, Zarinna gazed downward. A SocSci major indeed.

"And I must confess, my friends," He chuckled, "I also reached a point in my life where I actually believed these things! I've put God out of the equation, I've lived a season in my life believing that all there was to life, is the present and that there is nothing more than the physical." Zarinna's gaze widened at the information, amazed that a man such as him had once doubted God as well.

"By saying these, you might wonder, how in the world did I become a preacher?" He glanced sideways, "The answer is simple. 'A little science estranges man from God, but too much science brings him back'." The teachers began to react silently at his word.

Louis Pasteur. The name flashed in Zarinna's mind. Smiling as she heard the familiar quote.

"I did not say that, my friends. Those are the words of Louis Pasteur, the famed Biologist and chemist that's renowned for his contribution to principles of vaccination, microbial fermentation, and pasteurization. Why did he say that? You might wonder. Being a man greatly involved in the scientific world, surely he won't say such words without much thought! So why then did he? The answer is simple; Because believing in God – A Supreme Being, is not only logical but also scientific. Aside from the Moral arguments that support His existence, there are also numerous scientific evidences that back this worldview." He took in a breath and continued to speak, the sounds of wood crackling against the fire intermingling with his voice.

"I can go on and on about these pieces of evidence, explaining them to you as though we are in a philosophy or archaeology class, but tonight, this is not my goal. Jesus says in John 20:29 that Blessed are those that have not seen yet have believed. I can go into all intellectual details to prove God exists but see; most of the time the reason why people find it hard to trust and believe in God is not because of an intellectual issue, but a heart issue." He came to a pause, eyeing each of the teachers as he let his words sink in.

"Many turn away from God not because they really see it as an intellectual impossibility, but because they're bitter about Him. And I do understand this! Many things that are unfair and painful happen to our lives, whether we like it or not, and these things often lead us to these words;" He took in a breath, "Why GOD?

"But tonight, let me introduce you to a different perspective. In every trial, there is a lesson, and in every pain, a purpose." Zarinna's lowered gaze swung up at his words, captured as she let the words sink in.

"Ever since the world fell into sin in that garden, evil and pain were already guaranteed to take place. God had no plans to let evil enter into this world! It was the choice that man has made that caused all this chaos. Many ask, 'If He is a loving GOD, why did He allow evil in the world?' But Let me tell you this, He is a loving God because, despite man's mistake and direct disobedience to His word, He still loved us enough to send His beloved Son to die for our sins, so that our eternal judgment would not come upon us through His saving power!" He took in a breath as he scattered his gaze, "And my friend he didn't only do that, He also promised to be with us, to strengthen us to endure all the suffering we'll have while on this world." He now spoke with a softer voice, "Christianity is not a guarantee to a life free of pain, but it does guarantee God's peace despite all pain,"

Despite being saved, Zarinna felt a tug in her heart for each word she heard. How wonderful, how wonderful is my God. She mused.

As the message came to an end, the faint plucking of the guitar once more heightened, enhancing the strong atmosphere that cloaked the place.

"If you have at one point turned away from God because of a certain reason, I tell you now, God is inviting you to return. He knows your heart and He knows your pain. He offers you healing that no other can provide." Zarinna saw him place his Bible down, regaining his posture as he stood.

"So, tonight, my fellow educators, I ask for those that want to receive Jesus, and for those that want to be prayed for, to stand up, as a sign of acknowledgment, and commitment," He eyed each of them as he paused,"God wants to minister to broken hearts tonight, I urge all of you, to begin opening your heart and allow Him to move," 

Zarinna's eyes shot open in wonder as she felt David now beside her.

"Please sing us a song Zarinna," He requested. For a moment Zarinna was speechless, anchoring her gaze to the ground as she searched her mind for a song. Upon decision, she gave a nod of assent and walked towards the principal.

"I'm playing in key of D, Ma'am Zarinna," Principal Dawayen informed.

"Perfect," She replied, "Just play along, Sir," Zarinna cleared her throat, scattering her gaze at the circle of teachers. For a while, no one had responded to the invitation.

"Into your hands," Her voice echoed as she sang. She shut her eyes. "I commit again with all I am for you LORD," Faint voices joined her as she continued. "You hold my world, In the palm of your hand, and I am yours forever" Taking a deep breath, Zarinna heightened her voice along with the guitar, singing each word with intensity as she felt God's Presence invade, "Jesus I Believe in You, Jesus I belong to You, You're the reason I live, the reason that I sing... with all I am,"

Rustles were heard as one by one the teachers stood to their feet, heads lowered as Zarinna sang. She lifted her lids, shocked as she saw many of the teachers in tears. All the more so when she discovered Ma'am Mylene among them – sobbing. Joy filled Zarinna's Heart.

Thank You, Lord!

David then began to roam the circle, praying for each of the ones standing. She lifted her gaze towards the starry heavens, indescribable joy welling in her heart.

You are worthy, oh Lord you worthy...