Fall 2005
Facing Bench

Christian Camping Around the World

Taking young people out into nature, away from their day to day routine allows them time to hear God's voice in clear, distinct ways not found in their neighborhoods and normal routine of life. Three "missions fields of camping" were open ministering to children this past summer.

Camp Gideon
Camp Gideon in Mechanicstown (OH) is pleased to report another busy, blessed summer season with thirteen camps (including weekend parent/child camps). Summer counselors counted over 481 participants and 38 decisions for Christ. For more pictures from camp, check out their website: www.campgideon.org.

Roma Camp in Hungary
For the second year, Evangelical Friends in Hungary offered a summer camp in Hencida for the Roma or gypsy children ages 10-12. Over 400 youth attended the camp during July and August with some amazing conversions.

The mission center at Hencida can accommodate 40 campers each week and was filled to capacity. The facilities have beds, showers, a soccer field, and a small swimming pool at the Mission Center. Roma families often live on very little income and could not afford the camping experience without outside help. Each camper is asked to pay $5.00 and the churches in each district help to fund the balance for one week. EFC-ER also sponsored one week of the camp.

The average week included daily Bible study, pantomime drama, sports ministry times, and worship times with the Baldazar Worship team. Our leaders in Hungary request continued prayer for all who attended camp this summer.

Camping in Romania
Dear Family and Friends,
After weeks of prayer and preparation, we left for camp with a group of 20 children (6th and 7th graders) from the school in Orlat, Romania.

For the next six days we experienced together a wonderful time of learning, playing, hiking, singing and sharing. It seemed to be just one long day, it passed so fast. They never went to bed before 1 AM, (even then, they went because we insisted that they settle down) and they never ran out of pranks, but despite this, the camp was a tremendous blessing for the kids and us alike, and the last day came too soon.

It was truly amazing to see every child write in their journals, memorize their daily Bible verse, sing Christian songs and always ask for more (they absolutely loved singing, both in English and Romanian). Almost every day we went on long hikes, and they never tired of eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch, which was a first for almost all of them.

As we did last year, we set aside a day to help a local family stock up wood for the winter. We explained to the kids that they were the beneficiaries of this free camp because of the love of many people in the US, and now they had a chance to extend their love to others.

The very last day of camp Mrs. Barb, the school principal surprised us with a visit and was delighted to see the camp where her meritorious students enjoyed their mini vacation. We took the bus back home and during the four hour drive I talked with Mrs. Barb about many things.

At one point the children asked the driver to turn off the radio so they can sing their camp songs. I was a bit nervous of what the teacher may think, but couldn't hide the emotion as the singing went on for almost an hour, song after song of praises to the Name of Jesus. We listened to this choir who needed no orchestration or director, and couldn't help but marvel at how much they had learned in just one week. As we were entering their village, the kids sang their all time favorite, "Our God is an Awesome God." The principal turned to me and concluded, "They are learning something good."