MAY 2018
SUMMER CAMP
Not just an empty space: Supporting orphans at Summer Camp The life of an orphan is consumed by rejection, isolation and insurmountable loss. Growing up in a Children’s Home is often very bleak and void of love or hope. One of the toughest moments is when they reach the age of 16 and can no longer be cared for by the Home. They are forced to leave and fend for themselves in the outside world. For these already broken children, the reality of the adult world is an even more isolated and desperate future. The statistics tragically show that many end up in goal, struggle with addiction, prostitution, suicide or become victims of human trafficking. The stories of these orphans are a deep wound in the core of many countries in Eastern Europe. Natalia, 15, is one teenager who has grown up in a Children’s Home in Western Ukraine and today faces a very uncertain future. As a child, she witnessed her mother kill her father in self-defense after years of drunken abuse. As a result, Natalia has permanent psychological damage, learning difficulties and requires constant special care. Trying to talk to Natalia is not easy and she is often withdrawn and uncommunicative. She has experienced bullying for many years, and little in the way of love and compassion. Last summer, Natalia, and 900 children just like her, received the opportunity to attend Mission Without Borders (MWB) Summer Camp - for ten days their lives were filled with hope. They were given an escape from their daily world of struggles and uncertainty in the Children’s Homes.
The purpose of Summer Camp is to give children like Natalia a break from hardship and remind them they are unconditionally valued and loved. “I used to be in bad company in school,” she says, “but I am not anymore. I have made new friends at camp and I like the leaders. Everyone is kind to me here.” “Natalia tries to look cool and strong,” Maxim, a camp volunteer says, “but she is afraid of what life holds for her. At camp, we talk to her, care about her needs and we listen to her. Our care goes beyond camp and we want to help her to find a job and invite her to be part of our church in the coming weeks and months. I cannot tell you how important it is for her to feel needed and to know that she is not just an empty space in this world.”
Your gift towards Summer Camp 2018, can provide a child or teenager like Natalia with ten days where they have hot nutritious food each day, enjoy sport and crafts and learn about the hope of Jesus Christ, often for the first time.
Overcoming Rejection: Meet Larisa and Daniela Entering Mission Without Borders’ Summer Camp for the first time is a completely new experience for many children. There you’ll find children swimming in the pool with an atmosphere of joy and laughter all around. You would never think that many of these children are orphans or from single parent and poor families, struggling below the poverty line. Before Larisa and Daniela went to Summer Camp last year they did not know what parental love and care truly meant. A normal summer for these two orphans involved either staying in the Children’s Home, being moved to temporary accommodation or staying with an extended family member. Larisa, 15, has not seen her parents since she was two-years-old, but despite rejection and abandonment, she still wants to know, see and love her parents. “I long to see them - how they look and where they are!” Larisa said with a sad smile. Yet, when she talks about camp, her sadness lifts but the smile remains. “The camp is very nice. There is always something to do. The Children’s Home is so boring and there is nothing to look forward to each day. I enjoy sports games the most and I sleep better at camp than I ever have at home. But this is the last time I can come to camp and I will miss it very much.” Next year Larisa will leave the Children’s Home and will face the daunting prospect of starting life in the adult world. Her ambition is to become a doctor as she wants to dedicate her life to helping people. Larisa has many important decisions to make over the coming year, but at Summer Camp she made the most important one – to know Jesus’ love. “After learning from the leaders at camp, I understood that Jesus gave his life for humanity, so we can be saved - this means true love.”
Daniela’s story “I wanted to hide under my bed and stay at camp for one more week!” Daniela’s father is an alcoholic who has been deprived of parental rights to his daughter. She has been living in a Children’s Boarding Home for the past 3 years. Amazingly, Daniela remains strong and positive and still dreams of seeing and being loved by her parents once again. Daniela says with a radiant smile on her face. “I enjoyed being here very much and I hope that next year I can come back.” “What I enjoyed most at camp was swimming in the pool and mashed potatoes with butter. The week was what I imagined a holiday at the seaside to be like. At the camp, I found out that God is the only one who I can come to anytime and He will help me. Jesus is God’s Son and He came to earth to save us from our sins, so that we can see the Kingdom of God.”
The situation for orphans in Eastern Europe, young and old, is devastating, however this year you can make a difference. Show them you care and bring hope to their lives - support Summer Camp 2018.
Volunteering in Romania’s Summer Camps Jenny Hung - Volunteer from Australia. In July 2017, a team of volunteers from Australia flew to Romania to serve at the MWB Summer Camps Before our team commenced the Summer Camp, we were given the opportunity to visit some of the homes and villages where the children live. This was a truly eye opening and heart-breaking experience. I remember walking into a home of one of the girls attending the camp. It was a square concrete house, with two little sections- a bedroom (for the whole family) and the other a cooking area. They had rugs to lay on, and a fridge that was flung wide open and bare. Her father and brothers (who were younger than 10 years of age) were out working. Despite her living conditions, she had the largest smile on her face and was so proud to show us her home. Incredible resilience was displayed. She taught me about contentment and humility on a whole new level. A few days after exploring the projects, and visiting villages, we ventured to camp with Paula Boruga (MWB Coordinator) and her team of volunteers. This camp had children attending from two Roma villages. The camp displayed God’s love in action and taught me to see God’s children through His eyes. During the camp, we heard some of the children’s personal stories. I learned about patience, joy, perseverance, hope and resilience in a whole new way. Regardless of their circumstances; whether they were abandoned by their parents, being used to make money, having nothing to eat or trying to survive from one day to another, they mattered. What was so special about the camp, was that it allowed them to be children. Some learned to swim for the first time, they got to draw, learn to read and write, play volleyball, kick a soccer ball, were able to joke and laugh. It was such a pleasure to watch them enjoy an abundance of delicious food, receive clean clothes to wear and shower without having to fetch water from a community well. I saw in each child a sense of joy that outshone their circumstances. In turn, I learned to find joy with them despite their story. At the beginning of camp, many children had a resistance in them that was not going to be broken and a strength in them that went beyond the physical. As the week progressed, we witnessed transformations. The love, respect, hope and patience that was imparted on them grew in them a gentleness that needed to be nurtured - an embrace that they were only too happy to receive, a joke that they wanted to share and most of all, hope. Hope in knowing: that they are loved, they are valued and have a place in the world, but most importantly a place in God’s kingdom. Each and every single child, adored and loved for who they are despite their background and their history. What a blessing it was to have met these children, adults and teams. What a privilege to have been able to work with the MWB team there and witness first hand, love and hope in action. It served as a great reminder of God’s love for each and every single person, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, background and history. Pictured: Jenny and the other volunteers pictured with the children at Summer Camp Romania 2017.
HELP US TRANSFORM THE LIVES OF CHILDREN AT SUMMER CAMP 2018!
Summer Camp
The Experience of a Lifetime! $20 can send a child to camp for
1 day
$100 can send a child to camp for
5 days
$200 can send a child to camp for
10 days
$1000 can send 5 children to camp for
10 days
Your support will give Eternal benefits! All your children will be taught by the Lord, and great will be their peace. Isaiah 54:13 PO Box 7533 Silverwater NSW 1811 | 10 Stubbs Street Auburn NSW 2144 Phone 02 9647 2022 Email australia@mwbi.org Website mwb.org.au