Summer Camps in Romania by Lucy Hynam, TEN Youth Ambassador
I first heard about the Summer Camps in Romania when I was about nine years old. It was during a conversation I overheard at youth club between my mother and a young person. Growing up, I never went to church regularly, although many of my parent’s friends were Christians. I went on my first camp in Romania when I was 15, though in all honesty, at that time I never believed in God. In fact, I came to the camp with a list of my own unanswered questions. I think that is why I was able to connect with the young people as I too was just beginning to learn about God’s love. Each subsequent camp visit taught me that even though we don’t share a language, love transcends languages. Through doing art, playing sports and spending time with the children and teenagers we built a bond and trust that truly enabled us to show the love of God. I witnessed teenagers, who at the beginning had been so disinterested in what we were sharing, slowly begin to soften their hearts and many even ask for prayer. When you first meet the older children, it is so hard to imagine what they have been through as they portray an image of indifference. Summer Camps allow these teenagers, many of whom act as a parent for their younger siblings at home, to be able to connect with
others as teenagers, if only for a few days. During the camps I’ve felt physically and mentally exhausted, but this vulnerability has brought out skills I didn’t know I had. I had no idea of the love and joy that we as a team could feel for the young people whom we had known for such a short period of time.
ten-uk.org/summer-dreams 19
