Bohumin camp

what a wonderful camp. there were about 38 of us - we worked with another intern team because this year there was a lack of churches, and the one that had worked with Bohumin before backed out - a normal story this year for English camps. almost all the intern teams had at least one camp without an American church. i was nervous about working with another intern team for a couple of reasons - first, we were TIRED! an American church brings energy and enthusiasm, and as two intern teams we had given ourselves away to two other camps already. we didn't have energy for another camp. second, we had been to a cabin with the Bohumin group before as you may remember from an earlier blog entry, and i knew that they were a really energetic group, always having to do something...not a good mix for two tired intern teams. and finally, almost everyone on my team knew the people on the other intern team except for me, and when i thought about it too much i thought that i would feel left out of the groups. so because of all of these reasons, this last camp was the one that i was least looking forward to.
and even going into camp i had a bad attitude. meeting new people, teaching another week of English...ugh. but i started camp with the prayer of not only energy, but refreshment, and that i would need to depend on God more during the week. so i got into camp, played frisbee with them, sat at random tables with them, played dutch blitz with them (they are SO GOOD at dutch blitz!).
but before i go on, here's ania (and johnny, i loved these two!). you may remember a picture of her from earlier at the hillsong concert. she came to training for a few days with us before camp, and we were in the same room and hung out a lot. we really hit it off, and i think she was a big reason for my change of heart with bohumin. we loved each other right off, and she pulled me in and got me connected.
and as the week progressed, my heart did too. i really felt connected with almost all of the girls. here's another story and someone to introduce you to: Sarinka. Sara is a really funny and outgoing girl, and she can speak almost no English. when she came to camp, she seemed to like everyone but me. here's a clue about me: i want everyone to like me. so i tried with her so hard, and she still didn't seem to like me. i don't know when it happened, but at some point she totally changed with me, and started giving me hugs, and almost wouldn't leave me alone. we had the funniest relationship since we could barely communicate, but we called each other "moje kokino" - my sweet. at follow up she would carry me around on her back and we would pretend that i was superman.
we had such a fun group of campers. they were energetic, but God granted me these crazy spurts of energy every day - it couldn't have come from anywhere but Him. i did go to bed earlier than all my roommates though, and always felt guilty doing it because i knew they all wanted to talk to me. another way i connected: i had a group of kids who i called my children, and they called me their mom. it really meant nothing but i think it made us all feel special and loved.
(my class - in the back: me, emily, Andrea, George, Aneta, Dania. front: Martin (Bob), Mart'a, Martin)
especially with martin, who called himself bob - he is such a goof. he's a redhead, which you don't see that often in czech, so i called him my son and he called me mom throughout the whole week. he was in my class, and the other intern team had met him randomly in bohumin while they were playing basketball, and so he came to camp. he told us that he's now closer to being a christian than not. i hope that my other son, Johnny (he's a Christian, and the two hit it off right away) keeps connected with him.
and the other Martin in my class. here's a great story. he's from Prague, and so it was surprising that he would come to English Camp with a smaller town like Bohumin. one of the leaders spoke to his mom, and one of his teachers in Prague used to go to the Bohumin youth group, and suggested to his mom that he go to English camp. apparently Martin is pretty bad (thought i didn't get that vibe), and so as punishment his mom sent him to English camp realizing that only good could come of it. i had a hard time with him, not that i didn't like him, but i felt like we made no connection with him. he fell asleep a couple times during discussion groups, and i felt like we weren't getting through to him. but then one night in discussion, he said that he had some good talks with David. David - our translator wasn't even supposed to come to Bohumin camp with us - he was supposed to be in Bolivia! but it didn't work out and he felt like he should come, even though we really didn't need him. but it turns out we did. David prayed with him by the end of the week, and since David goes to school in Prague he's gonna get Martin connected there. i'm so excited for the two of them!
and finally, Andrea. she was in my class, and by the second day of camp she asked me to stay at her house for follow up, and i excitedly agreed to! she had come to english camp before, and didn't really seem too open during discussion. keep praying for her to be open - by the end of the week, she said she wasn't really interested in God but didn't know where her life would take her. she had a great family and i loved staying with her - she was so hospitable and loving.
and so i can't even fully describe this camp, but i really love them so much. all my fears about this camp were displaced - everyone loved each other. all of my fears just taught me that all I really need is to depend on God more.