We are finishing our day and our week at the camp. Many children came to the groups today - somehow knew this was the last day and there'd be gifts. There were happy/sad faces but mostly active, excited, joyful children. Team members all reported having a great last morning with their groups.
I was able to connect for a conversation with Ms. Lucia, the camp director. She expressed great appreciation for all that we had done during the week. She also said that she had learned useful things from our schedule and methods which she will use in the future. She is a public primary school educator.
We conversed some about her background. She has always wanted to be a teacher. She seems to be well respected by the other camp staff and she knows all the children well it seems.
She mentioned that she sat in on our sessions and had not heard anything with which she disagreed so told us we were very welcome at the camp. She was very helpful to us during the week.
We drove away at nearly 1pm - some tears, much gratitude, memories to treasure.
Now for photos to describe and share the day.
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| Lena joined us for the first time this week. She's a girl we have sponsored for a couple years. | |
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| Crowd in the Gazebo... |
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| Joseph meeting his brothers... |
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| Kids helping Elena lead the singing... |
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| Everyone gathered for group photo - except the 21 oldest boys who came a bit later... |
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| 2nd Gazebo Time with Miss Martina leading the Memory verse review and rewarding some prizes... |
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| 21 little boys lining up for gift bags... | | |
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| Gary, John and Stephen plus Danic prepare to give gifts to the middle boys... | |
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| Alisa and Galina with their sweet middle girls. |
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| Lesley and Martine's oldest girls are getting their gifts... | |
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| Marjorie, Natasha and Cristina giving little girls their bags... One of those girls told Marjorie that her favorite item in the gift bag was the album with a couple photos, the memory verses and some blank, colored paper on which to draw... |
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| John wanted to get his boys there today so planned and executed a sausage and bun cook out at a fire pit on the edge of camp. His plan worked. He was 5 bags short with gifts - another Plan B situation which he tactfully solved -2 left over bags from another group and a future opportunity with a CERI staffer for an outing. |
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| Evening appreciation dinner at La Tai Fas... National food - delicious... |
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They call them "pies"... |
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| Beautiful presentation... |
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| Being serenaded with very talented musicians... |
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| Sharing gratitude... |
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| Full team - Americans, Moldovan translators and sponsored girls of team members... |
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| Worden 4 plus 3 girls we sponsor... |
Some fatigue is setting in so I'll sign off for tonight. Thanks for prayers - they are benefiting us and we greatly appreciate them.
A long-time friend sent a short but poignant note to us yesterday which shared a loving thought. I share his words to close this report:
"You are creating ripples of His Grace. Tides will emerge.
Onward with active hope . . ."
Thanks, Robert Pavlik...
Some fatigue is setting in so I'll sign off for tonight. Thanks for prayers - they are benefiting us and we greatly appreciate them.
1 comment:
Although you were "finishing" your week of camp today....God continues to answer prayers & work in the many lives you've touched. As you part with mixed emotions, comfort yourselves with this knowledge.
Such beautiful pictures of everyone. Thank-you for your daily updates, which have been so captivating to read & view. It has given me such an appreciation for those you reach out to.
I'm sure you are contentedly exhausted.
Praying for your traveling safety,
Marge
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