|
| |
September 2005
Jodie Reports on the
Callebasse Summer Camp
 It
was the first morning of camp and we were climbing the
mountain to Callebasse. As our truck bounced over rocks and
potholes, a CD played a song by Michael W. Smith. . . “maybe
we are entertaining angels unaware.” As I thought of the
children we would be working with that morning, tears sprang
into my eyes. Truly these children, who had so little by
worldly standards, could be those angels. They certainly
qualified as “the least of these” by any standard, so
teaching and loving them was the same as doing these things
for Jesus. I inwardly resolved to do my part to make their
camp experience the best that I could make it.
Kan dete Rev Zoranj is a summer day camp put on for area
children by our friends and coworkers Phil and Lonnie
Murphy. This is the sixth year that the camp has taken
place. During the week of August 8-12, about 400 children
participated in the various age groups, and a group of
volunteers from both the US and Haiti acted as teachers and
group leaders. The children got to experience a variety of
centers, from Art, Music, and Games to science topics such
as solar cooking and dental care. In addition, each camper
received a breakfast bar and juice at the beginning of the
morning, lunch at the end of the morning, and a bag with a
toy, toiletry items, and a tree to plant at the close of
their camp time. This camp is the highlight of the year for
most of these children, and we know that many seeds have
been planted, both physically and spiritually, as a
result.
 This year, as in the past, it was my privilege to teach
in the Music center. We sang several songs, and each child
had the opportunity to play rhythm instruments. Although I
thought several times that I might lose my voice before the
end of the week, it held out, and I received many blessings
from the children’s singing and their happy faces. When
they sang “Monn sa se pou papa-m” (This is My Father’s
World) with the autoharp, it often turned into a moving
worship experience for us all.
Jessica
was a group leader this year, so she got to practice her
Creole a good bit. Working with her most days was Anna
Marie Rhoades, who is visiting us during this month. This
year, instead of teaching a center, John was freed up to see
children and workers who were sick or injured. This ended
up being a good thing, although he wasn’t busy all the
time. His biggest frustration was that he could do so
little for some of the campers’ medical problems, especially
when he saw malnutrition.
Kan dete Rev Zoranj is a blessing to the children of
Callebasse, but it is also a blessing to all those who serve
there. We especially like it because it is a way for our
whole family to serve together.
Jodie Ackerman
  
|
