Report from the summer camp in 2006 year

Report from the summer camp in 2006 year

At spring time Attila and I started to make a calculation for the summer camp of this year. In April we organised a meeting with Roma leaders and we asked them to make a list from the children in their congregation. We were 16 people in this meeting and together we started to think how would be the best to divide the children. In the 15 gypsy churches who belongs to the Reformed Church there were 400 children. To divide the children was not easy for everybody. Because for example with the children of Munkacs there are a lot of problem and they did not want to come to the summer camp with children in Gat and so. After some discussion at least we could decide the right division. Every leader knew when they could come to the summer camp with their children from the church.

We planned 6 weeks camps. About 65 children for a week +  6-8 adults. The summer camp started from 12 June till 29 July. It started very good. But we were afraid of the material support. We had promise to the help but we know everything is from our God, we work for Him, for His glory and He knows very well our needs and He will help us in time. It really happened, in time, when we started to think how we can start next week, the help was came. All the 6 weeks were blessed from our Lord, Jesus Christ. Throughout the six weeks, there were three weeks with children between the ages 7-11 and three weeks with 12-16 year old children. Many amazing events took place this summer. Some of the greatest blessings were visible in the kids' enthusiasm as they played games and did Bible studies. The children left the camp with new friends and new perspectives. The Roma kids that do attend school told the children who don't about how great it is to go to school. Children with difficult family life at home had a place to share their concerns and tears. All in all, each of the six weeks brought together a community of Roma children from different villages in Transcarpathia, Ukraine, for a safe week of fun and learning.

Before the summer camp in June, we didn't have enough money to run the camp. Thanks to Our Lord the camp could continue! May God bless you and your generosity to help. Children liked camp very much and they would like to come again. Sometime with the adults we said how it is difficult to make camp through some weeks. But often when we saw children`s face and how they are happy we forgot all the difficulties. Children liked singing very much and they sing a lot during the camp. One time our neighbour mentioned to us that how do they liked when children were singing, how they could glorify God.

We hope our work is not useless and children feel God`s love through the little things in the camp. We would like to continue this summer camp in 2007. May God bless the new plan. May God bless children who were in the summer camp and help them to come next year too.

May God bless you and your generosity to help in our Ministry and gypsychildren.

Csonkapapi,
Attila and Livia Tomes

10 September 2006
Missionaries of the KRE church