We have finished the first week at Camp Truth in Trenton, NJ and to put it diplomatically, it was interesting. I put a lot of it down to new camp syndrome, with new kids, directors, interns, streetleaders resulting in a week with some very stressful moments.
We also had some good moments. On the whole, teaching rec has been fun and enjoyable, and the Kids love it. We also had a trip to the New Jersey State Museum.
I have faith that in the next week we will continue to get stronger as a camp
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Trenton, Day 2
We are in our second day in Trenton, working for Camp Truth in its Inaugural year. We are settled in our house and have had a chance to survey the Church (more like the Cathedral) that we are working in.
The class I will be teaching is Rec and I will be teaching it in a Gym which is in a converted Crypt under the main Cathedral hall.
The feel about the camp is one of excitement. We have some newbie interns and streetleaders, but also some old School camp kids who have grown up and are in the Leadership positions, which gives the camp a really good feel.
The one downside is that out house is so far from the camp we are working at. This is bad for two reasons. One, it means that we are not going to be interacting with the children that we are working with all the time, which is the case for many of the other camps. Secondly, it means that we are a hour bus journey from camp, and because we have a 7.30am start it means a very early bus journey.
I am really enjoying getting to know the team that I am working with. We have 3 from California, one from Belize (a little country below Mexico, in the Caribbean) and one from Camden. We are looking like we are going to be a really good team.
Thats all from me for the moment but I probably update you with some pictures sometime.
The class I will be teaching is Rec and I will be teaching it in a Gym which is in a converted Crypt under the main Cathedral hall.
The feel about the camp is one of excitement. We have some newbie interns and streetleaders, but also some old School camp kids who have grown up and are in the Leadership positions, which gives the camp a really good feel.
The one downside is that out house is so far from the camp we are working at. This is bad for two reasons. One, it means that we are not going to be interacting with the children that we are working with all the time, which is the case for many of the other camps. Secondly, it means that we are a hour bus journey from camp, and because we have a 7.30am start it means a very early bus journey.
I am really enjoying getting to know the team that I am working with. We have 3 from California, one from Belize (a little country below Mexico, in the Caribbean) and one from Camden. We are looking like we are going to be a really good team.
Thats all from me for the moment but I probably update you with some pictures sometime.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
The Greatest terror a child can have is that he is not loved, and rejection is the hell he fears
I've been thinking about why I do what I do.
My thoughts continued to return to this quote. It is from a book called East of Eden by John Stienbeck:
"The Greatest terror a child can have is that he is not loved, and rejection is the hell he fears. I think everyone in the world to a large or small extent has felt rejection. And with rejection comes anger, and with anger some kind of crime in revenge for the rejection, and with the crime, guilt - and there is the story of mankind. I think that if rejection could be amputated, the human would not be what he is. Maybe there would be fewer crazy people. I am sure in myself there would not be many jails. It is all there - the start, the beginning. One child, refused the love he craves, kicks the cat and hides his secret guilt; and another steals so that money will make him loved; and a third conquers the world - and always the guilt and revenge and more guilt."
There are so many people in this city that have felt the harsh sting of rejection. Some of the stories that I have recently heard are so heart wrenching that I wonder if I can ever have any influence. I really feel that I have been called here to stand by those who have been rejected, those who are still being rejected today and to help stem the cycle of rejection, anger and guilt.
My thoughts continued to return to this quote. It is from a book called East of Eden by John Stienbeck:
"The Greatest terror a child can have is that he is not loved, and rejection is the hell he fears. I think everyone in the world to a large or small extent has felt rejection. And with rejection comes anger, and with anger some kind of crime in revenge for the rejection, and with the crime, guilt - and there is the story of mankind. I think that if rejection could be amputated, the human would not be what he is. Maybe there would be fewer crazy people. I am sure in myself there would not be many jails. It is all there - the start, the beginning. One child, refused the love he craves, kicks the cat and hides his secret guilt; and another steals so that money will make him loved; and a third conquers the world - and always the guilt and revenge and more guilt."
There are so many people in this city that have felt the harsh sting of rejection. Some of the stories that I have recently heard are so heart wrenching that I wonder if I can ever have any influence. I really feel that I have been called here to stand by those who have been rejected, those who are still being rejected today and to help stem the cycle of rejection, anger and guilt.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
A New Chapter...
Next week I begin the next part of my adventure, with nearly 50 interns arriving to work at the Urban Promise summer camps. This is particularly exciting for me as I have volunteered to go to a City called Trenton in New Jersey, where they are starting up a brand new summer camp this year. (Click here for more info on Trenton).
I will going there with my buddy Kumar and some other Interns. I feel that this will be a really fun time, but I also feel that this will be a time that I will be able to be challenged, and possibly help me grow.
This move will only be temporary, as I will be returning to Camden in August to start another Year Internship at the camp that I have been working at this.
I ask that you all continue to support me, that your keep me in your prayers. And if you feel called to support my work here in the USA financially, then please go to https://www.servicenetwork.com/olg/upusa-f/Sponsor.asp and select my name from the drop down menu.
I will going there with my buddy Kumar and some other Interns. I feel that this will be a really fun time, but I also feel that this will be a time that I will be able to be challenged, and possibly help me grow.
This move will only be temporary, as I will be returning to Camden in August to start another Year Internship at the camp that I have been working at this.
I ask that you all continue to support me, that your keep me in your prayers. And if you feel called to support my work here in the USA financially, then please go to https://www.servicenetwork.com/olg/upusa-f/Sponsor.asp and select my name from the drop down menu.
Monday, June 13, 2011
The only true disability is a crushed spirit
I know that this video is kinda long but it is incredibly inspirational to me and to the work that I am doing out in America. If you don't have the time to watch it all then please watch from 14.38
Friday, May 20, 2011
Camp Faith 2010/11
Here is a movie I made of the previous year working at Camp Faith. Hope you enjoy it
Monday, May 2, 2011
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