Romania 2009

Having planned to take a UK team of eight people to Camp Bucsin, a last minute rearrangement occurred that meant the team had to be relocated to Camp Mahanaim and Camp Peniel. For 5 of the UK Team having travelled from Luton to Cluj, the first 2 nights were spent at Camp Mahanaim with David Collingwood's team. Female staff had a lovely chalet while the male staff had to climb a ladder to get up into their first floor accommodation; funding needed for a solid outside stairway! It was great to join in with the English teaching classes and also have fellowship with campers and staff. The other 3 members of the UK team travelling via Budapest stayed at the CE House in Oradea and met up with a N Ireland team that were for assisting at the Peniel Camp. After Camp Mahanaim, 6 nights were spent at the Peniel Camp, located 10 minutes walk further up the into the forest from Mahanaim. The accommodation for both female and male is housed in the main building but at opposite ends, separated by a communal meeting place where Bible studies were held. The staff were in two ground level floors while all the campers were in the upper floor. Bunk beds were comfortable and food was more than adequate.

The UK team joined up with the N Ireland team to teach English and lead worship when invited to do so. The new combined team met at 7.30am each morning for a short bible reading and prayer time before meeting up with the Hungarian team for a bible reading and prayer. Members of the team were allocated specific days to lead. Straight after breakfast at 9.30am, Bible Studies and were lead by both the Hungarian team and the NI team (pre-arranged before camp). Worship items accompanied by guitars and prayer was followed by bible talk based around a particular theme, eg Crisis, your identity, the personality of Jesus, Justification and Adoption into His family, etc. A second bible talk was given at 5.30pm in the communal meeting area and followed on from the theme of the day. Evening devotions took place around the camp fire and started after the evening programme finished around 9.30pm. Members of staff spoke about what it means to be a Christian and some gave their testimony. However, these talks went on for a long time right up to the camper's bedtime at 11pm. A ‘cappuccino' time might be more appropriate next year around 10.30pm. Morning devotion time was spent praying for the leaders and the organisation of the camp, the campers and our own team. We prayed for our families back home and that we would all be given the energy and continued enthusiasm until the last day. We also prayed that those campers that didn't know Jesus would be granted God's grace to get to know Jesus as their friend, Lord and Saviour. There were English classes scheduled daily at 11-11.45am, 11.55-12.30pm and 4.30-5.15pm. EEFC resources from Mahanaim were utilised and the ‘white' boards were a great teaching asset. Classes were as follows:- Beginners: Matthew led this class and was ably assisted by Jessica; Intermediate 1: David led this class and was ably assisted by Elizabeth and Andrew; Intermediate 2: Ben led this class and was ably assisted by Emma and Amanda; Intermediate 3: Andy led this class and was ably assisted by Paula; Advanced Classes: Simon led this class and was ably assisted by Victoria and Evan. The evening programme was based around the campfire and dramas from each of the classes were performed to start the evening off. The drama was practised during the third teaching class of the day and the advanced class started proceedings with the beginners performing on the last night.

I am indebted to the team for accepting the last minute re-arrangements that were put in place for us and of God's providence in all that was provided. Yet again I feel that my team gelled well together and that they had great fellowship with each other. They grew in their knowledge and stature and all experienced a uniqueness of getting away from their cosy comfort zones and becoming more humbled to serve others.

I thank God for the abilities of this team and for the work of EEFC and all involved:
"You see that His faith and actions were working together, and His faith was made complete by what he did" James 2 v22

Simon Thompson (Team Leader)