Camp diary 2011
Sunday 31-07-2011
Restful sunday - already packing tonight
Early this morning we left for the church in Beregowo. There were also a number of Ukrainian leaders and children from camp Nehemiah. After saying farwell (again) we went for a cup of coffee at Corine's family home. An number of the participants paid a visit to two of the houses of the childern. An impressing experience. Thereafter we went to lake Dyida were we hanged out a little and played some games. The weather was not very good this afternoon but it stayed dry. After dinner at Lavki it was packing time and we hope to go to bed early tonight so that we could start our trip while completely rested. Again you could follow us via the map with the route.
Saturday 30-07-2011
An evening with gipsy band Amarodel
After a gorgeous breakfast we went to the market at Mukachevo this morning. Everything is for sale on this market, from fruit and meet to clothing, shoes and even wedding dresses. Regretably the two future brides within the group did not find anything that would suite them. Around noon time we are back at Lavki. The whole afternoon is spent on relaxing, recuperation and doing nothing. Several members of the group has brought a visit to an old project of Working Hands from 2008. During the evening we are visited by the well known christian gipsy band Amarodel with whom we have sung the whole evening. you could find a short movie on the home page of this website (or here). On YouTube you could find more movies of this gipsy band. It was a well spent evening. Tomorrow morning we have to leave quite early in order to go to church at Beregowo. Hence for now: sleep well!
Friday 29-07-2011
We said farewell to the kids - now we have a long weekend to recuperate
This morning the kids have departed. Some of the kids have to travel considerably to reach home. Especially the kids from Camp Peter are facing a trip of 400 km by train to Dubno. Afterwards the Dutch leadership from Camp David and Camp Peter left for Lavki. The whole Dutch group had lunch together and exchanged stories. During the afternoon the group went to the orphanage 'The Good Samaritan' (see picture to the right) in Nagydobrony, where the girls living in this home delivered a very nice performance with singing and dancing. We were served very nice goulash soup here. During the evening we we had fun in catching up and we played some games.
Thursday 28-07-2011
Last full camp day
Lavki - camp Jaco: Our last day at Camp Jaco has already passed by. Today the Ukrainian leadership started with the morning exercises. After breakfast we had bible study. Willem and Jaap were joining as well. After this the kids worked on their friends booklet and played volley ball, badminton and soccer. After lunch the Dutch leadership prepared 'the market'. After the market their was a water fight. After dinner we prepared for the evening service and we delivered a very good act. After this we thanked the Ukrainian leadership, while they thanked us. As 'snack' we had ice with pieces of fruit and we closed the camp with fireworks. After the kids went to bed we celebrated Ira's birthday (Ira is an Ukrainian leader). An finally we went to bed ourselves. Tomorrow there will be an emotional farewell!
Nehemiah - camp David: Today was water day at Camp David. The kids played various water games and also the Dutch leadership has become wet, as you could see on this website. It has been a splendid day!!
Bettany - camp Peter Today the kids made a work of their own choice during 'working with hands' and we played musical chairs. During the afternoon was had 'the market', which as always was a big success. Tonight we had the last camp evening. We have spoiled the kids with sweets and soft drinks as a treat for Peter's birthday. Now we're lounging around the campfire and sing songs.
Wednesday 27-07-2011
We might become famous ...
Lavki - camp Jaco: Today was again a day full of energy! We started the day with morning exercises which was followed by a nice breakfast. After breakfast we've done bible study and subsequently we played living stratego! Here at Camp Jaco the kids think this this game is great. Then it was lunch and rest hour. After rest hour the kids created something with clay from the bible. As sports we did a tag game and subsequently we as leadership had to prepare for an act (during the evening service). After dinner we had the service and Daan told the story while the rest of us delivered a funny act. All in all it has been a marvelous day.
Nehemiah - camp David: Today is has been a very busy day at Nehemiah. This morning roles of wall paper have been painted and minute-to-win-it games have been played. Meanwhile at our room we prepared everything for the goody bags for the kids and the Ukrainian leadership as we want to hand them out this evening. During the afternoon Corine has delivered something additional for the goody bags. The kids played totem robbery. This afternoon a number of Dutch people were interviewed and filmed for a special on voluntary work. We feel very honored of course!
Bettany - camp Peter Today has been a top day. With 'working with hands' the kids created drawings with crepe paper clots. We have also had the Water Day, it has been a great success and the weather was great. We just had the evening service and are now celebrating Peter's birthday and enjoy the sauna.
Tuesday 26-07-2011
Holland day!
Lavki - camp Jaco: Today we have had Holland day! Despite we were a little bit sick it has been a great day! We started with morning exercises. After this we did a bible study and subsequently the Ukrainian leadership did a relay game with the kids. After the hour of rest, we played 'living statego' and during 'working with hands' we worked on the spoons! During the evening service, we talked about the four men and the sick friend who went to see Jesus. All in all a top day!
Nehemiah - camp David: Today was Holland Day in Camp David. Yesterday evening, together with the Ukrainian leadership, we decorated the terrain. After all the children had been painted this morning we sang the Dutch national anthem. After this the kids 'worked with their hands' and played hide and seek. During the afternoon it was dry fortunately so we could play the traditional Dutch games (i.e. candy bites, throwing empty cans and pooping nail, etc). The games were started by eating real Dutch pancakes (prepared by real Ukrainian chefs). It has been a fantastic day! Soon we will have the camp service. At present there is no electrical power so hopefully everything will go as planned!
Bettany - camp Peter Last night we started at 2.00am a night game/treasure hunt. Next we decorated the terrain for the Holland day and then we used the sauna .... Today Holland day with games like nail pooping, wheelbarrow race, throwing tin, candy bites and running/hopping in sacks. During 'working with hands' we made the Adoption Plans. Now we are enjoying a great homemade video.
Monday 25-07-2011
Judith's farewell was difficult for us
Lavki - camp Jaco: Today began with difficulty! We had to say goodbye to Judith. We said goodbye to her with all the kids and it was an emotional farewell! Then the program went on. We have crafted a fish tank and played 'blow soccer'! After lunch we enjoyed an hour of rest and after the break we have played the 'first aid game'. That was really great. After dinner we held a service! Here we were fooled and we have fooled the Ukrainian leadership! Also we taught the kids a Dutch song "are you big or are you small". And we delivered a serious act! Then we put the kids into bed and after this we had a little chat as leadership! Now we go to sleep as tomorrow will be Holland day!
Nehemiah - camp David: Today the weather was a bit instable. During the morning we started with an outdoor game, but halfway we had to move inside because of the rain. During 'working with hands' the kids created pieces of art with clay. It looked great! During the afternoon the weather became nicer and after we celebrated our interpreter's birthday with cakes and drinks. Then the children played a game where they had to find out the 10 commandments.
The children are divided into groups and every night one of the groups present themselves through a movie. Today the Dutch leadership created such a movie. Now we just have to cut and paste ...
Bettany - camp Peter Today we had turn-around day, which means that the whole program is executed in the oppsite order. Also the cloths are inside out and the backside in the front. We played the customs game. During 'working with hands' we worked with clay. Now we are going to relax in the sauna and lateron we will have a evening game.
Sunday 24-07-2011
Sunday - resting day
Early this morning, we as Dutch line leadership from the three camps left for Beregowo to jointly attend attend a service in a church. The children in the camps were left to the care of the Ukrainian leadership. An awesome experience to attend a church service in 4 languages (Ukrainian, Hungarian, Romanian and Dutch). After church the whole group visited Corine's family home. After this we went to the house of the mother of one of the children where a delicious lunch was prepared for us. Our joint day ended at the lake, where unfortunately there was too little sun for sun bathing as it was raining.
On the way back there was some excitement for camp Nehemiah. We were stopped by police, as we tried to pick up our interpreter at a spot where this wasn't really alllowed (opposite of the police station). Julia explained to the police that we are running children's camps and we were luckily allowed to leave after a warning. Secretly quite an enjoyable experience! Tonight we relax a bit and tomorrow we will be back in earnest!
Saturday 23-07-2011
'It has been a marvelous day'
Lavki - camp Jaco: Today the Ukrainians did it again! We had a soccer day today and played the entire day soccer! This turned out to be quite tiring under the burning sun! During the evening service we delived an awesome play!!
Nehemiah - camp David: Today we had beautiful weather. During the morning the boys played 'pole soccer' and the girls did various games with water. THe wooden spoons have been decorated and during the afternoon we went into the forest with the kids where the Ukrainian leadership had hided 50 toothpicks. It has been a splendid day!
Bettany - camp Peter From a tweet: "Camp Bettany had its morning exercises, using the Smurfs' pizza song and the bird dance". Furthermore we have done a game parcour today with soccer, dodgeball, tug of war and relay race. During 'working with hands' the kids created a friends booklet.
Friday 22-07-2011
'Occasingly dry' - regrettably we have a 'drop-out' ...
Lavki - camp Jaco: Today we did fashion show! The children could design a beautiful fashion creation and "show" it to the camp members. The most beautiful creation is rewarded. Photos for the adoption plan has been made and the children worked with their hands. The morning exercises were canceled due to the rain! Furthermore it's splendid here.
Nehemiah - camp David: Today it rained frequently, so we played Big Twister during the morning (for an explanation see Camp Peter - Wednesday, July 20th). The Adoption Plans have been decorated. Also we decorated wooden spoons today. During the afternoon we played a 'first aid' game: some of the leadership was "hurt" after an attack by a wild piranha and had to be found by the children and taken care off. Everyone is now back in order! Tonight there is a campfire.
Bettany - camp Peter Today it was 'occasingly dry', so it was ideal weather for 'totem robbery', after a very difficult night. This because last night during a sketch, Judith Barnhoorn broke her ankle at two places. She will be flown to The Netherlands asap. Due to this accident everything was a little different. But during 'working with tthe hands' the kids have created nice pieces and filled a role of wall paper with nice words for Judith. Also the wooden spoons have been painted. After all it turned out to become a great day.
Thursday 21-07-2011
Everything is getting in motion
Lavki - camp Jaco: The Ukraine leadership has arranged the entire program today. We have very good contact with the UKrainian leadership as well as with the kids. It was raining quite often today.
Nehemiah - camp David: Today the Dutch leadership has taken care of leading the morning exercises. During 'working with hands' the kids created a fishbowl. During the afternoon there was a karaoke and a relay race. Pictures have been made for the adoption plan (part of the sponsoring of the summer camps back home in The Netherlands - people could 'adopt' a child for a week by donating a certain amount of money). The weather was lovely. Luckily, it cooled down slightly, and it remained dry.
Bettany - camp Peter Today the weather was much better and we played 'Living Stratego' (with animals). It was a great success. With crafting, we have made an aquarium. Last night was great. All leadership could use the sauna, so we hsve notthing to complain about here.
Wednesday 20-07-2011
First camp day - during afternoon rain and thunderstorms
Lavki - camp Jaco: The day was started with the traditional morning exercises. Next the game 'Big Twister' was played (for an explanation please have a look at camp Peter hereafter). During crafting a kite was made of textile. During the afternoon it rained. Nevertheless the was a good atmosphere!
Nehemiah - camp David: It was hot, during the afternoon there were showers and thunderstorms. The theme of this camp is Egypt. In the morning there was working with the hands (creation of a friends booklet) and soccer. The big game was organized by the Ukrainian leadership. Meanwhile, we as Dutch leadership learnt the camp song (in Ukrainian). During the evening we have sung the song during the service as a surprise and we as strangers were officially accepted as Egyptians. After the children were gone to bed, we have had an introductory evening with the Ukrainian leadership. Very nice! There is even wifi here! The first pictures are already uploaded (see homepage).
Bettany - camp Peter It rained today. Fortunately this location (a former kolkhoz) is perfect suited for indoor activities. Today 'blow soccer' and 'Big Twister' were played. Both were a great success. With blow soccer two teams of childern are blowing through straws and try to get a ping pong ball into the goal of the opposite team. Who has scored most goals within the time set has won the game. Big Twister is played on a large sheet approximately 9 times the size of the regular Twister game. One person turns to the arrow. The color designated by the arrow after turning is the color of the plane where everyone has to put a hand or a foot on the big sheet. The arrow is turned again, after which again a hand or foot is required on that color. When you have used 2 hands and 2 feet, you may remove your first used hand / foot and use it for the next color. The children ened up firmly in the knot, which is the meaning of this game!
Tuesday 19-07-2011
Second travel day
After a good night of sleep and a perfect breakfast in Hotel Robinson (near Gyor in Hungary) the group departed shortly after 9am in good spirit for the second travel day. Some 500 km had to be covered as well as a border crossing (EU - Ukraine) which could take quite a while. Around noon there was a long break somewhere alongside the motorway in Hungary at a petrol stop. Also in the last village before the border at a petrol station the group stopped and some last shoppings. were done. Already at 2.45pm (3.45pm Ukraine time) the group reached the outside border of the EU. Within 15 minutes the first two minibusses entered Ukraine, where they were met by Corine. During earlier years the border crossing could take sometimes several hours. They were well in time to go to the kids in the sumer camps!
Monday 18-07-2011
First travel day
Yesterday morning a number of the participants to Camp Ukraine 2011 went to the Immanuel Church (at Rijnsburg). The service was led by the Rev A. Meek. He paid attention to Camp Ukraine 2011. The group got the blessing and the parish sang for the group!
Early this morning the group of 26 people got a warm farewell at the town hall of Rijnsburg for which some 75 people raised extremely early. A piece from the Bible was read from Psalm 33 and Mighty God, strong rock was sung. The group departed shortly after 3.30am for Ukraine. The trip went very well the first day and already 7.40pm they reached their stay-over location, hotel Robinson near Gyor in Hungary.