We continue to share with you the testimonies expressed by the finest leaders any ministry can wish for. Today we have someone we can always count on, during our summer camps and not only! Ana-Maria Moț, fascinated us through a powerful personal example, through pro-activity, responsibility and a high capacity to love and serve others. A person like Ana is a must have member for every team!

Hope Rescue Centre’s summer camps offered us an unforgettable experience. Even though these days were tiring and filled with many challenges, we saw God working in every single child who attended the two camps, but also in our personal life – as volunteers – through the life experiences we learned from these children.

We were all signing up for the camps with a deep desire to serve the children. We thought that we will have to teach them something (and, to some extent, this is true), but we were surprised by the unique way they conquered our heart, teaching us the true meaning of joy, patience and obedience. Maybe you will think: how could you, guys, learn something from these children that are lacking daily discipline? Well, through the way they were overcoming limitations, they did it. Even though it was really hard for them to stay in one place for more than 5 minutes, they did it, in the end, by persevering. Even though it was hard for them to obey leaders – as nobody dictates anything in their day by day life, in the last camping days we didn’t need to repeat over and over again a thing before they will accept it. I was impressed by these things and they stayed in my mind. Of course we experienced tough moments, when we, as leaders, wouldn’t know how to react, but in the end both camps were great and I am sure all the children left back home with the Truth seed deeply planted in their hearts.

We’ve had many interactive activities and our children joyfully participated to them. We organized different “stations” (music, dance, sports, English) where children learned something useful. Every night they will join their leaders and share what they’ve learned. One of the finest moments of the day was the evening devotional. The children will go back in their rooms, with their leaders, and had a special time, where they will discuss about God and about the daily teaching. I enjoyed this time, as every leader was free to address personal and useful questions for their children. Some children proved to be challenged with deep subjects, like ”what happens after we die?”; some of them were fascinated with how all the animals could fit in Noah’s ark. Every leader had to be creative and lead the discussion in the right direction.

I was personally impressed by the honesty and the joy these children have. Are we thankful for the quiet and healthy environment we live in? Are we thankful for the food we eat every day? As I was sitting, one evening, with the girls from my group, I found how happy they were for the hot water they had in the camp, and that they can wash. How many times we forgot to thank God for these blessings, and we take them as granted? So easily, we forget there are people in this world not having them. I learned, though, that they have more than we do, because they can enjoy every small thing they receive.

” Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.” (1 Peter 3:8, NIV)

Words are not enough to express how happy and blessed we are because your personal involvement in all our summer camps, so far. We will hide everything in two magic words:

THANK YOU!