2009 Romania

ROMANIA 2009
Our group of 12, shown below ready for the off, including 9 former junior leaders of our YSunday Youth Group spent 3 weeks in Romania, volunteering as helpers in “Children for Christ” summer camps in Varfurile near Arad.

Each summer about 50 children with their leaders attend residential camp for 7 days. The aim of the camp is to meet the physical and spiritual needs of the children of Romania. Over the 10 weeks of camp nearly 500 children are given a super holiday of good fun, activities, nourishing food and Christian teaching. The Drumoak-Durris team were all self-funded and we were able to take a donation of £2614 from the church & community and bring back photos of some of the things bought for the camp.
Our main task was to take over most of the domestic work to free up the Romanian teachers and leaders to be with the children. Dishes, pots & pans for almost 90 people 3 times a day were washed; toilets, showers, urinals cleaned; hoovering, sweeping, dusting and washing of floors, tables, windows; emptying buckets and processing laundry. Hygiene was to a very high standard to minimise risk of infection among the children. The Camp is regularly and rigorously inspected by government officials. In the change-over days between groups of children there was what was called a “deep clean” – every surface of the dormitories had to be disinfected and cleaned, not to mention the laundry done from all the beds!!! They are now very good at predicting a thunder and lightning storm – mad dash to bring in the washing before it got soaked!
The Team had also asked to be involved in heavy outside jobs – something lasting to show for their time there. They would not have believed they could build 53 metres of road about 220 square metres, moving by hand and barrow about 60 tons of very large stones, 35 of smaller stones and 30 tons of sand. They made a fence and painted it with 40 litres of dirty oil. They repainted another fence with 20 litres of white paint. They emptied 2 articulated lorries, and carried to store rooms, food, clothing and cleaning materials etc donated by various businesses and people in the UK to the Camp. Somehow the lorries always arrived before breakfast – perhaps that made them work faster! They mixed cement and put in posts; levelled ground; filled in other ground …. and more!

They were delighted to join in with the children in their activities - as time allowed! They joined them on a Treasure Hunt up into the hills behind the Camp – picture “The hills are alive” scene from “The Sound of Music” - the most breathtaking scenery. They played football & volleyball – did crafts with the children. It was good to sit with the children at mealtimes, extending their own sparse Romanian vocabulary and helping the children with their English amidst lots of giggles and fun. They took part in the Bonfire Nights under starry skies - the Highland Dancing had the children spellbound! 
They had long days –getting to Leaders Devotions before breakfast from 7 - 8am – was a challenge which was met! The cup of tea at 6.30am helped some a bit! The children were wakened at 8.15am.  
The donation of £2614 was spent on a washing machine, a catering toaster, a microwave, 30 stainless steel serving pots, 10 thermos jugs for tea (the children get fruit tea for breakfast), and cereal holders. Money sponsored individual children to attend the camp and the rest went towards Heating Installation, as the camp looks to extend its activities throughout the year.
The Team all report a wonderful experience with horizons widened. They worked very hard indeed, kept well and had the enjoyment of being part of a Team which pulled together.
As was read at the service before they went out “with God’s power working in us God can do much more than we can ever ask for or even think of!” 
If you want to know more, contact Amanda Fowlie.