Sunday, July 3, 2011

Parent Day at Camp

We proudly welcomed the parents at camp today. Students were able to spend the morning and early afternoon with their parents. They shared such activities as going to church, swimming at a nearby pool and going shopping to stock up on supplies for their rooms! The formal program began in the late afternoon. Parents, children, leaders and teachers all joined together in the dining hall to sing, play games, and share classroom performances. Ms. Pam and Marysia’s level 1 class assembled onstage to perform the song “This is the Day that the Lord Has Made” including their own hand motions. Ms. Diane announced the level 2 performance, and Ms. Judy helped the children sing “Trading My Sorrows” complete with sign language. Mr. Randy played guitar as his and Ms. Cathie’s level 3 class sang “America the Beautiful” in honor of the 4^th of July which is tomorrow! Following these performances, parents were able to visit the classrooms. All classrooms were adorned with posters packed with information about each student and their experiences at camp. It was amazing to meet to parents of these wonderful children and celebrate their accomplishments. The parent visits ended with sharing a meal of kielbasa that was out of this world!

Earlier in the day…

One of the rewards of doing foreign missions is the opportunity to learn about the history and culture of the country. Upon the request of Diane, Judy, Randy and Cathie, Piotr kindly arranged our bus driver Stanislaus to drive us to the town of Oscwiecim to visit the memorial museums of Auschwitz and Birkenau. Pam, who had been there before, kindly watched Emma and Josh assisted. The rolling hills of farms and villages with red and green roofed homes, clustered around a central church, dotted the countryside. Yet it must be remembered, the terrible strife that affected the Polish people during Nazism and Communism not so long ago.

Walking into Auschwitz made us feel like we were walking back into time. There was no sun; the day was dreary with intermittent heavy rains. How can people treat other people like herds of cattle? In most places, cattle are even treated with more respect. We imagined, through the voice of the guide, the door of the gas chamber shutting on us just like it was to the millions of Jews, Poles, and other European people so many years ago. To be stripped of not only clothing, but to be humiliated was beyond our comprehension. Walking through the barracks sent chills down our spines. These people surely have already had their crosses to bear and are in the highest level of heaven.

Submitted by Diane, Judy and Pam