Summer Camp: Photo Blog

Many thanks to everyone who contributed to our camps fund this year! Because of you, the summer camps were a success.

Here are a few comments and photos from our staff about the various camps Last Bell hosted this summer:

Yulia Nesterenko: “The summer of 2017 was very busy. We either held or attended six different camps for different ages and groups: for teens, for older students, and for moms with kids.”

Some of our youth participated in an English Camp near Kyiv where they spent time with our staff and volunteers practicing their English! This is a vital skill for college entrance exams.

Abram shared that the organization Agape provided a camp in the Carpathian Mountains for ten of our orphanage graduates over 20 years old, which is amazing since their camps are usually for younger people.

Abram: “The kids got to strengthen their physical health as well as their spiritual health, and meet new friends from all over Ukraine.”

Abram: “Some young people’s hearts were challenged and they asked questions, so we spent time talking with them personally. I truly believe this time was helpful, and if not now then later these things our young people heard will touch their hearts and they’ll make life-changing decisions.”

Yulia N. shared about a camp at the sea, in August, for the youngest group we’re getting to know through Educational Outreach. Sixteen youth participated.

Yulia N.: “From the beginning we saw God’s hand in everything.”

“Not one of the kids… wanted to go home. No one was injured or sick. Our youth participated in every game… Everyone was ready to help cook lunch or dinner, go grocery shopping, or carry water.”

Yulia N.: “Every night we discussed a specific subject… we stayed up late, and our kids were so open and sincere. They shared about their lives, their past, how they came to be in orphanages. They made decisions about their future, about the kind of parents they want to be, about changes in their lives.”

Yulia N.: “This camp was a wonderful bonus… It was a great encouragement and inspiration to see open hearts and a willingness to change.”

We also held a big, family-focused camp at the sea for our Stop the Cycle group: orphan parents and their kids.

Yulia Sagaidachna, former orphan and now staff member, says of the scenery at summer camp: “When you silently behold beauty, your heart speaks to God.”

Yulia S: “Thank you all for your prayers. Our Lord blessed us with wonderful weather, warm sunshine, and most importantly – the hearts of our moms ready to change their own and their babies’ lives!”

There’s one camp we don’t have photos from, but it was a special one! Our staff have kept in touch with orphanage graduates we’ve known for a long time. A few of these young people saved their money throughout the year to go to the sea with Luba and Vasya and other staff.

Yulia N. says, “Together we cooked in the open air, swam in the sea, and had fellowship. Many of the kids we haven’t seen for a year… but we’re still the people closest to them.” Yulia said that especially for those who are single, even though they’re grown up, “such trips are like visiting home and family. As they get older they cherish our fellowship more.”

“Мы очень благодарны Богу и ЛБМ за возможность провести этот мини лагерь.”
We are very thankful to God and LBM for the opportunity to have this mini-camp.

Camp in the Carpathian Mountains