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April 2014

P.O. Box 2007, Abbotsford, BC V2T 3T8

Greetings and blessings…There is a small, old house in a village of Southeast Moldova with a

broken roof covered with reed and cracked windows. This is a small house with two rooms for a poor and large family. Ion is one of the members of this family; he has two brothers and three sisters. Ion loves his family very much.

Both parents know what poverty means. They grew up in poor and socially-vulnerable families; that is why they did not have any support from their families. When they got married, they did not have a place to live, so

they started to rent different places. The first children were born. The father went abroad to work a few times and managed to save some money. God helped them to find a very cheap house and they bought it. Of course the house is very old, the roof is broken, the windows are old and cracked so that during the wintertime, it gets very cold inside.

However, their first dream as a family came true - they got their own house. The next step will be to renovate and equip the house with the most-needed things such as a small bathroom (their bathtub is just a small plastic basin), a washing machine (mother washes all the clothes by hand) and a refrigera-tor. The family is hopeful but they live in poverty every day of their lives. The parents are just too poor to send Ion to camp.

But still Ion has dreams of fun, laughter and good times.Dreams of going to summer camp.Last summer was Lejla’s first time at summer camp and also her first time

away from her parents. However that didn’t bother her much, as she said, “I’m not so young any more, and I’m having so much fun, that I can’t wait to tell my parents all about it when I get home!” Every day Lejla enjoyed three meals (a cooked breakfast, a three-course lunch, and a cooked supper). She said “the food is great, there is a lot to eat, I really enjoy the meals at camp”. In the mornings and evenings she took part in a programme with singing, stories, videos,sketches, quizzes, games and talks. The theme of the programmes was “Choose the Best” and the programmes were based on various Bible passages – the narrow and wide path, God and money, the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, Mary and Martha, Cain and Abel, the Two Criminals on the Cross, and the Wise and Foolish House builders. Lejla was in a room with three other girls and their leader. Every evening they got to spend time together talking about the day and what they had done and learnt. They got to read the day’s stories in the Bible and fill in worksheets with “Spot the Difference” and other challenges. This was a good way for Lejla to make friends at camp, and as well as getting to know many more children from her home town, Mostar. She also made friends with children from Livno and Bugojno, and with leaders from around the world.

Lejla was one of dozens of children who were at summer camp for the first time last summer, who heard about Jesus for the first time, and quickly

started to enjoy worship songs and Bible stories. We hope that one day they will become disciples of Jesus. Lejla thinks all kids should get to go to summer camp.

Lejla has many happy dreams of summer camp.Azer comes from a poor Bosnian family, the only thing that they do not

need to worry about is a place to live, as they live in the flat of Selma’s mother (Azer’s grandmother). She got that apartment after the war from the city government. The apartment itself consists of just two rooms. One room is used as a bedroom and the second one as a kitchen, living room and din-ing room. The flat is in an area of the city where Azer does not have many friends. The family consists of the mother, Selma, the father, Jasmin, their four year old daughter, Nejra, and their ten year old son, Azer. Selma’s mother also lives with the family. The parents do not have regular work. The father works as a travelling salesman but it is an off-the-books job. He works for commission, which is not enough even for food, as sometimes he doesn’t sell anything and so doesn’t get paid. Because of the family’s situation, Azer has never had an opportunity to go to the sea or to a lake; he has never been to a summer camp with other children, or on any kind of excursion. Once his uncle took him to the swimming pool, but that is all. Summer Camp this summer would be his first chance to travel anywhere. When asked what he expects from a summer camp, Azer answered: “My friend told me that she had a great time last summer camp; she told me about lots of games, swimming, groups, and camp leaders, friends that she met there and lots of other things. I expect that I would learn how to swim, and that I would meet a lot of friends. I know that I would enjoy Summer Camp.”

Azer has dreams of hope for this summer.Dreams of himself at summer camp.Emotions, smiles, questions, joys, hopes - these could be read on the

faces of the children, seeming to be released by the sad shadow of their lives as they arrived at summer camp last summer. “I myself didn’t even imagine that this summer, I will be so happy. The summer camp is the most beautiful experience that I experienced this summer!” Romina confessed. Usually Romina spent the summer working at different people’s farms. Go-ing into the summer camp, this child felt the power of love and felt what it is like to have a holiday instead of having to work hard all summer long just to survive.

Being a sociable and friendly child, Romina befriended lots of new chil-dren. Romina confessed:

“As it was announced that I will go to the summer camp I was very eager for it and pleased about it because I knew that I will make new friends.

Food prepared at Community Centre

Summer Dreams

Ion at home

Lejla (on right) and new camp friends

Mission Without Borders1-800-494-4454 | www.mwbca.orgemail: dinwood@mwbi.org

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“This summer camp is so great!Thank you for giving me the chance to be here!!”

Here, in the summer camp, I learned that only together with God we can manage with everything.” Romina was happy that she was able to partici-pate in the chapels, singing songs on the scene, playing various sketches, thus becoming more self-confident of her personality and her abilities. She played volleyball and basketball and took part in sport competitions. As well she greatly enjoyed taking part in the handicraft activities. She also was very attentive to the Bible lessons presented to the camp.

“I liked most to attend the chapels and Bible lessons at camp. They were so interesting and I learned so many interesting things. Most of all I enjoyed the Bible lesson about the Tax Collector, because he took a lot of money from people but at the end, he shared everything.

In this summer camp I discovered a very important thing- that Jesus Christ is my best friend! I am happy that I can have the Lord Jesus as my best and true friend. I thank God and MWB for offering me the chance to come to summer camp and find out more about God.

Romina dreams of going back to summer camp with her new best friend.The summer camps have a wonderfully good impact on the children’s

lives. This is the place where the children forget about their life problems and troubles. This is the place where they are offered unconditional love from the summer camp staff. This is the place where children feel appreci-ated, cared for and encouraged from God’s word. Read what Teodora had to say about her summer camp experience. She says, “I like everything and everyone! This summer camp is the best thing that had ever happened to me! The puppet theatre was my favourite part. It was a play about Joseph, who has forgiven his brothers and from now on, I want to do that too. I want to forgive my brothers whenever we will fight or argue with each other. I want to become a better girl. Here I have made many new friends and I hope that we can meet again in the future. I have learned to swim! I have eaten the most delicious food! This summer camp is so great! Thank you for giving me the chance to be here!”

Mission without Borders has organised summer camps for more than 10 years. Mostly the camps have been organised in cooperation with the local

1-800-494-4454 | www.mwbca.org

Students of the Culinary Arts

Andrei received his food

church. The children learn some basic routines while at camp – how to make their bed in the morning, how to clean and tidy their room, how to care for their personal hygiene and much more. But they also learn how to have fun, how to make friends and they come to know the love of Jesus. Due to MWB’s Summer Camp project and big hearted supporters we are hoping to have 3000 children enjoy Summer Camp this year, just like Romina, Lejla, Teodora and so many more did last summer.

We gratefully thank all the supporters who make the children’s dreams of attending a summer camp come true!

Just before I close let me please introduce Bonnie Borowetz our new Sponsorship Coordinator. Bonnie brings her commitment to Christ and her truly professional experience and knowledge to the Mission. She comes to us after over 20 years working for Christian churches. Her most recent role has been as Office Manager for Abbotsford Pentecostal Assembly. Bonnie looks forward to getting to know you all and will be happy to answer your questions and provide whatever assistance you may need.

Thank you so very much for your kindness, compassion and caring for God’s children.

God bless and keep you

David InwoodNational Director

PS: Summer Camp is one of the best things we can do for the children. We want to send at least 3000 kids to camp this summer but need help from you to do that. Just $152 will send a child to camp for the full 10 days. Or you can donate $15 for a day and we will match your gift with other gifts to create a wonderful, Christian summer camp experience for the children.

Romina (far right) sharing the love of Jesus

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