"Are you coming? Is it time yet?? You haven't forgotten me???"

This is one in a series of posts from the six Kentuckians volunteering at the first ever overseas Reading Camp this year in Grahamstown, South Africa. Bishop Stacy Sauls, Ginger Sauls (teacher), Mary Jane Amick (nurse), and three counselors (Drew Eclov, Connor Egan, and Vibh Forsythe) have joined the South Africans on the Reading Camp team for an overnight camp at the Assegaai Trails Conference Center.

Sunday morning we awoke bright and early (admittedly with a bit of a start since I'd had to set the alarm on my US cell phone for 1 AM) and there was a buzz of excitement palpable as we gathered for breakfast and passed our our new Holy Cross, Grahamstown Reading Camp shirts. This is real! It's going to happen!

Liturgy in the small beautiful chapel at Assegaai was powerful and touching, particularly when Stacy mentioned that "a little music would be nice" and Bro. Josias immediately broke into a beautiful South African Alleluia hymn that many already knew right away and all were able to join very shortly, with the sound, the enthusiasm and the grace gradually growing as we became one. With eleven official languages in South Africa, when Stacy invited us to recite together the Lord's prayer, each in our native tongue, there was a beautiful combined sense of all our individual histories, yet at the same time our common bond and sense of purpose.

After a quick lunch, Kary, Ntombekaya and I headed back into Grahamstown, met our outdoor adventure leader, Basil Mills, and headed off in two vans to fetch our 18 campers. By the time we were beginning our rounds we had received numerous phone calls from both mamas and children: "Are you coming? Is it time yet?? You haven't forgotten me???"

My first impression in the township, a powerful one, was not only of the level of poverty, beyond the imagination of most of us from the US, but just as much, the richness of spirit that jumped out at us as we traveled through the narrow and deeply pitted dirt roads of the neighborhoods.

Everyone knew that we were there to gather the children chosen for Reading Camp. The closer we came to each child's home, the more people lined the streets, smiling and waving, often pointing us to the correct address. At each house, not only was the child waiting outside, but also mamas, papas, grannies and other family members. Though there were a few expressions of anxiety, the overwhelming spirit was of anticipation and excitement. It was obvious that not only the family, but the entire neighborhoods were invested in the program and the opportunity. I was overwhelmed by the courage, the determination and the huge leap of faith of these mamas and grannies as they sent their children off with us, into something that was largely unknown yet represented a possibility for their child. A couple of tears were wiped away, but mostly there were large smiles, especially after we promised we would take very good care of their little ones. Behind the smiles were hope and excitement about the experiences and opportunities Reading Camp could provide their little one.

The saddest part of the day had been Kary & Ntombekaya having to call the children on the waiting list to inform them they would not be able to attend, because every single child chosen was definitely going to come; no one was possibly going to pass up this opportunity. This is, I believe, without precedent for Reading Camp.

The noise level on the van gradually grew as more children joined us, learned each others' names, and comfort levels increased. Soon they were smiling and giggling at me as I tried to pronounce everyone's name correctly in Xhosa, trying to get those clicks just right. There was also though a quiet look of both proud pleasure and excitement as Kary explained to them that they were making history as the very first Reading Campers in all South Africa. Eyes visibly brightened and each little person sat up a little taller as they pictured themselves as pioneers. What courage. What hope. What a blessing for all of us who get to join in this adventure!

-Volunteer Mary Jane Amick is a nurse from St. Martha's Episcopal Church in Lexington, KY who is a part of the South African Reading Camp staff and a member of the Reading Camp Steering Committee.