The Episcopal Diocese of Lexington, the Anglican Diocese of Grahamstown and the brothers at the Mariya uMama weThemba Monastery (OHC) partnered together for the first overseas Reading Camp this past July in Grahamstown, South Africa. This is a series of post-camp blog posts from Kary McConnachie, one of the volunteer directors of that camp. Four Kentuckian experienced Reading Camp volunteers (Mary Jane Amick, Connor Egan, Drew Eclov, and Vibh Forsythe) joined Bishop Stacy Sauls and his wife, Ginger Sauls, joined with the Grahamstownians to make a Reading Rock in Grahamstown. Other posts about the South African Reading Camp are available here.
Sunday 6th July 2008: Breakfast was waiting for us and then we had an extraordinary service in the Chapel near the main centre. Stacy gave us a most inspirational message that set the tone for our wonderful week ahead. Last minute arrangements, a meeting with Milanda Coetzer to discuss child abuse issues and Ntombekaya, Mary Jane and I set off for Grahamstown to collect the children. We rendezvoused with Basil Mills and he was joined by Ntombekaya for the top route, while Mary Jane and I headed for the other route. We took a little longer than anticipated as some houses were harder to find than others. We found excited, nervous, shy, unsure young campers, but all were ready to get going.
The welcome back at camp was superb with singing and drumming and many photographs taken of everyone. The registration process went smoothly, with the queue at the nurse’s door getting longer, but Mary Jane did a great job and soon all the formalities were dealt with. Our first little chapel service with Stacy was really special with all the children on the floor around him listening with amazement to his message that God is in every one of us. Supper was very welcome followed by a meeting to discuss house rules and get T-shirts and Camp jackets. The shy and timid campers were beginning to thaw and everyone was getting into the swing of camp life. The buzz of anticipation was palpable all around us.
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