As I write, most of you at home are likely still sleeping, but the first full day of South African Reading Camp is well underway and the excitement is already full and contagious. (The one type of contagion this camp nurse hopes to encounter!)
As always, the work of the Leadership Team, headed by Camp Co-directors Kary McConnachie and Matt Kellen, has been astounding. The Holy Cross brothers’ hard work, dedication, and ceaseless fundraising efforts makes this camp possible. Kary and Matt have worked tirelessly in their organizing and it certainly showed when we arrived to set up on Saturday. With the team they put together prepared and knowing their roles well, the conference room at Assegaai was quickly transformed into a new environment full of wild animals and adventure in each of the six stations through which the children will rotate every morning. The clinic was set up by myself and my colleague Rose and the campers’ rooms were enthusiastically and imaginatively decorated by the counselors in a way that will make each child feel special and welcomed. The work was rewarded by an evening braai (barbeque) prepared by the wonderful kitchen volunteers.
We began Sunday morning with a beautifully musical chapel service led by Brother Daniel and then were privileged to again have a presentation by and discussion with Inspector Milanda Coetzer of the South African Police. She gave us a great deal of information about the disturbingly dangerous world in which these children live and we discussed methods of recognizing signs of abuse which may present as well as how we will all work to assure that this week will be one of total safety and refuge for our campers, allowing them the freedom to simply be children and enjoy; something that is not often possible for them in their daily lives.
Again this year I was privileged and humbled to accompany Kary on the rounds as we picked up the campers yesterday. And once more I was deeply moved by both the astounding poverty in which these children live and the way in which they, their families and the township community as a whole both recognize and deeply appreciate the opportunity that Reading Camp provides. I saw children emerging spotless and joyous from tiny shacks made of mud and/or rusting corrugated tin and without running water. Parents (mostly mamas or grannies) shared both appreciation and some apprehension as they sent their little ones off with us in faith that this is a door opening for them.
I will attempt to keep you well up to date this week with a number of “Holy Glimpses” of the happenings here and where, moment to moment we encounter God’s face and grace.
Just a couple as a beginning:
Last evening, after the campers arrived, they had a snack and then went outside to play and run off some of their excess energy. The counselors engaged in games of ping-pong, tag and soccer with them. Shortly, though, Counselor Hannah reports, two of her little girls, Albernique and Amber came to her and inquired if they “had to” continue to play… ”Can we read instead?” They were shortly curled up in the pleasure reading corner with the books they each had chosen.
This morning, Matt reports, Nomthandazo and friends were pretending at the breakfast table that they were students at Hostel (boarding school) which to them is the “privileged school” on the other side of Grahamstown where the wealthy children attend. They explained to Matt that they were playing this game because they feel they are “being treated like kings and queens at Reading Camp.”
Finally for today, we sadly had one camper drop out yesterday because of a death in her family. Kary immediately set about calling the alternates to find a replacement as not one precious spot/opportunity will hopefully be wasted. Early this morning Kary did reach one Mama who very much wanted her daughter to come but had no transportation to get her from the family farm they were visiting. A visitor from Canada at the Monastery had given Brother Daniel a donation to help support the camp and Kary was able to take 100 Rand (approximately $13.50) from this and provide a taxi to get this child to us. The visitor had been given a sum from a Rotarian back home and asked to “donate it where you find a need.” This kind of generosity and grace is what has always blessed Reading Camp and will, we pray, continue to always.
All here send their love and appreciate your prayers and support. The days are cool and windy but with brilliant sunshine thus far. More later!
-Mary Jane Amick, a member of St. Raphael's in Lexington, reports on her volunteer service again this year as a nurse at South African Reading Camp in Grahamstown, South Africa.
Due to some unforeseen technical glitches, the blog postings from last week’s Reading Camps in Danville and Northern Kentucky were not posted in a timely fashion. The above post is one of a series of those belated entries from those camps.
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