What is Summer Camp? Each year between May and July, Summer Camps are organised and held in each of the 6 countries that MWB serves.

They are primarily for the children living in Children’s Homes or from poor families. The children look forward to this time each year. For thousands of children it is the only opportunity in the year where they have a break from their lives of poverty, eat well and learn about the love of God.

What is Involved?Summer Camp is scheduled and organised to the very last detail. The camps run for 5 or 10 days. Each day includes, praise, worship and prayer, meals, activities, Bible lessons and an evening church service. It is all prepared in advance by the Christian Input team and volunteers and it’s a very precise schedule for the children to follow, which makes the days run smoothly. This also assists with their discipline and involvement throughout the week. For many of the children who come to Summer Camp, they have little understanding of routine, order and discipline. Their lives are in disarray, many are not even able to go to school because the family can’t afford their supplies, clothing or transport. Attending Summer Camp, even for a few days, gives them structure and teaches them respect for their leaders and elders - not to mention they all have the time of their lives!

The blessing of sending a child to Summer Camp

Organisation is Imperative

Each day begins with a staff meeting for all the volunteers and workers giving them a chance to discuss any challenges from the day before and to plan out the activities for the day ahead. During morning chapel, the children watch a Bible story performance, learn and sing worship songs and read Bible verses. Each day’s topic is taken from a Biblical story and all the activities throughout the day relate to that story, teaching the children Biblical truth and how they can apply it to their everyday life.

As soon as the scripture lessons have been completed, the children choose group activities they would like to participate in. There is so much choice! Sporting teams, crafts, reading activities, music and swimming, no one ever misses out and there is always plenty of opportunity to rotate activities. Plays, competitions and games are organised by all the leaders and sports trainers.

After the evening chapel, the children participate in discussions coordinated by the team leaders and other camp volunteers. Each child has an opportunity to express their thoughts and feelings of what they have experienced and learnt during the day. They can also ask questions about what they are unsure of and share their feelings. This is such a blessed time. The children begin to open up

and discuss various spiritual topics and how they can start applying their new knowledge to difficult situations at home.

Ministry and Nurturing

Summer Camp is a wonderful opportunity for ministry to the children. Each leader becomes friends with the children in their groups. They nurture them, pray with them, and take care of them. Many of the volunteers working in the camps are school teachers and educators giving up their holiday time to make this an unforgettable experience for the children who rarely smile. Each child leaves the camp feeling loved and important.

FOR AS LITTLE AS $20 (THE COST TO SEND 1 CHILD FOR 1 DAY AT SUMMER CAMP)

YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRANSFORM THE LIFE OF A CHILD BY

GIVING THEM THE GIFT OF HOPE AND TEACHING THEM THE TRUE

MEANING OF GOD’S LOVE

Facilities

The facilities and living quarters in the camps are so very important. Each dormitory where the children are lodged have comfortable beds and clean, adequate bathroom facilities. Many of the children attending through our CRI in Community or Family To Family programs often don’t have a bed or bathroom at home. Some sleep on the floor and their toilet is a hole in the ground outside, so it is important that the facilities at Summer Camp are welcoming.

Food and Nutrition

The children are given an abundance of food. Breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and supper! Many children said they had never eaten so much tasty food. Most of the children, unless they were from the Children’s Homes, would often only eat one meal a day, usually without any protein and certainly not near enough to sustain their nutritional requirements as growing children.

Blessing the Children

Each day, some of the children receive awards for active participation in the competitions, and at the completion of the camp, each child receives a special gift. Tears fall from both the staff and the children’s eyes when it comes time to say goodbye. It’s simply not just a time of fun things to do; Summer Camp is about strong friendships, and love.

The staff and volunteers feel blessed to be given the opportunity to serve these children.

“God is with us and prepares our path long before the camps. We pray and put our trust in Him and He shows us His mercy. The greatest joy we experience is brought to us by the children that repent and give their lives to Jesus. There is nothing more extraordinary than this.”

Sing to God, sing in praise of His name, extol Him who rides on the

clouds; rejoice before Him--

His name is the LORD. Psalm 68:4

PO BOX 7533 SILVERWATER NSW 181110 STUBBS STREET AUBURN NSW 2144

PHONE: 02 9647 2022EMAIL: australia@mwbi.org

WEB: www.mwb.org.au

Summer Camp - the experience of a lifetime! $20 will send a child to camp for 1 day

$100 will send a child to camp for 5 days$200 will send a child to camp for 10 days

$1000 will send 5 children to camp for 10 daysYour support will give eternal benefits!

“In this camp I learned that God loves me and that He has done many miracles which He can do again any time.”

“I have never before eaten such beautiful food! My heart and tummy are full for the very first time.”

“I have made so many great friends, but my new best friend is Jesus!.”

“I have learnt that God has a plan for us all when we are born and we are so very important to Him. Its good to

hear that because often we dont feel loved at all.”

GIVE-LOVE-GROW