Gifts from camp

There’s much to do Saterday morning - this last day of camp for the children of Turnu Rosu and Fagaras. Bags packed, bedding hung out to air and cabins cleaned for the last time. The traditional breakfast comes first and helps brings smiles to many faces this morning. Everyone enters the fellowship hall a little subdued, partially due to staying up late for the camp fire the night before but mostly due to the fact that the girls are sad to be leaving camp today. Once they see the tables that have been set for them already, the happiness quotient goes up a little. Everyone is being treated to a special tradition at the camp: Finnitti and bread! If you’re familiar with Nutella just imagine that a little creamier an sweeter and you have Finitti. It’s quite the treat!

Once the chores are done we come together once again in the fellowship hall. Prizes and certificates are awarded for cleanest cabins and best helpers. The best prize for us is to see the pride they feel in themselves when they are called up! It’s so clear in their faces and how they carry themselves. It’s a gift to be able to witness this! All the children were able to receive the prize of a beanie baby as all cabins suceeded in returning their brooms, mops and buckets (in tact even!). What a gift to watch even the “coolest” of the girls search through the pile until they found just the right one that brought a pure innocent smile that lit up their face! Then gift bags filled with goodies, socks and hand knit hats are given out along with the annual camp t-shirt. With all the gifts the children receive I still feel like I have been given so much more from my week with them.

With everyone in their camp shirts we gather in front of the capella (gazebo) for a group photo, and then lots more photos of everyone trying not to miss anyone else! The girls love having their pictures taken! It’s easy to get overwhelmed or annoyed by all the requests to take or be in multiple photos. But I just have to remind myself how grateful I am for those same photos once I get home! In the simple gift of picture taking I, again, receive a much bigger gift.

After one more meal together, hugs goodbye given, and vans loaded wtih children, the team climbs up on the camp wallto wave goodbye ‘til the vans disappear around the corner out of sight. Another tradition here - another gift that fills me with grattitude.

Speaking of gifts - the team gets to head into Sibiu for an afternoon of shopping, strolling and dinner after we have cleaned up camp. Many of us find little trasures to gift our friends and family, and it’s fun just to be out. the city center of Sibiu is a beautiful in a very old European way. We end the day with a fantastic meal at a nice restaurant called La Turn. Our meals all far outdo any of our expectations! Completely relaxed and satisfied we return to our home away from home with one last gift from Jill: we all get to sleep in tomorrow! Big and small the gifts have been plentiful today! My suitcases that arrived full of camp supples may be alot lighter on the return home, but I will be going home with countless gifts that could never be contained by a suitcase!

~Tracy