Kayla Weaner -- Camp Overview

I feel blessed to be a camp with these children and brethren. It is a very nice resort facility with a breezy tile-floor pavilion restaurant, swimming areas with slides, a lake, small chalets (family lodging cabins), open areas with palm trees and farm fields. They have animals displayed in a way that that reminds me of a petting zoo, and many fruit trees.

The local specialty is fresh fruit juices of cashew, passion fruit, guava, and acerola. I enjoy the rice and sauced meat on the buffet, as well as the cabbage and carrot salads, popovers, whole cooked fish, and fresh pineapple.

The location is more notably special for the brethren here because the quiet and lovely vacation setting are in sharp contrast to the isolated villages or busy cities where they normally live. The ladies and girls stay in house with separate lockable bedrooms and four bathrooms, air conditioners that measure in Celsius, and beds with no blankets other than the sheets. There are thirteen girls and equal amount of guys in a separate lodge that just had hooks for hammocks (the kids brought their own since that's how many sleep at home).

Our activities include ga-ga ball, capture the flag, water slide, canoeing, Christian Living, board games and cards, tissue paper stained glass candle holders, and etiquette.

There are three languages here -- English, Spanish, and Portuguese, but through the service of translators -- including Google -- we make ourselves understood. When I first realized I would be unable to conduct my dorm as I usually do at camp in the US -- with chats and heart-to-heart talks -- I realized my conduct would speak for me. I began by offering to French braid their hair on the first afternoon. Their curiosity caused them to watch my actions closely. It is strange to feel so much attention when I am typically not the person others look to for how to play sports or do line dances. I find the lesson of being a good example paramount here and a guide for how I should act, because my actions will speak for me. I can sing silly songs on the long walks and toss a ball with the small ones and offer a smile and a general attitude of service. Whatever connections through language that I am able to form are above and beyond and can be attributed to God’s grace. Already I find that the ladies love to hear me sing so I can at least provide some laughter and enjoyment through these.

^{Michelle Roig with a camper}