Last month(July 19-24) was our camp for the youth and kids that we work with. This year we had a group of American (from inner city Michigan) join us. I was excited about the dynamic… but also knew it could have turned out horribly. It didn’t. Overall the kids got along great. They were excited to get to know one another more. Some of our boys are in love with some of the American girls… but doesn’t that happen with all summer camps?
Overall, while it was exhausting and draining to be with so many teenagers (exhausting trying to get their attention and trying to get them to do things), I feel like I enjoyed being with them. I feel like the camp was meaningful for everyone. I think the camp was a really stretching time for the Americans… especially the girls. The first night they kept me up till way past midnight because they were screaming about the cockroaches. Apparently some of them were crying and screaming down the hall. This was also the first time most of them have ever traveled outside the U.S., so to be in a place with so many bugs, no electricity and consistent water was really challenging for them. But they did it. They overcame their fears and really tried to make the most out of it. They will be here for one more week. I hope that they will be able to take back what they have learned and saw here.