Jerusalem welcomes children for summertime day camp

Friday, September 11, 2009

Jerusalem, Israel

From August 10-14, a Nazarene-hosted morning camp for children in East Jerusalem welcomed between 45 and 50 Arab children from several different religious backgrounds each day, with about 60 cycling through during the week. Three volunteers from Nazareth led songs and the story time in Arabic, while two from Indiana helped with crafts, games, and organization.

"It really felt like synergy and the whole was much greater than the work or contribution of any one individual," said Philip Rodebush, who works with the Church of the Nazarene in Jerusalem.

On Friday, August 14, the group invited the children and their parents to a family festival, and were pleasantly surprised when more than 50 children and 30-40 parents attended. As the program finished, the team gave backpacks to children who had come during the week after a "blessing of the backpacks" and a prayer for the new school year. Afterward, many parents thanked the team for blessing their children that week.
--Eurasia Communications

 

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