The camp was held on July 21–27, 2023, at the Bethany Charitable Fund, in the village of Polyana, Transcarpathian region.
The name and theme “Freed and Happy” is a Christian evangelistic camp for youth aged 15–18. We studied the Bible course “Freedom from Fear” from textbooks, which is relevant for everyone today.
There were 47 camp participants in total (37 boys and girls, 9 team members, and a driver). The vast majority of children do not know God, only Nazar, 18, an orphan, and Emilia, 17, previously believed and were baptized last year in the Baptist churches of Kremenets and Rivne. Diana, 16, believed in Jesus Christ and is preparing for baptism in August. 6 teenagers from the orphanage in the village of Oleksandria took part in this camp, and 2 internally displaced persons from the Donetsk region. 13 camp participants and team members were there for the first time, 34 had already been there before.
Every day, the teams were given certain tasks that everyone had to prepare together: 1) a news feed; 2) a video story based on the news; 3) a reportage with photos and sound effects; 4) advertisement; 5) a skit, pantomime, song, recitation of a poem. Every morning and evening there were corporate worship meetings in the camp: they glorified God in songs, listened to the sermons from the Word of God, and prayed together. Then each team went to their spot for a Bible lesson. Afterward, the camp participants get to choose whether to go to crafts or sports activities. After lunch, they all went on an excursion to rest in the thermal water park of Kosyno and Berehove. They also had the opportunity to visit Schönborn Castle, Kvitka Poloniny sanatorium, and Palanok Castle in Mukachevo as they went on general excursions. In the evening, everyone gathered again for a short worship service, where there was a spiritual part, a presentation of tasks, and a corporate prayer. After that, everyone went for a snack and was free to spend time together chatting with the mentors in a relaxed atmosphere. Throughout the camp, there were interesting general camp games: 1) Secret Friend; and 2) The road taken by Love (the way of Jesus Christ to Calvary).
Orphans from the juvenile shelter participated in the camp. We immediately warned them that they needed to put aside their bad habits (cigarettes, alcohol, drugs) while in the camp. After the first day and the first spiritual part on the second day, Vitaly, 16, decided to quit smoking. For Iryna, 15, an orphan from the shelter, they bought slippers for visiting thermal water pools. Andriy, 15, a boy with special needs, was with us in the camp. The entire camp team worked hard to take care of him in the thermal water pools, in the water park, on excursions, and in the camp. God also worked in his heart.
They obeyed. It’s natural for young people that they want to show themselves and take a look at others – we tried to give them such an opportunity during the busy camp program. Every day there were performances with the creative works of the teams, and at the end, there was a talent contest. But the most important thing that they all learned more about God and there also was the call to their hearts to seek the Lord. Through a series of sermons on creation, the fall, and salvation, we urged them to entrust their lives to Jesus Christ. Even now, after the camp, we know that some of them started going to church for services, some started studying this year and local believers began to take care of them. Please pray with us for the salvation of their souls through living faith in Jesus Christ!
Reviews from participants:
“I enjoyed being in the camp, although it was difficult to make friends with everyone at first. I liked the food because we don’t get to eat such tasty meals at our children’s shelter. There were great sermons. Thank you for the water park, the pools, and the mentor. I’m grateful!”
Vitaly, 16
“I liked the camp – it opened my eyes to many things. I understood my fears and now I am not afraid of people. I feel secure and confident in myself. I liked the view of the Carpathians, recreation centers, castles, and more. I made many new friends. I had a great time and rested well. I am also grateful that I was under such a cool mentor, Artem. (Artem, also a former student of the Klevan Special School, 4 years ago at a camp in the Carpathians, believed and repented, and is now a mentor)”.
Anatoliy, 16
