2014: A Critical Year For EEM Youth Camp Program

In the brief history of the EEM Youth Camp Program there have been moments of special significance: the first official team in 2006, the signing of the Memorandum in 2007, and the fifth year anniversary meeting of the Directors, Association, and EEM in 2012.

July of 2014 will be recognized as one of those significant dates. It will perhaps be known as one of the most crucial years of the program.

The summer of 2014 is the summer our volunteers proved to Ukrainian children, families, interpreters, and camp staff that we believe what we teach. Throughout the years our teams taught character traits such as love, loyalty, faithfulness, and courage. This year the EEM Teams fleshed out the meanings of these character traits by their very presence.

Each year we have talked about how Jesus was willing to give up the comfort and security of heaven to empty himself and embrace the difficulty and danger of human existence. Our teams have embraced his ministry and thereby followed Paul’s admonition in Philippians 2:5ff, “Have this same mindset as Christ Jesus…who emptied himself by taking on the very nature of a servant.” They have obeyed God’s command to Joshua in Joshua 1:9, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

As a result of their willingness to raise funds and travel to Ukraine while the East erupted in violence, they received the title of heroi (“heroes”) from the camp directors and from the President of the Ukrainian Association of Workers in Children’s Health Resort Establishments, Alexander Pishcheyko.

Each camp and community have been hurt and wounded by this war. Many of us can recount conversations of people confused by the violence. Interpreters, now homeless, felt their work in the camp was able to help them focus on serving kids rather than being overcome with worry. For many it was a needed relief.

Some did not want to talk about the war—feelings were too raw. One young man talked to me about his friends who were killed, former campers visited our teams and told of their father who signed up for the army, interpreters shared about their parents in the East who urged them not to come home. Our team members were there to encourage, pray for, listen to, or just be a friend.

In the history of our Program, to date there has never been a more important time for us to prove we believe the things we teach. To our supporters and friends, thank you so much for your faith in helping these teams to go and to provide biblical materials to give away. To congregations and individuals who encouraged us with prayers, donations, and words—thank you! You kept us going. Finally, to our team members who demonstrated that love never gives up: thank you for proving to our Ukrainian friends that we serve a great God who is committed to enter into their world even when it is uncomfortable to do so!