2010 Camp to Kids Journal

2010 Camp to Kids Journal

25 June 2010 : Sarajevo
	Bobby, Lisbeth, Jerrica and Laura arrived on time today in Sarajevo. Also on the planes were the 20 bags of crafts and camp supplies. The team was met by Emily, Dzanan, Amina and Dzan at the airport. The weather in Sarajevo was cool and rainy but nice after 100 degree weather in the States. The team was tired, but hoped to tour Sarajevo tonight.
26 June 2010: Sarajevo
	Team was up early and had time to tour Sarajevo before going back to the Apartment to prepare the bags for the trip to Serbia on 27 June (tomorrow). Team plans to leave for Serbia at 0830 tomorrow morning and meet up with the Lutheran Camp 2 Kids team at the crossroads for coffee. Lutherans go to Srebrenica, Bobby's team to Serbia. Weather still a bit damp, but that doesn't keep the spirits down. They are all well and loving having cool weather.
27 June 2010: Bata Bilic, Serbia
	I called the hotel in Serbia and the team had a good trip from Sarajevo. Weather is wet and cold and the van has sprung a leak. The team noticed that their clothes were wet and that the seats in the van were soaked with water. So, they may have wet clothes in their bags. Hopefully they will have sunny weather tomorrow at camp. They are expecting about 100 children and this is the first camp so the meeting tonight is important. It was great seeing our Serbian partners and having a traditional meal at a wonderful local restaurant.
28 June 2010: Bata Bilic, Serbia
	Team was up early at the hotel and down for breakfast then the hour drive to the small school. Today was report card day at the school and all the kids were all dressed-up and excited. Camp started on time and 120 kids were at camp. All groups - Songs, Stories, Games and Crafts went very well. Local TV was on hand and made video of each group for the evening news. Bobby was on TV with the school director. After a delicious lunch, gifts were distributed and the final ceremony was filled with applause and tears as the team left for Paracin. The three hour drive was beautiful as the rain stopped and wonderful weather met the team in Paracin. In Paracin, the team had pizza, visited the annual town fair and walked the streets. Bobby and Lisbeth visited friends in the town and were treated to music, song and coffee. They arrived back in the hotel at midnight ready for breakfast at 0900 and the drive to Kosovo. Team was tired but happy.
29 June 2010	Kosovo
	Team traveled to Ferizij, Kosovo and at the Hotel, David joined the team. David had traveled from Australia to Kosovo to be with the team. We are in Ferizaj, Kosovo. We had a great dinner with Ramush, Faton, Arber and Blerim. Raining so we're moving to Plan B which is 300 kid all inside a school with no gym tomorrow. Returned to the hotel to find out that the hotel gave away our rooms to a larger group so Faton got us another place! I visited Kosovo for the first time this year with TWI For The Children and truly did not know what to expect. After a little problem with the hotel that was solved instantly we got welcomed by the home team and taken to a beautiful restaurant, about 15 minutes outside of Ferizaj, for a delicious meal.
30 June 2010	Kosovo
	Great camps First AM half-day was 122 persons. PM was 88 kids;(same schools as last year. The next day we headed out for the first camp which was roughly a twenty minute ride. After arriving and being welcomed by the principal of the school and a few 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade teachers we began camp with roughly 100 children. The camp was wonderful, the children watched, listened, and enjoyed the camp every minute. From the story telling, which they observed with big wide open eyes without even saying a word to dance where they danced and laughed off the last remaining energy in them. The same day we went to another school, with mostly Romani ethnicity children, and had the same experience. Beautiful children who truly enjoyed the camp and the variety of activities. Although growing up in rough conditions these children showed high interest in learning and actually spoke quite a bit English.
1 July 2010	Kosovo
	Today held camp for 80 kids-Same school as last year. The second day after about a twenty to thirty minute ride, we arrived at our third camp. Right after the arrival we unpacked our bags, set up the different activity rooms and started everything with the story. Same reaction as in the previous camps. The Children showed big interest and I believe enjoyed the story and the other activities quite a bit. After these successful camps our hosts from the Kosovo team took us to another beautiful lunch in the mountain sides of Kosovo, shortly after that we arrived in Prizren a beautiful multi-ethnic town, very alike Sarajevo architectural, and enjoyed seeing the city and great dinner. During the night we visited Pristina, the capital of Kosovo, where we took a short walk through the main walking area. Overall, Kosovo was an eye opening experience for me, the beautiful scenery from green plains to high mountains, the very welcoming people of Kosovo, and the beautiful innocent children of that country who especially needed our help and enjoyed our presence.
2 July 2010	Travel to Sarajevo
	We are driving back to Sarajevo now and I can't believe I have wireless service here in the mountains of Montenegro! Our passports were stamped as we entered Kosovo-not on the little note paper as before but in our "actual" passport! So we were dead meat for our planned return through Kosovo and into Bosnia BECAUSE BiH does not acknowledge Kosovo! We had to instead drive through Montenegro, get their stamp in our Passport and then continue on to cross the BiH border which we are doing as I write...I'll hold on and let you know what the Border Guard says. Well, we got the "okay" from the Montenegro Guards. Now we're waiting our turn for Bosnia. Well, while we are sitting here a huge storm has hit-thunder, hail, strong winds - the works! Okay, we just entered the Republic of Serbska (RS) but hopefully there are no border crossings here. Okay, drama! The RS guard discovered the Kosovo stamp and they took them inside the hut. Good grief! Drama on the Border. Okay, he is back and Dzanan seems to be saying the right things and now he is telling us to move on. Now let us hope that BiH will let us in. Ah...the saga continues.....more later after we cross through "no man's land". Called team in Sarajevo and all was well and they were having a great meal with Azra and Vjeko Saje at their apartment. Quite an experience going through the border crossings as the Kosovo stamp in the passports prevents their entry through Serbia and gives trouble in Bosnia.
3 July 2010 Saturday	Sarajevo
	Rest day. Laundry and dry our the van. Aldin joins the team along with Azra and Vjeko.
4 July 2010 Sunday	Zenica Orphanage:
	Wonderful picnic with about 88 Kids and 14 caregivers. Great time with food, games and crafts. All of the old kids (now in their 20's) came to the picnic along with our old volunteers, Emily and Will. Due to the wet and cool weather, some of the team are a bit under the weather, but the van is now dried out and everyone is getting rested.
5 July 2010 Monday	Sarajevo Orphanage:
	Held a camp for kids at the Sarajevo Orphanage this morning. Children were super and very attentive. Also enjoyed meeting with the caregivers. The orphanage seems to be having problems with the parents who have left their children at the orphanage. The parents are having a great deal of drug problems. The afternoon was spent exploring Sarajevo and this evening we went to dinner at a great Italian restaurant after time with Emily who has worked faithfully with us for the past 8 years and now works in Sarajevo. The others took in a movie at the local theater.
6 July 2010 Tuesday	Sarajevo, Roma Camp
	Had a great camp for the Roma Children in Sarajevo. We brought 35 kids of all ages to the Roma Community Center in central Sarajevo and held a full camp for them with songs, stories, snacks, crafts and games. They were delightful. We had an opportunity to visit the new skyscraper near the train station in Sarajevo and went to the rooftop to look out over the city. Dzan took us on a tour of Sarajevo and the outlying areas and it was wonderful. After a complete dinner with Azra and Vjeko, we are busy packing out for Mostar and Montenegro. We will return to Sarajevo next week on Wednesday night. All sickness are gone and we are ready to continue our travels.
7 July 2010 Wednesday	Mostar Orphanage
	Team departed Sarajevo for Mostar early this morning. Upon arriving in Mostar, the team set up their camp time and the children responded in their usual excited and loving way. We always love coming to our orphanage in Mostar and have been doing so since the orphanage was in huts outside of the city. Many of our children in Mostar are now grown, but they always make an effort to come see us when we return. Upon arrival we found that most of the small children at the orphanage had been taken on vacation to the UK by a group of Bosnians who live in England. This was great as we had time to spend with the teen-aged children. Upon arrival we did our crafts and then had lunch. In the afternoon we continued our camp at a more adult pace and with more adult games and songs. It was super and everyone enjoyed the camp.
8 July 2010 Thursday	Mostar Orphanage and travel to Montenegro:
	In the morning we had a great camp for the teens and everyone enjoyed a very laid-back camp without having to keep to such a close schedule as when we have the smaller children. After lunch we said goodby and set out for Montenegro. Vjeko and Drew went ahead to pick up Ken at Mlini. Ken had arrived the night before and was waiting for them. Upon arrival in Montenegro, the team was joined by the leadership teams from Serbia and Kosovo and all rooms were assigned. After supper the initial workshop was held and the Leadership Camp was underway.
9 July 2010 Friday	Leadership Camp and Camp at Montenegro Orphanage
	Ken and Drew taught the Leadership Camp and they were well received by all of the teams. A great deal of preparation had been put into the leadership camp and everyone was well prepared for the workshops. Between Leadership workshops, the teams took part in the camp for the children at the orphange. The kids were great and everyone had a great time.
10 July 2010 Saturday	Leadership Camp and Camp for Kids in Montenegro
	Ken and Drew continued the program for the Leadership Workshops and the camp for the kids were held in the morning and afternoon. In the evening the Leadership Teams went into Herzeg Novi to see the old city and have a bit of social interaction.
11 July 2010 Sunday	Leadership Camp and Travel to Mlini, Croatia
	Teams took part in the final ceremonies for the Leadership Workshop and got ready to leave. The teams hated to leave the children and it was difficult to leave. The TWI team left for Mlini and in the afternoon were in their apartments or swimming. All watched the soccer match in the evening.
12 July 2010 Monday	Free Day Croatia
	Team went to the islands off Dubrovnik for swimming and touring. In the evening the team went into Dubrovnik for touring and the evening meal. After a busy day, the team was ready for bed.
13 July 2010 Tuesday	Free Day, Croatia
	Team members stayed around the beautiful village of Mlini - swam and just enjoyed walking around the resort area. They had a wonderful supper at a super restaurant and then home to bed (quite late).
14 July 2010 Wednesday	Last Day at the Croatia sea-side
	This was the last day in Mlini and the team took advantage of another great day at the sea-side. It will be difficult to return to Sarajevo and work after such a great vacation time. The Camps were great; the team has been the best ever and we will hate to see it end tomorrow.
15 July 2010 Thursday	Return to Sarajevo
	We left Mlini in the morning, after having to wait until the beer truck unloaded its beer. Had a wonderful trip up the Croatia coast to Mostar. It was very hot on the road south of Mostar and through Mostar. Once in the mountains it became cooler, but our faithful van finally called it quits and came to a complete stop. Dzanan and Vjeko called the road-side assistance and after supper at the restaurant at the side of the road we were on our way again. It was good to get back to our homes in Sarajevo and get a good bath and clean clothes after a week on the road.
16 July 2010 Friday	Picnic for Special Needs Children near Sarajevo
	The wonderful Lutherans had donated $300.00 so we could rent a bus to take the Special Needs Children to the mountains above Sarajevo for a great picnic. The children road the ski lift to the top of the mountain and played games and had a camp for kids experience. The weather was beautiful and the flowers were beautiful. The mothers had packed lunches for the children and Azra had made lunch for the team. We had a great time, but the fresh mountain air really made us ready for bed. A great day.