|
|
|||
‘The Lord worked in marvellous ways’:
successful summer camp for deaf children
|
 |
| These two boys attended the Interconfessional Bible Society of Moldova's summer camp for deaf and hard of hearing children in 2004. Photo: IBSM (MOL04DJ-1.JPG |
CHISINAU, Moldova — It is now four years since the Interconfessional Bible Society of Moldova began running summer camps for deaf and hearing impaired children. Through these camps, hundreds of children have encountered God’s Word for the first time. Indeed, for some this proved to be such a significant experience that they eagerly returned as young leaders to this year’s camp in order to share their stories.
One hundred deaf and hearing impaired children from across Moldova – the majority from non-Christian backgrounds – came together in August for a packed programme of Bible study, games and sport. God was clearly at work to ensure that the camp ran smoothly, according to Executive Director Anton Placinta.
No conflicts
“It was rather surprising that there were absolutely no problems,” he says. “There were no conflicts or disagreements, no traumas or illnesses, no problems in explaining the Bible to the children. There was understanding and love among the leaders, perfect obedience from the children and no interference from evil. All the team worked in unity.”
Inspired by attractive Children’s Bibles in Russian and Romanian, the children engaged in friendly competition to learn verses which they presented in sign language during the evening worship. Contributions from young leaders who had attended earlier camps were another popular feature of the evening sessions.
One evening, the children sat entranced as young leader Tatiana Maznic
told them what happened to her when she attended the Society’s
first camp.
| “There
were no conflicts or disagreements, no traumas or illnesses, no problems in explaining the Bible to the children.” |
“Before I went to the camp, I didn’t know that God loved me and wanted me to be obedient to him and to my mother,” she explained.
“I often fought with my mother. Sometimes, in pain and confusion, I even ran away from home.
“After two weeks at the camp, everything was different. I realised that God cared for me and that he could see into my heart. I started to love reading the Bible and the more I read, the less anger and pain I felt.
“Now I no longer fight with my mother. I attend a Baptist church and I hope to become a Bible teacher to help others like me.”
Like Tatiana, Savitsky Andrian, another young leader, found that attending a summer camp changed his life.
“Until I came to the camp I thought that it was my parents’ fault that I’d been born deaf,” he told the children. “I’d always been ashamed of my deafness and had tried to hide it.
“But when, at the camp, I was shown chapter nine of John’s Gospel, in which Jesus heals a blind man, I realised that the disabled can also glorify God. Now I’d like to help others to know what God wants of them.”
Through the many different activities, and in particular through these and other testimonies, “the Word worked in the children’s hearts in marvellous ways,” enthuses Mr Placinta. “We would like to thank all those who made donations towards the cost of Bibles and who prayed for us. May God bless you abundantly.”
This report relates to project MOL-04-001 (WR 389/7 - 12.04/01.05)
