Yourney Report Youthcamp

by Benny van Goor

From July 15th till July 28th, we went to Romania with a group of youth, who are also small group leaders.
the members of our group were: Wouko and Janneke Snijder, Marja, Sandra, Simon, Rogier, Johanan en myself (Benny).

The first day we left at 4.00 o'clock and we drove about 1.300 km till Abda in Hungary. This was a long drive and one saw the landscape changing. We ate in a restaurant en slept in a very warm room of a pension.
The next day we left at 6.50 o'clock and at 12.00 hour we passed the border without any problems. We all changed the time on our watches (in romania it is one hour later) and so we came at 17.00 o'clock on a Dutch camping in Romania. We ate there and this time we slept in the open air under a roof.

We stood op early, had breakfast and at 08.45 o'clock we left. On the way we passed all kinds of things as smoking trucks who almost couldn't climb the mountains, horses and wagons, shepherds with large herds, people working on the street in the heat, when we stood still with the car there where people trying to sell us black-berry's, people begging for money together with their children etc.

At 17.30 o'clock we came at the camping farm and the Romanian youth welcomed us. In the beginning we didn't know what to do but when we saw the river we started to built large dams as a real Dutchman who did this century's ago. When the Romanian youth saw this, they didn't hesitate and helped us, to show us that the Romanian people also can built a dam. Others where making music or played volleyball. This all made that we learned to know each other a little bit better. After we had eaten, we told about ourselves and we were told about the camping rules and than we went to the water springs. We were in the middle of nature, the mountains, the river, horses, cows and sheep who were walking free about without a shepherd. The fourth day, the second on the camp, it all turned out very good. We had to wash ourselves in the river and it didn't matter. The toilet, it was a wooden cabin, it was real comfortable and cosy when we where sitting, one at the other side. The ties of friendship became more and more stronger than before, it felt like if we knew each other for a long time.

The themes we spoke about with each other, in English/Romanian/Dutch, the songs we sung together, the games we played in the wood and the many little games, this all made a tie of friendship with each other. The love for God, belief and trust, between the Romanians, it was the same as with us. It didn't make a difference from what culture you are, Gods love is for everyone the same! This was a nice discovery for me and I enjoyed the singing with each other, having teachings and praying for each other.

Sunday we went to church. It was fantastic to hear them singing there! After church we went and watched to see where and how the Romanian people where living. Each of us went to the house of one of a romanian youth to eat there. This made a deep impression on us. Sometimes they live with large families in a little apartment, but they are very hospitable! After eating we went with all the youth walking around through Brasov.

Tuesday, after the last theme, we had a silent time of one and a half hour. This looks a long time but it seemed avery short time after it had passed. This also was a good moment for the most of us on the camp. Sitting at the table we made a speech and said goodbye. For all of us this was very difficult. It was a strange feeling to leave the next day and leave our brothers and sisters behind. It was a perfect camp, it was too beautiful to describe. It was not strange that some of us felt like crying. In the evening we had a fire in the end.

The next morning we said goodbye for the last time and left at 7.00 o'clock. At 16.30 o'clock we arrived at Nico and Sylvia Stroica. They are also very hospitable and the time we were there fitted very well in this romanian vacation. It was as impressive as the days we already had.

The next day we left. They didn't like it. The following day we stayed in the Hungarian town called Abda. The last night we were guest at Roel and Diet Koops in Eggerding, Austria. We ate the delicious 'Diet-soup' and slept in a house of their friends. They have large houses in Austria! At that moment i realised the contrast with Romania. The staying there was very good en we left for the very last time. At 16.30 o'clock we ate in Nordhorn (frites with a schnitsels) and at 18.40 o'clock we were in Hoogeveen again. Now, after a few weeks, I think very often back at the nice moments when we saw and learned a lot. It was a super vacation!

Benny van Goor

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