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Restoring The Dignity of Kazakhstan's Children
Kazakstan's Kapchuguy Lake welcomed 144 children and their single mothers last summer. Just 70 km from Almaty, fresh air surrounded the younger ones as they skipped into camp, while others where pushed in wheelchairs. They all had a common bond - poverty.
To understand differences and similarities, leaders placed both healthy, disabled and handicapped children in "mixed families." The oldest helped the younger, and the healthy took care of those limited by infirmity. They all learned how to play, communicate, and be more tolerant of each other. "I used to think that they (disabled children) are contagious and was afraid to come close to them," shared one child. "But (now) I know they are normal kids and I can be a friend with them. They just need more care. I am not afraid of them any more."
Guests were treated to five nutritious meals a day. Program activities included Bible stories through the use of puppets, crafts, outside team sports, and social training for both the campers and their parents. Never having painted or drawn on colored paper, the kids would pick up a sheet with trembling hands! Others didn't know to take the brush caps off before starting to paint. For some mothers, this was the first gift their child had ever made them. Teen campers had the exciting and unique opportunity to dive under the water with special equipment. Their coach was 2000 underwater diving world champion R. Petrov!
Volunteer camp counselor Olga had never seen a disabled person. For both five-day sessions, she was able to develop relationships and share God's love with campers including 24-year-old Misha who suffered from epilepsy and progressive alegofrenya, as well as being mentally handicapped. "I know each one of these children has left (camp) with their dignity restored," commented the seminary student.
Six-year-old Rakymbaev shared, "It was my first time at the sea. I liked everything. It was cool! I don't want to go back home; it's sad there. I sit alone in my room. My mom leaves early for work and I wait for her to come back and bring something to eat. My mom gets tired at work, so she doesn't play with me and rests very little. I liked swimming with my mom. At home, I would never draw on clean paper. Here I learned how to cut things out of paper, glue, draw, and pray. I became God's child."
"I came to this camp with my invalid son," writes a parent camper named Chernishova. "We had a wonderful rest here; strengthened both our bodies and souls. We've been introduced to God in such an unimposing way, that I began to understand the meaning of my life and God's role in it. Now I want to share it with other people!"
As the Bless-A-Child 2001 season draws near, please help OBI share God's love to the world's poor children by giving your gift today!
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