Let us tell you about a week full of adventure at the Alpinis summer camp! The girls from Deborah House were joined by a team from Christ Church, Oak Brook (CCOB), IL, USA, and the children from the Children’s Home and the “Holy Trinity” Baptist Church in Lupeni, accompanied by Pastor Mircea Ursu, his wife Cristina, and the team from the children’s home.
MLI has partnered with “Holy Trinity” church in Lupeni for many years, and we especially appreciate this church’s ministry in the Jiu Valley community, both in proclaiming the gospel and through the Children’s Home and other social projects.
“All the camps organized at Alpinis in recent years have been highly anticipated by our children. This year’s camp was a great success as well. I was very impressed by the connection that was made between our children and the girls from Deborah House. The program, the activities both indoors and outdoors, and the Bible study sessions led by the Christ Church, Oak Brook team all contributed to the charm of our time at Alpinis. We are eagerly looking forward to a new experience at Alpinis next year, if the Lord wills!” – Mircea Ursu
Through games, crafts, and hikes, the children discovered a valuable lesson together: that a small faith, like a mustard seed, can do great things. The week was dedicated to exploring this idea, and the children learned that no beginning is too small and no faith is too little if it is placed in God.
One of the highlights was the hike, a tradition everyone loves. On the mountain, the children learned that we need each other to reach the top. Other activities included interactive games, crafts, bracelet making, campfire, archery, and sports competitions.
From the letters we received, we felt the children’s joy and gratitude for everything they experienced at camp. Some thanked us for the “creative games” and for “all the lessons that made them more curious about God.” Others appreciated that “we had energetic games and fun activities that brought us together,” and the delicious food was not forgotten.
We are convinced that a small act of kindness and a sincere faith can make an extraordinary change in the lives of those around us. The camp is a wonderful example of what God does when His people work together. For this experience, we thank Christ Church, serving with us in Romania since 1993, and an anonymous US partner who, through Missio International, has generously supported the participation of the children from Lupeni in the camp for the past few years.
Letters from the Children:
“I just wanted to say a big thank you for the amazing job you did organizing the summer camp activities. I liked that you approached the theme of the mustard seed and that you introduced the idea of a journal to help us reflect on it. The games and hands-on activities were also really fun and enjoyable! We really appreciate all the effort you put in. I hope we can do something like this again in the future. All the best!” – Daria
“Thank you to everyone for all the fun activities, thank you for the hike in the mountains, thank you for taking us to Arka Park, thank you for staying with us, thank you for the food, for the water, for the candies, for the rooms, and thank you for reading this. I hope I’m going to see everyone next year.” – Alessia
“With all my heart, I want to thank you for making this camp a new, beautiful, and memorable experience. It was more than a camp: it was a time of joy, friendship, and getting closer to God. We had energetic games and good fun, exciting activities that united us, and moments of Bible study that nourished our souls and taught us precious things. The food was delicious, the accommodation was comfortable, and the atmosphere was full of warmth and care. Thank you to all the sponsors and those who gave their time. May God reward you and bless you for your generosity and love. We hope to see you next year.” – Alexandra
