Camp in America August 2002
by Jo and Sue Karas
Posted October 11, 2002
After an eight and a half hour flight including a
change of plane at New York, where we saw only the
airport and no city sights, we landed at Pittsburgh on
Wednesday 7th August at about 7.00 pm local time. Mr
and Mrs Don Henson were supposed to meet us, and had
been waiting there some time, but because of a mix up
they did not get to us till 8.00 pm. They took us for
a meal at a Max & Erma's, before driving us to the
family we were to stay with. It was a long drive and
we fell asleep in the car.
The Sproul family have in a house in the country not far from the Heritage Camp Site. We were still tired when we got there, and went straight to bed and slept late the next morning. We were shown around the area the next couple of days by two of the Sproul's four daughters, Jody and Heidi, and their friend Rachel. Mr and Mrs Sproul were helping to set up the camp.
On the Friday afternoon we went to help to prepare the hall for the Sabbath meeting. There was to be a lot of visitors because of the camp, and there was going to be a meal after the service. After the service on the Sabbath, everyone wanted to meet us and liked our accents, making us repeat things. The first day of camp, on Sunday, we started with a swim test, in the nearby lake. The weather was sunny and warm and stayed so for the whole week. That evening we had a 'get to know you' dance. The first night sleeping in the tents was difficult because of the noisy crickets.
Every morning began with the flag raising before
breakfast. After breakfast was 'Christian Living'
where we had a sermon or talk. It helped us a lot to
think how to act in our lives.
The rest of the day was spent doing activities
including American football, volleyball, swing dance,
water polo, and sailing.
The biggest event was Wednesday when the whole day was
spent white water rafting. Sue was among those who did
fall in the water!
Friday evening we had a bonfire and a Q & A session
that was interesting.
On the Sabbath we had a really good sermon from Mr
O'Brien. The last evening we had a 'goodbye to
everyone' dance.
On Sunday Mr and Mrs Don Martin drove us to the
airport, they took us for a meal at a TGI Fridays
while we waited to board the plane.
The trip back to England was uneventful as it was
going, no bumps or turbulence, a bit boring really.
But we were glad to be safely home.
Camp in America was a great experience, the people were all friendly and helpful, we would recommend it to anyone, we're glad that the youth fund was set up, and glad that we had the chance of going.
Next summer the Ozzie G. Engelbart Memorial Fund will award the air fare for two more international youth to attend a USA youth camp. Thanks to all who contributed to make this year's experience for Jo and Sue possible.
| If you wish to help sponsor other
deserving teenagers from abroad to one of our American camps, please send
your tax-deductible donation to: Ozzie Engelbart Memorial
Youth Fund |
Posted July 5, 2002
The Ozzie G. Engelbart Memorial Youth Fund is pleased to
announce that we are able to sponsor two teens, Joanna and Susanna Karas,
to attend youth camp at Camp Heritage in Pennsylvania this August. The Fund is
paying for their air fare, which is the largest expense in attending camp in the
US.
Joanna and Susanna Karas
The girls have lived all their lives in Gloucester where Joanna
was born in 1986 and Susanna two years later. They are the middle two of four
children. The oldest brother, David, two years older than Joanna, The youngest
child, Matthew, is two years younger than Susanna.
In 1991, when Joanna was only five years old, and Susanna three, the whole
family were involved in a car crash. Everyone survived with relatively minor
injuries, except for their mother, Carol, who was driving. She tragically died
of her injuries. Their father, Edward, quit his career in quantity surveying,
to look after Joanna and Susanna and their brothers, with help from
grandparents, and aunt and uncle.
They attend school in Churchdown the village between Gloucester and Cheltenham.
Joanna's favourite subjects in school are art and physics, and Susanna's are art
and recently music. Both are trying to learn to play the guitar.