English to the Church Camp 2024

God’s Peace and Impact by Anna Balcer 

One example of when I experienced God’s peace was when we ate dinner at a grandmothers house on the Sunday before the start of the camp. What made me feel Gods peace was the familiar family dinner feeling. Everyone laughing and eating almost made me feel at home.

One moment that gave me joy was when a little boy taught Ben, Sophie, Caroline and some taekwondo moves! He obviously loved when we he gently threw us to the ground and even made us do it to each other. He was so much fun and really showed us his silly side that we had not seen in camp.

This experience has really showed me how much influence Miss Good and this church has on the people in the Czech Republic. I learned of a story while staying there that really opened my eyes to the truly amazing influence Miss Good has. There was a girl years ago who was pretty troubled. She had a hard family life that made her rebellious. But Miss treated her like any other child - with infinite love and kindness. She is now such a beautiful young girl woman who helped interpret for the camp this year. She was so nice and so much fun and has really turned her life around - All thanks to Miss Good. That really showed me how much this trip was more than just another trip to a different country. This trip has immense influence on the kids and it is so amazing that this church continues to have a relationship with the Czech Republic.

—

On Welcome by Sophie Hudiburg

The annual trip to the Czech Republic has been something I have heard of so many times growing up in FPC Annapolis. I was so excited to finally have the opportunity to go. It was such a special and amazing experience that I will never forget. The opportunity to meet and get to know so many people from a different country was so important, unique, and special.

Throughout the week at the camp you got to know the kids better. Sometimes they would come up to me and start speaking Czech as if I knew it. But as the week went on you could see them thinking in their heads how to say something in English. It was so cute to see how excited they got when they realized I could understand them.

Seeing how welcoming everyone was really showed how important the church community was. At the beginning of the week I did not know any of these people. At the end of the week there were tears saying goodbye. The dinners and experiences led by people in the church were so amazing and special. I'll never forget the people I met on this trip.

—

Keeping Connections Alive by Caroline Kempton 

The Czech Republic ETTC 2024 trip has been one of the most impactful trips I have ever experienced. After traveling to Iona last year, I thought I had a good idea of what this church trip would be like, but I was wrong. I had no idea of the impact that the kids and the Letohrad community would have on me. 

I felt God's peace every day during our craft sessions with the children. Their excitement and creativity were contagious as they eagerly worked on their projects, turning simple materials into amazing creations. Watching them light up with joy and cling to us counselors for support brought me a deep sense of peace. 

There were a lot of moments that gave me joy on this trip, but one in particular was swimming in the dam with everybody after the camp. We had all become close during the actual camp, but this was the first time I had felt that the American teenagers and the Czech teenagers had all bonded outside of it. We told stories and swam, paddle boarded and jumped off rocks for hours. Connecting with the other kids our age was so impactful because I know we will hold onto these connections forever. 

This entire experience greatly shifted my perspective of the church. I didn't really know much about this partnership prior to my senior year, but I now know how much time and effort goes into keeping these connections and this amazing camp alive. The committees and the people working behind the scenes are making a real difference in people’s lives, including mine. Thank you for giving me this incredible opportunity.

—

Family and Connection by Ben Lander

The ETTC 2024 Camp has been one of the greatest experiences of  my entire life, and it wouldn't have been possible without the help of so many people and committees. There are far too many to list them all, but they all made this camp possible. Two people I must mention, though, are Miss and Russ. Throughout all of the travel problems we had on the trip, flights canceled on the way to and from, they both remained so positive. If they hadn't been there, telling us that everything was going to be okay, I don't think I could have enjoyed myself half as much as I did.

I'm the sixth member of my family to make the trek to the Czech Republic to lead the ETTC Camp. Some of them have even gone twice. The entire journey over there I kept thinking that there was no way all of the trouble could be worth it just to lead a summer camp for 5 days. The moment I saw the children on the morning of the first day that all changed.

As Russ described, there were those who were excited to start the week, and others who thought they were too cool for it. I fell under the category of those who just wanted to sleep another hour. Seeing the children gave me a burst of energy, not just on the first day, but everyday. Though some tried to hide it, I could see their excitement. Leading games allowed me to see the kids goofier sides, and they all came out of their shell eventually.

The last day of camp was hard, as was the church service on Sunday. I never could have expected how attached I'd become to the community there, but they really do feel like family. It was difficult to say goodbye to so many people who welcomed me with open arms. I hope that any youth in the future who have the opportunity to lead this camp choose to go, as I hope I can go again someday.