“How shall a young man keep his way straight?
When he keeps YOUR words!”
Psalm 118

 Between the infinitely stretching green fields and colorful meadows of Allegan, Michigan sit the peaceful and serene monastery grounds, where for two lively weeks forty-one young boys and girls learned how to enrich their Orthodox lives while having fun and making new friends. St. Filoteia Summer Camp has proven to be a fruitful and engaging experience for the young campers. Between soccer and gaga ball competitions, candle making and icon painting, and cooking and knitting workshops, the children were active listeners in Fr. Atanasie’s captivating discussions. Each dialogue and every activity in which the campers participated was centered around the idea of leading a virtuous life, whether through overt examples or through entertaining games.

The children arrived eager to have a regular camp experience: late night conversations, campfires, bunk beds, team-building activities and dynamic sports competitions. What they did not expect was the spiritual growth that they would experience over the course of the week. Many of them at the end of the camp felt that they had grown closer to God. One young girl declared, “I learned many things I did not know about the Christian life.”

Of the more spiritual activities, many of the campers enjoyed learning and practicing the Jesus Prayer: Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me. The children all received a braided cross and a prayer rope, and Father Atanasie explained the significance of this short but powerful prayer.

For many of the children, the electronics-free environment of the camp was a new experience. For one week, their minds underwent a ‘cleanse,’ flushing out the toxic messages that bombard them daily on social media platforms, in games, and in movies, and replacing them with healthy nutrients for their soul, strengthening their faith and their zeal to discover Christ within themselves. They were surrounded by invigorating green forests and blooming wildflowers; they ran among the grass, zooming alongside bees and ladybugs on the sloping hillside; they awoke to the sound of robins, warblers, and sparrows uniting their voices in song to the praise of God’s creation; they explored the woods in jovial pursuit of frogs and grasshoppers. In such an environment, the children did not notice the absence of mobile phones and iPads, occupying their time away from computer screens with socializing with their newfound friends, playing team sports, reading spiritually engaging books, praying, and deepening their understanding of the Orthodox faith.

During the day dedicated to Romania, the young campers learned about the history of the Romanian people and about the important role that Romanian Orthodox saints had in keeping the faith alive and flourishing in the region. The children learned about the life of St. Filoteia (the protector of the camp), the young Romanian martyr who passed away at the hands of her father when she was caught giving alms to the poor. Many of the boys and girls felt a connection with St. Filoteia because of her young age, and as they listened to her story, they were able to pick out essential virtues that she exhibited in her life. They learned the importance of holding on to the true faith and the importance of feeding the poor, sacrificing a small part of what they have for the comfort of others.

In preparation for the Divine Liturgy, Fr. Atanasie discussed how Orthodox Christians prepare for this great gift from God by going to Confession and discussing about sins and other emotional and spiritual issues. Even though it was not mandatory, every single camper agreed to participate. His Eminence Metropolitan Nicolae officiated the Divine Liturgy and the sermon became a fruitful conversation with the children. Their brightened and joyous faces after Holy Confession and Holy Communion was a testimony to the power of this great Sacraments.

Each day of the camp, the young campers were led through a series of workshops with the help of the counselors. Fr. Atanasie discussed the importance of candles and icons in the prayer rule of an Orthodox Christian, and the children actively learned by making their own candles and painting intricate wooden frames for beautiful Byzantine icons.

The summer camp didn’t focus solely on the spiritual health of the children, but also on their physical health. The young campers enjoyed organic food prepared in traditional Romanian fashion every single day. One boy exclaimed that he would love to eat “mamaliga for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.” To solidify the farm-to-table connection, the campers went on a brief field trip to an animal farm, where they learned about the upkeep of animals, they saw baby ducklings hatch, and they fed the sheep and goats. The children also learned about fasting and its connection with prayer. One of the girls said, “I learned that we fast on Wednesdays and Fridays, and I will try to fast on those days at home”. Taking the initiative to begin to follow simple fasting rules showed that the children’s understanding of an Orthodox way of life grew and developed.

The combination of fruitful discussions about the Orthodox faith, the enriching of their knowledge about their Romanian heritage, the team-building activities and sports, the natural, electronics-free environment, the emphasis put on healthy eating and healthy living, and the daily call to prayer gave the children a chance to experience a natural, God-centered way of life. Most of the children joyfully exclaimed that throughout the week, they felt that they had grown closer to God. One young camper said, “know that you reignited a dying flame of faith in me, and I have been re-inspired to explore Christianity.” The children returned home with an expanded understanding of the Orthodox life, eager to come back next year, with a dedicated mindset to touch the lives of those around them with the knowledge that they received.

Ioana Mărginean
ROYA volunteer at St. Filoteia Summer Camp