Camp Joy 2006

"The difference between involvement and commitment is like an eggs-and-ham breakfast:
the chicken was involved - the pig was committed. -Anon."

As Youth Group leader I always get asked, "What is the best thing we do at Youth Group?" Without hesitation I answer "Camp Joy." CAMP JOY (Christian Appalachian Mission Project Joining Other Youth) is an outreach youth program that began in 1990 to help elderly or destitute homeowners in the Hancock, Maryland - Berkeley Springs, West Virginia area to repair their homes and improve their quality of life. The youth and their leaders stay in tents at a Methodist campground called Camp Harmison for a week in July. This year, during our week, there were four other youth groups and most of our teens became very good friends with the teens from Hancock Methodist who were our closest neighbors at the Camp site.

There is a spirituality, camaraderie and sense of purpose at Camp Joy that cannot be matched by any other activity we do. The accommodations at Camp Harmison in Berkeley Springs, WV aside, there is no question that you get a deep sense from the teens' attitudes during the week that they understand, and are living into, the true meaning of commitment and service to their fellow man.

- Ijeoma Emenanjo (Director of Youth Ministry)

On July 9 2006, we, the St. John's Youth Group, were sent off to CAMP JOY, a weeklong service project in West Virginia, to serve God by helping some of his most needy followers. Our work came in the form of two major sites. The first site was occupied by an elderly woman named Mrs. Crabtree. Her porch, made of decrepit boards and questionable columns, was in desperate need of repair. We immediately got to work, passionately ripping out the faulty boards of her porch. We then began to replace the faulty boards by measuring and cutting one-by-four wood and then drilling them onto her porch. However, we also had to keep the porch level, and thus had to adjust the level of dirt underneath the porch in some areas. Although the work was sometimes tough, we kept up our spirits with the help of Mrs. Crabtree's home-baked treats. After installing the porch, we replaced Mrs. Crabtree's gutter, and congratulated ourselves on a job well done.

The other major site was one which we had worked on the previous year. At this site, the family needed a deck built in their back yard. With the help of some quick dry cement and advanced digging machinery, we were able to provide a good foundation for the deck. Although there was very little shade at this site, and the work was sometimes arduous, we kept ourselves entertained by watching a church group at an adjoining site perform the "cha-cha slide." Also at that site, the group needed to fix the ceiling and install drywall in a rather run-down room. Although it was a bit difficult to get the dry wall to fit perfectly, in the end the family wound up with a good looking ceiling.

After we had finished our normal sites, we helped out at another group's site. At this site, a paraplegic woman and her husband needed another room for their house to make room for her brother. In the span of two days we were able to install the overall frame for the room and also install the roof.

Despite our heavy workload, we still managed to have fun during the week. Almost every night, we would play volleyball and had a great time showing off our skills, or lack thereof. On Tuesday, a few Youth Group alumnae visited us and we all enjoyed catching up with them and reminiscing about the good old days. We also enjoyed talking with other groups. During rainy nights we often conversed and played cards with groups that lived only a few miles from the camp site. Finally, perhaps our greatest source of entertainment was the nightly Vespers where we would give our site reports, watch skits, and sing lively Christian songs.

As we begin a new year at Youth Group we hope that all teens in the church (7-12 grades) will join us, not just for Camp Joy, but to experience our other activities that range from beach and ski trips to our Youth Group meeting held Sundays during the school year from 5.30-7.30 PM in the Youth room. At Youth Group, all personalities and interests are welcome and our goal is that they can all contribute to the overall character of the group. To sign up for Youth Group, please contact Ijeoma at 240-271-6832 or iemenanjo@gmail.com.

- Woody Campbell (Youth Group member)