The theme: “In everything give thanks, it is the will of God”, accompanied the journey of three 10-day sessions in the “Good Shepherd” Girls’ Camp at St. John Vladimir Monastery, and helped to cultivate a grateful heart and soul for everything we have in our lives. The program at each of these 10 day camps included: prayer, meditation, study of Scripture, discussion on various social issues, talent and dramatic competitions, and helped the participants to ward off the spirit of complaining, and instead, to be grateful, to open their eyes to see the blessings and miracles that God gives in our lives, to enjoy the friendships and the blessings that He gives us each day. The “Good Shepherd” Girls’ Camp, 2012, drew to Christ’s bosom 230 girls from different villages and cities in Albania, 17 of whom became members of our Church through the Sacrament of Baptism.The girls that participated in the camps were separated into small groups with names like: faith, obedience, patience, forgiveness, wisdom, devotion, love, etc. They learned how to acquire these virtues in their lives. Along with these names, each group presented in a play the history of people that had fear of God from the Old Testament: the Righteous Joseph for forgiveness, Job for patience, Ruth for devotion, Abraham for his faith, Solomon for his wisdom, Jonah for his obedience, etc..
Gratitude is very visible on the lips of grateful people, such as those of the Prophets. The Prophet Daniel prayed and thanked God, in the lives of the saints, even in great sufferings; they thanked God applying the biblical sayings: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” (Phil. 4:6)
The pastoral visits to nursing homes and children’s hospitals encouraged gratitude to God and gave an opportunity to experience His words: “I was sick and you visited me …” In this way we learned that a person is truly a Christian only when they are interested in the needs of others. A variety of speeches were given on the themes: In Everything Give Thanks; The Great Mystery of Marriage; Monacism: the Divine Decision; What to Wear Now that I am a Christian; And These Words Which I command You Today Shall Remain in the Heart. The speeches were given by different speakers: His Grace, Bishop of the Diocese of Berati, Ignatius, His Grace, Bishop of Korça, John, His Grace, Bishop of Apollonia, Nicholas, His Grace, Bishop of Kruja, Anthony, Sister Rachel, Anastasia Pamela Barksdale, M.Div., Mr. Niko and Mrs. Ana Kodheli, and gave the campers an opportunity to ponder even more deeply the mystery of life and the truths of the Faith.
The summer camp, as a model of our journey of faith towards God, helped the girls to experience our faith and life in community. Everyone individually can do something good, but together we can do wonderful things about ourselves and about life. Therefore, it was a most beautiful experience, as the girls participating said. Thanks and gratitude to all those who made possible the realization of this very important activity.
