During July and the first and second week of September, 2013, the students participated in five day camps (Shtërmen, Shën Vlash, Rrushkull, Durrës and Kavaja) in conjunction with a teacher training workshop for the Christian Education program at the Theological Academy. “My journey to the Kingdom of God” was the theme for the camps; we introduced the fact that we know what the Kingdom of God is like from the vision and prophecy of Isaiah in the Old Testament (Is. 11:6) and the Parables of the Kingdom in the Gospel of Matthew.With the blessing and assistance of His Grace Bishop Nicholas, and under the direction of Ms. Pamela Barksdale, twelve students from the Academy gathered at Saint Vlash on 7th September for an orientation and training program. The goals for the camps were to teach children about the Kingdom of God and invite children to participate in the weekly catechetical programs, as well as to improve the teaching skills of the students and to work with different strategies and teaching methods.
Each day the children learned a parable about the Kingdom of God: The Sower and the Seed, the Prodigal Son, The Unmerciful Servant and the Rich Man and Lazarus. The students and the children dramatized the parables and created a book of witness for their experiences at camps: stories, songs, prayers, etc. setting and preparation. The attendance was satisfactory and in the five camps were a total of 185 children. For the realization of these camps students collaborated with the clergy of each parish.
The catechism and youth group programs which the Theological Academy students are participating in or conducting began on Sunday 28 October and will continue until the beginning of June, 2014 in the following locations: Durrës, Kavajë, Rrushkull, Shën Vlash, Shtërmen, Divjakë, Berat, Mëtish, Sukth, Rrethgreth, Këmishtaj, Jubë and Tirana.
Ms. Anastasia Pamela Barksdale
Christian Education and Field Work Supervisor
