The event we looked forward to most every January was going to camp, at least it was so for the younger folk. Perhaps it was not as exciting for our elders, the pastors, missionaries and workers who had to add responsibilities to their already heavy loads. However, from the glowing report "CAMP TIME the Lord Blessed Again," it appears that everyone had a wonderful experience.
"Patagones" (Big Feet), "Cuatro Dedos" (Four Toes), "Tres Plumas" (Three Feathers), and "Onas" (a proper name). These were the names of the four tribes this year in our young people's camp. It was the first time in a good many years that we tried the idea of tribes in camp and thanks to the Lord and the good spirit of cooperation among the young people, it worked. It broke down any "caste" spirit that might have existed otherwise, and one young person expressed it in this way: "We were just one big family."
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| Camp musicians |
Young people have to be busy to be happy. . . and the continual competition between the tribes kept them busy this year. They chose their names and chiefs, made their insignias, prepared their Bible plays, studied for a contest of Bible questions and chose their different atheletes to compete in track, ping pong, football, and so forth.
The mornings were largely taken up with the three classes. Brother Dowdy taught the Book of Ephesians, Brother Cover gave a course on Church History, and Brother Hoyt gave a course on the Victorious Life. We heard comments of appreciation in relation to all these courses.
We left the traditional preaching session in the evening services. One night a young man painted a picture with crayons and gave a brief message on stewardship.
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| Juan Colle |
Another night one of our young ladies, who is interested in missionary work among the Indians in the norhtern part of Argentina, showed slides and told about the work, presenting also a scene from a recent trip she made to that part of Argentina.
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| Eunice Siccardi |
On other nights we had slides on the Christian relationship between fellows and girls--a much needed instruction among young people almost anywhere; Bible questions with competition between the tribes (take a good look at the four judges!);
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| Clark Miller, Solon Hoyt, J. Paul Dowdy, Robert Cover |
Biblical plays presented by the tribes; a play presenting the need of Bible Institute training; and a campfire service on the last night.
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| Don Bosco girls at camp: Emilia, Elisa, Pirincha, Delia, and Rita |
Our friend Mabel was not able to be with us at camp because she could not get time off from her job. However, for several others it was their first camp experience.
Here I pause to introduce two more recent members of our youth group: Milly Piaggio and Julio Poncet.
Emilia—we called her Milly—was in my same división (class) for Ciclo Básico, the first three years of secondary school. You can see her in the top row fourth from the left in our third year class photo. (See here.) Toward the end of that year she began attending our Sunday School and loved it. She lived with her mother and older sister in another town. Her father died when she was a baby, so life was not easy for them.
A few years ago I asked her to refresh my memory and tell me her story. This is what she wrote, with added heartfelt emphaseses:
Rita, from the time I met you in school, the Normal in Quilmes, and through all that happened in that time, my life changed completely.
You gave me the book by Mirtha Siccardi, it impacted my life and from there on I was with you all.
. . . the work in the church. THE PLACES IN VILLA DOMÍNICO AND QUILMES WHERE WE WORKED AND HAD BIBLE CLUBS FOR CHILDREN AND EVEN ADULTS.
The visits to the poor neighborhood (slum or shanty town) and working with the families. Bringing those children to Sunday School.
Sunday services, young people's meetings. Bible studies led by your father.
The wonderful Lord's Suppers with the washing of feet. Unforgettable!!
So many experiences and memories!
The beautiful times at church camp!!!
That's where I met Carlos!!!
At camp, you and I, despite our height, would win races and long jump.
We had such wonderful times. We were all so very blessed. We evangelized a lot!!
We would go throughout Don Bosco door to door with our tracts. I loved it!!
Your parents went out a lot to visit the families in their homes. They prayed in the homes. In mine, for my family and for the neighbors too.
Also, you went everywhere with your accordeon. We had meetings in the patio of my home. You played.
A few notes to highlight and expand on Milly's summary:
--I found this paragraph, in an issue of El Heraldo, in praise and gratitude for Mirtha's book.
Translation:
Testimonies of the value of Christian Literature
To speak of the Brillando para El [Shining for Him], is to raise a prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord for the blessings which, in His infinite mercy, he poured out on me. It was that marvelous book that led me to the door of the house of God, where I opened my heart to the Lord Jesus, where He now lives by work of the Holy Spirit. This book was used and guided by the Lord to touch the heart of one who was far from His blessed presence, and came to my hands through a servant of His.
--One of those neighbor families was that of Julio Poncet, who appears often in the letters of this time of my story. In answer to my request, Milly wrote a summary of his life.
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| Julio Poncet |
Julio belonged to a large family, five siblings . . . we were neighbors in the province of Buenos Aires, District of Quilmes.We lived on the street República del Líbano ...at 200 ...corner Andrés Baranda. Of humble family . . . limited resources . . . He was born with a growth deficiency and only attained a height of 4 feet 6 inches. His mental development, however, was brilliant. Thus it was that he had no problems taking all the necessary educational courses to become a lawyer.
Over time, living in the close neighborhood, we became good friends. . . he gave his life to Christ and began to attend the Brethren Church in Don Bosco. The Gospel reached his family as well . . . and in several opportunities the pastor and his family visited their home. He would occasionaly come to the Bible Club in my home and you, Rita, were there with your accordeon. His mother and younger brother Horacio also attended the services. . . His siblings also pursued university careers in spite of their humble social status.
After that wonderful week at camp (January 20-29), we rode in the back of a truck for two and a half hours to the headquarters in Río Cuarto. Some of us had to stand the whole way, and most of us were singing camp choruses the entire time. (I would not remember any of this if I had not written lengthy detailed letters to my friend Mirtha, and had she not loaned me the binder containing the years of correspondence and had it not miraculously survived our house fire!) I commented in my letter (Feb. 2) that Julio Poncet could sleep throughout the bumpy, dusty trip whether sitting or standing! Again during the overnight bus ride to Buenos Aires, he slept soundly. "Para dormir no tiene problema alguno." (He has no problem sleeping!)
Another of his characteristics that appears repeatedly in my retellings, was his humor. He was hilariously funny and could keep us all in stitches.
Upon our arrival at the bus station in Buenos Aires, two of the mothers awaited us, as well as Mr. Maconaghy and Carlos Sotola. Carlos' excuse was he wanted to learn the final scores of the different camp tribes. Or, did he really want to see Milly?
The effects of camp were long felt. The first Thursday evening prayer meeting, we all gathered again so happy to be together and everyone joined in with heart felt prayers. Our newby, Julio Poncet, asked God to illumine his path and "Lord, guide our leaders who show us the way to know You."
Again on Saturday several went to the children´s Bible club in Villa Domínico. It was Milly´s first time and she loved it! The attendance was good. Earlier in the summer tent meetings were held there with encouraging results.
When our group returned to Don Bosco, we met at the Templo, had some snacks and stayed to rehearse for the skit 24 Ancianos—the Onas' skit at camp, make the necessary props—harps and crowns. My father had asked us to perform the play in the Sunday service to go along with his sermon about the twenty-four elders in the throne room of heaven as depicted in Revelation 4-5. He also wanted the congregation to have a taste of what the youth had experienced and learned at camp. Of course, we did not have twenty-four participating elders, only a few representatives.
Julio Reta was the narrator and also played the role of the mighty angel who cried out, "Who is worthy to open the scroll . . .?"
Antonio was the apostle John who wept loudly when no one was found worthy. And, as I wrote in my letter, "Lloró muy bien." (He wept really well!).
Julio Poncet was so pleased to have a part. He was the elder who comforted John, "Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals."
The memories of those times and of the dear friends of my youth, have so filled my heart and my imagination that I shared too many details. So, for now I will close with . . .
To be continued . . .
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