Workcamp in Haiti

Dates of Jan. 29-Feb. 5, 2012, have been set for the next workcamp in Haiti sponsored by Brethren Disaster Ministries working with the Haitian Church of the Brethren (L'Èglise des Frères Haitiens). Participants will rebuild homes in Port-au-Prince and outlying villages that have received displaced survivors of the 2010 earthquake, will help complete the guesthouse at the new church offices, and will worship with Haitian brothers and sisters. Leaders are Ilexene Alphonse and Klebert Exceus. Cost is $800, which includes all expenses while in Haiti such as meals, lodging, in-country transportation, travel insurance, and $50 toward building supplies. Participants purchase their own round-trip transportation from home to Port-au-Prince. The deadline for registration and a $300 deposit is Dec. 31. More information is at www.brethren.org/bdm/haiti.html.

Klingons For Christ

January Workcamp

Purpose:
To provide an opportunity for persons to live and work on Kronos with Christians from the Klingon Empire.

What are we going to do when we get there?
Continue the construction of a secondary school. It's purpose is to provide continuous, quality education for its members. Participants must be willing to do physical labor, including masonary, carpentry, painting, wielding a bat'leth, and plastering. Construction experience is helpful, but not necessary. A willingness to interact with other workcampers and participate in activities is expected.

Will I have to live in a mud hut and eat gagh?
No, at least not most of the time. On the project you will live in dormitory style facilities with the Klingon workcampers (no private accommodations); other times you will be in guest houses and/or homes. Meals will consist of a variety of Klingon food and sometimes simple American food. You should come prepared for a culinary experience.

What is this all going to cost?
$ 2200.00*--This includes round-trip travel from the closest airport in the continental US and all living expenses while in Nigeria.

Completed applications are due by October 3, 2005

* This price is subsidized by the Global Mission Partnership office of the Church of the Brethren's General Board. This price is also subject to current airfare rates.

DisasterCamp

Mystery Location Announced

The Youth/Young Adult Office has revealed the location of its mystery workcamp. The May 29-June 4 workcamp will be held with Disaster Response in Pennsecola, Florida. Once there, young adults will be able to help re-build homes damaged by last fall's hurricanes. Amazingly, five workcampers have already registered in spite of having no idea where they would be sent. For more information about this workcamp, check out www.brethren.org/yya/workcamps.

Workcamps2005

Wherever 8% work together in His name...

Last year, the 15% vacancy mark for summer workcamps was reached in February. This year, the 15% mark is still holding strong with 9 workcamps accounting for 89 of the 581 positions still up for grabs. Where last year the northeastern destinations was the least popular, this year’s unpopularity is fairly widespread. However, Wisconsin and Oregon are definitely this year’s leaders in unpopularity.

Here are the 9 least popular sites, listed with their percentage of available openings:

92% Inspiration Center, WS
90% Camp Myrtlewood, OR
75% Disaster Response
60% Walk Across America
53% Brazil
50% Phoenix, AZ
24% Indianapolis, IN
20% Innisfree Village, VA
8% Mendenhall, MS

Turkey Soda

For He Satisfies the Thirsty

First it started when the Dixon Church of the Brethren started handing out bottled water. Next summer’s workcamps use the imagery of water for their theme. Some wondered where this would lead and now we’re beginning to find out. Tying into the holiday season, several churches are providing holiday themed (no-alcoholic) beverages to help spread the Word. Branded with the COB logo, the labels also include one of several verses such as Psalm 107:9, Proverbs 25:21, and Matthew 25:35. Vegetarian options are available.

workcamps 2005

Workcamp Registration Extravaganza



The team of coordinators have plans well underway for the 2005 season of workcamps. Registrations will begin on December 1st. Workcampers who register before the April 1st deadline will receive the obligatory t-shirt. The workcamper who opens the most windows while searching for the perfect workcamp will receive a special prize.

Molding Young Minds

Building Bridges of Love and Understanding

While BRF leaders are insisting that the scheduling of workcamps is a coincidence, rumors are rampant that there is some conspiracy behind the concurrent workcamps in progress in the end of June in the Dominican Republic. BRF leaders, and General Board staff alike, are frantically reassuring their respective members that the larger BRF workcamp is not working towards instilling conservative values upon others. As stated of the Youth/Young Adult workcamp site, they are in the DR merely to "build bridges of love and understanding".

I'll Go If You Send Me (Where It's Warm)

While the vacancies aren't as high as last year, almost 15% of the summer workcamp spaces are still open. That's comprised of a whopping 20% of the young adult slots and nearly 20% of the senior high youth spaces. The junior high youth are doing better, filling over 85% of their allotment. The northeast appears to be the least popular destination as workcamps in MA, DC, and WV have a combined vacancy pushing the 80% mark. The BRF workcamp stacks up last against the rest, having a vacancy of 45%. Maybe they'd rather go to WV.

Workcamp Assistant Sought

Because there are so many workcamps in the summer and only two BVSers to coordinate them, they are going to need some help. One assistant workcamp coordinator will be hired. They will spend a few weeks in Elgin helping to prepare for workcamps, and then travel to eight different workcamps all around the country.

You might be wondering what exactly this job entails. As Chris Douglas will tell you, "The job of the coordinators is to make it work. The job of the assistants is to help make it work." As an assistant workcamp coordinator, you could find yourself supervising a group of youth at a work project, providing support and encouragement to a workcamper who is going through a difficult time, grocery shopping, eating 2000 calories of Snickers, leading devotions, spending an evening in a hospital with a workcamper who broke her arm, or providing support and encouragement to an exhausted workcamp coordinator.

For more information on the roles and benefits of being a workcamp assistant as well as if you have any questions contact the Youth and Young Adult Office at cobyouth_gb@brethren.org or 800-323-8039

Go Where I Send Thee

This year has seen a serious drop off on volunteerism by Brethren senior high youth. While junior high and young adult workcamps are filled to capacity, nearly twenty percent of the senior high openings remain vacant. It seems that last summer's National Youth Conference had an unintended side effect. Exploiting a grant from the Lilly Endowment, NYC set our youth focus on vocation and now it looks like they've lost interest in volunteerism. There's still hope to be found in the current junior high generation who have not been exposed to this vocation frenzy, but Brethren Volunteer Service could be suffering in a few years when the job focused youth of today turn towards the workplace rather than joining BVS.