by Analucia Perdomo

After a respite of two years, St. Peter the Aleut Camp is back. Though previously held in Texas’ Hill Country near San Antonio, camp reconvened at YMCA’s Camp Grady Spruce, northwest of Ft. Worth. Thirty-three campers, three priests and various counselors joined in the week long event. Fr. John Anderson from St. Seraphim’s Cathedral in Dallas, Fr. Antonio Perdomo from St. George’s Church in Pharr, Texas and Fr. Ambrose Arrington from Holy Apostles Mission in Tulsa, Oklahoma, directed the spiritual focus of the camp. Attendees came from throughout Texas and Oklahoma. For Orthodox youth living in an overwhelmingly protestant or anti-Christian worldview society, attending camps and similar activities provides vital nourishment on many levels. Life-long friendships develop and deepen with such events, especially in a geographically vast diocese where many churches contain very few youth. Such activities allow much needed connections to form between isolated teens, young adults and children. Combined with prayer, wholesome fun and clear spiritual focus, the week was well invested for all participants.

              The opportunity for spending time with other Orthodox youth is enhanced with occasions dedicated to common prayer. At camp, morning and evening prayers were held daily in the large common room. Vespers was served on Wednesday evening and Divine Liturgy on Thursday morning. Youth participants chanted at services and the choir was filled with singers ranging from the youngest campers to the oldest counselors. Besides prayer, due to the proximity of a lake, camp activities consisted largely of water sports. These included sailing, canoeing, swimming and blobbing. Via two ferry type boats,  we ventured a trip across the smooth blue waters to the small lake island we dubbed ‘Little Mount Athos’. Once campers climbed to the top of this picturesque site, Fr. Ambrose Arrington spoke about Mount Athos and monastic life. Other camp activities included archery, rifle practice and hiking.

         Thursday evening brought us a rousing talent show. The audience kept

breaking into an uproar of laughter generated by the ingenious performances shared. Each of the four camper teams presented a skit. Several fine solo and duet performances followed the skits. After the talent show, we had evening prayers and the younger campers went off to bed. The older youth then met outside around the camp fire for a “round table” discussion. Earlier in the day, each teen was given a paper to anonymously submit any burning questions they wanted answered or discussed. This activity gave the older campers a special time to air important questions. With the attending clergy present to help focus the discussion, all went extremely well. For some, this was the most meaningful part of camp.

Friday morning, all campers went on a hike up to Johnson's Peak. The climb afforded all participants excellent views of Possum Kingdom Lake and the YMCA camp.  On that rock littered hillside, Fr. Antonio Perdomo gave the closing lecture on ‘what it means to be holy, to be a saint.’ Grouped in a semicircle, this discussion drew upon camper participation. All present savored this last leg of camp.  After scrambling down the hillside, attendees piled into a truck bed hayride headed back to the weeks’ home. With closing announcements and camp awards given, everyone said farewell and returned to the rest of life.

Spending a week with other Orthodox youth reminds us that we are not alone in a hostile world. Other Orthodox Christians face the same struggles and endure the constant mental persecution that we do. At the end of St. Peter the Aleut Camp, everyone left happy and ready to face the rest of summer. Regular camp activities, blended with the richness of Orthodox prayer life and insightful lectures offered by the clergy, offered a wonderful event for both body and soul. Counselor, camper, and clergy alike had a wonderful time and look forward to next year. Youth represent both the present and future of our church. Focused Orthodox activities such as camps and retreats facilitate spiritual growth and greater bonding within the Church. When Orthodox youth spend time together, invaluable memories, lessons and relationships required for building that future are created and nourished.  

To learn more & see photos, go to: http://www.stseraphim.org/parishlife.html

And at: http://www.stgeorgepantry.org/