The Augustinian Friars in Britain

Our Hearts are Restless until they Rest in You, Lord

SPANISH SUMMER CAMP, LA VID, JULY 2009

In July this year 3 young adults from the Province spent 2 weeks volunteering at a youth Summer Camp run by Spanish Augustinians at La Vid in the Burgos Region of Spain.  Louise Murphy (Harborne) worked with the 10 - 12 year-olds, Marcus Duffy (Edinburgh) with the 13+ group and Anna Hornby (Clare) with the youngest children.  Here are some of Louise and Marcus’s impressions:

It is a worthwhile experience for anyone who is willing to work hard.   There isn’t a big emphasis on faith but more on activities with different themed days with many activities related.  I slept in a tent with three other female leaders who I became very good friends with and am still in contact. The tent was actually rather nice with mattresses and access to hot showers if you walked to the monastery.  The leaders expected us to do 2 hours of English each day.  I would happily go again next year although I would want pre-warning of activities to be planned.  If the young person [travelling to the camp] could speak Spanish it would be an enormous help!

It’s an amazing opportunity for the right kind of person! Overall I had a great time and was very sad to leave and hope to stay in contact with some of the people I met there!

Louise Murphy

 

Spain was amazing I had a really awesome time there. Everyone was very nice and despite the slight language barrier there were a lot of laughs. I was very lucky to have someone in my camp that spoke excellent English. Although most of the monitors (leaders) underrated their knowledge of English most of them were actually pretty good.

 The kids spoke English well but it was difficult to get into longer conversations. I brought postcards, Edinburgh playing cards and an American football just to break the ice with them and it worked quite well.  Just so I could show them the cards and say "this is where I come from" etc.

At the end of the day I had a great time and I loved meeting new people and I would to love to go back again.

Marcus Duffy