CinA - Jumijärvi 2005 working camp

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Project description

Jumijärvi is the campsite of the Swedish-speaking Methodist Church in Finland and is mainly used for youth and children's camps. The doors and windows and other parts of the buildings need to be painted and small carpentry things need to be done. Young people from the church in Finland are encouraged to take part in this work project. A group from America is also invited to take part to make this a truly international working camp.

The Methodist church in Finland is small, about 2000 members spread out evenly over two separate churches, one Swedish-speaking and one Finnish-speaking. (There is a minority in Finland of about 6 per cent of the population that are Swedish-speaking and live concentrated along certain parts of the coast of Finland).

The Swedish-speaking Methodist Church in Finland has had many years of decline but the last ten or so years things have changed. We have not seen a big growth yet, but there is a very eager young generation willing to work hard to see people saved by God. The campsite Jumijärvi has been in use for over 40 years and during this time it has played a central part in the youth- and children's work of the church. A lot of young people have given their lives to Jesus at Jumijärvi.
Unfortunately wear and tear is taking its toll, and a lot of small things need to be fixed or painted. This is easy to do but expensive if you use professional painters and carpenters. Therefore we are arranging this working camp.
We want to engage first and foremost our own youth (and young at heart) to do a practical deed for the campsite that has meant so much to so many. We also want to invite people from Europe and America to our campsite, to see this beautiful place, to make great new friends, and to help us freshen up our campsite.

We expect about 10 EMYC participants, 10 participants from the Methodist Church in the US and about 20-30 young and older people from Finland to take part. It will not at all be only work but a good deal of play too. There will be swimming and sauna, canoeing on the beautiful lake, walks in the surrounding forest, Bible studies, prayer, great encounters with God by the evening campfire, and a lot of fellowship with fabulous new friends from different places. We want to emphasise the spiritual part of the camp, a lot of time will be given during for example morning devotionals and evening worship to share one's faith and learn from the other participants.

After the one-week long working camp opportunity will be given to stay in Helsinki for a few days or to travel to other cities to see the country.

Yours truly,
Markus Norrby
Chairman of youth board

[ Letter, preliminary programme and registration (133KB) ]