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romanian!
We are all now recovering from Fear … or at least, from the conference of that name!
Our Romanian students were – as always – wonderful. We had 20 sixth formers, all from Orthodox backgrounds this time, and most on the verge of leaving home for the first time to go to university in one of Romania’s larger cities.
The needs and expectations of the students have of course changed over the years, and the conferences have had to evolve accordingly. Nowadays, we plan in more free time, and the material itself is much more interactive. All of them got stuck in to the discussions and role-plays, some with considerable gusto! It was clear from the feedback that they all enjoyed the week; two key messages were that they appreciated the chance to raise issues (eg fear of God) which are normally taboo, and that they valued the chance to air their own views.
This was the first time we’d staged anything in Brodina. It is an absolutely beautiful spot, high up in the hills, and a long way from anywhere – even from a road! The nearest neighbours, in a cluster of farms, are the Hutsul mountain people, who tended to pop in with homemade cheeses. Accommodation was delightfully rustic (though we would not have been able to squeeze any more in), and in kind weather it was a wonderful place to be.
Our Romanian students were – as always – wonderful. We had 20 sixth formers, all from Orthodox backgrounds this time, and most on the verge of leaving home for the first time to go to university in one of Romania’s larger cities.
The needs and expectations of the students have of course changed over the years, and the conferences have had to evolve accordingly. Nowadays, we plan in more free time, and the material itself is much more interactive. All of them got stuck in to the discussions and role-
This was the first time we’d staged anything in Brodina. It is an absolutely beautiful spot, high up in the hills, and a long way from anywhere – even from a road! The nearest neighbours, in a cluster of farms, are the Hutsul mountain people, who tended to pop in with homemade cheeses. Accommodation was delightfully rustic (though we would not have been able to squeeze any more in), and in kind weather it was a wonderful place to be.
Misu and Livia were both absolutely exhausted, even before the conference started. Livia did the cooking, which kept costs down, but was an awful lot of work for her. Misu was caught up in a variety of mechanical repairs, and so neither of them were able to get to any of the conference program this time. That was a sad loss for us. Nevertheless, by the end of the week, they both seemed a lot more relaxed, and are now enjoying a well-earned break.
We are now reviewing what we should do next year – clearly the students want us to continue with conferences, and there is no shortage of suggestions for topics!
· for energy and vision for Misu and Livia
· for the students setting off for university
· for our own thoughts regarding future conferences
· for creative ways of keeping in touch with the students in the meantime.
The overall aim of the conferences – indeed, of everything we do, and our aim for ourselves also – is that day by day we may all know God better.
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