“Dreaming a World United”

SJA Guest Homily for Sunday 22 July 07

Guest Speakers: Richard Dodson, Siena Leone-Getten,

Annie Conzet, Molly McGurran and Ian Wright

Richard: In one of our early meetings for camp, Diana our “cultural ambassador” from Mexico, quoted Benito Juárez, perhaps Mexico’s most beloved president. Juárez famously said, “Among individuals, as among nations, respect for the rights of others is peace.” When we heard this quote from Diana, we knew we’d picked the right ambassador since these words go a long way toward capturing the spirit of Camp St Joan.

Every year, we set out to fulfill a dream. Our dream is of a world united: A world united by peace instead of fractured by war. A world in which people celebrate what we share rather than obsess about how we are divided. The basic Camp St Joan philosophy is that peace comes through understanding. If we can learn about different cultures, about how other people live, and worship, and work, and eat, and play; if we can glimpse inside their family lives, get a taste of their history, we can gain the compassion that comes with understanding. What a gift to give our children!

In the excerpt we heard from Desmond Tutu, he speaks of God’s dream of a world united – a dream that will come about through our hands. We might say that one of the prerequisites of war is that we make our enemy the other, the foreigner, the one who is unlike us. So if we make the foreigner our neighbor, our friend, our self, will we keep her from becoming our enemy? Isn’t this the dream Jesus has for us? This is the dream Camp St Joan tries to share each year with our children.

Okay, so much for philosophy. Yes, we have very high ideals, very lofty goals. And Camp St Joan is also a fabulously good time. It’s a great summer camp. Our kids dance, sing, eat, paint, act, do crafts, and play, play, play. They get a taste of another language, meet people from another culture, get their hands on really cool cultural artifacts and hang out with their friends – all right here on the St Joan campus. This year we had over 150 kids participate.

About a hundred people (most but not all parishioners) volunteer their time, the most hard-core among us starting in January. We volunteers work to find folks to embrace from the culture we are seeking, from all over the metro area and beyond. Each year, camp allows us to build relationships with our immigrant communities from Russia, China, Guatemala, India, Africa, and this year from the vibrant and generous Mexican community. Over the years, we have been blessed with amazing people who have gently and compassionately shared their culture with our children. Next year, our tenth anniversary, we’ll have the joy of connecting with our local Irish community. We can’t wait!

Before we get to our special guests, I’d like to comment briefly on just two camp projects. This year we added a mosaic bench to the mix. With the help of mosaic artist Lori Green, campers of all ages, from four years to sixth grade, created a mosaic inspired by the art of Mexico. This mosaic adorns a bench that is located in the courtyard right outside the gym. Please take a minute to look at it. And have a seat! We hope to make mosaic benches around the St Joan campus a new tradition at camp.

For another camp project this year we nurtured some Monarchs into maturity, from egg through cocoon into butterfly. On the last day of camp, we released them to begin their life journey. Each year the Monarch butterfly migrates from El Norte into Mexico. We wanted to nurture our little insect immigrants, then release them with our love, bound for the South. We wished for them a peaceful crossing of the border between our two countries. Who knows? Maybe our love will build a bridge.

Now I’d like to introduce our very special guests, four campers who are here today to tell you about their experience at Camp St Joan. Each of them has been to camp several times, and we’ve asked them to comment not just on this year’s camp but on their experience any time over the last nine years. First we have Siena, then Annie, then Molly, and finally, Ian.

Siena: Hi!  My name is Siena Leone-Getten and I’m eight year’s old.  I’ve been coming to Camp St. Joan for six years. 

One thing I love about camp is tasting the different foods from all over the world. I especially loved the food from China. 

One thing I learned at camp was that in India they do mendhi – henna painting – to decorate their bodies.  I love mendhi.  I really loved learning about yoga too. 

Going to camp St. Joan makes me want to travel all around the world. 

I think learning about people from all over the world is a great way to make a happier peaceful world. 

That’s how I dream a world united. Thank you! 

Annie: Hi, my name is Annie Conzet. I am 10 years old and I have been going to Camp for seven years. 

What I like about Camp St. Joan is that every year we learn about a whole new country, what holidays they have, what food they eat, how they practice their religion and a lot of other things.

Camp St. Joan has also taught me how the world can work better together.  Dreaming a World United to me means that we can put aside our differences and understand each other better.

Camp has been so much fun for me, I hope that I will keep coming and helping out when I am older.

Molly: Nahmahstay, Privet, Neehow, Jambo, Hola!

Hi, my name is Molly McGurran and I am 11 years old. This is my sixth year at Camp Saint Joan of Arc and I’ve enjoyed each time. We have learned about Native Americans and the following countries: Africa, China, India, Russia and this year, Mexico.

Each year I look forward to coming to camp Saint Joan of Arc. All of the counselors are very nice. In camp we learn the customs of the people or traditions such as food, music, language, games and other things. We have many activities. I love the murals; they’re fun to paint and look at. During camp I’ve enjoyed trying caviar, the Mexican hat dance, henna, market place, cooking traditional foods and story telling. At the end of the week, it’s fun to know what country is next, and the last night there is a fiesta dinner.

I think every child should try Camp Saint Joan. Learning about all of the cultures makes kids want to learn more about the people in that group or country.  When we all understand each other there is more peace and less war. At Camp Saint Joan of Arc we’re not only dreaming a world united, we’re also creating a world united. Gracias mi amigos!

Ian:  My name is Ian Wright, I am 12 years old and I will be in the seventh grade this fall. I have participated in all of the Camp Saint Joan of Arc’s, and this year I thought it was pretty cool because I was a group leader of 14 third graders as we explored Mexico.

This past week we have had fun learning about the culture of Mexico. We have spoken their language, eaten their food, played their music, studied their art and played their games. My favorite activity was painting the mural of Mexico in the parish office. You should go check it out after church. We also met historical figures from Mexico’s past. I met the Lady of Guadalupe, Juan Diego, Caesar Chavez, Cortez and Montezuma. My dad’s favorite was Fernando Valenzuela who was a pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. I also learned that one of the third graders in my group got his head stuck in the Golden Gate Bridge while on vacation in San Francisco.

In other years I have learned about the cultures of Russia, Guatemala, China, India, Africa and Native Americans. I am excited for next year because we are going to explore Ireland. My grandma’s grandparents came from Ireland so she is overjoyed!

My very first year of Camp Saint Joan was nine years ago, and I was just adopted from the Philippines. On our first day of camp we learned about my homeland. I thought that was pretty fun to share my country with all the campers so they could learn a little more about me.

During all my years of camp, I’ve learned that each country has different music, food, games, stories and customs and traditions. However, I’ve learned that even though we are all different, we are still all the same. All people, no matter where they come from want to love their families and to have peace throughout the world; but to do this, we have to see God in each other and Dream a World United.

Richard: When the patron saint of Mexico, the Virgin of Guadalupe, appeared to Juan Diego she represented a bridge between two cultures, a connection between the indigenous people of Juan Diego and the Spanish Christians. We hope that Camp St Joan provides a similar bridge between our children and the peoples of the world. Thank you.