THE 2018 SAINT SAVA CAMP SEASON
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Life in community prepares us for life eternal in God’s kingdom. It is not always easy to live with others; it requires understanding, patience, willingness to forgive and ask for forgiveness, unselfishness and loving sacrifice. In return, it gives us unique opportunity to grow in faith, humility and love and to experience true peace and joy. In order to make our Camp function smoothly and efficiently, a great communal effort is required. Our Camp is, therefore, our big, extended family. It is Christ-centered and it cherishes our rich ethnic Serbian heritage, which blossomed from our faith in Him. Our father and Bishop Maxim is there to bless our proposed ideas, activities and assignments. As in the past years, he visited the Camp every week for a day or two, to express his fatherly love and care for all Camp participants and to make sure that the Camp was in good and godly order. Protinica Radmila Bojović from our Diocesan center provided an invaluable administrative help and Svetlana Živanović, the Facility Manager of Saint Sava Mission, together with her husband Siniša, the Facility Technician, and advised and helped by Prota Steven Tumbas, former Saint Sava Mission and Saint Sava Camp Director, offered an important logistical and technical support before and during the Camp season. Our good and loving clergy, Djurica Gordić (Culture Week), Dane Popović, Radovan Petrović, Milan Unković (1st Week), Bratislav Kršić, Dragomir Tuba, Predrag Bojović, Milovan Katanić (2nd Week), George Gligich, Norman Kosanovich and Triva Pavlov (3rd Week), missed this year Father Russell Radoicich, but had Father Vidoslav Vujasin (2nd Week) for the first time. They educated, prayed and played with our youth and children and listened to their confessions. Some of them travelled for 10, 12 or even 16 hours to be there for the Camp and our children. Some priests were accompanied by their wives, who were of great help to the Camp in many ways: Protinica Milica Popović, Protinica Tanja Katanić, Protinica Ivana Petrović, Popadija Sladjana Unković. Beau Gillman and Tina Milinovich served as committed and creative codirectors for the Culture Week. Other inspiring educators and instructors included: Protinica Elena Gligich for Religious Education (3rd Week), Dawnell Vuko Lewis (Culture Week), Trina Jovovich (1st Week), Daniela Sina (2nd Week), Nicole Savić, Mara Spilker and Nancy Nikodijević (3rd Week) for Arts and Crafts, Zoran
Starčević for Serbian Language and History (Culture Week) and Popadija Biljana Bojović for Music (1st, 2nd and 3rd Weeks). Tanya Vukovich and Lynn Cater served as nurses and Michael Rice and Doug Silva were taking care of security. Lazar Larry Angier once again took beautiful group photos for every week of the Camp and Nicole Flynn coordinated evening activities (1st Week). Tens of counselors in all four weeks of the Camp probably had the most demanding task: they were on duty 24 hours a day. They were directed by their head counselors: Francesca Milinovich (Culture Week), Pavle Bunjević (1st Week), Krstina Pavlović and Aleksandra Kordić (2nd Week), Nick Salata, Jonathan Savić and Steve Spilker (3rd Week). The kitchen crews of every week also did an admirable work, headed by: Miroslav Milovanovich (Culture Week), Sara Mireles and Mila Pantovich (1st Week), Protodjakonica Danica Pavlov and Djakonica Victoria Stojanovich (2nd Week), and Simona Trifunović (3rd Week). Although Prota Dušan and Protinica Ljiljana Bunjević could not stay for a whole week this year, they did not miss to come for the Talent Show of the 1st Week. It was their 55th annual arrival to Camp Saint Sava, which made the occasion very emotional for everyone present. The beloved couple of the faithful servants of God received as a gift an icon of Saint Sebastian of Jackson, signed by all camp participants with great and deep love, respect and gratitude for being the warm soul, bright mind and tireless hands of the Camp Saint Sava for 55 years. Their legacy will last as long as this Camp exists and they will be remembered and present with us always and in everything we do. Many more wonderful and dedicated people helped immensely this Camp season. May Saint Sava and Saint Sebastian remember them all in their prayers and may our good and loving God remember them all in His Kingdom.
The main topic in all Serbian Orthodox camps throughout the United States of America this year was Prayer – Speaking with God. The topic stimulated many interesting discussions on what prayer is, who and what we pray for, and why, how, when and where we can pray. How can we pray without ceasing? If we remember God at all times and in everything we do. If we do not forget that in every human being we encounter there is an image of God and that he or she is our brother or sister. Whenever we pray for each other, we are together. The prayer network is the most powerful and biggest social network. Divine Liturgy is the source and crown of all prayers and our great reunion – with God, saints, ancestors and each other. Whenever we partake of the Holy Communion, of the most holy and precious Body and Blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we become one with God and with each other, just as we were one during this camp season. Therefore, at its conclusion, we may simply say to each other: See you next year, but we will actually think to ourselves: See you in prayer and See you at next Divine Liturgy. Until God gathers us again in our beloved, blessed and historic Jackson!
