THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 29, 1994 TAG: 9407280207
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DAN COOLEY, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 90 lines
Teens from Kempsville Presbyterian Church found a different way to have summer fun last week.
About 30 teens from the church set up a summer recreation program at Campostella Square in Chesapeake.
Using the playing fields of a nearby elementary school and indoor facilities belonging to Broken Chains ministry, they spent two hours each day there, inviting young people from the low income development over for crafts, sports and other programs.
One thing the teens learned is that the children they served live in an environment quite different from theirs.
``It's an area with a lot of drugs and violence,'' said 17-year-old church teen Jennifer Heeden. ``It was a big surprise to some in our group that there is a poverty level situation like this so close to home, so close to nice houses.''
The teens were briefed ahead of time on what to look for, but that didn't mean it was easy. Along with experiencing a different environment, the teens also had to adjust to a different lifestyle.
``One girl asked me have you divorced your mother yet and then, are you married yet,'' said 13-year-old Mary Jennette. ``They ask questions about things they want to do and are used to seeing happen.''
It was the second year the teens spent a week at Campostella Square. The effort was a joint venture of the church's youth director Wes Lammay and assistant youth director Scott Cardani.
Cardani said the youth group had gone on missionary trips to Mexico in the past, so he and Lammay felt it was time to do something locally. Because of the church's close association with Broken Chains, a Campostella Square ministry, that area was chosen for youth community service.
``We wanted the teens to learn how to show love to other people,'' said Cardani. ``(That included) how to minister to others and showing them the love of Jesus.''
The teens' work week consisted of spending structured time with children 4 to 12. The kids were put in programs, which the teens planned.
The younger children spent time with crafts and games and the older children had a choice between drama or basketball and football. The programs had a different twist: the teens did the teaching and the adults helped out.
Lammay explained one of the reasons it was done that way.
``In this type of situation, teens are listened to more than adults,'' said Lammay. ``A teen may be older but . . . still a kid. Kids expect adults to say things. If the teen says it, they believe it more because (the teen wasn't expected) to say it.''
This new type of teaching must have worked. Many of the 60 kids who showed up initially had little motivation for being there, but almost all of them stayed the entire week.
Some kids came because they had nothing else to do, or because there was food. But 10-year-old Harmoney Lloyd gave an answer that fit right in with the teens' purpose for the week.
``It was fun,'' said Harmoney, who was involved in drama. ``We learned about Jesus and we got to dance.''
The teens were also briefed ahead of time on how to teach and how to relate to the kids. They were given specific topics to teach, but were expected to come up with their own personal stories and biblical scripture verses.
The teens found that before they could teach, they had to be able to relate to the kids. John DiGirolamo, 17, explained one of the keys to relating.
``You have to gain their respect,'' said DiGirolamo. ``You do that by first talking to them and becoming their friend. ``When you become their friend, they'll respect you. Then they'll listen to you and do what you tell them to do.''
In working toward gaining that respect, most of the teens said they had trouble getting the kids to listen and pay attention to them at first. But they eventually warmed up, as did the teens.
``They were constantly grabbing on to us, soaking up all the love and attention they could get,'' said 16-year-old Will Jenkins. ``They needed our love and God's love and it was easy to give it to them.''
Though both kids and teens had to adjust to the others' culture, all in all, they learned to enjoy each other.
``I had fun,'' said Dominique Sims, 8. ``I like it because everyone was so friendly.''
``This week was fun,'' said Amanda James, 16. ``The kids were really nice and I made some new friends. I hope I can go visit them again soon.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by STEVE EARLEY
Nichelle Person, 7, hitches a ride with Fara Atangan. The Kempsville
Presbyterian Church teens were surprised to find poverty so close to
home.
by CNB