For the Brothers of St. John in Ethiopia, the rainy season always rhymes with summer camps for youth, families, and the disadvantaged. Following a request for help from the Missionary Sisters of Charity, this year we chose to go to Wonji — two hours south of Addis near Adama — for the Charity Mission Camp from July 26 to 29.

This mission was different from the previous years. It consisted in teaching English and Ethics in the morning for 5 days in the Catholic school of Wonji for 600 students divided into 5 classes from kindergarten to 4th grade.

A total of 6 girls and 9 boys from Addis Ababa, Debrezeit, and Hosanna were trained a few days before the camp by Brothers Matthieu de la Croix and Philippe François to fulfill this teaching mission so important today for young people who lack orientation and are often unaware of the moral values essential to succeed in life.

Besides the morning classes given to the students, we could enjoy the hot springs of Sodere (20 km from Wonji).

We also cooperated with the diocesan priests of St. Mary’s Catholic Parish in Wonji: discovery of the pastoral ministry in the three “camps” of families of workers in the sugar cane fields, a soccer game with the youth of the parish, and a beautiful vigil of adoration on Thursday evening with a preaching on the works of mercy by the parish priest Abba Yohanes.

Strong and enthusiastic about this experience, 5 young people from the camp and others from Addis Ababa volunteered to continue for another two weeks this experience of teaching and tutoring the students of the Catholic school with the agreement of the parish and the Missionary Sisters of Charity of Wonji.

We give thanks for having been able to bring a little knowledge and light to the young people of this city during their vacations in response to the call of the prophet Hosea: “my people perish for lack of knowledge” Hosea 4,6