It’s Only Been a Week in Gyumri

It’s only been a week in Gyumri and I can’t believe our first week of Jampar is over. Here we are, approaching another hectic week of activities, games, and educationals with 200 Gyumretsi kids – and I’m so excited!

It only been a week in Gyumri and I can feel how much these kids love us; how everyday all they look forward to is seeing us, and spending time with us, and participating in the daily activities of Jampar with us. We leave our house at 9:15 am and 4 out of the 5 days this week, kids have waited at the corner of our street to walk to Jampar with us. A few have even waited past Jampar hours to walk back home with us.

It’s only been a week in Gyumri, and I am completely in love with the kids here. They’re so intelligent and active and open-hearted, and I genuinely care for these kids just as I feel they care for me.

It’s only been a week in Gyumri and we’re honestly exhausted. What we do is tiring, I’m not going to lie. We’re a group of 13 responsible for a group of 200. At the end of the day, all we want is to shower and rest. But let me tell you why it’s all worth it.

One of our Jampar activities is having the kids write about their favorite part of camp in their handmade passports. In these passports, the kids document the highlights of their Jampar experience.

It’s only been a week in Gyumri, and here is why what we do is worth the exhaustion.

This passport journal entry is by a boy named Vartan. Vartan is a quiet one. He’s so well-behaved. He’s also very smart and very eager to learn.

Here’s a translation of Vartan’s writing:

“At Jampar, what I enjoyed most, first of all, were the counselors. I really enjoy Unger Sevan and Ungeroohi Carla and a lot of others.”

It’s a small note, but it made me feel really appreciated.

This next passport entry is by a boy named Hambartsum. Hambartsum is one of the most active kids I’ve ever met. All he wants to do is play soccer and hug me.

Here’s a translation of Hambartsum’s writing:

“Today in the morning we had breakfast. And then we went to play soccer. And then we came back and had breakfast again. (I think he meant lunch.) And then we drew a lot of pictures. And then I told Carla that I love her very, very, very, very much.”

Every small action of ours has a huge effect on the kids here. What was the most surprising to me was how big an effect each action of the kids was going to have on me.

From Gyumri
with love,

Carla Kekejian