Treasures of Heaven Summer Camp - Fundraising Request and Website

We’re sending this letter to all of our friends and European Church communities on behalf of the Treasures of Heaven Summer Camp that will take place in Camberg from the 12th to 17th July this summer.

We still remember your heart-warming response to our call for financial support last year, which enabled us to reduce the travel and workshop costs for our volunteers and participating families. Without this, it wouldn’t have been possible to organize such a successful workshop.

As you know, we aim to give special attention and support to Blessed Families within our Church who have one or more children with a disability, whether mental or physical. These families are often quite isolated – although not intentional, that is often a result of our lack of knowledge about their circumstances, and occasionally even our prejudices or inability to understand their struggles. The Treasures Of Heaven children cannot participate in the usual programmes and activities that are organized for our youth, and so far their connection to other young people in the Movement has been limited as a result.

Our TOH youngsters and their parents will spend some special quality time together, with indoor and outdoor activities, dance, lots of music, crafts etc. There is also some time allocated for the parents to share, discuss and develop plans for the future. To make this workshop possible, we have some very dedicated 1st and 2nd gen brothers and sisters from all over Europe who will assist in the program and take care of the TOH participants…

…which highlights another special value of this workshop: the volunteers have a unique opportunity to experience the deep meaning of “living for the sake of others” when dedicating themselves to their TOHbrothers and sisters and discovering their beautiful hearts. You will appreciate that this kind of workshop requires more than the usual financial resources – it is like a ‘double load’ for families, as at least one parent from each family needs to accompany the participant. There is also a need for many more volunteers than with other 2nd gen summer activities, and their workshop costs need to be subsidised.

So if you feel inspired to support us, please make a donation in one of the following ways: 1. Donations via Paypal (preferred): TOHeurope@gmail.com 2. Donations via Credit or Debit Card: Please click on the ‘donate’ button on our website: https://toh2016.wordpress.com (Feel free to share the website with friends and family who may also be interested in supporting us.)

Please be assured that even if we receive many small donations it can make a big difference! Contributions could take the form of a personal donation, or it could come from a community fund (it can make a great local fundraising project) or a department or National Headquarters. Finally, it would help us greatly if donations were made before the end of June, so that we are able to budget accordingly.

Thank you once again and God bless you,

Sincerely Lisa Janssen, Maria Pammer, David Hanna and Grace Cho

(On behalf of the Treasures of Heaven Ministry, European Blessed Family Department and European Second Generation Department)

Treasures of Heaven Family Camp

7th – 12th July 2015 Camberg, Germany Participants and staff: 38

1st Gen: Lisa Janssen, Main staff and educators

Maria Pammer, David Hanna, Burgy Celi 2nd Gen: Kleemens Hoffman, Grace Barata

The Treasures of Heaven Ministry in the European Blessed Family Department was created to provide a care and support network for families with children with mental and physical disabilities.

This unique summer camp was the third of it’s kind in Europe, designed to support 2nd generation with physical or mental special needs, which would inhibit them from joining in with other activities independently. Our TOH participants were therefore supported by both their parents and 2nd generation volunteers, which brought a wonderful family dimension to the workshop. We were able to enjoy at least one session all together each day, whilst also giving space for parents and children to follow separate programs that catered to their specific needs.

Basic schedule and main activities Overall feeling and conclusions The Second Generation (TOH participants and their buddies) enjoyed a varied and flexible program of art therapy, music therapy, dance and games. One afternoon was spent swimming and Overall, the workshop was a great success; so much so that playing beach volleyball at the pool. Time was also set aside for more internal content, including it has inspired the organisers to run it every year instead of talks from the second generation staff about the summer motto, an introduction to the prayer every 2 years. It was wonderful for the TOH participants to room, as well as small group discussions about the blessing (with those for whom it was be able to participate and express themselves in a workshop appropriate). environment. It was eye opening for the second generation volunteers, who were given a unique opportunity to get to The first generation (parents and staff) participated in sessions focusing on strategies to help cope know our vibrant participants, and who very naturally helped with some of the challenges that might be faced, took time out to share and receive guidance, and to create a free and accepting family atmosphere. It was also participated in art therapy sessions, which connected to the work of some of their children. necessary for the parents as it created an environment where they could take time out of the stresses of daily life to Amongst the highlights of the workshop were the sessions that were spent all together. These relax, whilst simultaneously creating a stronger support included a camp fire and family evening which featured excellent entertainment from our talented network. Many thanks to all the staff and generous financial parents (former Go World Brass Band members) and the TOH participants themselves! contributions, which made this important workshop possible!

Treasures of Heaven Summer Camp 2016

Dear brothers and sisters,

We’re sending this letter to all of our friends and European Church communities on behalf of the

Treasures of Heaven Summer Camp that will take place in Camberg from the 12th to 17th July this summer.

We still remember your heartwarming response to our call for financial support last year, which enabled

us to reduce the travel and workshop costs for our volunteers and participating families. Without this, it

wouldn’t have been possible to organize such a successful workshop.

As you know, we aim to give special attention and support to Blessed Families within our Church who

have one or more children with a disability, whether mental or physical. These families are often quite

isolated – although not intentional, that is often a result of our lack of knowledge about their

circumstances, and occasionally even our prejudices or inability to understand their struggles. The

Treasures Of Heaven children cannot participate in the usual programmes and activities that are organized

for our youth, and so far their connection to other young people in the Movement has been limited as a

Our TOH youngsters and their parents will spend some special quality time together, with indoor and

outdoor activities, dance, lots of music, crafts etc. There is also some time allocated for the parents to

share, discuss and develop plans for the future. To make this workshop possible, we have some very

dedicated 1st and 2nd gen brothers and sisters from all over Europe who will assist in the program and take

care of the TOH participants…

…which highlights another special value of this workshop: the volunteers have a unique opportunity to

experience the deep meaning of “living for the sake of others” when dedicating themselves to their TOH

brothers and sisters and discovering their beautiful hearts.

You will appreciate that this kind of workshop requires more than the usual financial resources

– it is like

a ‘double load’ for families, as at least one parent from each family needs to accompany the participant.

There is also a need for many more volunteers than with other 2nd gen summer activities, and their

workshop costs need to be subsidised.

So if you feel inspired to support us, please make a donation in one of the following ways:

Donations via Paypal (preferred): TOHeurope@gmail.com

Donations via Credit or Debit Card:

Please click on the ‘donate’ button on our website: https://toh2016.wordpress.com

(Feel free to share the website with friends and family who may also be interested in supporting

Please be assured that even if we receive many small donations it can make a big difference!

Contributions could take the form of a personal donation, or it could come from a community fund (it can

make a great local fundraising project) or a department or National Headquarters. Finally, it would help us

greatly if donations were made before the end of June, so that we are able to budget accordingly.

Thank you once again and God bless you,

Lisa Janssen, Maria Pammer, David Hanna and Grace Cho

(On behalf of the Treasures of Heaven Ministry, European Blessed Family Department and European

Second Generation Department).