Natasha and her Children

One of the first people we met at the camp was an older woman named Natasha. At first we were not clear as to why she was at the camp. She sat at the children’s table and seemingly every child at the table called her ‘mama,’ the youngest being only 2 years old.


A few days later we were able to talk with her about all her children. She and her husband have 6 children of their own, four of who were at the camp (two wives of counselors, one counselor, and one camper). Five of the children at the kid’s table were orphans she and her husband had adopted and started their own children’s home. During this explanation of whom her children were she pointed to people around the dining room and said, “They’re my children,” and she pointed at Jason and said, “and you are too!”


Throughout the rest of the camp ‘Mama’ became to be one of the most encouraging people to us. Her love for all her ‘children’ and her care for the campers was a blessing. We were very glad for her children too, as they became good friends for Havah to play with during the day.