Camper's Reflections

 

Anna Stitt, camper '07, from her application

Thoughts on Philip Hallie's “Lest Innocent Blood Be Shed”

“…the story of Le Chambon really penetrated my consciousness, perhaps the following can explain why. I was born and spent the first part of my childhood in an intentional Christian community in the state of Georgia called Koinonia. The people there valued nonviolence, equality, and simplicity, trying to identify with the poor in the way Jesus demonstrated. The community was founded in the 1940's in an attempt to demonstate how blacks and whites could live together in equality during an extremely racially tense and prejudiced time in the southern United States. With its radical ideas on racial equality and communal living, the community was constantly assaulted with bombs, death threats, and boycotts from the surrounding population – yet it consistently responded with nonviolence. Because I grew up with the concept of nonviolence and activism, but since then have not encountered many other people or organizations with these values, I found it quite exciting to come across the story of André Trocmé, with his energetic love and persistent exclusion of violence from his action plan. While many of the other Christian leaders around Europe during WWII, such as Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Pierre Toureille, gave up their commitment to nonviolence for what they saw as stronger kinds of resistance to Hitler, André Trocmé did not waver in his determination to live and work in what he saw as Jesus' way. …I want to practice these values in my own life, trying always to be proactive, work towards peace, be compassionate, and follow God's lead. … The villagers of quiet little Le Chambon-sur-Lignon marched dedicatedly and peacefully towards a better world, showing compassion to the persecuted and aid to the oppressed. And they prevailed.”

 

Varun Puvanesarajah, camper, writes after the 2007 camp

“The village and school's history played a large role as well in our day to day activities. Thought on the history of the town was jumpstarted by the Church service we attended the first day of the camp. I remember feeling a sense of pride afterwards (after Tito and Kirk had translated the sermon) in the work that we were about to do. It was as if we were upholding the values and beliefs of the Chambonnaise of WWII and Pastor Trocmé. And I felt this way when I worked alongside the refugees digging the parking lot. We, together, were upholding the belief that refugees who were forced out of their own country due to political or social reasons had the right to live somewhere safe until they found a permanent residence. The history of the town and school helped me remember how unfortunate the refugees' condition was, although, they were not being sought after for extermination, they and the Jews had the commonality of not being able to safely live in their homes. In fact, I had a basis for relating with what the refugees had gone through. In Sri Lanka, my country of origin, there is a civil war that is ongoing even today, between the Tamil Tigers, who want their own Tamil state, and the Sri Lankan government. My parents left their home in Sri Lanka for the United States in the 1980s to avoid this conflict.

…The campers left the camp with nine really good friends. And for me,I also became really good friends with Salman, Narek, and Edgar (the three refugees), and I plan on staying in regular correspondence with them.

Philip's connections between Israel and Le Chambon

I have just returned from my trip to Israel, and while in Jerusalem, I had the opportunity to visit Yad Vashem, the Holocaust museum in Israel. Toward the end of the tour, our guide brought us to the exhibit about all of those who helped the Jews. I was not really paying much attention until she stopped to tell the story of Andre Trocme. I have to admit I was quite surprised. While I understand the significance of what he did, and what took place in Le Chambon, I was not aware these events were so widely known. This experience made my time and service in Le Chambon come full circle.

Every time we talk about Le Chambon and the work camp, we talk about a service program to help a school and to help refugees. Hearing Le Chambon mentioned, and seeing the tree planted in Jerusalem, in honor of
Trocme, made me realize what we did at the work camp was much bigger than I think any of us realized. We helped to preserve a tradition started by one man, to whom millions are grateful.

I'd like to thank you for giving me this opportunity to be a part of something so special and to help maintain something so significant to so many people. I
felt a sense of pride when our guide asked if anybody had been to Le Chambon, and knew the story of Trocme. I said yes to both and did not mention the work camp, but I did feel an extreme sense of accomplishment,
that I had helped to preserve what he started and a desire to do even more. If I ever have the opportunity to return to Le Chambon, I would see the town in a new light and it would only add to that feeling of accomplishment. Seeing this exhibit made me realize even more how important Le Chambon is, both from a historical point of view and to me personally, as a Jew and as a work-camp alum. Once again, thank you for the experience in Le Chambon, and for providing me with the experience to not only help this school and
improve the lives of many refugees, but to help keep this history and tradition alive. I find it ironic, but I am also proud that the most meaningful part of
my trip to Israel was hearing about the accomplishments and significance of Andre Trocme and Le Chambon.

Phillip Handler

 

Summer Reflections from Elizabeth Schrott

First, I'd really like to thank you for giving me the opportunity to go to France again and have an important role in shaping the summer program at the college Cevenol. Martine already told you the projects we completed but I'll give you more details regarding the major ones:

PROJECTS COMPLETED: We redid the entire basketball courts -we repainted the lines, -sanded and then painted two coats of an evergreen color on the poles, -dug around the base of the pole so gravel could be placed there. -around the cafeteria, we sanded and varnished all of the windows and doors -we also enlarged the parking lot. -we grabbed shovels and pick axes and dug to make the ground even with the pavement. -the excess dirt was then wheel barrowed off to the sides of the road -grass-seed will be planted there. They look amazing! If I didn't know any better I would have assumed they were professionally done. Their shine really brightens up the campus. Everyone had a really positive attitude when we were working. We had fun, we worked together, and we were proud of the results. The campus looks beautiful.

ACTIVITIES: -We went to the markets, -the vite grene, -the plague. -played sports with the sports campers, -went to a dance with the sports campers -saw a talent show put on by the girls in the dance camp. -spent time in town -enjoyed frequent meals and desserts at the creperie. -went to see the gallery opening at the Maison de Roche -saw the new Harry Potter movie (in French). -played tennis -went running through town and on the trails in the woods. -On Bastille night we saw the fireworks over the river and spent time dancing in the square. -saw a movie in the town square. -went to Le Puy -we spent the day on a hike to and from Lisequx. -went horseback riding. -The only thing we did not have time to do was make crepes, and that activity seemed appealing to everyone, so that would be a good idea for next summer.

REFUGEES: We worked a lot with Karo, Salmon, and two younger boys. Also, we have the stories of two of the refugee families. It was a touching and meaningful experience. A group of us went to speak with them and interviewed them about their lives. At first they were hesitant about opening up to us, but as we spoke, the pages of our journals filled up with details from their experiences.

French classes were great. Madame Solange was very sweet and helpful. We all improved orally just by speaking with her. One day she taught us a lot about Le Puy (because we were going there the next day) and it was an extremely interesting lesson. I had a greater appreciation for everything that I saw. Finally, the trip to Geneva was a hit! I have never been there and I found myself loving every moment I spent in the city. Kirk took us out to a fabulous dinner at an Ethiopian restaurant. We took a boat ride on the lake and saw the big fountain. We saw the Palais Wilson and walked to a different part of the city to see the United Nations building, the Adriana museum (which specialized in porcelain), and the Red Cross Museum, which was absolutely amazing.