Christmas - Brazilian Style!

Aloha readers!

We apologize that it has been so long since our last update for things going on at camp! We had a very busy Christmas season welcoming back our friends at the National Military Family Association with our first ever Operation Purple Family Retreat. This was a huge success and it was great to partner with our friends at the NMFA once again. Additionally our Winter School Break Camp was more successful than ever before with 27 youngsters coming out and enjoying a week of camp here at YMCA Camp Erdman with their counselors Trish, Keilla, Paulo and Memo! Such a great week and we promise that the slideshows are coming soon!

Coming up for the rest of January and February, Camp is ultra busy with our Annual Support Campaign. Our ASC raises funds to help send kids, families, groups and other individuals to camp. Often, many campers cannot afford Camp Erdman's programs and our ASC helps those families who need support. If you are interested in helping us by donating, being a volunteer, or using your skills somehow, please call camp at 808-637-4615

Onto today's article coming from guest blogger and brand new volunteer Thais from Brazil. Thais is spending three months here at YMCA Camp Erdman and is already showing some great initiative.

Well, i´m going to tell how i usually spend my Christmas holiday.
There´s a long time that I spend Christmas holiday working, I was a lifeguard for 6 years in Brazil, then I didn´t have much time to celebrate.
At the Christmas night I used to go to my grandma´s (by father) house, with all these part of the family. At midnight we always had a wonderful dinner. Then early in the morning, before go to work, I used to go to the church take a time for myself and thanks for one more amazing year.
I was born on Dec 26st, I could never had a party, so usually, we had a double celebration at the Xmas day, at my house, with all family - that was already waiting for me and my brother return of work with a party for me!
But this year was reeeaaalllyyy different!
I spend my holiday on air!!!! I was in the aeroplane coming to Hawaii - that was a dream to me.
It was weird, cause I didn´t have time to go to the church, and celebrate with my family, although it was such an experience because it was the first step of a new journey! I could´t gave myself better Xmas/bday gift than this trip... I was anxious, and could´t sleep during the day , because we was flying over many beautiful views, and i didn´t want to miss one detail! I was counting minutes to arrive!
When I arrived in Honolulu, I felt a strange but good thing... It was like I´ve been there before! Even when I saw that one of my best friends in Brazil was there to pick me and take me to the camp. Wile we waited for other friend of us to arrive from Brazil too, she told me a looot of good things about the camp, making me feel much more comfortable.
Now, I´m really happy here! Me and my new friends went to a nice place in Haleiwa to celebrate my 24th year, we´re always together hanging out, meeting new places... With many new friends, one lovely dog, in a paradisaical place, a thankful and pleasant, it´ll be for sure one of the best experiences of my life!!!

Mahalo Thais! If you are interested in contributing to the blog, please email Peter McGregor - pmcgregor@ymcahonolulu.org

Bye for now!!!