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USA here we come!

USA here we come!
 
2006-05-18


TWO young Paarlites, Clinton Plaatjies and Bronwill (Bowers) Alexander, will soon be leaving for the United States of America to serve their passion to work with inner-city kids and urban youth at Camp Streamside, Pennsylvania.

It will be Clinton’s second visit to the States. “Two years ago I took a flight to New York all by myself, attended a summer camp in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, and for four and a half months served as a camp counsellor to a bunch of energetic American kids.

“It was all flap-jacks, pizzas, Italian water ice, Chinese food, barbecues, hikes, advanced sports and the whole nine yards!

“The USA culture, the New York yellow cabs and subways, the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag, the Philly Cheese steaks, the funny (unclear) accents, the flashy cars, the skyscrapers, the fast and highly technological lifestyles, cable television all fascinated me, but couldn’t match up to the feeling of being able to do what I love on an international level.

“Being there meant more to me then being a sightseer or a backpacker, it meant informing them about Africa and what we stand for, it meant informing them about our history and where we came from, it meant rolling away their stones of ignorance and stereotypes.

“I proudly stood my ground and did what my mother told me at the airport just before I left, ‘Clinton, you know the principles, live it out’!

“It was absolutely fantastic to be a counsellor at Camp Streamside and this month I will return to continue my ministry with them.

“What makes this season special is that I get to take my closest friend, Bowers to join me as a co-counsellor at Streamside.

“It has always been my passion to serve the youth and now God has made it possible for me to do it in an international arena,” says Bowers.

“I was born and raised in one of the most challenging neighbourhoods of Paarl and witnessed a lot of social evils while growing up.

“What hurt me most were all the kids who grew up amidst gang wars, crime, child abuse and other social challenges.

“Many of them grow up without a caring parent or someone to look up to. Many of them had more tears in their lives then smiles.

“I realised at a very young stage that if I was not going to make a difference, the situation would stay the same.

“I decided to get involved in Youth Development by joining organisations (Koinonia, Reach and UCSA) that specialise in serving the youth and tackling those challenges.”

Clinton has a challenge to other young people: “We only have one life to live, why not make the best of it and stretch ourselves to our maximum potential? Limitations are man-made, not God-made, so get rid of limited beliefs!

“It doesn’t come easy, but through simple principles like hard work and perseverance it is possible.”

Clinton and Bowers are leaving from Johannesburg Airport on 25 May. Their summer camp season starts on 27 May and ends on 25 September.

You can contact Bowers at 083-649-1694 or e-mail Clinton at clintonplaatjies@gmail.com.



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