April '96
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April '96 |
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Purchased in 1996 Bethany Camp forms an integral part of OAC Romania. It is situated in a rural village approximately 34 kilometres from Cluj, Romania’s fifth largest city. Bethany camp is a tree-topped hill with amazing views up and down a valley. It extends to some 2.7 hectares of which about 0.7 hectares is flat and flanks the road which is a main bus route to Cluj and is therefore accessible to all Romania. There is access to a river on the other side of the road.
Bethany Camp offers:-
• A neutral venue for anyone
• Great facilities for churches & groups
• Retreats
• Schools of Evangelism
• Multifaceted training
The camp consists of two buildings and the foundations for a third.
Several changes have already taken place. We have been able to install electricity, lay a concrete floor and build bedrooms in the roof space. Part of the barn has been used as a kitchen and the remainder a meeting area for training, teaching and eating. All the walls have been tongue and grooved.
 April '96 Barn |
 April 96 Barn |
 July 05 Barn |
 July '05 Barn |
Used for sleeping accommodation all the rooms contain bunk beds. The attic is also used for sleeping as well as storage.
 April '96 House |
 New Path |
Bethany camp is used to bring people, both young and old, out of the cities of Romania into an environment of fun, fresh air and relaxation. Several churches have organised camps each year bringing people to listen to the gospel message. People have given their lives to Jesus at Bethany camp.
Used by many churches and groups.
Held open air training sessions for sketch board evangelism
Puppetry training
Children’s/Adult camps
Training Children’s leaders
We want to complete the total renovation of the camp site so it is of a satisfactory standard and complies with relevant national legislation in health and safety.
We aim to deal with the renovation in a series of phases.
We want to build a single storey building on the existing foundations between the house and barn. The building will be fixed to the house. We propose to construct this in brick so that another floor can be added in the future if necessary. The new building will comprise a dining room and kitchen facilities along with a fully equipped toilet suite for all types of users.
 Foundations go in 1998 |
 Foundations in use |
 Foundations |
 Foundations May '05 |
We want to upgrade the house area to enable us to use it all year round in all weather conditions. This area therefore, needs heating, thus we propose to centrally heat the premises with a log burning stove. (Already purchased) Wood is a very cheap and plentiful fuel. We also want to raise the roof space for extra sleeping accommodation, storage and insulate it.
We propose to install an opening window in each of the bedrooms on the first floor and to enclose the stairs leading to the first floor.
 Typical Room |
 Corridor to rooms |
 Stairs to be covered in |
 Barn roof windows to be replaced |
 Example of new window |
The ground floor of the barn area is split level and needs to be all on one level.
The whole barn needs insulating but will be done gradually.
 Sports area being laid |
 Sports area in use |
In 2006 we had numerous problems with the plastic pipes that bring water down the hill from the spring to the house and barn. When they were laid in 1996 they went across the hill and not down it, so over the years as the hillside moved or the neighbour’s cow walked on them they broke. We were always repairing them!! This year we have had enough money to replace the brittle plastic pipes with new piping which is rubber/plastic. They have also been laid deeper in the ground.
 New water pipes |
 A water tank |
 Traian and Cip dig... |
 a channel for new pipes |
In May the house and Barn had a belated Spring clean, renovation and a coat of paint. The team from Alba Iulia arrived with soap, cloths and paint brushes and soon got to work. The results of their work can be seen in the following pictures. Well done all!
 Corridor |
 Bedroom 1 |
 Bedroom 2 |
 The Barn |
In October the concrete drainage channel that runs across the camp was repaired and raised to the level of the concrete Sports area. Trees were cut down so that all the area can be made level. The drains that go around the footings for the new building were cleaned too!!
 Trees taken away |
 Paul & John clear the waterway |
 Cristi cuts down trees |
 Julie clears the drains |
 New drainiage |
In 2007 we were able to upgrade the house. Cristi (OAC evangelist in Cluj) installed central heating and refurbished the shower room. The bedrooms had to be re-decorated and the OAC team in Alba Iulia met that challenge. This means that the house can now be used all year round.
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In 2008 we were able to level all the area around the sports area. The 'swamp' at the back of the toilets has been reclaimed!!! by the summer of 2009 we will have a level grassed area
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 25 tonne - gone! |
 Cristi & Cristina |
 Even the trees aren't safe |
 Loading stones |
 New Level, New Dog |
 New Path Coming |
 New Path |
 Ready for Grass |
 Stones nearly gone |
 Yatsie and mixer |
We replaced the remaining plastic water pipes with hard rubber ones. They were lagged and buried behind the walls.
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As well as laying water pipes the water tanks had to be cleaned. Here is Jordan in the hole!!
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 The Road |
 The Digger |
 The road begins |
 The road ends |
 Top of the road |
To enable people to exit the Barn in an emergency new metal stairs have been built. Eventually the wooden ones will be taken away and a concrete path and steps built.
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Cristi writes:
"Today (24/09/2012) the new building project at Bethany camp began.
To refresh your memory this will be a building housing a dining/kitchen area on the ground floor and bedrooms and bathrooms on the first floor.
The pictures show digging out some soil that was within the foundation in order to be replaced with rubble.
The soil was used to raise the drive way bringing it to the same level as the games area.
It was a good day, Praise God.
The soil that remains within the foundation will be compacted, then a special fabric membrane laid on the ground, insulating all the concrete foundations follows then the rubble on top."
 Before |
 Grass away! |
 Foundations clear |
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Please remember Cristi in your prayers as he organises the construction work bringing in the right craftsman at the right time
Blessings
P&J