| Hispanic soccer camp makes camping history BY YVONNE J. MEDLEYUMCONNECTION CORRESPONDENT History was made at the West River Center in Churchton, as the first Hispanic Soccer Camp got underway July 3-7.  Roberto Carlos, 14, of Gaithersburg, took the milestone in stride. He was excited about the camp, simply because I came to have fun, he said with a huge smile.
Carlos, who originally came from El Salvador, attended the Baltimore-Washington Conference camp with about 35 other youth, ages 11-17. They enjoyed playing soccer and a variety of other activities, such as hiking and boating, coordinated by West Rivers director, Andy Thornton. The camp had an international flavor. On the first evening, the youth became acquainted with one another and mentioned the origin of their roots. They had come from Peru, Columbia, Mexico, Chili and Puerto Rico. The camp also had the heat of World Cup Soccer each time the campers descended upon the field, stretching their limbs in their brightly colored soccer jerseys and cleats. Some of the youth said they attended the Hispanic Soccer Camp to learn the game, others to improve their game. Kathy Rocha, 16, said, I play for Walter Johnson High School in Bethesda and I play for a private club team. The advantage of soccer at West River, she said, is playing coed because playing with boys gets you to play rougher. All of those reasons were good, said the Rev. William Caraballo-Lopez, coordinator for the Hispanic Soccer Camp, but he had much more in mind. The staff has a heart for Jesus, Caraballo said about the counselors. Were hoping and praying that this will be an opportunity for those kids to know Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. Thats our main objective. Then Caraballo, conference coordinator of the Hispanic/Latino Ministries, added, If they learn to play soccer and enjoy the other things that we do here, great.  Were always playing soccer, said the Rev. David Rocha of the Community of Faith (Camino De Vida) UMC in Gaithersburg. Rocha was the Hispanic Soccer Camps director. We start playing soccer in the womb of our mother, he said with a smile.
Rocha worked diligently to recruit youngsters and to inform parents about the opportunities, both spiritual and athletic, said Caraballo. The campers took part in worship sessions, called Champions for the Lord, filled with spiritual information and encouragement, led by Lydia Caraballo-Munoz. The campers were also scheduled to hear the Christian testimonies of Brazilian World Cup Soccer players. One of the most interesting things about the campers, said Rocha, is that most of the kids are kids in our neighborhoods, and with the help of the conference and key persons like Rev. Don Stewart and Rev. Vivian McCarthy, we found the resources to bring a group of these kids to our camp and to offer them a fun time. The Montgomery County Public Schools also partnered with Bishop Felton Edwin May and the conference. They put together a package of scholarships for these kids, Rocha said. God is wonderful! | 
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