Thousands of children travel from across the country to attend summer camp at ACU but most don't have to take a plane trip through Paris and Houston to get to Abilene as did 11-year old Tojo (pronounced Tohzh) Rabe from the country of Madagascar. Rabe is in the United States for the first time ever and is attending ACU's Learning to Lead camp this week.

This is Rabe's third week in the country, and he is a guest of John and Valinda Tyson and their three children - Victoria, Trey and Trevor.  Dr. John Tyson is ACU's vice president for development.

Tyson met Tojo's father while in Madagascar in November of last year, and Tojo's father expressed an interest in his son attending a summer camp in the United States. Tyson told him about ACU's leadership camps and promised to work on getting Tojo a spot, which he did, as well as helping with the forms and applications to arrange for Tojo's visit.

In the two weeks before camp started, the Tysons provided Tojo with other new experiences, including camping at Possum Kingdom Lake, attending little league baseball games and his first taste of new foods, such as bacon.

This week he's been experiencing outdoor fun and games and indoor Bible lessons and projects on ACU's campus through Learning to Lead, a faith-building week of service and activities for 4th-6th graders.

Tojo said he has enjoyed Texas, and he likes Learning to Lead and all the activities that he has been involved in, especially the sports.

ACU's Leadership Camps include campers from 21 states and three countries, including the United Kingdom and Canada, as well as Madagascar this summer.

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If you are a member of the media who would like more information about this release, please contact Wendy Kilmer, Director of Public Relations.

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