Largest Winter Camp Ever + Get a Taxi

Letter to Prayer Coordinators for March 7-9, 10th-12th Grade Camp

One-On-One time at Sunset! 

Lookout Rock...looking awesome!

#quiettimewithjesus_winter2014

Dear Prayer Coordinators,

On Sunday evening at 5:30PM we dropped off the campers in Orange one last time this winter. It had been a great weekend with loads of fun and lots of people. In fact, we had the largest winter camp in Camp Alandale history with 14 campers, 15 counselors, and four junior counselors over March 7-9^th.

Reality set in very quickly at the drop-off when two campers told us that their mother's car wasn't running, their step-dad didn't want to pick them up, and they were supposed to get a taxi home.

What? This didn't make sense to us. Who wouldn't want to come pick up their children after they were away at camp? Wouldn't they want to hear how much fun they had or what they learned? 

The girls shrugged it off as we looked up Orange County taxis and got them setup for a ride. Twenty minutes later a taxi showed up to take them home to arguing parents and 11 younger siblings that they're "supposed" to care for.

We met these campers two summers previous. Their big smiles and joyous hearts are evident to anyone who glances their way. Even when they cry, they smile. Since first meeting them, we've heard their stories about an alcoholic, abusive father and a passive mother, seen them give their hearts to Jesus after many questions of God’s providence and goodness, and watched them struggle to care for their family when it shouldn't be their responsibility. Just recently they became JCs and were baptized at their church which, by the way, they were willing to ride the bus, beg their mother, or walk in order to get there. With determined hearts they made sure to be a part of Christ's body even while at home.

A few hours before dropping them off, we were all sitting in the front room at camp and at the end of Victory Circle honored them as our two senior girls in attendance that weekend. We gave them necklaces that had been handmade as gifts for them, and before the rest of the group they shared how meaningful Camp Alandale is to them. They shared that if they had not come to camp they would never have met Jesus, which has changed their lives for eternity.

Providentially, these two girls will continue to be involved in camp as JCs. They’ll return this summer to serve the campers and encourage all of them to follow Jesus despite the difficulties they may face. These girls have overcome so much and even found the courage to forgive their father through the power of the Holy Spirit. It is a great work that we get to watch as God moves in the heart of campers.

We know that your prayers are vital to the ministry here at Camp Alandale and we want to sincerely thank you for your commitment to pray for us, the counselors, junior counselors, and campers. Thank you for fighting for their souls. We praise Jesus for your partnership in this ministry.

With the love of Christ,

Jeremy & Amy Allen