A New Creation - Session #9, August 10-15

Letter to Prayer Coordinators for Session #9, August 10-15, 10th-12th Grade

Dear Prayer Coordinators,

Oh my goodness! Session #9 from August 10-15 was a heavy session. When the campers got off of the bus on Monday morning, a certain heaviness came with them. We could tell they were dealing with big issues and could see it was going to be a rough week. A rough week it was, probably the most tiring week we’ve had all summer. Still, God sustained each staff, counselor, and junior counselor to be able to minister to the campers as needed. Plus, we got to see God move mightily in the hearts of so many campers. Thank you for praying for us.

One of these campers was Yanni. She actually came up late to camp on Monday as a replacement for another camper from Orangewood who decided not to come to camp. Yanni comes from an Arab background with an abusive, loveless father. She had only recently been placed in foster care through a series of events in which she left Seattle, her home town, and came to Los Angeles with a group of friends. Because of a dispute between her and her friends, Yanni found herself alone, broken, empty-handed, and afraid. She was too stubborn to call anyone in her family for help and quickly found herself selling her body in order to survive.

After two months of working the streets of Los Angeles and failing to save any money because of her pimps, Yanni was picked up by the police and arrested for prostitution. Because she was underage the charges were dropped and she was placed in foster care at Orangewood. There she heard about a camp up in the mountains and decided she would like to go if possible. She was dropped off late, but joined the Blue Team and was greeted with a hug by her counselor. She seemed to fit right in. On Tuesday though, her counselor Laura came to us and said that Yanni wanted to go home because she didn’t feel like she fit in. We encouraged her to tell her to wait a day, hoping her perspective might change after hearing some of the testimonies at night and spending some more time with her counselor. Tuesday night, I asked Yanni where she was on a scale from 1-10 and she responded with an eight. I was surprised, but glad to hear she was enjoying herself.

On Friday night Yanni sat down in front of everyone during campfire time and told us her story—how God had taken her from Seattle to Los Angeles to Orangewood and then to Camp Alandale, all to show her that she was loved and cared for. She spoke bravely and calmly as she shared and we could see how God was working in her heart to bring her to Himself. During her Friday night one-on-one, Yanni was made a new creation as she put her faith in Jesus Christ, God’s own Son. Let’s continue to pray for Yanni as she continues in her new faith. May she grow in her knowledge and understanding of the salvation that she now has.

Much Love,

Jeremy Allen

Assistant Camp Director

A Day Much, Much Sooner - Session #8, August 3-8

Letter to Prayer Coordinators for Session #8, August 3-8, 10th-12th Grade

Dear Prayer Coordinators,

"It's been a long 15 years," Jenn told me as we began our one-on-one, then for the next 30 minutes she shared her story with me. Jenn grew up in a home with a father who was highly physically abusive. Jenn told me how as a little girl she had seen her father holding her mother up against a wall, choking her to near death. Jenn, who is a petite confident spit-fire, stood up to her father and fought him in her mother's defense. Sadly, this was not the only time when Jenn was in a physical fight with her father. As a result of his abusive actions, Jenn's father was in and out of jail for most of her life. During the times when he was out of jail, Jenn's father tried to control her; he would lock her inside the house and screwdriver her windows shut to prevent her from leaving. Jenn would escape by hiding screwdrivers in her pillow and other inconspicuous areas and sneak out when her father was not home. 

She would stay away from home for months at a time telling her mother, "If he's there, I'm not coming back." Jenn found ways of living on her own, and made friends with people of whom even her abusive father was afraid. She became so accustomed to being on her own that by the time the police attempted to get involved and remove her from her living situations, Jenn ran away and hid out in another county of CA for 3 months. When she finally came home to see her mother whom she loves dearly, the police found her and placed her in the foster care system.

Jenn now lives in a foster home with five other teen girls. While she is no longer in an abusive home, her situation is far from ideal, but her fear of being placed in a worse situation prevents her from asking to be moved to another home. My heart ached for Jenn. I longed so badly for her to know Jesus, and throughout the week continually sought ways to point her to Christ. Jenn's attitude throughout the week was indifferent and on multiple occasions she told me things like, "I don't need God; I'll just do me." 

During out last one-on-one, over a game of ping-pong, I laid the whole gospel out before her, telling her that I didn't want to keep nagging her but that I knew how important it is to know Jesus and receive His salvation, and I urged her to seriously think about it. In an attempt to help her understand the gift that Christ offered her on the cross, I placed my wristwatch on the ping-pong table and told her that it was now hers. She picked it up with an uncertain look on her face and lightly held it in her hand as I explained to her how similar receiving Christ's sacrifice on the cross is to receiving her new watch - if she hadn't picked it up, the watch would have laid on the table - a wasted gifted, just as to not receive Christ's salvation is to waste the greatest gift ever offered to her.  When she realized that I wasn't just making an example but truly gave my watch to her, she placed it on her wrist with a smile and I could tell that she really appreciated it, and I saw her using it throughout the rest of the day.

At the end of camp, Jenn wrote me a letter which said, "I'll take everything you taught me and use it later in life...thanks for all the talks and helping me understand Jesus, I'll look into it. I wanna know more about him." And I trust that as we pray for her, that God will turn Jenn's someday "later in life" into a day much, much sooner and that by His grace, she will come to know Him and receive His great gift. Thank you for your prayers for Jenn and for all of your faithful prayers throughout the summer, they've been an invaluable gift to us!

Blessings and Love,Jessica NathanSummer Staff 2015

He Received Jesus - Session #6, July 20-14

Letter to Prayer Coordinators for Session #6, July 20-24, 7th-9th Grade

Greetings Dear Prayer Family,

Mary and Joshua came to camp for the third time this summer. They are the two youngest of five siblings and have some of the hardest stories I have ever heard. Their life was filled with violence on every level. Mother and father were drug addicts which would sell their children for money and drugs. After years of abuse their father went to prison and the children thought they were finally free. With few options for housing they went to live with a close family friend they called Auntie. Things were not good there either. For entertainment Auntie would make the children fight. They called it fight club, and if you did not win you did not eat. Joshua is very small and was always matched up against a girl. He sobbed at the guilt of having to bloody the little girls he fought as he tried to survive in his family.

The first time Joshua came to camp he had so much pent up anger he could not handle participating in almost anything at camp. Joshua continually ran away from his counselor, only feeling safe when he closed his world off to everyone around him. When he came to camp this year he felt safe; he was able to receive the love we offered him. He laughed and played and was so happy to receive hugs from Tarrah and me. Only once did he shut down during the entire week. Because Joshua is so small the other boys were picking him up and carrying him like a baby. He hated it, but could not seem to tell them to stop. When Tarrah told him he can tell the boys to stop he said, “It doesn’t matter, I can’t keep anyone from doing whatever they want to me.” It was a terrifying statement to hear from this small boy who has been taken advantage of in so many ways. Joshua said he received Jesus and he is growing and learning to trust Jesus with his life, thank you for your continued prayers for Joshua.

Mary, Joshua's sister, received Christ at camp this summer. Mary is a sweet and lovely girl. She has beautiful deep blue eyes and shoulder length blonde hair. Her smile lights up any room she enters. You would never guess she had suffered such violence. Tarrah was able to share with her about the healing love of Christ and exhort her to love her little brother with the love that Christ is showing her. Both of these campers have grown so much in large part because of the prayers that have been offered up for them for years as they have come to camp each summer. They are healing!

Thank you for your faithful prayers and supplications for these most precious of God’s children.

Blessings to you all,

Matt Pritchett

Camp Director

God's Faithfulness & Provision - Session #7, July 27-August 1

Letter to Prayer Coordinators for Session #7, July 27-August 1, 10th-12th Grade

Dear Our Wonderful Prayer Supporters,

I am extraordinarily grateful for all your support! I have had the privilege of counseling here at Camp Alandale four times this summer! I cannot begin to tell you all the marvelous things God is doing here at camp. We honestly could not have camp without all of your support in prayer. You have tremendously blessed my campers and me.

Last week I had a beautiful young woman named Tesia. God must have been working when Jeremy and Amy were picking counselors for each child, because so many of the current issues Tesia was struggling with were the issues of my past. The lies that she believed, the life she is living, that was where I came from.  But praise the Lord we serve an inspiring and awesome God! I was uplifted when I had the chance to look back on my life and see God’s faithfulness and provision and it was a strong witness to Tesia. I may have scars from my past, but they are proof God truly heals.

Tesia was always brutally honest with me. She came in and from the beginning she told me, “I have heard about God. I know what to do, but I do not believe.” She went on to explain why would a so-called “gracious” God let all these awful things happen to her? She had numerous perplexing questions and there were times where all I could do was cry out to the Lord for wisdom and guidance because I did not have the answers. At certain points all I did was shower her with the love of Christ and listen to her story.

You never know how God is going to work! By the end of the week Tesia saw the love that was lavished on her and the walls she had built up began to crumble down. She no longer looked at Christians as fake people, but she saw that our love for her was genuine and sincere. I am ecstatic to inform you that my beloved Tesia accepted Jesus as her personal Savior this week. She has now started an intimate relationship with God and by the end of the week you could see the joy of the Lord emanating from her!

She was such an enormous blessing to me and we were able to go through Proverbs 31 and talk about what a godly woman looks like and how we can change to be more like that woman. We also talked about her becoming a junior counselor next year or in the years to come.

As you think of Tesia please continue to lift her up before the Lord! She understands that there will be many storms that come, but if Christ is truly her foundation then her life is secure in his hands. Pray that she will continue to grow in the intimate relationship with Christ and that if God wills, she would come back as a junior counselor next year! God is good! Thank you all for your love you have shown us here at Camp Alandale!

All Glory to Him,

Leah Dickinson

Summer Staff 2015

Listening After All - Session #5, July 13-17

Letter to Prayer Coordinators for Session #5, July 13-17, 7th-9th Grade

Greetings Dear Prayer Family,

This week I, Brian, had Jonathan and Robert and although I have often seen how much work God does on these hurting and hardened children in just a week at camp, it never ceases to amaze me. The first few days with Jon and Robert were especially tough. Every other word out of their mouths was profanity or filth, and they spent nearly the entire time of our first Bible study insulting each other. I didn’t find out until Tuesday that Jon comes from a home where he has two fathers, and that his behavior was mostly the same at home. 

And it wasn’t until Wednesday night that he was responsive. As he started sharing with me, for almost the first time that week, I saw the twelve year old boy in him, instead of the profane rebel.  It brought such joy to my heart to see them both go from being unresponsive to interested in the things of God. Although they both were familiar with the Bible, they didn’t have a practical understanding of what it means. In particular, Robert defined himself as being half-Christian. He understood the message of the Bible, but loved his sins so much, he wasn’t willing to commit his whole life to Christ. Please continue to pray for these two boys. This is such a tremendous age in their life; pray that the seeds sowed this week would take root.

This past week I, Michael, had the pleasure of counseling Steven. Steven's birth mother used drugs and alcohol while pregnant, and Steven was born with a series of complications requiring several open heart surgeries and leaving him with a severe hunchback, brain damage, and four fingers on one of his hands. Steven came to camp knowing Christ but insecure about his own identity and fascinated with secular heavy metal and its satanic imagery. One night early in the week he confided to me that, “I have so many problems I don’t think Jesus could ever want me.”  He continued to talk constantly about his favorite metal bands and during Bible Study he was usually unresponsive. I was worried he was so caught up in his own world that he wasn’t aware of the love of Christ that surrounded him. My doubts were ill-founded, however. 

During one of our one-on-ones he asked if we could play music together. I asked him what song he wanted to play, expecting some “screamo” song, but instead he asked for one of the camp songs we had heard in amphitheater. Later in the week when I asked him if he was ready for our pine cone ceremony, he responded, “Oh! I want a pine cone! I can’t wait to toss it in the fire and watch my sins burn away!” As if that wasn’t enough, later in the evening Steven told another counselor that, “Sometimes the devil uses fire, but God doesn’t burn people. No way. He invites people into heaven to have fun and eat dinner.” I thought he was just being silly until that counselor reminded me that our Bible Study that day included Revelation 3:20, where Jesus offers to eat with those who seek him. He had been listening after all! 

Throughout the week Steven's smile, sweet heart, and timely insight proved once again that God and the joy he brings is always in control at camp.

In Christ,

Brian & Michael

Summer Staff 2015

Her Camp Alandale Family - Session #4, July 6-10

Letter to Prayer Coordinators for Session #4, July 6-10, 7th-9th Grade

Dear Prayer Coordinators,

Typically during our middle school weeks I, Gallagher, have found it more difficult to connect in some way to the campers that come up; it has been the experience of many counselors here at Camp Alandale in feeling, for lack of better words, “voiceless.” It can be difficult to break through those thick walls, the ones they’ve been building since grade school. As for me, this week was a bit different. I had a camper named Jose. Jose was born with lung complication, due to the fact that his mother was a drug addict. This has always led Jose from one abusive home after another. He talked about his uncle taking his head and beating it against a brick wall because he forgot to do the laundry. A few years later he moved back with his mother and she introduced him to a man who would eventually molest and rape Jose.

During one-on-one time, we talked about the power of forgiveness. Jose didn't want to hold onto this pain anymore, I was in awe when he said he didn't want to be angry with the man who took his innocence away. Jose believed in Jesus but this week, he learned to trust in Him, and to let go of all past pain. Jose and many other young boys and girls have a long and difficult road ahead of them. Keep in mind, our hope is not in what man can do, our hope his in Jesus.

For several months, God had heavily placed on my, Janine, heart the summer staff role of food coordinating. It was a difficult call to say, “Yes” to, for it required me to coordinate full-time rather than counsel every other week like the other summer staff roles. Counseling is a job like no other. That service toward Camp Alandale has been my joy and desire for three and half years now. However, God was asking me to be obedient to him. After several weeks and much prayer, I felt at peace with what God was asking of me. This week, our Lord surprised me with the need for another girl counselor—me!

God blessed me with two beautiful junior high girls in which to pour His love. Katie was 13 years old and had been in the foster system for all 13 of those years. Her mom was living in a group home for pregnant teens in New York. She was only 13 when she had Katie, and she was unable to take care of her due to her age and 3-year-running addiction to drugs. Katie had lived in over four foster homes before she turned 5 years old. One of her foster dads had repeatedly touched her inappropriately, and she was moved to California to be adopted by her aunt. Throughout the week, Katie had become very attached to the idea of the Camp Alandale family. She loved eating meals together, making her team laugh, and complimenting others. During our one-on-ones, God showed her the contrast between dysfunctional families and families that are built with Christ as their foundation and cornerstone. She had already accepted Jesus into her heart, but it was this week that her eyes were opened to the importance of having a relationship with Him.

Blessings,

Gallagher & Janine

Summer Staff 2015

Teaching About the Cross - Session #3, June 29-July 3

Letter to Prayer Coordinators for Session #3, June 29-July 3, 7th-9th Grade

Summer 2015 Theme

Greetings Dear Prayer Family,

What a full week. This week I, Brian, had two awesome campers, Hector and Ryan. Middle school is such a formative age, and these children are trying to figure out so much. On my first one-on-one with Hector he informed me that he was bisexual, and many of our conversations this week revolved around identity, particularly identity in Christ. Midway through the week Hector said to me “I see couples getting together on television and they look so happy; they look like they have it all together. I want that, but is it real? Can I really get happiness that way?” The theme of our summer camp: “Build Your Life on the Rock” was so fitting this week, and as we continued to talk, Hector began to see that happiness and how we feel aren’t the most important things in life. Hector's understanding of God was limited, and one of his first questions to me was, “Is God mad at me?”

Hector left camp with a huge smile; it lights up his whole face. I was so touched to see it several times this week as he learned truths about God, and as I poured into him. To us is given the ministry of reconciliation, and it was such a pleasure to see Hector's attitude and ideas about God change this week as he learned more about him.  Please continue to pray for Hector.

Calvin was one of my, Jessica, campers last week, and he was the only boy with a female counselor. At first I was concerned that Calvin would not want me as his counselor because I’m a woman, but I continually prayed about it throughout the week and God honored those prayers; He blessed our time together and we were able to bond and connect well.

Near the end of camp I asked Calvin what his favorite part of camp was and his response was “one-on-ones”. I truly enjoyed our one-on-ones as well, and I now gratefully look back on how God used those times to help me share His love, truth, gospel and grace with Calvin. One of my most precious memories with Calvin was during our Wednesday night one-on-one. Calvin didn’t understand the gospel of salvation, but he was very open and willing to learn, so I shared with him the forgiveness, salvation, love, hope, joy and everlasting life that are available to him in Christ Jesus. I could tell that Calvin wasn’t ready to receive Christ and give his life to God in that moment, so I didn’t pressure him, but we continued discussing the things of God. At the end of our one-on-one Calvin said to me “Thank you for teaching me about the cross.”

It was simple, but beautiful, and now I know that Calvin has heard the gospel and that the seeds have been planted. I still pray for Calvin and ask God to send someone to water those seeds and cause them to grow. It’s comforting to know that you are joining me in prayer for Calvin and all of us here at camp. Thank you so much for your prayers!

Blessings and love, your family in Christ,                   

Brian & Jessica
Summer Staff 2015

Finishing the Work - Session #2, June 22-26

Letter to Prayer Coordinators for Session #2, June 22-26, 4th-6th Grade

Dear Prayer Warriors,

Working and ministering to children who have been taken advantage of, abandoned, and rejected can have its challenges to say the least; when those kids are 4th-6th grade campers, it’s a whole different ball game. This week, Session #2 over June 22-26, was one of those weeks. Thank you for your prayers before and throughout the week.

I, Gallagher, counseled three boys but my focus will remain on one, his name is John. He had a noticeable twitch and it would make itself known with every word spoken from him. He ran on all cylinders from the rising to the setting of the sun. Throughout the week I watched as other kids would point out his seemingly acquired gesture, leaving John disheartened and angry. I often thought and prayed asking God, “Guide my words and heal this child.” John is a good kid, he really is; he knows he’s a little different than others and right know John is unsure of how to deal with it. During testimony time at camp fire, John decided that I was safe, so he wrapped his skinny arms around mine. His head rested on my shoulders as a few sniffles meekly resounded. 

By Thursday, John had opened up to me. He still has angry towards his parents but God is starting to take that burden away. John, thankfully, has foster parents who love Jesus which makes it easier for me to let him go knowing that he’ll return to a safe and loving home. Our Father is faithful to complete the work He started. “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).

I, Alex, counseled for Session #2 as well. George arrived at camp with his hood on. The moment I saw him I could tell he had something he wanted to get off his chest. During our first one-on-one he hardly talked. I was having a hard time finding things he was interested in. When we were half way through the one-on-one, I was out of things to talk about and we walked in silence for a while as I was trying to think of something to say and seeking God’s direction, and eventually George began to talk and the one-on-one went better than I thought it would. Early in the week George shared with me that he used to be “emo.” One day as we were sitting at lunch God threw a question in my mind I had to ask George, “So George, what does it mean to be emo?” Right away he responded with, “Well, it means you have no future, your dreams are ruined, and your life is ruined,” he said contently with a fake smile. I was shocked. I thought of a few verses and began to unmask this lie as God led me through the conversation. One verse in particular, “'For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future’” (Jeremiah 29:11). He was speechless when I told him this verse. 

Later that night I was surprised when George and his sister went up together to share their testimony. His sister did most of the talking, but at the end of her time, he broke out in tears, began talking about how he missed his parents and how his older brother would continuously beat him on a daily basis. George talked about how while his brother beats him, he has tried to hug his brother and tell him how much he loves him. Throughout this time his sister was patting his back and rolling her eyes as if he is being a baby about these things going on. I finally realized how loving and caring George is, even though he doesn’t get that same love and care in return. When George left camp I could see that he was more at peace after opening up. He wasn’t completely at peace, which made me feel like a failure as a counselor, but God reminded me that He is the one doing the work in George's heart. I have faith that God will finish this good work that God is doing in George's life. Pray for him and other campers like him!

Sincerely,

Gallagher & Alex

Summer Staff 2015

God's Power Firsthand - Session #1, June 15-19

Letter to Prayer Coordinators for Session #1, June 15-19, 4th-6th Grade

Dear Prayer Coordinators,

Greetings prayer warriors! This last week, Session #1 from June 15-19, was an intense one. We only had 18 campers but it sure felt like a full camp. I was blessed with two campers named Howard and Seth. They were by far the smallest of the boy campers but seemed to have some of the biggest attitudes.

When Howard first got off the bus he was already isolating himself from the rest of the campers. As we were sitting at the tables listening to the rules, another camper started to make jokes and distract everyone. Howard was starting to get flustered as he yelled from two tables down that the other boy should be quiet. I tried to calm him down and tell him that the directors would deal with him but he did not think it was fair. This led to Howard not wanting to participate in the games afterward. This began to be a very big trend. Nothing was ever fair for him.

Fast forward to Wednesday night, Howard's behavior had progressively gotten worse. He was refusing to go to amphitheater once again. The directors had talked to him and gave him the option to either participate in the program or call his house to arrange a ride back home. As the directors were walking inside to call his house, he headed over to the amphitheater. That night Howard randomly said to me that he wanted to give his testimony and he raised his hand when the opportunity came. When it was his turn and the directors called his name to come give his testimony I was just praying that it would go well. I had no clue how this was going to turn out. As he started to give his testimony the whole amphitheater got quiet. This was a miracle! Everyone was listening and the fear of Howard feeling upset because of everyone else left me. Howard's testimony was very confusing and I could hear the hurt in his voice. As he ended his testimony it looked as if a huge burden had been lifted off his shoulders.

After testimony time I had a one-on-one with Howard. He automatically suggested that we go and play Frisbee. I said that it was probably too dark for that and asked if we could go for a walk or something. He said that it wouldn’t be too dark if he had his flashlight. I was like “Well, he's got me there.” So we started walking up toward our tent to grab his flashlight. I started to ask questions about him and he replied, “I don’t really want to talk about myself.” So I asked if he wanted to hear my story. He said “Yeah, that’s fine.” I started to tell him my testimony. When I was finished with my testimony he started asking about when I accepted Jesus Christ. He had about a million questions after that. After answering numerous questions he asked if Jesus would be able to help with his anger issues and with his memory. I said that we could pray about it and he agreed. I started praying first and I prayed for various things like: Jesus to help him with his anger and memory, that he would catch a lizard, and that he would make friends at camp. When it was Howard's turn to pray he prayed the same things, but at the end of his prayer he went in a little different direction. He prayed that Jesus would put the Holy Spirit in his heart. I was very surprised and when we were done praying I told him how exciting it was that he just accepted Christ.

Howard pulled a complete 180 degree turn with his behavior. He followed directions. He was excited for Bible study. He started leading people in doing the dishes without even being asked. He seemed like a completely different kid. Although Howard still had outbursts of anger and would lash out at people, it was in those situations he was able to learn. It is works like this that could only come from Jesus. All of Howard's prayers came true during the remainder of the week. I got to witness God show Howard His power firsthand. It is an awesome experience both for him and for me. Pray that he can remember what he saw and felt at camp and that he can continue to read his Bible.

God Bless,

Tyler

Summer Staff 2015

An Overwhelming Call - Summer Staff Training, June 7-12

Letter to Prayer Coordinators for Summer Staff Training, June 7-12, 2015

Dear Prayer Coordinators,

Toward the middle of April, God placed an overwhelming call on my heart to be a part of Camp Alandale’s 2015 Summer Staff—but not in the way I had expected. My 2014 summer staff experience was amazing. I had served as a nurse (distributing meds, cleaning cuts and scrapes, and praying over campers as they needed their physical/health needs met) while still being able to counsel every other week. I have been counseling at Camp Alandale for three and a half years. Counseling campers is a task like no other. Seeing campers come to Christ during a one-on-one and seeing God heal them from their hurts is indescribable. I love counseling. Therefore, I was shocked when the Lord asked me to give up counseling for the summer.

As I grieved this calling, God lovingly massaged my hurt and slowly replaced it with excitement for the full-time (non-counseling) summer staff job of Food Coordinating. As a Food Coordinator, I would be behind the scenes—organizing food storage, ordering and receiving food orders, making sure food items for a meal are healthy and accounted for, and facilitating their preparation. The Lord showed me that this role was something He had been preparing me for in years past. As a naturally organized and detail-oriented person, the idea of budgeting, coordinating, and preparing meals “tickled my fancy.” I joyfully accepted the job.

Still, my heart ached that I would not be spending this summer as intimately with the campers. Throughout the Summer Staff Training week, I shed many tears and continually cried out to God. Ever so sweetly, He reminded me that I am still serving the campers. Many of these kids do not get healthy, planned meals three times a day. Many meaningful conversations are had around the meal times between campers and counselors. God is asking me to be an integral part in setting the stage for campers to experience all of those things. As I held onto that reminder, I felt the weight of prayers on me during the training week. As I let go of my desires, God gave me new ones. I cannot wait to see the campers, counselors, and JCs share moments together while eating at the picnic tables. I know that God is going to work mightily this summer, and I am humbled to watch it all happen.

Thank you so much for your prayers for the all of the Summer Staff during our training week. Your prayers are so important and we’re forever grateful for the time that you spend lifting us up in prayer.

Sincerely,

Janine Diaz

Summer Staff 2015

JC Training Recap - May 22-25, 2015

Letter to Prayer Coordinators for JC Training, May 22-25

Dear Prayer Warriors,

Thank you for your diligent prayers; they are greatly appreciated.  Once again, we had an amazing weekend during our Junior Counselor Training over May 22-25.  I love watching our junior counselors transform and become leaders.  During our summer camps, our JCs play such an important role at camp.  They work incredibly hard, and help make camp run smoothly.  This training weekend helped prepare the JCs for what is to come during summer camps, and most importantly was a time for the JCs to grow deeper in their walk with God.  One of the ways we did this was through prayer dot groups. 

During the weekend we were split into prayer dot groups.  The idea of the group is that we open up with one another, share the burdens that are on our hearts, and lift each other up in prayer.  As a group, we slowly become closer and closer until we are as close as a dot.  We ask the JCs to be “hot”: honest, open, and transparent.  I had the privilege of having a group of all girls.  During our prayer dots, my girls were able to really open up, and be real and genuine with one another.  It never ceases to amaze me at how faithful God is when putting together the prayer dot groups.  Many of the girls were going through the same struggles and trials.  As heart breaking as it was to hear their prayer requests, it was encouraging to the girls to know that they are not the only ones who are dealing with a particular trial and were reminded they are not alone in their battles.  I was encouraged to hear all of the girls pray for one another.  You could hear the compassion and love these girls had for one another as they lifted one another up in prayer.    

One of my favorite parts about the JC program at camp is that campers have the opportunity to become JCs.  This past training weekend we had many new JCs who were once campers.  It is inspiring to see how God has transformed the lives of these campers. “He also brought me up out of the horrible pit, out of the miry clay.  And set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps.  He put a new song in my mouth” (Psalm 40:2-3).  This verse reigns completely true for the camper JCs.  While many of them are still going through a healing process, they are most definitely changed and walk with a new song that God has given them.  You can see the desire in their hearts to grow closer to God, and the desire to serve him.   

Thank you for all your prayers, and the commitment to pray for camp.  Please continue to pray for the upcoming summer camps, and the work God has planned.

To God be the glory,

Ariel

Summer Staff 2015

Sending Off the Seniors - Session #8, March 6-8

Letter to Prayer Coordinators for Session #8, March 6-8, 10th-12th Grade

Dear Prayer Coordinators,

I cannot believe that the Winter Camp 2015 season has come and passed. It was a great time. We take comfort in your prayers and are so thankful for your faithfulness to pray for the campers, junior counselors, counselors, and directors. Your prayers make a difference. God has heard your cry and answered.

This last winter camp, Session #8 on March 6-8 for 10^th-12^th grade camps, was a lot of fun. In all we had 11 campers and 10 counselors. In the group of campers in particular were four seniors. It is always bittersweet to have seniors at camp. For the sweet part, many of them have been attending camp for years and years and so the relationship with them is rich and deep. It is fun to talk about their camp memories and hear what Camp Alandale means to them. However, the bitterness is that we have to send them off. In some way it is like parents sending their children away from home for the first time often for many to attend college, start new jobs, or travel the world. For these seniors, however, life after being in the foster care system is not a great or easy place. In fact, the current statistics are not in support of successful futures for them. Right now, 70% of all state prison inmates were in foster care and 51% of all children in foster care who emancipate from the system are unemployed in 2-4 years.

During our final time together over the weekend, I shared with the group that Victory Circle at high school camps are scary for me. One of the campers, George, quickly asked if it was because I didn’t know what the campers might say. We laughed, but Amy quickly responded with a question, “Do you know what happens to most of the kids who emancipate from the foster care system?” George immediately answer, “Either they go to prison or die.” Sadly, George was correct. I followed by sharing the hope that we have in Jesus and the trust that we have for the campers that Jesus sends his Spirit to help them, to comfort them, and to guide them. We asked the four seniors to come forward so that they could have the opportunity to share with the whole group.

Up came Adriana, seven months pregnant and about to move into a women’s home the next week from her foster home. Up came John, who shared that Camp was most important to him because it was where he accepted Jesus years before. Up came Crystal, who had not been to camp in years but fondly remembered the love and care from the counselors that she felt at a young age. And up came Josie, who is in the process of being approved as a Junior Counselor and wants to give back to the people and place that means so much to her. Tears were shed during that time as we rejoiced to have them with us and prayed for them as they moved on. Will you continue to pray for Adriana, John, Crystal, and Josie as they transition out of the foster care system?

Again, thank you for hanging with us through another camp season. We appreciate you and your service to Camp Alandale.

In the name of Jesus,

Jeremy Allen

Taste the Sweetness - Session #6, Feb 20-22

Letter to Prayer Coordinators for Session #6, February 20-22, 10th-12th Grade

Dear Prayer Family,

There is a certain sweetness you can taste at the 10^th-12^th grade camps. Many of the kids have been coming to camp for years and know more about the program than the counselors do. They love and cherish being at camp and even call camp their home. One of the girls this past weekend, over February 20-22, told a counselor after the first night of camp that she always sleeps better at camp, which she referred to as her home. For Virginia, though, it was only her second time at camp. She could tell that camp was her home after only coming once. Wow! Anyways, this weekend proved to be a great weekend filled with the sweetness and joy that only comes from God.

Richard wasn’t super keen on me asking him questions when I picked him up at the first bus stop. He answered my questions, but wasn’t going to engage in a conversation with me. He had attended camp only once before when he was in the sixth or seventh grade. From the get-go, I could tell that despite his hard outer shell, he was a young man hurting from feelings of loneliness and abandonment that he had to constantly face throughout his childhood. His father died when he was four and his mother was in prison. His first set of foster parents kicked him out and he moved around in the system until moving to Oregon with a relative.

Upon arriving at camp Richard shared with his counselor, Todd that he knew no one cared for him and that no one has ever been there for him. His only friend was his “drug friend” that did drugs with him on a daily basis. His heart was certainly guarded against anything of God and at first his approach to camp was that of being untouchable. Todd, however, a very wise and seasoned counselor, began to share with Richard that he was not alone and that he was there for Richard and that his Camp Alandale family was there for him. Even more, he shared that God was there for Richard and that Jesus loved and cared for him. God used many of the teaching points at camp through the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-12 to open up Richard's heart. He began to see that he had a friend in Jesus and that Todd’s care for him wasn’t fake or forced. This all came to a climax during the one-on-one time Saturday evening where tears began to flow down Richard's face and his heart began to soften.

On Sunday at the end of Victory Circle, Richard stood up and shared with the whole group his thankfulness for Todd. He said that Todd taught him about companionship and that he knew that Todd was there for him, Camp Alandale was there for him, and that God was there for him. What a change from the beginning of the weekend. Please continue to pray for Richard as the Holy Spirit continues to work on his heart and that Richard would surrender to Jesus Christ. Thank you for your prayers for Richard and all the others at Camp Alandale!

In the name of Jesus,

Jeremy & Amy Allen

Pine Cone War - Session #5, February 13-15

Letter to Prayer Coordinators for Session #5, February 13-15, 7th-9th Grade

Dearest Prayer Coordinators,

Wow another winter camp flew by. We get such a short time with the campers, and it goes so quick. This winter camp was filled with lots of activity from some very active boys.

Jesus and Roberto both came from the same group home. They had lived together for the last 3 years, until suddenly last week their group home was closed. All the children went to different placements in different group homes and had to start to make family connections again with a whole new group of foster brothers and sisters. Though they changed homes just a couple days before camp Jesus and Roberto made sure they would both get to camp, their home away from home. Both campers have been coming to camp for a couple years now and love being here.

As camp began and we began to learn about the Beatitudes these boys got a chance to put into practice what they were learning. Both boys are medicated because of behavior issues. Both are very short tempered and rambunctious, they call it hyperactivity. I think if they were growing up on a farm 100 years ago they would be called a blessing but they are not on a farm. Well all this energy came out quite often for these boys. Early on in the weekend we all had to decide as a group to respect one another and not to talk over each other; or to sing not talk during song time, you get the idea. The boys were doing a good job at giving respect.

Well during hiking/snow play time which turned into hiking/climbing trees and playing basketball time due to the absence of snow a pine cone war erupted. Actually more of a light battle than a war. The boys 45 feet up the Giant Sequoia were throwing little pine cones at the basketball players below. We stopped the bombardment promptly however Roberto had been hit in the head. He was angry at Jesus who he know had thrown the mini pinecone. Roberto sulked behind the sugar shack and waited for an apology that was not likely coming. We remembered the Beatitudes in that moment, God blesses those who are merciful, and the peace makers. Though Roberto never received his apology he chose to forgive the kid who hurt him. He chose to show mercy and be a peace maker. He stopped and prayed for Jesus and his hard heart. God shows up in these small ways and blesses my heart at camp. I hope your heart is blessed as well.

Thank you for your prayers that move God's heart to move our campers' hearts. You are truly doing battle for the souls of these young ones. The enemy does not want to give them up, he wants to keep them and their families in bondage. Thank you again for your prayers!

                       

In His service,

Matt, Tarrah, Aiden, and Piper Pritchett

Weekend of Siblings - Session #4, February 6-8

Letter to Prayer Coordinators for Session #4, February 6-8, 7th-9th Grade

Can you find the camper?

Dear Prayer Family,

Your prayers matter! They really do. Not a week or a weekend passes by when I do not think about how thankful that you are praying for the campers, junior counselors, and counselors. This past weekend was no exception. Thank you for being faithful to pray for us!

Sometimes there are sessions of camp that are more difficult than the others. Session #4 from February 6-8 was one of those sessions. There were a few difficult campers that added stress to whole the weekend and even caused a distraction from the whole of the program. Your prayers sustained us with patience, discernment, and wisdom in dealing with some difficult moments throughout the weekend. Despite the difficulties, God moved throughout the weekend!

Sasha and Thomas are sister and brother. They have been coming to camp since 2012 and over the course of the three years have grown up quite a bit. Not only have they grown physically, but their love for God has certainly matured. They both looked up to their counselors, Jacob and Anastasia, so much and seemed to enjoy every single minute of their time at camp. From the Bible studies to the games to cleaning up after meals, Thomas and Sasha were a delight to have at camp. During the different teaching sessions they were always willing to share an answer and be an example to the other campers. Even more so, their love for each as brother and sister was very evident. Many times siblings at camp pick on each other and put each other down, but not Thomas and Sasha. Thomas treated his sister so well all weekend and Sasha always spoke so highly of her brother.

Come to think of, it was quite the weekend of siblings with Jessie and Samantha, Jesus and Oscar, Peter and Austen, and Serena and Kelly. My sister, Emily, was even up here counseling. What made the weekend even more joyful was the love that the campers have for the Camp Alandale family and the thankfulness that many of them have to be at camp. I was reminded often and shared with the campers that God’s family is larger than our earthly brothers and sisters. Pray that all of the campers would be connected to their brothers and sisters in Christ while they’re away from camp. This is one of their biggest needs, to find spiritually support and encouragement while they are at home.

Your prayers make a difference! May God richly bless you for your faithful service.

In the name of Jesus,

Jeremy & Amy Allen

Former Campers Become JCs - JC Training, January 16-19

Letter to Prayer Coordinators for JC Training, January 16-19

Dear Prayer Family,

What a splendid and holy weekend we have had! Thanks in no small part to your prayers, God never fails to show up this past weekend at our Junior Counselor (JC) Training Camp.  Each JC Training Camp we are broken down into small groups and spend time sharing with our group those things we are struggling with so that we can pray for each other. What a joy to dispense with the atmosphere of superficiality that too often plagues fellowship, and do as James 5:16 says, “Confessing your trespasses to one another, and praying for one another, that you may be healed.” Fears, sins, and struggles, are all given up to God, and in return He pours out His healing and strength.

It is always a blessing to have former campers become JCs. To see seeds we have sown, growing with each passing year! To see fruits of the spirit, growing in abundance where previously there was hard ground. I give thanks to see Victor quoting 1 John as he prayed for a member of our group; for Daniel’s heart of service, considering the needs of others before his own; for Timothy’s decision to become leader of his school’s Bible Club this past year, and be faithful in it; for Jennifer’s quiet smile and compassion. What a joy to see their lives being transformed by Christ!

Although, we have a lot of fun at each JC Training, much of the time is occupied by Bible studies and training sessions. This weekend’s purpose is to prepare this group of young men and women for serving the Lord at Camp Alandale. As I see each year pass, and each new group of JC’s come I sometimes fear that they are only here for fun or selfish reasons. In fact, as one of the Camp Directors was sharing a story of some very difficult campers and problems we have had in the past I remember thinking, “I hope he doesn’t scare them back to their youth groups and their once a week service of God.” Yet time and time again my expectations are far surpassed and I find in these young men and women a tremendous depth of love and devotion to the Lord! I can truthfully say that I saw Christ in every single life this weekend! Thank you so much for your prayers, and please continue to pray, remembering these precious lives to the Most High God! Many of them will be serving this winter, but all of the new JCs will wait to serve until the summer. Pray for them, that their lives would be strengthened according to God’s ways!

Blessings in the name of Jesus,

Brian & the Staff at Camp Alandale

Soaking It Up - Session #3, Jan 30-Feb 1

Letter to Prayer Coordinators for Session #3, Jan 30-Feb 1, 7th-9th Grade

Dear Prayer Coordinators,

Winter camp was again such a sweet time of refreshment and fellowship. As I picked up the campers on Friday night I knew it was going to be a special camp. We arrived to camp at about 9:00 pm and were greeted with cookies and hot chocolate.

As the weekend began one of our special campers named Jon began to feel ill. Jon had motion sickness that lasted throughout the night. The next morning Jon felt a little better and was able to have a special time of one-on-one with his counselor, Britt. Britt shared later that day that it was probably the best one-on-one that he had ever had. Jon and his older brother Sam are always a pleasure to have at camp. Sam has even applied to become a JC this year. Well Jon went downhill pretty quickly after the one-on-one. He came down with a fever and a temperature of 102 degrees and had to head home. I am thankful though that he got to have a special one-on-one.

Mark is a very tall boy. He is a head taller than all the other boys at camp. He is very strong and likes to play rough, sometimes a little too rough. This camp I got to know Mark pretty well. He is very insecure and worries a lot about being left out. He seems to try to cover his fear with his rough playfulness. I had to tell him quite a few times that I did not like my hat ripped off my head and my hair swirled around, it was one of those times to teach boundaries. Mark was all ears though. He was eager to listen and to try to change. As we spoke about the Beatitudes Mark soaked it up. The first Beatitude, God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs, really impacted his heart. As with many young Christians, they receive Jesus, but it takes a while for their relationship to mature. I think Mark is really beginning to see his need for God, and is realizing his poverty of soul. God is so faithful to complete the work in the hearts of these children, as He is with all of us.

Thanks for joining with us in prayer for the maturing of these young believers, and for the salvation of the lost.

Thank you for your prayers,

Matt, Tarrah, Aiden, and Piper Pritchett

Victory Circle Twist - Session #2, January 23-25

Letter to Prayer Coordinators for Session #2, January 23-25, 7th-9th Grade

Dear Prayer Coordinators,

Thank you for your continued support for all the sweet campers through prayer. We have been enjoying such sweet winter camp moments and all of that is because of your faithfulness to pray for us, the counselors, the junior counselors, and the campers. We really appreciate it!

Jeremy and I just finished our first weekend over January 23-25. We had such a fun group of returning kids. Our group was mostly boys, as I’m sure you noticed, and they were full of laughs. They each seemed to be matched so well to their individual counselors and we could tell that they were getting a full dose of love from them. It always amazes us, although it probably shouldn’t surprise us that even though the campers pick their counselor’s name out of a basket when they get to camp God always pairs up the right camper with the right counselor.

Most of these campers were already believers, so it was a sweet time of encouragement for them as they learned about the beatitudes. It was really special to see some of the kids like, Jose, Richard, and Josh, begin to mature in their faith and as young men. They all have been coming to camp for many years now and the maturity they showed was quite impressive for middle school boys.

One special moment this weekend that stands out above the rest was hearing the campers talk about their counselors at the end of the weekend. Usually we do what is called Victory Circle, where the counselors stand up and talk about the unique and wonderful qualities they see in their camper over the weekend. Since we had such a small group we were able to give the campers a chance to share about their counselors. Most of the boys shared how fun and caring their counselors were and even talked about the special qualities their counselor had. It was such an encouragement to see first-hand that these kids were absorbing such much needed love. So often these young men won’t have many male influences that are positive and Christ-centered in their lives. So the opportunity to come up for a whole weekend or week and be poured into by godly men is life changing for them. It teaches them what it means to be a man of God, not just by telling them about it, but as they witness it as the weekend progresses and they get to know their individual counselor.

We are continually blessed to be a part of God’s work here at Camp Alandale to the abused children, and we hope you are too!

God Bless,

Jeremy and Amy Allen