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
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