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