Pictures of the New Camp Alandale

The Camp Dining Hall

Views of the Santa Ana River

Looking over to the Camp Dining Hall

Humble Pastor's Retreat

Walking through the middle of camp. Look at all those heated cabins.

Standing Out - Session #4, February 26-28

Letter to Prayer Coordinators for Session #4, February 26-28, 7th-9th Grade

Dear Prayer Coordinators,

Greetings from Idyllwild! This past weekend, Session #4 over February 26-28, was a great camp. We had 12 campers, eight counselors, and five junior counselors. God blessed us with an excellent weekend of weather and a few small snow patches for the campers to enjoy. Your prayers were definitely felt as we went throughout the weekend. The campers really engaged with the theme of “Come to Me” as Jesus shares with us in Matthew 11:28-30.

This weekend was a little bit boy heavy. We had eight boy and four girl campers, which made for an understandably rowdy weekend. At times, we had to remind the guys although we want to have fun, we can’t shove or push one another. The boys all responded well and seemed to have a brotherhood going by the end of the weekend.

One boy in particular, Robbie, stood out to me. He had been to camp once before in the summer and definitely has some rough edges. I’d assume that off the mountain, he is known by a reputation much different than he brings to camp. I don’t know much of his story, but I love having Robbie at camp. He is funny, engages during the sessions, totally loves having a counselor, and really likes being at camp. He looks like a city kid, but loves being in the snow, hiking in the mountains, and living the camp lifestyle. Over the course of the weekend, I saw Robbie open up more and more to his counselor and answer even more questions during the sessions. Robbie even memorized and shared the memory verse with everyone on Sunday morning. I don’t feel like I am communicating it well enough, but Robbie really astonished me, rather God amazed me, in seeing how much he enjoyed being at camp. Despite not knowing Robbie's past, it amazes me how safe, comfortable, and loved Robbie feels at camp. I hope one day he’ll share his story with us.

Another set of boys that always stand out are Josh and Jonathan. They are twin brothers who have been attending camp since the 4^th grade. Pray for them! They have been reunited with their birth mother for some time and continue to attend camp. I know that coming to camp is a huge highlight from them. Both of them have even told me that one day they want to be a camp director. I always tell them, “I hope it happens someday.” Still, Josh and Jonathan vacillate in their spiritual beliefs and are yet to make a firm standing in the name of Jesus. Pray they would choose to follow Christ with their whole hearts. Pray that one of these sessions they would feel their brokenness and choose to follow Jesus. I know nothing at camp happens without prayer, for which I want to thank you and thank you again. Thank you for praying for all of us. We couldn’t continue the work at Camp Alandale without your prayers.

With the love of Christ,

Jeremy Allen

Assistant Camp Director

Being Amazed - Session #3, February 19-21

Letter to Prayer Coordinators for Session #3, February 19-21, 7th-9th Grade

Dear Prayer Partners,

Winter Camp #3 was so much fun! We had a blast. Most of the snow was melted and it was 65 degrees in the afternoon but that did not matter to the campers. They were having so much fun exploring the new camp.

One of the campers named Rickie was so much fun. Rickie is the type of kid that always has a smile on his face. He is vibrant and intelligent, good looking, the type of kid all the other kids want to be around. He played hard all weekend and participated in the Bible Studies. I thought he knew Jesus for sure. But he did not. Not until Sunday morning that is. As we went outside to play volleyball for game time Sunday morning he and two other campers stayed seated with their counselors. I was wondering why they were not coming. I was just about to call to them when they bowed their heads and prayed. Wow, it amazes me every time. Thanks for praying for him.

Susie had been to camp last summer and was very nervous to come back for winter. I promised her that she would have fun when her foster mom dropped her off on Friday evening. She was so unsure of herself, timid and shy for the first few hours Saturday morning. By 10:00 am on Saturday she was out of her shell and soaking in everything she was learning in her Bible studies. We could see her light up as she realized how much God loves her. Pray she meets Jesus soon. I have no doubt that if she comes back to camp this summer she will give her heart to Jesus – Pray!

Please pray for counselors for winter camp. We seem to be very short on volunteers this season. It is always a challenge and we need to continually recruit, however our recruiting this year has been a little light due to how busy we have been with the new camp. We need to share at some churches to recruit more counselors. If you think we may be able to share at your church or small group please let me know.

In His service,

Matt & Tarrah Pritchett

Camp Directors

Favorite Moments - Session #2, February 12-14

Letter to Prayer Coordinators for Session #2, February 12-14, 4th-6th Grade

Dear Prayer Coordinators,            

Thank you, thank you, and thank you for your prayers. This weekend would not have happened without your prayers. At the very least, we would have started and then fallen apart. Again, thank you for praying for us. This past weekend, February 12-14, was the first weekend Amy and I led camp at the new Camp Alandale on the River location. Boy, were we in for it. Still, God saw us through and we had tons of fun.

As I was driving the bus down to Orange County on Friday afternoon, my stress was somewhat relieved when I remembered this weekend was a 4^th-6^th grade camp. The younger kids typically see through the details and only have one thing in mind, FUN, and fun we had. We played in the ice patches (all the snow is melted away by now), they played lots and lots of foosball and ping pong, and enjoyed checking out the new property. Counselors were wowed by the big camp lodge, enjoyed the heaters in the cabins, and felt more relieved of chores and responsibilities to simply spend time with their campers.

One of my favorite moments from the weekend happened during our hike on Saturday afternoon. Shelby, a very sweet camper, really wanted to play in the snow. She had an infectious smile and the most beautiful eyes. She very sweetly asked me before the hike began, “Jeremy, if we see a good patch of snow, do you think we could stop and play in it.” “Of course,” I told her. Toward the end of the road there was a great spot to stop. I asked Shelby if she thought it was good enough and she said it was. This was one of my favorite moments because I was able to give a good gift to Shelby. It reminds me of how good a gift our Heavenly Father has given to us in his Son Jesus. On our hike back, Shelby walked along side of me and I was able to ask her a few questions about her family.

            “Do you get to see your mom?”

            “No, and I don’t want to because I want to be happy.”

An answer like this breaks my heart. Here is a precious little girl, hurt by her mother so badly that she doesn’t want to see her anymore. It is also right where the Gospel story connects for Jesus knows what it is like to be forsaken and abandoned. He understands her pain. One day, I hope, Shelby will taste the sweetness of her Heavenly Father’s good Gift. Pray for Shelby. Pray for reconciliation with her mother, when being young still gives her a chance in the foster care system. More importantly, pray for reconciliation with her true Father! Thanks for reading!

With the love of Christ,

Jeremy Allen

Assistant Camp Director

Made New - Session #1, February 5-7

Letter to Prayer Coordinators for Session #1, February 5-7, 4th-6th Grade

Dear Prayer Coordinators,

Greetings from Idyllwild! Winter camp is in full swing and we’re very excited about the new location of camp. It’ll be a bit of a learning curve for us all this winter, but we are enjoying the new campus in Barton Flats more and more. Thank you for praying for this ministry as we share the Gospel with children who have been abused.

We are excited to share with you that Denise gave her heart to Jesus at camp. Denise had been coming to camp since 4^th grade and had not made a decision to follow Christ any the three other times at camp. She was a holdout wanting to know that this Jesus was for real.  Most of the time campers give their hearts to Jesus by their second time at camp. They hear the call of the Spirit and feel the love of Christ through the counselors and junior counselors so clearly they cannot resist. It’s like the campers have been drinking gasoline their whole life and finally someone gives them a glass of water and they know that this is what they have been searching for to quench their thirst. I appreciate when campers don’t make an instant decision though. I know for those like Denise that take the time to consider the commitment they are making, their walk with the Lord will be serious and they will not be a seed planted on rocky or thorny soil. Pray for her continued growth to maturity and for her to know true intimacy with God.

Well you may be wondering about how camp went at our new campus. It went fantastic with a few hiccups. We had to change around our timelines a bit to compensate for trips to the cabins and back, trips to the restroom and back etc. Meals went great and the food was delicious, washing dishes in the dish machine, now that we are no longer using disposable plates and cups added time to the meals. All this was such a blessing to camp, and the JC crew that was there for the first camp was fantastic, pitching in wherever they were needed and making things run smoothly. As a bonus we let them name whatever they wanted to name at camp. Little Squire 1 and 2 are the water dispensers, Sally Ice for the icemaker and lots of others I cannot remember right now. The counselors and campers alike enjoyed the heated cabins and walks along the Santa Ana River. The river is beautiful with patches of ice and wild German Brown Trout swimming up its crystal clear waters. What a blessing!

Finally,  please continue to pray for Roger. This little man had such a hard time at camp. He refused to exit the bus upon arrival. On the hike he refused to return to camp. In the morning he refused to get out of the shower until 45 minutes after breakfast had started. He has a sweet side that would come out periodically. His counselor Jeff was so patient with him and prayed for him all weekend. This boy is hurting so terribly and is out of control. Pray for his salvation and that his life will be restored by Christ. Thank you for your prayers as always. We could not do this without your help.

In His service,

Matt & Tarrah Pritchett

Camp Directors

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