Dear Prayer
Warriors,
I first wanted to take a moment to
thank all of you for partnering in ministry with all of us here at Camp
Alandale. Without the prayer the work that is done here at Camp by the
Counselors, Junior Counselors, and Directors would not be nearly as fruitful as
it is. So thank you, we covet your prayers.
Well it was a fantastic first camp
secession here at Camp Alandale. The 4th through 6th
graders were so excited when the bus arrived to pick them up at the three
different stops. We would open the doors and be greeted with smiles of children
waiting to come up to Camp. It always amazes me how much the campers love our
simple camp and simple program. I am realizing more and more what brings them
back and what they love is the presence of God at camp, plus the love of
counselors, the hugs, the encouragement, and the kinship they feel with other
campers. A camper said to me that “this is the only place he goes where
everyone understands what it feels like to be a foster kid and where everybody
loves me”. Your prayers play a large part in this. Your prayers wage battle
against the principalities and powers that want to frustrate campers and
counselors alike. They attempt to stop what the Lord does at Camp, but we know
Who has the victory!
During the introductions at Camp
everyone stands up one by one and says their name, where they are from, and
then something about themselves, like what their favorite thing about Camp is,
or their favorite ice-cream. One boy got up and said that his favorite thing
was the friends he has at camp. He then pointed across the room at two boys and
said, “you’re not my friends yet, but I know you will be by the end of the
weekend”. He sat down with a big smile
knowing that Camp is the kind of place where everyone is accepted and loved, and
the new boys would surely be his friends by the end of the next day.
The most memorable time for me that
weekend was during a time where we were able to give our burdens back to the
Lord. We wrote them down on small pieces of paper and then put them in the
fire. We saw them disappear and thought about how Jesus took our sins away and
takes are burdens upon Himself. Later one of the girls came to me and said,
“You know I was really able to give Jesus a burden that I have been carrying, even
though I know the person that wronged me doesn’t even feel bad about it, I can
still forgive them and now I can pray for them”. I know many of the campers
felt the same way. All of the little ones that come to Camp have been hurt so
much. I thank God for that we all get to be part of their healing, and your
prayers make all the difference.
In Christ’s Service,
Matt Pritchett
Camp Director
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