Winter Camp 2013 - Session 9. March 22-24 - 10-12 Grade

Dear Prayer Warriors,

As Good Friday and Resurrection day approach my heart is always turned to the Passion of our Lord and how He took so much for you and for me. That thought echoed in my mind all weekend at Winter Camp last weekend. Isaiah 53:5 played in the background of my mind, “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed”.

Last summer a young man named Samuel came to Camp. When we called his group home the week before the supervisor told us that Samuel just got out of Juvenile Hall but would be coming to Camp anyway. We explained to the group home supervisor that we thought that would not be a good idea. We made the decision to wait two weeks to bring Samuel to Camp so he would have some time to adjust to being home again. I think that was one of the first times it hit me how different life is for kids that live in group homes. They are not going home to moms or dads, or even foster parents, but to a paid staff that manages behaviors with points and demerits; what a difficult childhood that would be.

Well, Samuel did come to Camp two weeks later. As you would expect for a kid just out of Juvie he was full of rage and ready to blow. But let me tell you something about Samuel. He is 6’2; 260 lbs of muscle. It was like standing next to a 50 gallon powder keg with a lit fuse. If Samuel were a little guy this would have been a lot easier to deal with but he isn’t - he is huge. As the week went on this young man became more aggressive towards campers and counselors alike until BOOM, Samuel had tackled a smaller boy to the ground, kneed him in the stomach and bloodied his nose, and all in a split second. Fortunately a couple of our larger male counselors were able to stop the fight immediately. Britt, one of our counselors, walked Samuel off while Samuel shouted at the smaller boy. Britt had a long talk with him. Samuel settled down after that incident and by the end of the week decided that he wanted to follow Jesus.

Samuel was one of the two boys at Winter Camp. Wow what a change had happened in him. He was calm; he had been going to a church that he now called his church, not just a youth group, but big church. Samuel sang the worship songs and knew the words even with his eyes closed. He carried a worn down devotional in his back pocket that he had received at Camp at the end of the week last summer and asked if we could give him the sequel that went with it. Samuel poured over the books in the front room at Camp asking if he could read books about Jesus. He is looking for a job and has joined the Jr. ROTC program at his high school. He proudly told us he was going to go into the Air Force and shared with us about how he is learning discipline. Needless to say this was a different kid. It always amazes me how the Spirit of God changes lives over such a short time.

At Camp Alandale we are passionate about seeing abused children introduced to Jesus. More than our passion though, we know that these kids are His passion; these kids are Gods passion. Jesus warns in Mark 9:42 “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea”. How he must love these broken little lambs, our Good Sheppard searches for them, binds their broken hearts, makes them part of his flock, and keeps them. His passion.

Thank you for all you do in support of Camp Alandale, giving of your time, prayers, talent, and treasure for the cause of bring the healing and life changing love of Jesus to abused Children.

Love in Christ,

Matt & Tarrah Pritchett and all the Camp Alandale Team

Winter Camp 2013 - Session 8. March 15-17 - 10-12 Grade

Dear Prayer Warriors,

Once again we write you all with gratitude for your faithful prayers for the ministry and for the lives of our campers, counselors, and staff. After finishing our winter camp directing season on March 15-17^th we can see in full view the glory of what God has done in the lives of so many untouched and unreachable campers. Thank you for praying!

Because of your prayers and God’s faithfulness, we can almost always recall the excitement of seeing a camper come to the Lord right before our eyes. Also, because of your prayers and God’s faithfulness, we are able to see campers put their faith in Jesus and become rooted in him. One of these campers we want to share with you about is Manuel. He has been coming to camp for a long time, probably close to eight years attending both summer and winter camps. He gave his life to the Lord during one of his summer weeks a few years ago and this winter camp was his last camp. He’ll be graduating from high school in May and begin a new phase in life. For the most part, he is a pretty quiet and reserved kind of guy and didn’t speak up very much throughout the weekend. His counselor had lots to say about him during Victory circle, however, when he stood up with tears in his eyes and shared how Manuel’s tender heart toward the Lord has been growing each year. He was able to see this because he had been Manuel’s counselor several times before and could see the follower of Christ that Manuel has become. His counselor, Todd, was able to tell Manuel, as a father would to a son, how proud he was of him. Although it was hard to see Manuel go, we know and trust that the work God has begun in him here at camp will continue, and so through all our prayers we faithfully ask him to do so. Will you please continue to pray for Manuel, especially as he graduates from high school this year?

This past weekend was particularly special because we had so many young men and women that we saw are faithfully walking with the Lord in their homes, outside of camp. This is no easy task for many of the kids who live in homes where God is not talked about, and church is not an item on the menu. They have to make a way for themselves to be able to be involved in a church and get connected to a Christian fellowship, so that they don’t fall away. Many of them have done such a good job of this that we find them eligible to apply for our Junior Counselor program where they are given a chance to come back and serve at camp. We have a lot of requirements that JC’s must meet, but we find that it challenges them to stay connected and grow in their faith. We’re always thrilled to keep them for a while longer, even after they’ve graduated. Please, if you will, continue praying specifically for Dan, Vicki, Judi, Donovan, and Josh, all of which may have a chance at some point in the next few years to apply to be JCs. We know that the battle will only increase as the enemy attacks their lives to keep them from following the Lord.

We feel so blessed knowing that your prayers are with us each week! Every single weekend this winter we could feel the Holy Spirit working in the hearts of the campers as we teach the word of God and love on his children. Thanks for being part of the team that blessed the campers this winter season!

                                                                                   In Christ’s Love,

                                                                                   Jeremy & Amy Allen and the Camp Alandale Family

Winter Camp 2013 - Session 6. March 1-3 - 10-12th Grade

Dear Prayer Warriors,

We’re delighted to report back to you about our exciting weekend! It was our first high school camp ever, and we had a blast. The high-schoolers, uniquely, are so committed to coming to camp, and typically have the highest level of participation and excitement than any of the other grades. This is especially true in the winter time, when all of our campers are returnees. We had a full group starting out with 13 campers and 13 counselors. It was going to be packed! By the time Jeremy made it to Ontario three of our campers had canceled, so sadly we asked two of our counselors not to come, as well as, had one of our counselors volunteer as kitchen help for the weekend. Although it’s always disappointing to see a camper not make it to camp, God always knows what’s best! We try not to question his judgment in who comes. Your prayers are a big part of that!

We had such a wonderful group of counselors and it was such a blessing to have five new counselors! Wow! Pray that God increases the love they have in their hearts for these kids so they continue to return for future camps. We always need more volunteers. They exceeded our expectations and did a great job relating to the kids. In particular, these are stories that stood out to us.

One camper, Mark, is remembered as a hard case from this past summer. Barely avoiding a few fights with other campers and staff while in the meantime giving some choice, harsh words to a fellow director, this kid was closed off. We soon learned he had pending assault charges against him, so no wonder his emotions were running high. We saw him open up and recommit his life to the Lord that week. This weekend he came back a really different kid. He was much softer, and sweet, he wanted to be a part of everything happening at camp and loved his counselor. During our victory circle time at the end of the weekend our counselors identify a strong character quality in each of their campers to encourage them. His counselor gave him the quality of gentleness. Most boys would grimace at the label, but he stood proudly knowing where he had come from and that we could all see how God had changed him. I had to choke back the tears.

Another camper, Sherry, who had only been to camp one other time, always offered her most sincere enthusiasm, but she had been questioning since the summer God’s hand in her life and if He was real. During this weekend she accepted the Lord Jesus as her Savior! During our cross ceremony everyone gets to write on a special piece of paper something they want to give to God, whether it be their pain, sin, or forgiveness for someone else. They then nail it to the wooden cross and we light the paper on fire so that the campers can all see, symbolically, what God does with those things when we give them to Him. Sherry wept as she gave over her pain, hurt, as well as her own sins to Jesus.

These are only a few of the miraculous things that God did this weekend. God is slowly chipping away the walls around these special kid’s hearts and we get to see the incredible fruit of that. Thank you so much for being a part of the wonderful work God does here at camp Alandale. May God bless you for the loyal servant hood to this ministry.

Blessings,

Jeremy & Amy Allen and the Camp Alandale Family!