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
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