Winter Camp 2013 - Session 4. Feb. 15-17 - 7-9th Grade

Dear Prayer Warriors,

We feel so blessed to have your continuous devoted prayer to the ministry of serving and caring for abused children. God is doing some exciting things this Winter Camp season that we have been so blessed to witness. We hope that you are also blessed to hear of God’s goodness in the lives of these children and how your very prayers are a part of that.

This past weekend, only Jeremy and I’s second weekend of directing camps, was much fuller than the last. We had a total of 10 campers and again they were mostly boys. They were full of energy and were hard to keep up with, so for all of you who prayed for our physical and emotional energy to be raised, thank you, we needed it! Although rambunctious, they were a blessing. One of the boys in particular, Daniel, was a camper who we knew from the past summer. He had confessed his desire to exit the gang life and to begin living for the Lord after he had suffered the loss of his mother last year. His brave commitment to change was an unsure one as we saw it, knowing that leaving the gang life can prove more than difficult and possibly life threatening. He reported back to us this last weekend that he had indeed been able to cut off old relationships, to the point where he was no longer even spending much time outside of the house for fear of violence. And instead he was spending lots of time with his family and attending the boys and girls club a few blocks from their house. Daniel has the gift of leadership if I’ve ever seen it. I even told him people would follow him straight off a cliff because of his charming and brave attitude. Continue praying for his perseverance through this difficult time, grieving the loss of his mother, as well submitting his gifts to the Lord’s will.

Another beautiful camper that stood out this weekend was Maria. This was only her second time at camp. A shy and quiet girl, it seemed that she would stay wrapped in her own fears undoubtedly. But through talks about forgiveness and intimate one-on-one talks with her loving counselor, she slowly began to open up. By Sunday she had her long dark hair pulled back out of her face, was no longer wearing her black hooded sweatshirt, and was a wearing smile. She shared with me through tears several times how she knew God was telling her that she was so loved and special. At victory circle time she shared Luke 5 with the group, spurring them on to know that God loved them even more than all of creation because we were made in his image and he died for us! To see her stand in front of the whole group and share was so inspiring, as we remembered the shy girl that got off the bus only two days before! Continue praying for Maria as she faces her fears about not being taken back by her mother.

Thank you so much for your loving prayers, as you can see they really do matter, and we can’t imagine what camp would be like without them! 

Much Love,
The Allen’s and the Camp Alandale Team!

Prayer Letter - February 2013

Prayer Requests

As a volunteer counselor to the children at camp, you get to hear the hearts of wounded children. All during our 4-6th grade weekend, I prayed for what God would have me share with my camper. Feeling His Spirit but not direction, I just enjoyed our Bible Studies and One-on-ones as we got to know each other. Abe* had been a very broken child but had accepted Jesus’ love and salvation two years earlier at camp. He now has a vibrant faith and knowledge gained through asking soul longing questions. At our last One-on-one, God gave me the clear message to discuss this boy’s charismatic charm that had been noticed by each girl camper during our weekend. He said he enjoyed girl’s company and having lots of girl “friends.” God needed to let him know why He had given him such friend producing gifts and how to use them to encourage girls in the Lord and not use them for bolstering his ego. I showed him scriptures on encouraging others and how God wants men to treat women as sisters before marriage. The shocked look on his face but questioning spirit to understand what was meant was endearing. Please pray for Abe to continue to grow and to find the proper balance with girls as he enters adolescence.

 Two siblings, who are past campers and are in training to be Jr. Counselors (JC’s) at camp, are having issues in their foster home of 6 years. Few foster youth stay at one placement for that long. The climate in the home changed as the foster parents decided to take in more needy foster youth which has changed their home to a war scene daily. They are made for such a time as this but don’t seem to know it. Please that they can be used by God in their home to serve these others boys now that they have grown in the Lord after accepting Jesus as Savior at camp years ago.

A past camper, Yvette, is married to an awesome Christian and has a beautiful baby girl. She has been attacked heavily since she has stepped up to share her dramatic testimony for camp events. A poorly insured girl ran into her at a signal which has caused intense back pain for her that has kept her from her job for many days and she has not been able to get the medical care needed. Please pray for her that things would get settled with her insurance company so she can get therapy treatments or for the back to just be healed! She is one of God’s jewels that we consider a hero!

Here at camp we need to ask for prayer for our staff. Various sicknesses the last 6 months has been taking a toll with frequent days in bed. Matt & Tarrah have been fighting different illnesses all winter. Rey has had a cold for months and last week was told he may be losing his hearing from an infection. Praise God that his hearing has returned and the severe ringing in his ears stopped after a pouring out of prayers for him by our staff. Please also pray for no further thwarting caused by equipment issues that have also plagued us. Praise God, He is faithful and when we need to be up and running to make camp happen, we have all been able to work it.

We want to invite you to come to and also pray for our Crevier Event. We want this to be a God touched event for all who attend as you cover it in prayer. Please pray that everyone will bring lots of new friends for camp who will want to help abused children in all areas of need like prayer, counseling and giving of time and treasure. Save the date- April 13^th, 6:30PM, for a banquet dinner, inspirational camper testimonies, all free to you and all the guests you bring. Go to our website for free tickets at www.CampAlandale.org

Remaining Winter Camp dates to pray for:

                        Feb 22-24        7-9^th Grade                  Mar 1-3      10-12^th Grade

                        Mar 15-17  10-12^th Grade                   Mar 22-24  10-12^th Grade 

Please pray that our theme of “Being Rooted” will impact the campers to grow in the Lord and for adequate numbers of counselors at each session.

Winter Camp 2013 - Session 3. Feb. 8-10 - 7-9th Grade

Dear Prayer Warriors,

Well it was another great Winter Camp weekend at Camp Alandale. We had a fantastic weekend full of snow. We had so much snow this weekend that it was snowing in Redlands, Yucaipa, and Banning as we were driving on the 10 freeway. Many of the campers and one of our Junior Counselors had never seen snow falling before, so it was an exciting bus ride. As we turned up the mountain we drove through Gods beautiful winter wonderland and I could not help but be excited for what God had in store for us this weekend.

As we began the weekend we saw the Lord tugging on the heart strings of the campers calling them into real relationship with Himself. One camper named Joe, who had made a commitment to Christ, last year was struggling in his faith. Joe is a quiet young man, the type of young man that when he speaks says deep things. We see this with many of your campers in Junior High; there is so much going on in their minds, but they are so quiet because of pain they have suffered. As Christ heals them, they begin to come out of their shells and we have the privilege to see and hear what the Lord has been doing in their lives over the last few years that they have been coming to Camp. Well Joe who had been wavering in his faith made a full on commitment to Christ.

Another camper, Breanna, came to camp looking like she did not want to be here at all. God placed her with the perfect counselor. Through patience and prayer we saw her come out of her shell as well.

I spoke with a camper named Jamie about her family situation knowing she was no longer in foster care but back at home. She told me she was one of 13 children living at home with her mom and dad. She talked about how they all live in a small three bedroom house and that she rarely if ever has time to spend with the Lord in a quiet place. I was able to meet her parents and briefly talk with her father when I dropped her off at the Block after camp.

It always strikes me how the ministry here at Camp Alandale does not stop when the campers go down the hill. We get to see the Lord working in the families of the kids that come to camp. Many times we are the first contact with Christians a family may have. Thank you for your prayers. The work that you are doing is proving to make the ministry of Camp Alandale effective.

God bless you all,

Matt, Tarrah, Aiden, and Piper Pritchett

Winter Camp 2013 - Session 2. Feb. 1-3 - 7-9th Graders

Winter 2002

Dear Prayer Warriors,

Thank you so much for all your prayers for camp last weekend. This was our first time directing on our own and God was very gracious to us. We know that your prayers are a huge part of that! We started out the weekend a little rocky. Jeremy and I had put so much work and preparation into being ready for this new big step, but the enemy never stops trying to sabotage what the Lord is trying to do. Before Jeremy even made it down the hill we got a phone call that a camper was sick and would not make it to camp. Upon reaching Orange County he found out that another camper had totally forgotten about camp. Then when he reached Ontario he was informed that two more campers thought they were registered for the following weekend. We lost four campers in a matter of hours and we only had 8 registered to begin with. We tried not to panic but we couldn’t help but feel frustrated and disappointed. Back at camp, the counselors and I were praying up a storm that God would work it all out. Then we learned that another camper left the meeting spot in Banning because the bus was running late. We made a plan of action for two of our counselors to drive down to Hemet and pick up this camper, we sent one counselor home and had two more that volunteered to be helpers for the weekend. When we had the campers draw names for their counselor for the weekend it worked out perfectly and everyone seemed to be matched with the perfect person.

The next morning I overheard some of the campers talking about how fun the weekend was going to be and how it was so small and special because we were like a family. It truly was like a little family camp. Axel was a camper who really enjoyed this aspect of camp. His energy was amazing and being able to give him so much attention, and allowing him to answer as many questions as he wanted, was perfect for him. I specifically remember his excitement for playing Catch Phrase together one evening. He seemed to really feel free to be his whole-self and to allow us to love him as he is. Raymond, another camper, had such a kind heart. He was so mellow and gentle, and was so sweet with his words. It was great to see him come alive with excitement, but also ask some very serious questions about faith. Nick was the quietest of the three but that boy had the Word hidden in his heart. He would bring up Scripture and relate it to what we were discussing even when we hadn’t brought it up. Carenna, our only girl camper for the weekend, was spoiled rotten with attention from all the JC’s and girl counselors. She had a very special heart, very affectionate and loving. Continue to pray for each of these as God works in their lives to turn ashes into beauty. And for those that you prayed for that didn’t come to camp, they need prayer as well. All of our campers are in unique and difficult situations.

Beyond the hiccup that we encountered at the beginning, God blessed us with such a smooth camp and a group of loving children that were excited to soak up the theme of being Rooted in Jesus. What a blessing it is to know that we are all being prayed for by name. We know it makes all the difference in the world. We know that Satan roams around like a roaring lion trying to devour us, but when we pray, our spiritual armor is increased and the battle belongs to the Lord! Thank you again for your faithful service to God’s work and ministry here at camp.

Blessings, 

Jeremy & Amy Allen