Camp Alandale Prayer Update

Session 8, August 8-13, 2011

 

Dear Prayer Supporter,

We are blessed to share with all you of the amazing miracles that God did this past week. As the High School campers unloaded the bus on Monday, they were re-united with hugs. For returning campers, this week was a time of discipleship as they learned to stand firm in God's truth. This week was Jeremy's 4th year at camp and it was clear that he had grown in his faith in Jesus during the past year. He would play worship on his guitar around camp and demonstrated a heart that was filled with joy. However, as he shared during testimony time on Tuesday night, there was still pain in Jeremy's heart that he needed to surrender to God. He shared his struggle with forgiveness and trusting in God during the trials in his life. Sharing his testimony was an important step for God's continued healing work. Throughout the remainder of the week, Jeremy was able to encourage other campers who had endured similar pain to put their trust in Jesus and him to take the pain from their lives. It was a blessing to see God's continued work in the camper's lives as they continue to return to camp.

    In John 4:37 Jesus says "One sows and another reaps." Here at camp we sow and water a lot of seeds, and I am so thankful that God has chosen us to be workers in His field. That being said, I am always so blessed when I am allowed to reap. This week was Jason's first time at camp, and I quickly noticed that he was very shy and never started conversations. It's always a blessing to see campers come out of their shells when they are submersed in the loving atmosphere of camp, and he was no different. On Friday night, on our last one on one as we were sitting and talking I felt that I was supposed to give him a hug, and just as I was going to ask him if that was fine with him, he turned to me, opened his arms, and said Brian, give me a hug. His knowledge of God was very limited and he called himself a Catholic only because that's what his mom was. As we talked throughout the week I could see him becoming interested in God, and as we were one on one that night I gave him the opportunity to accept Jesus. When he said that he wanted to I told Him I was going to pray and that he should repeat after me. After I prayed the first line, I waited with my eyes closed for about 10 seconds waiting for him to repeat my words. When I finally opened my eyes and asked him what was wrong he said that he wanted to pray for himself. He proceeded to pray a heartfelt prayer that brought tears to my eyes and joy to my heart. Jason has a new life in Christ!

     Although he wasn't my camper, Robert still had an incredible impact on my week. He was at my table and every morning I was greeted by him shouting in my face and trying to get me riled up and upset. Robert has been involved in gangs since he was about eleven; violence and hate was all that he knew. He had been coming to camp for a few years, and we had interacted together, but he had never really taken camp seriously. By the end of the second day, he had attached to me and had confided in me. I felt that I was able to provide him with a correct model of what a female figure could look like. Robert did have a problem with expressing his anger, and when he was upset, he would shut down and not talk. He would often sit by me at camp fire, and so on the last campfire, he got very upset about something his sister who was there had said. He shut down and wouldn't talk or touch anyone. As the testimonies continued, he slowly relaxed and leaned into me. By the end of the campfire he was crying onto my shoulder. His slow relaxation into his pain and his ability to embrace it and then grief; but to come to a conclusion of relief was a perfect demonstration of change. When in the beginning of the week he wouldn't let anyone see anything but his facade, to being able to cry onto my shoulder proved to me how powerful God is and how He can change each person's heart; not just at camp.

With Christ's Love, Summer Staff 2011        

Camp Alandale Prayer Update

Session 7, August 1-6, 2011
 

    Session 7 was our first High School camp. We look forward to High School camps because we get to spend a day longer and we get to see campers that we have known the longest. This week was a little different in terms of the mix of guys and girls. We had 11 boys and 5 girls. Most of them had been to camp before, but with that many boys we knew it was going to be a rough and tough, testosterone filled week. The guys did not disappoint.

    Dionte was new to camp. He wasn't new to Christianity. As he shared his testimony one night, it was clear that God had started the work in this young man's heart long ago. Through some bad choices that his parents had made, and a few of his own, he wound up in the system in a foster home. He knows that he was fortunate to wind up in a foster home for a boy at his age. Usually boys 15 years old get placed in a group home. Dionte was well aware that God was giving him a chance. This led to some amazing searching by this young man all week. His table became the Bible answer table. His counselor and the other counselors at that table did an amazing job of answering even the toughest of his questions. Isaiah 55:6 says: "Seek the LORD while you can find Him. Call on Him now while He is near." (NLT) Dionte did his fair share of seeking this week and God did the finding. Dionte prayed to receive Christ toward the end of the week on his one-on-one with his counselor. Please Pray the Dionte finds a good church to go to and grows in his new life in Christ. God is good.
    There aren't many campers that come to camp that escape receiving Christ. Especially when they come back year after year. Alfredo is an escape artist. He likes being around the love of God, and loves being around camp, but when you ask him, his heart is not ready to receive Christ. I would love to tell you his story this year ends up with him receiving Christ. It doesn't. In fact Alfredo, or Freddie's story at camp is a mystery. One thing is for sure, God continues to show Freddie His love. It seems our job in Freddie's life is a planting one. Planting the seeds of Christ in his heart that we pray will one day spring into eternal life in Christ for Freddie. Despite his subtle non-acceptance of the claims of Christ we had a great fun week with him. My children Charlie and Gracie spent a lot of time after meals playing with him in the field area. Freddie has a neat heart, we'll keep praying that God brings him to Christ in His timing. God is still good.
    This first High School camp was filled with a lot of boys. It was also filled with Christ's love reaching out to those boys. One thing that we saw was Christ reaching these campers hearts through play. Whether it was Basketball, Ping Pong, Scatter ball, or Hiking, these boys loved to play. Pool times at one point consisted of 3 people because the rest of the boys were playing basketball. Of course they jumped in the pool after to cool off during the last 10 minutes of pool time. The greatest thing about sports and games is that they soften the hearts and build respect amongst the counselors. We saw God use the simple, to confound the wise when all it took was play to open the hearts of these young men who we were blessed with. God is good all the time!


Love in Christ, Mike Towler, OC Camp Director

Camp Alandale Prayer Update

Session 6, July 25-29, 2011

Dear Prayer Family,

Greetings! We had a blessed week of camp as we witnessed God's miracles among the lives of children who have been abused and neglected. The Junior High campers learned how to take up the body armor of God and stand firm in his truth.

    Manny, who was a returning camper, had been known as a trouble maker at camp. He often was rebellious against his counselor and pick fights with the other campers. This week, he got off the bus with a stern look on his face and was unresponsive to the hugs and friendly greetings from the counselors. However, as Manny heard the testimony's at campfire and did bible studies with his counselor, his countenance began to change and it seemed as though God had began to soften his heart. He began to participate in the camp activities with more joy and enthusiasm that was absent before. As one of the older campers of the camp, he was often seen encouraging and being a positive role model to the younger campers. During the pine-ceremony, he sat isolated from the group as he remembered and pondered the love of Jesus. Please pray that God would continue to move in Manny's life and draw him unto himself.

    It was Ace's first time at camp, but seeing the enthusiasm with which he approached the activities I would never have guessed it. On our first one on one Monday morning he mentioned to me that he had been a Christian for three years, and that he had first become a Christian as a direct result of the Junior Counselor on our team, Anastasia. It was such a blessing for me to be able to partake of the fruit of her labor and build upon the foundation that God had built through her.

    For Matt, Camp Alandale was a new experience. He soon began to enjoy the activities at camp and make friends. Though he was a joyful camper, he showed a need for affection and attention. As the week progressed and Matt learned about God's truth, Matt began to realize his need for Jesus. In the middle of the week, he accepted Jesus into his heart and allowed Him to begin to take away the pain and burdens that were stored up within him. Throughout the rest of the week, we witnessed a freedom and joy in Matt's life as began part of Camp Alandale's family. More importantly, he became part of God's family. Praise God!

 

Written by: Summer Staff 2011

Camp Alandale Prayer Update

Session 5, July 18-22, 2011

Hello, prayer warriors! Thank you so much for your invaluable faithfulness in lifting up this ministry as you have! Here are some events from the week of July 18-22.

I had the immense pleasure of getting to know a sweet girl named Jackie, who was in a lot of pain. It was her first time at camp, and she was withdrawn and scared of just about everything, it seemed. However, she quickly became attached to a boy and held onto him the entire week. At times I felt slightly helpless when all she would want to talk about was this boy; however I tried to continuously give it up to God. On the very last night of camp we finally began to talk about God and the more serious matters in her life. Before we talked we prayed and she said that the only thing she wanted to ask God for was a real family. She was abandoned at birth and was very hurt by this. She had anger and so much anxiety inside of her. When we were at the last campfire, she had her head down and was crying uncontrollably. I asked her if she wanted to pray, and she said yes. We prayed to ask Jesus in her heart that night and the tears finally stopped. However mine did not. To see this beautiful girl come into the presence of God after all that she had been through so humbled me to the point of tears. Not of sadness, but tears of gratitude and of peace that God had indeed used me and the knowledge that He would be faithful to complete the good work He started in Jackie.

Kyle was stubborn. As soon as he saw who his teammates were, he said, "There is no way I'm going on that team." Apparently Kyle had lived with some of the campers from the yellow team and they hadn't gotten along at all. Additionally, Kyle had gotten into an altercation with one of his soon-to-be teammates on the bus coming up the hill, which prompted that teammate to warn his counselor that if Kyle got out of line any more, there would most certainly be a fight. His counselor prayed that the boys would get along, and though they did have a few more tiffs that day, for the rest of the week, Kyle was able to get along with the boys he previously feared. Another breakthrough with Kyle was that though he struggled with his anger for most of the week, he confessed on one of the last days that he didn't want to be angry any more. He prayed not to be, and during one of the last activities of camp called Victory Circle, he let everyone know that his time at camp had inspired him to live more of a godly life.

This year was Kyllis' second camp, but his attitude was, "I don't believe in God anymore." He stated vaguely that he'd been through some things that made it impossible for him to believe, and so he held onto his newfound identity as an atheist. He did, however, seem to enjoy camp activities, including amphitheatre time. In his testimony he went into detail about how his mother, who was a drug addict, would sell him sexually to men to get money for drugs. He and I had had a few conversations and I told him that though I'd never been through what he had, I could relate to some degree because of my being molested as a child, and that I found it difficult to understand why until I saw how God used it to help me reach others. It was the final evening of testimonies after some of the campers had shared their own very moving stories, Kyllis came up to me and said, "Hey, Jonny… I asked Christ into my heart." I hugged him and cried, as I was reminded once again of the incredible healing power of God.

Thank you again for your prayer support and your love for this ministry. God bless you!

Jonny & Hannah Summer Staff 2011

Camp Alandale Prayer Update

Session 4, July 11-15, 2011

    Rule number one for the campers at Camp Alandale is to have fun, but for the staff, counselors, and junior counselors rule number one is to inundate the campers with the love of Jesus. This week we kept that rule.

    Antonio was a veteran camper; unfortunately veteran doesn't mean more manageable or cooperative. Getting him to participate in one-one ones was always a challenge and he frequently refused to participate in the game and amphitheater times. He gave me reasons as to why he was didn't want to participate, saying he was homesick or had problems with another camper. However, God helped me to see that although these were real concerns, they were just manifestations of a bigger problem. Despite this insight I wasn't able to figure out what this problem was until testimony time on Thursday night. When he told his testimony he shared how two members of his family, his mother and his sister had died in the last few years and he was struggling with the pain of that loss. Although he had already asked Jesus into his heart, he couldn't understand why God would take his loved ones away. The one on one we had that night made up for all his previous resistance, for he asked God to take away his pain and anger and he gave his burden to God!

    Likewise, Cheyenne has been coming to camp for five years now, in spite of this, she was unwilling to come this year and her mom had to force her. During worship time she never sang or did the hand motions, however as the week progressed she became more enthusiastic and even encouraged other campers to participate. The real breakthrough happened during one on one time on Thursday night when she opened up and shared that her grandfather, who is her best friend, is sick with leukemia. While she was telling me this she mentioned that she hadn't cried in five years, yet later that night as we performed a skit that is about a person who walks away from God, God softened her heart and she broke down and started crying. She rededicated her life to God and wants to stay in contact with her counselor so they can do Bible studies.

    Who is like our God? His mercies are unfailing. "A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling" (Psalm 68:5.) We greatly appreciate your waging warfare on our behalf and we covet your prayers.

                            In Him,

                        Brian, Abby, and the Summer Staff

Session 3 July 4-8 Prayer Update

Camp Alandale Prayer Update
Session 3  July 4-8 Prayer Update

Dear Prayer Supporters,

    Greetings to you from your friends at Camp Alandale! We are blessed to have the opportunity to share with you about the great things that God has done this past week at camp. We witnessed campers who were filled with pain and bitterness become healed by the loving touch of Jesus Christ.

    Camp Alandale was a new experience for Antionio and Alex. They seemed confused and puzzled by the love that was shown to them here at camp. Having not heard much of the gospel before, they responded to the worship songs and prayers times with sarcasm. However as the weeks progressed, God began to soften both of their hearts. They began to open up to their counselors about the rejection and pain that they had experienced from their parents. Antonio was even led to share his testimony at campfire time and to share his need to forgive his Mom for the abuse that she did to him. Both Antonio and Alex made commitments to follow Jesus by the end of the week. Praise God!

For sisters Pamela and Precilla, it was routine for them to be greeted with this love as they have attended camp many times in the past. Both sisters have been going to camp since they were in grade school, and were excited to return and see familiar faces. However, both their faces and interactions reflected lives that were filled with pain and neediness. Though they participated in the Bible studies and games, their interactions with the boys at camp showed their brokenness and need for attention. After a talk about purity was given on Monday night, God began to do a healing in these sister's hearts. Precilla made a commitment to save herself for marriage and further her relationship with Jesus. During testimony time, Pamela shared the pain that her and her sister endured from their abusive father. She mentioned how this abuse had damaged her relationship with Precilla and caused them to store up bitterness towards each other. Though they both began this process of healing in Jesus, please pray for healing for these girls in their relationship with each other. Also pray that God will help these sisters to become reconciled and help encourage each other in the Lord.

Amanda and Robin were my two lovely girls. I was blessed to counsel them this past week. Both dealt with many of the same problems that Pamela and Precilla faced, division with their sisters. For Amanda, her oldest sister blamed her for the molestation which happened to her. For Robin, her sister blames her for the rape which her dad committed towards her. When talking with my girls I could see that it killed them on the inside not being able to have a relationship with their sisters. Amanda told me that she wishes that she could have her sister be her friend like other girls that she knows from school. From the beginning of the week, the girls seemed to be rather hopeless in mending their relationships, but as we prayed throughout the week, there seemed to be a glimmer of hope in their eyes that God could restore not just the relationships in their lives, but also take the burdens in which they clung to. When praying for these two girls, please pray for restored relationships between siblings, and burdens in which these girls harbor in their hearts be fully released unto Jesus.

Love in our Blessed Redeemer,

Counselors: Zach and Kayla

Camp Alandale Prayer Update

Session 1 Summer Camp Update June 20-24, 2011

Dear Prayer Family,

    Greetings to you from your friends at Camp Alandale! We are writing to share about the blessed week that we had at camp. It was a great kick-off to the summer as the 4th through 6th graders heard about the love of Jesus and learned about the Armor of God.

    For many returning campers, we were blessed to see God's hand in growing and softening their hearts. Moses, for example, was a previous camper who was known to cause trouble and pick fights with other campers and was often defiant to his counselors. However, this week Moses was more respectful to the campers and counselors. He participated in the Bible studies and worship with a joy which was absent in the past. It was clear that God had softened his heart. On Thursday night, Moses broke down in tears during the Pinecone Ceremony where he asked God to take an area of pain in his life. Pray that God would continue to draw Moses unto himself and fill him with the love of Jesus.

    Crystal was another returning camper who had gained much growth in Jesus since her first visit to Camp Alandale. Throughout this week, she was more compliant and demonstrated self-control compared to her previous two years at camp. At first she would alienate certain campers from her team, but as the week went on, we saw her heart began to soften towards others in a way only Jesus can do. Crystal really began opening up when she and I just gazed at the stars and she realized how big God really is. She started letting down her defenses toward everyone and was a little bit calmer at the end of the week. Pray for Crystal to let go of past hurts, and for God to soften her wounded heart. 

    We also had the privilege of welcoming new children to Camp Alandale.  Angel was one of those. He is the oldest boy in his family and since his father is in prison he feels responsible for his family. It was amazing to see him open up as the week progressed. During one-on-one time he confided to me that his father will be in prison for fourteen more years and when he gets out Angel will be twenty-six. He told me that once his father gets out of prison he will make him go wherever he goes and he will make sure that he never gets into trouble again. Angel never goes to church and he has only learned a little about the Bible from his mom. It was a blessing to see his knowledge of God greatly increase as the week progressed. He was sad to leave camp and told me he can't wait to come back next year.

    Camp Alandale was a new experience for Nicole as well. Her actions and demeanor reflected a child who was filled with fear and insecurity. She would express feelings of fear in many of the camp activities such as the ropes course and hikes. However, God had given her the perfect counselor. Leah pushed and encouraged Nicole to conquer her fears during the week. Her encouragement helped Nicole to participate in nearly every camp activity despite her fear and apprehension. She even was one of the few campers that shared her testimony during campfire. On the last night of camp, she accepted Jesus into her heart with her counselor Leah. In an effort to make sure that Nicole knew what she was doing Leah had her draw out what she had just done. She really did get it, below is the drawing.  God truly does amazing things in the lives of these campers at camp. Praise God!

Thank you for your prayers and support,

Counselors: Zach, Brian, and Kayla