Dear Prayer Partners,
It is with great joy that I have the
opportunity to share with you about our JC Training Camp two weekends ago. We
had 24 Junior Counselors, three Summer Staff, six Directors, and two director
children for the whole weekend. It was a packed house! The Lord moved in the
hearts of the Junior Counselors as we spent time considering our Winter Camp
theme “Rooted” and went through a chunk of the JC Training material. Before I
tell any stories, I want to thank you for praying for all of us and being
faithful to constantly lift up the weekend to God. We take much comfort in your
prayers and know that they are of the utmost importance for the success of the
ministry. Your prayers are greatly appreciated!
Nathan is a Junior Counselor that I
got to know this past summer. If I remember correctly, I got to spend two weeks
with him and thoroughly enjoyed my time. Nathan is a very hard worker and
determined young man. The odds are against him though, as he fights to stay
strong and healthy because of degenerative disease. Nathan didn’t share this
with me during the summer, but over the JC Training Camp during our Prayer Group
Nathan expressed the anger that he feels because of what he is going through
and how it affects him and his friends. We took the opportunity to pray for him
and lift up his struggles to Jesus right there. The climax of the weekend came
for Nathan during our Cross and Communion session when he had the opportunity
to write down his struggles on a piece of paper and see it burn up. At camp, we
have some special flash paper that lights on fire, burns very quickly, and
leaves no ash behind. It is always a very powerful time as the campers and JC’s
see their struggles, sin, and shame burn up on the cross of Christ. Anyways,
after the session, Nathan approached Amy and I and told us of the freedom that
he felt from his anger. He explained to us how angry and upset he had become
and how God set him free from those feelings when he gave them to the Lord.
Praise God for the work in Nathan’s heart!
Larissa was a JC leader in disguise.
That is, until she came up for training. She is one of our newest camper JC’s
who came for the weekend. She also, was in our Prayer Group and really
impressed us with her sincere and heartfelt prayers for her peers. She took
everyone by surprise with her budding leadership skills and friendly spirit.
The moment we saw this came when we challenged the JC’s with our Group
Initiative. The task was to pass a marble from pipe to pipe from one end of the
house to other and then put the marble into a small cup. This doesn’t sound
very difficult, but when one teammate is blind, another mute, one missing a
foot, and all only being able to hold it with one hand, then it becomes a
challenge. Larissa, despite the challenge, took charge during the Group
Initiative and really led her team with love and care. All of the directors
were so impressed. Praise the Lord for this new JC!
Thank you again for praying for us.
As you can see from Nathan and Larissa’s stories, your prayers make a
difference in the lives of all who come to camp. May you be blessed for your
partnership in this ministry.
In
Christ,
Jeremy Allen, Assistant Director
