Dear Prayer Coordinators,
Thank you for joining us for the final week of
camp. It was a great week of camp filled with many highlights,
but it was not without many difficulties. This camp seemed a little bit
different because about half of the campers were new. Typically, high school
camps are about 75% returning and 25% new. Although we anticipated a very
difficult camp because of the amount of new campers, God’s grace was upon Camp
Alandale as the Holy Spirit moved in the hearts of the campers.
The first night of camper testimonies Diana chose
to share her testimony. She was new to camp, but chose to jump right in and
tell her story. She told it with boldness and tears as she walked through
moments of beatings, abuse, rape, and miscarriage. It broke our hearts to see
her lay her head back and find the courage to tell the next part of her story.
It was evident from the way she talked that her heart was so hard against God,
so much so, that during Counselor Prayer the next day her counselor shared with
us that she had said that she hated God. One cannot blame her for thinking
this, but we know that our God is a God of love and justice who takes care of
the beaten and downtrodden. Her counselor fought mightily throughout the week
to show Diana that she is loved by God and loved by us. She encouraged her to
send God a “Facebook message” and open up communication with him, which had
been shut down many years prior. Diana, although coming to camp with a very
hard heart towards God, left camp with a heart softened toward him. Pray in the
days and weeks that follow camp that God will take hold of her life and that
she’ll surrender all of her pain and sorrow to Jesus.
Another camper new to camp was Anthony. He came
with a hard heart just like Diana. Despite having been placed in a good home at
an early age, Anthony struggled to believe in God and found his security in
knowing that he had been raised as a Catholic. His thoughts were conflicting as
he had never been in a place with other foster children who had similar stories
and had not heard much of the person of Jesus. His counselor spent many
one-on-ones with him telling him about who Jesus was and what He accomplished
through His death and resurrection. This was very comforting for Anthony, who
slowly over the week opened up more and more, and finally put his faith in
Christ on Friday. We rejoice with the angels as another camper became a child of
God.
There are more stories like Diana and Anthony’s
from this last week of camp, which much credit is due to your faithful prayers.
Please continue to pray for all the campers as they’ve returned home to
difficult situations. Blessings!
In
Christ,
Jeremy & Amy Allen
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