I wanted to include one last picture for the year and this camper has a special place in my heart so he gets to be upfront! Wow---what a summer it has been! Last week was the last week with campers in the village. God blessed us that week with 10 first time decisions and 15 recommitments! What an awesome ending! We saw somewhere in the neighborhood of 115 first time decisions for Jesus this year! What a blessing this is to our hearts, and your prayers made all the difference! This summer was minimal for injuries, and ilnesses, as well as staff issues. Thank you! Praise God for this. It goes on record as one of the best summers ever!
This week the staff will still be here for clean up week and then off they go. Camp seems so dull and quiet to me when their smiling faces and crazy antics are gone. I do miss them the rest of the year. I wish you could know some of these kids, they are so amazing!
Guy and I are already looking forward to next year and all that God will do. Of course we have much camp to get through before then. We are never dead here, we just have slower times. We will see some rest in November, but until then it is still a full load. God uses this place for ministry all year long. I have been blessed this year in that I have had two personal friends volunteer to help out! That was truly fun and so encouraging!
Something to think about----maybe next year you would like to contribute to our scholarship fund! Every summer we get requests for scholarships to help families send campers here. We never turn folks away. God always provides, always. Our policy is to scholarship 1/3. Hopefully the church they are affiliated with can do the other 1/3 leaving 1/3 for the family. If you feel led, it is easy to contribute to the scholarship fund specifically. The office personell can help with that.
If you think of us anytime during the rest of the year, you can continue to lift us up in prayer. We count on God's direction in hiring our summer staff. Throughout the year there are many issues we face with guests groups as well as our own program camps. We always want to reflect God's love in everything we do. Because we are all human, this is easier some days than others. Pray for us there.
I believe that this sumemr was a huge success, and I believe that it has a lot to do with so many of you praying for us as God led. I know it meant a lot to our staff to get the cards in the mail. It challenged them to be better, and encouraged them in the just the right moments. Thank you!
So for now, I end this blog. Should a need arise I will email you throughout the year with good news, prayers requests and such. But summer is when I count on you. I trust that you were blessed as well by taking part in our minisrty here. If you have specific news to share, please email me, I would love to hear about it.
Until then, thank you. For your faithfullness, for your prayers and for your hearts. Thank you for allowing me to enlist you even when you didn't ask to be included. May God bless you richly!
In Christ~~~
Shelli
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