A Sucessful Summer

The summer of 2013 was a really good one for us. We had a total of 565 kids and leaders attend camp, which was only seven people less than our biggest summer ever, and this was despite the resignation of a key field staff member in the Spring and a tropical storm threatening the island the day before the first camp. The field staff and volunteers did a great job getting the "right" kids to camp. Our vision is to present the gospel to teenagers who aren't hearing it elsewhere and then to help them grow in their faith. Many of these kids this summer had tough backgrounds: alcohol, drugs, crime, gangs, abuse, etc. It made for some drama at times - fights, theft, and conflict. But at the same time, these kids are often looking for a way out of this downward spiral. At the end of each camp, we offer workshops for the kids who are interested. One of these workshops is for new believers - ones who have never before made a commitment to Christ. Over the 5 weeks of camp, 169 kids attended this workshop. Others who had at some point become Christians but had fallen away made re-commitments. Others undoubtedly decided to follow Jesus after leaving camp. Below is a slideshow of pictures of kids who attended new believers' workshops. This is why I do this. Thanks to all who give camp scholarships or financially support those of us who depend on donations to be able to do this work. It is worth it!

A Tough Crowd

One of the key elements of Young Life outreach camps is club. Club is a lot of fun. The program team does a great job preparing skits, games and music that are very entertaining, but also draw the attention of the kids and help prepare the mood for the speaker. Over the course of a camp, the Gospel is shared through these talks.

This summer our camp speaker at Pico Escondido has been Rafa Alejo, who is the Vida Joven national director and a gifted speaker. Yet even for great speakers there are tough crowds. Last night was the first club of camp 5. A group of kids made it hard on Rafa, making noises during his talk and getting up out of their seats to leave club. That is hard for any speaker. It distracts you, makes connecting with the crowd difficult. It had that effect on Rafa. Yet after every club there is a cabin time, in which the kids get together with their leaders to discuss what the speaker talked about. Leaders reported that cabin times were great. Kids participated well, and in general got the message and were thinking about Rafa's talk.

Rafa and I met this morning and reflected on this. It is another of many examples of this theme: we can (and should) do all we can to put on excellent camps in every way. In the end, God often surprises us in the things he uses to impact the life of a teenager. He can use a club talk in spite of distractions. He can use the friendship of a volunteer leader. We have even heard several kids this summer say they were impacted by the fireflies or the stars. Pray with us that God would draw Dominican teenagers toward him this weekend and that we would once more be wowed by how many choose to follow Him.

Start of Outreach Camp 5

Outreach Camp 5 just began a few minutes ago. In the first four camps we have seen God do great things. Below are a few quick glimpses of what happened.

Roberto Martinez, area director of La Vega, shared the following: One of the kids who came to camp 2 from his area was an alcoholic, drug user, and thief. He made a commitment to Christ during that camp. Leaving that life behind is not easy, but he has been taking concrete steps toward a better life under the guidance of Vida Joven staff and volunteers in his area.

There was a 22-yr-old that wanted to attend camp from Santo Domingo last week. He had a bad reputation that came from years spent wandering the streets. He needed this. But his boss  wouldn’t give him time off from work. The morning the bus was leaving, he showed up all sweaty from running to where they were leaving from, with the news that he had gotten time off from work and could go. He met Christ at camp, and can't wait to share what he has learned with all the kids in his neighborhood.

 

As camp speaker, Rafa was praying all last week that God would use him, and that God would increase his faith that kids were being impacted. Part of his responsibility is leading the workshop on the last day of camp for those who still have doubts or do not believe. Out of 113 kids & leaders, only 12 kids came to that workshop! 
 
God has been doing big things at Pico Escondido.