Hi Everyone,
This may have been a short week (only 3 days) but I’m sure we must have packed in 2 more days worth of activity and energy into it! These campers had a blast and I wish we could bottle up their energy and use it to fuel those of us adults that need the extra boost now and then! We had beautiful weather to want to spend outside doing all the fun activities and I even got to have a “play day” yesterday with the kids as I hung out on the pontoon boat and on Tizzy’s Tower with them (hence the reason I need the energy boost!). Skills were some of their favorite times and they did things like play at the beach, try archery and climbing wall and even got to drive the horse wagon (with Michelle’s help of course) and brush down some of the horses (the favorite skill without a doubt)!
With all the energy they had, they weren’t shy on talking and sharing. I saw many cabin leaders having chats throughout the three days with individual campers as well as groups and having a great time. Many heard about Jesus and God’s love for the first time during cabin devotions and chapels with “Grandma” Carol Harrison. Carol brought out her “treasure box” and had different treasures to give to each camper every night to help them remember that God was their creator who loved them and like sheep takes care of us. At this point we know of 11 campers who made a commitment to follow Jesus this week. Please pray that these young hearts would be able to continue to grow and understand what an impact that commitment has on their lives as they go home.
I was able to get a lot of footage for the videos this week because the campers weren’t shy about being on the camera so check out the fun team and cabin pictures on Stoney’s Facebook page!
JUNIOR THREE:
After a much needed long weekend for the staff, Sunday, Aug 6 sees our next week of camp starting. We have a full camp – 130 campers! – ages 9-12 registered for our final Junior camp. Like the other junior camps, we will go back to normal schedule mode of 3 skills and the campers choose which skills they do. We’ll play several night games and we’ll be packed like sardines in the dining hall and cabins!
Our support staff for the week are:
LITs: Liam Alsbach, Reece Gitzel, Rachel Linnell, Jessica Wasyliw, Caitlyn Waterhouse, Myles Bernard, Jenna Giddings
Cooks: Val Weber, Heather Thompson, Jodie Allan, Jodine Arndt, Emily Currie
Nurse: Kaitlyn Hantke
Grandparents: Russ & Marty Harris
Our speaker this week is Jody Taylor. This is Jody’s first time speaking at Stoney (and first time to a group this big) but she is not new to the camp having grown up as a camper and then cabin leader here. Jody is from Melfort, SK. Please pray for her as this is her first time speaking, that God would help her to feel prepared and be confident in her speaking and in His message. Pray that she can engage and connect with the campers both in and out of chapel.
WORK CREW SESSION 3
This next week we start a new session of our Work Crew program. There will be 6 new campers coming to learn how to work and serve as they do the dishes, clean the bathrooms, run tuck and other odd jobs around camp. But despite the work, they get lots of time to do fun things and many will say they like being work crew better than a camper! Continue to pray for Jesse and Deana as they lead the work crews and that they would be able to connect with this new crew quickly and be able to train and motivate them to work diligently and have a lot of fun while doing so! A couple of the campers have already been on Work Crew this summer so pray for Deana and Jesse that they will be able to engage them in the devotions that these campers have already heard and that God would open all of the campers’ hearts in new ways this session.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
- Praise for the campers who made first time commitments! Pray for them that they would have opportunity to learn how to grow as they go home.
- Pray for the campers that heard the Gospel for the first time, that they would understand and accept God’s love. Pray that God would bring others into their lives to continue planting the seeds that started at camp.
- Pray for a good rest for our staff this weekend – that they would be wise about their time this weekend.
- Pray for the health of our staff. Its half-way through summer and many are getting sick and tired. Pray that they would rely on God’s strength and energy and not on themselves.
- We still have room for more campers. Pray that God would fill the camp and we would have more opportunities to share the Gospel.
Well I think that’s it for this update. Thanks again for your prayers.
If you ever have questions or would like to come out to help out or visit, give us a call. Like us on our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stoney-Lake-Bible-Camp/223713554325460 for more information and for regular updates. We’re also on Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram!
Once again, THANK YOU so much for your willingness to pray for the camp.
In His service,
Myra Schmidt
Executive Assistant
Stoney Lake Bible Camp