SUMMER 2019 NEWSLETTER
It’s only the end of June and we’ve already had three camp retreats this year! As usual, we’re amazed by the wonderful blessing that camp is to our young people and their families. Camp gives our community an environment where they can draw close to God and create a spark that grows for the rest of their lives.
The young adult retreat, in May at Qwanoes, gave our young adults time to bond with each other and with Samantha, our Post-Secondary Coordinator. In fact, the group wanted to do every activity together. There were also plenty of personal “wins” - like seeing a young man, who had been bullied through his entire adolescence, thrive in a loving social environment.
Another wonderful thing about the Camps this year was that it gave Donny, our new Community Discipleship Coordinator, a time to begin building relationships with the young men and women that we walk alongside. At Waymaker retreat in June (a partnership between North American Indigenous Ministries and Interact Ministries), Donny had a blast playing basketball (which he also coaches) with the boys. Amanda, our past Discipleship Coordinator, was also able to attend this retreat to help with the introductions.
Our time at Family Camp at Qwanoes this year was really meaningful for those involved. For one father, who has recently re-committed his life to God and is growing by leaps and bounds in his faith, it was his first time in four years that he was able to spend an entire weekend with his three daughters who are living apart from him. For another father, it was an opportunity to reconnect with God and introduce his child to the camp he attended growing up. For a couple of families, it was their third year attending camp together and family camp has become the highlight of their kids’ year and a chance for the families to strengthen relationships in a loving environment. We look forward to seeing how the seeds that were planted will grow in the years ahead.
Please pray for continued blessing on our week long camps this summer. Our staff and volunteers are working hard to coordinate a summer of blessing and fabulous fun. We hope to give you great updates in our next newsletter!
The young adult retreat, in May at Qwanoes, gave our young adults time to bond with each other and with Samantha, our Post-Secondary Coordinator. In fact, the group wanted to do every activity together. There were also plenty of personal “wins” - like seeing a young man, who had been bullied through his entire adolescence, thrive in a loving social environment.
Another wonderful thing about the Camps this year was that it gave Donny, our new Community Discipleship Coordinator, a time to begin building relationships with the young men and women that we walk alongside. At Waymaker retreat in June (a partnership between North American Indigenous Ministries and Interact Ministries), Donny had a blast playing basketball (which he also coaches) with the boys. Amanda, our past Discipleship Coordinator, was also able to attend this retreat to help with the introductions.
Our time at Family Camp at Qwanoes this year was really meaningful for those involved. For one father, who has recently re-committed his life to God and is growing by leaps and bounds in his faith, it was his first time in four years that he was able to spend an entire weekend with his three daughters who are living apart from him. For another father, it was an opportunity to reconnect with God and introduce his child to the camp he attended growing up. For a couple of families, it was their third year attending camp together and family camp has become the highlight of their kids’ year and a chance for the families to strengthen relationships in a loving environment. We look forward to seeing how the seeds that were planted will grow in the years ahead.
Please pray for continued blessing on our week long camps this summer. Our staff and volunteers are working hard to coordinate a summer of blessing and fabulous fun. We hope to give you great updates in our next newsletter!
