Village Bible Church || Aurora | Indian Creek | Sugar Grove | IL

We've finally made it and are enjoying camp! After the long process of getting out to camp we know that God has something great in store for us. We've already seen that through time with our campers and with the other staff. We definitely saw Satan trying to discourage us through the canceled flight, a delay, a missed flight, and team being booked on separate flights on the major airlines we thought everything else would be easy. But we went through being bumped back on the puddle jumper too! The team ended up taking separate flights and one ride was horrific. We finally all made it by 8:30pm on Sunday, so of us a little more shaken than others.

Linda, Chuck, Darlene, Greg, and Megan are all counselors. Vic is the camp activity director for the week and Brittnee is on kitchen staff.

We spent Sunday evening getting to know our co-counselors and staff workers. It was a rushed night, but some of us got to hike up to the falls and experience the beauty of God's creation. We were just in time to see the summer solstice (at 11:45pm) as we hiked back to camp.

The first day of camp went well. The rain held of until the last camper arrived. But when it rained it poured! But a rainy day at camp is better than a sunny day anywhere else! It really gave us a chance to spend some time talking with the campers and really getting to know them. Since we are working with the youngest age group (entering third and fourth grade) it is the first time many of these children are away from home for the night. For some of them its the first time they are out of their villages.

We have definitely seen Satan at work trying to discourage the team, but we have seen God at work keeping us unified and relying on him.

The first night was rough for many of the campers. There were a lot of tears, homesickness and bed-wetting the first night, but the second night was much better. We've had rain everyday, but it holds off and lets up at the best times. We've lost power, but not when we've needed it and we know that God is in control.

The campers are asking great questions, asking great questions, taking notes during chapel and really opening up to the staff. It is great to see what God is doing. I wish that I could send pictures of them so you could put faces to these children.

Please pray that God would continue to work and we would continue to rely on him for strength!

Thank you,

The 2009 Alaska Team