April 23rd Update

A more recent family picture

Evie, Justin and the Grandparents hiked with the dogs up Teepee Ridge in the snow

The view of the highway coming up to camp from the top of the ridge

Evie sits with Grandpa Steve at the top

It's officially breakup in our neck of the woods! While we are still having days when it snows, the sun is definitely winning in the long run, and the roads around camp are all mud and slush. The girls have had a blast playing in the puddles outside.
Our guest groups at Victory have subsided for the most part now, and the focus is turning to preparation for Outdoor Education camps that will be held next month, and being more and more ready for summer camp.
Justin's parents arrived for a visit this past week and we've also been kept busy with Justin's camp presentations. We spent last Saturday at Anchorage's Promise Kid's Day- a positive community event with 70 booths representing businesses, organizations and camps, and each one had an activity or game for children. There were an estimated 10-15,000 people who came through the Denaina Center in Anchorage where it was held, and we brought the girls. While Justin and the rest of the program team worked at our Victory booth, talking to people about camp, handing out brochures, and helping kids assemble a VBC headband craft, the grandparents and I walked around the center with the girls. It was a long day but hopefully a fruitful one for camp, and definitely a fun one for the girls!
We presented at Lazy Mountain Bible Church in Palmer this past Sunday, both for camp and to give a personal update on our ministry. We are hoping that these many appearances that have been made on Victory's behalf at churches and youth/children's events will draw campers and staff to come experience camp this summer, and learn about the awesome love of God.


Some ways you can pray for us right now:
-That the staff team that is being built for summer would be made of God-loving, servant-hearted, teachable people who will also be able to grow personally through their summer here
-That God would provide more college-age male counselors for the summer, as we still have a shortage
-That there would be safety at camp and on the lakes with all the snow & ice melting and making a bit of a mess
-That our family would remain God-focused through the last part of this exceptionally busy month

As always, thanks so much for your continued prayers and support! You all mean so much to us!