Weeks 1 & 2

The staff hiked down to Hicks Creek during orientation to set up the campsite & eat dinner

Norah found herself a perch

Preparing to take the swim test in Index Lake

Evie wanted to document how big my tummy is

Welcoming new campers as they get off the bus!

Trying to beat the heat in our homemade 'pool'

A better way to stay cool was by running through the fire hose that maintenance man Ryan hooked up. Awesome!

We have had a great first 2 weeks of summer camp. We have had some crazy weather with new record high temperatures for this area, which left some of us a little too warm...you don't ever expect 90 degrees in Alaska and therefore none of the buildings have air conditioning!
We have only had a few minor injuries and a few summer staff sick so far, but there is still plenty of camp left and we are continuing to pray for health and safety.
We had a few moments of worry last week when the weather turned from clear and sunny to completely hazy and dark in just minutes- there was smoke from a forest fire obscuring everything. We quickly found out the location of the fire, which was hundreds of miles away, and were relieved that we didn't need to worry about it. The wind was blowing strongly and we were just seeing smoke from a fire in the Wrangell-St. Elias mountains.
We have a great staff this summer and I think the campers have been having a blast. To quote a friend and S.A.L.T. camper, "Wow! What A Great Week And A Half At Victory Bible Camp. I Learned A Lot Over The Past Week And A Half. Believe It Or Not, I Think God Made Me A Bigger And Better Person. I'm Not That Shy Girl Anymore. I Can Just Be My Normal Self Around People And That Feels Really Great! My Relationship With God Is Stronger Now Than Before I Went To Camp(:" ...It's also wonderful to hear counselors relate stories of campers who were angry and disinterested at the beginning of the week, and by Friday were involved and having fun with their cabin and some had even made decisions to accept Christ. We love knowing that God is doing things like this in the hearts of the kids who spend time here!
Today is the beginning of week 3, and new campers should be arriving in about an hour.
I've been privileged to get to lead one of the small prayer groups that the staff divide into after our Sunday night chapel, and it is always so cool to hear the staff praying for the kids that have just left the day before, and praying in advance for the kids that they'll meet the following day.

Some ways you can pray for us right now:
-For the kids who made decisions to follow Christ in the past weeks to stay strong after they've arrived at home, sometimes to unsupportive situations. Pray for them to connect with a youth group, or spiritual mentor who will encourage them to grow in their faith
-For this coming week of camp, for health, safety, and open hearts for kids and staff alike
-For our family specifically, for Justin to keep up his health and energy as he often works 15hr days
-For me and the girls at home, as my pregnancy draws toward the end it is often very tough to keep up with the girls and I don't usually have help. Pray for me to remember it's OK to rest!
-Pray for a community family, the Beachys, who lost their 29-year old son Ryan in a motorcycle accident last week. He was known & loved by the entire community and this is a very tough time for everyone here. Pray for comfort. Also pray for his girlfriend Tracy who was critically injured in the accident and has a long road to recovery.

Orientation Week

The view from Victory road

The girls playing in the garden outside our house

We are right in the middle of orientation week, which is when the summer staff are trained for their specific jobs and schedules. This is also the week that's super important for bonding together as a staff and making sure we all have one goal in common: Christ-like servanthood and a heart to share Jesus with others. There are lots of classes that the staff have to attend to be educated on important issues that they may face with campers, and there are also lots of fun activities planned for the staff to get to know each other and camp better. We have been having lovely weather (for Alaska anyways :) with the occasional rain shower, which is a blessing because it keeps down the dust from the roads!
The ice is out on the lakes, FINALLY, and the docks were put in Index Lake today! Swim test for the staff is on Monday and the water should be right around 40ish degrees.
We're asking if you would join us in prayer for the coming summer. Camp starts Wednesday, June 12th. It's always amazing and heartbreaking to see the children that come through camp; some come from good homes and some definitely do not. We love that camp is a place where these kids feel comfortable enough to share their lives with their counselors and take steps closer to Jesus, whether they have a relationship with Him already or he is still preparing their hearts. Please pray:-That the soil in these young people's hearts would be soft and open to receive the seeds of the gospel

-That those who already know the Lord would grow in their faith in life-changing ways through their time at camp

-For health and safety for all kids and staff this summer

-For unity within the staff and a God-focused outlook

-We still have needs for chapel speakers and worship leaders for a few separate weeks of camp- pray that the gaps would be filled!

Thanks as always for your support of our family here at Victory! We love being here and God has made that possible through you!