Greetings, June, 2002

To any young boy, camp is an exciting dream, especially when you live in a dry, trash-filled barrio or live in the streets of the city. We provide smaller camps, outings, retreats and activities for our 500 plus kids throughout the year, but May is the big one. It's gained quite a reputation. Camp Agua Viva. Friday morning we spread out over Tijuana in our eight large vans collecting excited kids for camp. We ended up with about one hundred and thirty boys from nine different areas of the city including two orphanages. It's always interesting noting what little these kids bring to camp. A blanket, change of pants, no jacket. No wallet, money, towel, soap, Bible or flashlight.

By late afternoon everyone is settled in a cabin and has grabbed his own bunk. Now it is outside to explore trees, insects and animals. Camping has an even more important purpose. Here we bring our kids from their street environment and introduce them to a specially created spiritual environment in which God can work. This environment along with your prayers make an eternal difference in little lives.

Our camps are unique. They are "cool." People have remarked how unusual our camps are. They are for the kids to enjoy. Good food three times a day, fun activities morning and afternoon along with midmorning and afternoon Bible focuses. It is amazing that nothing was stolen, no graffiti, very few fights. To many, their cabin flush toilet is a new experience as is a hot shower and a nice clean mattress. Would you believe when it's meeting time, everyone comes! Our meetings are this good. They sing, listen and learn that God loves them and wants them to join His family. They make decisions; I don't feel right photographing these intimate occasions. Already I've been asked by several boys, "When are we going to have camp again?" Today, everything about camp is expensive, even in Mexico. Planning, acquiring a staff and drivers. Transportation at double our gas prices in the US. Food, facilities and an afternoon at a local swimming pool. With a camp our size any time you turn around it's over a $100.00. Yet camp is worth every dollar! How grateful we are that we had the funds for a camp like this and the many of you who prayed for our kids as we worked with them.

I wrote about Roberto last month. He really wanted to go to camp. I wish he would have. Instead he was caught by the police and sent to a very tough rehabilitation center about seventy miles south east of us. I saw little Daniel in the children's jail last Wednesday. Please pray. They both needed camp.

Thanks so much for your part in our team. We really feel your prayers. As willing as we are to serve, how effective would we be without your prayers on our behalf? Indeed we are a team.

May God continue to bless each of you.

In His love, von