Camp News 2013

The Brittney Strom Foundation- 3037 Old Charleston Road Saluda, SC 29138- www.campbrittney.org

“You will go out in Joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst in to song before you, and all the trees of the field

will clap their hands.” Isaiah 55:12

The  above  verse  was  lived  out  during  the  four  weeks  of  camp  in  January  2013  at  Camp  Brittney.    As  the  children  and  teenagers  came  to  camp  each  week,  they  ran  down  the  hill  excited  to  be  at  a  place  that  would  show  them  love,  comfort,  laughter,  nourishment,  peace,  and  essentially  God’s  amazing  love.  When  you  read  the  verse  above  it  says,  “The mountains and hills will burst in to song before you…”  Mountains  and  hills  surround  Camp  Brittney  which  is  located  in  a  valley  in  Atenas,  Costa  Rica.  Day  to  day  at  camp  you  are  surrounded  by  sounds  that  would  make  a  perfect  song.  You  have  the  children  laughing,  cheering  and  talking  which  warms  your  heart;  making  you  aware  of  God’s  strong  presence.  It  is  like  the  mountains  and  hills  are  hugging  all  the  children  letting  them  feel  His  joy  and  love.  As  the  week  continues,  the  noise  becomes  louder  and  you  know  that  children  and  teenagers  are  forever  being  changed.    

“…and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.”  As  God  has  given  each  staff  member  a  love  to  disciple  and  listen  to  the  camper’s  personal  story,  the  children  can  feel  the  love  of  God  through  the  staff.    This  part  of  the  verse  symbolizes  the  lives  of  the  children  and  teenagers  that  are  changing  day  to  day.    For  God  is  clapping  His  hands  as  one  child  moves  closer  to  Him.  From  the  one-­‐on-­‐one  discipleship  each  child  is  shown,  through  the  skits  that  the  staff  creates  about  everyday  life  situations  and  making  choices  God  would  have  for  them,  to  the  songs  and  devotions  they  learn;  all  are  little  pieces  that  bring  the  joy  of  God  into  the  campers’  lives.  We  clap  and  rejoice  as  one  child’s  life  is  forever  changed;  but  we  rejoice  louder  as  a  seed  is  planted  in  every  child  and  teenager  that  attends  camp.    A  seed  that  tells  them  that  God  loves  them  and  has  great  plans  for  their  lives!    

It  is  not  uncommon  for  the  children  and  teenagers  that  attend  camp  to  be  use  to  only  one  meal  a  day,  no  bed  to  sleep  on,  no  running  water  and  no  encouragement  in  their  home.  That  is  what  Camp  Brittney  provides:  three  

meals  a  day,  a  bed  to  sleep  on,  running  water  and  encouragement  while  the  campers  are  at  camp.  During  the  month  of  January  2013,  Camp  Brittney  hosted  four  weeks  of  camp  with  264  children  and  teenagers  attending  ranging  in  ages  from  7-­‐18.  Out  of  the  264  campers,  182  accepted  Christ  as  their  Lord  and  Savior!  One  of  the  Camp  Brittney  staff  members  described  the  last  night  of  camp  and  the  feeling  you  feel  while  watching  the  children  and  teenagers  give    

CAMP NEWS January 2013

The Brittney Strom Foundation- 3037 Old Charleston Road Saluda, SC 29138- www.campbrittney.org

their  lives  to  Christ:  “It  all  starts  with  a  devotion,  then  a  song,  lastly  the  courage  to  step  out  and  walk  towards  the  bonfire  where  they  release  their  past  and  start  fresh  in  their  walk  with  Christ.  You  can  hear  the  tears,  see  the  hugs  from  child  to  child,  and  feel  the  gentle  breeze  that  comes  over  you  that  lets  you  know  that  God  is  present  at  that  very  moment.”  God  is  so  good!  

As  the  last  day  of  camp  approaches,  the  camper  leaves  a  different  person.  As  Isaiah  55:12  says,  “You will go out in Joy…”  That  is  actually  what  the  children  and  teenagers  do.  They  go  out  with  joy;  knowing  they  are  loved,  they  have  people  that  are  praying  for  them  who  want  to  see  them  succeed  in  life  and  are  there  for  them.    “…And be led forth in peace…”  Camp  Brittney  also  is  home  to  The  Strom  Bible  Institute  whose  students  go  out  and  disciple  children  and  teenagers  that  attended  camp.    So  when  the  camper  leaves  camp  they  are  not  alone;  there  will  always  be  someone  from  Camp  Brittney  to  help  them  in  their  walk  with  God.  They  also  reach  out  to  

other  children  and  teenagers  that  have  not  attended  camp  as  well.    

If  you  would  like  to  be  part  of  Camp  Brittney  and  help  raise  up  the  next  generation  to  follow  Christ  and  know  that  they  are  loved,  the  following  is  ways  you  can  be  a  part:      

-­‐ Prayer:  First  and  foremost,  pray  for  the  children  and  teenagers  of  Costa  Rica.  Also  pray  for  the  Camp  Brittney  ministry  team,  the  completion  of  the  mission  house,  and  financial  support  of  the  Brittney  Strom  Foundation.    

-­‐ Sponsor a Camper:  The  cost  to  sponsor  a  camper  for  one  week  is  $42.50.  This  price  includes  their  transportation  to  and  from  camp  on  Monday  and  Friday,  three  meals  a  day,  lodging  and  most  importantly  an  outpouring  of  God’s  love  from  our  staff.  You  can  send  support  in  two  different  ways  either  by  check  (marked  for  Sponsor  Campers)  to:  The  Brittney  Strom  Foundation-­‐  3037  Old  Charleston  Road  Saluda,  South  Carolina  29138  or  by  credit  card  at  www.campbrittney.org  under  the  “Donate”  tab.  

-­‐ Support the Brittney Strom Foundation:  Funds  to  continue  reaching  and  providing  programs  and  camps  for  the  children,  teenagers  and  adults  of  Costa  Rica.  You  can  support  the  foundation  the  same  way  as  above.  Please  check  General  fund  when  making  your  donation.  

-­‐ Be part of a Mission Trip:  If  you  are  interested  in  going  on  a  mission  trip  and  serving  at  Camp  Brittney,  e-­‐mail  Dayna  Bledsoe  at  daynabledsoe.campbrittney.org  for  more  information.    Or  please  visit  our  website  at  www.campbrittney.org.    

In Her memory for His name  …  we  are  going  to  change  one  life  at  a  time.  Thank  you  so  much  for  all  of  your  support.   If  you  would  like  to  receive  updated  newsletters  by  email,  please  send  your  email   address  to  [email protected].