February 19, 2010
There's a PRICE FREEZE on summer camps!
We've decided to freeze the prices on each of our summer camps. We know many of you are struggling financially, and we also realize the GREAT VALUE of kids coming to summer camp, so we're doing all we can to help you get your children here this summer. You may now register for each of our camps by going to www.campjonah.com. You can find information about each of our unique theme camps and can register at the same time! We aim to please! Also, if you'd rather make payments on your child's camp (instead of paying in full at the time of registration), just send in a registration form along with the $50 deposit and a note attached stating your own payment plan.
Camp Jonah is known for our theme camps. This year we are offering the following small, quality, hands-on, God-centered, relation-focused, age-appropriate, extremely fun, unique camps for you to choose from:
Home Ec Camp/Man Camp (grades 6-12, June 20-25, $235)
High School Missions Encounter (grades 9-12, June 27-July 3, $375)
Primary Camp (grades 1-4, June 29-July 1, $100)
Grandparent Camp (grandparents of Primary Campers, June 29-July 1, $100)
Jr. Variety Camp (grades 4-6, July 5-9, $200)
Kids' Missions Camp (grades 4-8, July 11-15, $210)
High School Adventure Camp (grades 9-12, July 18-23, $255)
Jr. High Adventure Camp (grades 7-9, July 25-30, $255)
WEBSITE
If it's been awhile since you visited our website, it's time for you to take a peek! You can read about summer camps, a bit of history, Jeff's dreams, and more. You can download the summer camp application or a camp registration form. You can read past E-News pages and even look at all of last summer's camp photos! Try it out and have a little fun!
ANNUAL BOARD MEETING
At least four times each year, our Board of Directors meets to dream, set policy and plan steps into our future. More than four times a year we're blessed by the talents, hearts, and vision of the people on this board. We feel as if the future of Jonah Ministries is in good hands, and we couldn't be more pleased to be heading into a solid 2010 with the direction of these fine people. Just in case you're wondering, or if you would like to pray for them, here are the names of our Board Members:
Dev & Laurie Bell, White Salmon, Washington
Casey Box, Vancouver, Washington
Bill Caddy, The Dalles, Oregon
Bernice Duke, Trout Lake, Washington
Jeff & Beki Duke, Trout Lake, Washington
Doug & Ruth Hazen, Clackamas, Oregon
Keith & Marnie Robison, White Salmon, Washington
Mark Zoller, White Salmon, Washington
FIRST ANNUAL JONAH FAMILY REUNION
You are all invited! Please save the date of June 12th from 1-6 PM, and plan to come have a blast renewing friendships with past and new staffies, campers, camp directors, employees, donors, etc. We are planning a fantastic, fun, family day that we're sure you will enjoy. We're also collecting stories and testimonies from the people who have been involved in Jonah through the years, so whether you have been a volunteer, a camper, or a donor, please fill out our survey telling us what Jonah means to you. We are compiling all sorts of fun, interesting information from the past fourteen years and we want to hear from you!
Please, please, please join us in person on June 12th and in cyberspace prior to that!
STAFF APPLICATIONS
One staff, under God, indivisible, with purpose and next step for all.
I would have to say that one of my favorite times of the day right now is when the mail comes right after lunch, bearing 2010 staff applications and references. There are a lot of awesome young peoplevying for position to volunteer their summer serving God at our camp! This never ceases to amaze me. If you're considering joining our staff, make haste to www.campjonah.com to print out the application form and get it to me quickly. As you all know, pray a lot first, because as we always say, "We don't want you here if God doesn't want you here." I have a promise to make to you: This will be
an unforgettable, life-changing, challenging summer full of amazing friendships, physical challenges and spiritual growth. If this sounds inviting, pray, print, write, and mail!
CHALLENGE COURSE REPAIR
We have thoroughly enjoyed having a high and low ropes course for the past several years. It has become a trademark for our adventure camps-and many of our retreat groups enjoy using it as well. During a heavy windstorm just prior to Christmas last year, six trees either blew over or broke off. It was a sad, depressing sight to see. The ropes course has been a major attraction, and now it's not even usable. Jeff's guess as to the repair cost is at least $6,000. We hope to have a replacement bid in soon. If this is not repaired in early spring, it will affect our program's fun and finances. We have applied for a couple of local grants, but we're still in need of financial help. Will you pray about giving to this great cause?
AVAILABLE RETREAT DATES:
March 5-7
March 12-14
March 26-28
December 10-12
December 17-19
Does your church or youth group have a retreat spot yet?
JUST ANOTHER ORDINARY MIRACLE
Last Friday night, our guest group arrived at about 8:30. By 10:30, they were all settled in and I slipped into our house and watched some of the opening of the Winter Olympics before heading to bed. I listened especially closely to a singer performing a song I've never heard, Sarah McLachlan's "Just Another Ordinary Miracle Today." The words were inspiring and gave me cause to pause. We have seen miracles here at Jonah for fourteen years now, but I have never paired the word "ordinary" with the word "miracle." So many things that God does for us become things we're so used to-which makes them seem ordinary. But just how ordinary is a sunrise? Or a raindrop? Or a seedling? How ordinary is the fact that God has provided for our expenses every March since 1996? "Lord, help us to appreciate the miracles you provide for us each day, but not to take your gifts for granted. We
trust you and thank you and promise to watch for the exceptional things you have planned for us just today."
PRAISES:
1.Five students gave their lives to Jesus last weekend! DID YOU READ THAT?! Five students gave their lives to Jesus!!!
2. So grateful for the five months Chazz/Cheeto gave to Jonah! Please ask God to bless him and direct his future.
3. Also extremely grateful for the guest groups that come back year-after-year-after-year! We've met some pretty great people and been blessed by their ministry of making great retreats!
PRAYER REQUESTS:
1. We have recently submitted three grant proposals. Please pray that we would find favor with both God and man.
2. Winter has been wonderfully busy; March is not. We're asking for God to provide for us either with last-minute groups or with generous gifts.
3. Health and safety. We've had a few health issues lately that keep us from being 100%. There were also two accidents in the group here last weekend- great reminders of the way God watches over us and spares us from so much that could happen with all the extreme activities we do here.
4. Keep praying for summer camp details and summer staff selection and for "bulging camps" so lots of kids will be challenged to take the next step in their walk with Christ.