Dear Partner,
As we’ve stepped into our roles as Co-Directors, we’ve been deep in the planning and preparation that takes place year round to ensure Hiawatha happens for another summer. To be quite honest, sometimes it can be easy to get caught up in the details and logistics and lose sight of the why behind it all. If you’ve worked in ministry in any capacity before, we’re sure you can relate.
It was one of those days where we were deep in logistical planning when we received a staff application from a former camper. This isn’t unusual — as you know, most of our staff comes from our older campers who are ready to take the next step and join staff. One of the questions on our staff application asks applicants to describe their personal faith journey, and this testimony stopped us in our tracks:
“My family was never religious, and around 5th grade my dad became an alcoholic and my parents would fight all the time. After a long and sort of scary year, they got divorced. This was one of the hardest things to hear, and as life went on I wanted it to end. I hung out with the wrong people, doing the wrong things, and making the poorest of choices.
A few years later, my best friend invited me to youth group. During these years of youth group I never really did anything else to grow my faith. I never picked up my Bible or changed my ways to fit the ways of Christ. It wasn’t until later that I started to attend church regularly with my youth group leaders and realized that the only way to turn my life around was Jesus.
After a couple years of youth group I was invited to Hiawatha. This is where I gave my life to Jesus and it was hands down the best choice ever. Since that summer, I’ve grown my faith and have gotten to know Jesus more and more each day. He changed my life and I truly and I full heartedly believe that Jesus is what I was searching for in all the things that let me down.”
She goes on to say that she wouldn’t be where she was without Hiawatha, and she’s hoping to lead campers to Christ as an HYC staff member this coming summer.
It truly felt like the Lord was speaking to us through her testimony, reminding us “this is why every email, every detail, every hour of planning is worth it.” Not for our own glory, not so we can simply plan a fun camp season, but so that campers can have life-changing encounters with God like the one above.
We’re sure at times it can feel like you’re checking off a box as a partner of HYC: pray for camp, send financial support, do what you can to support this ministry…but the why behind it all remains. The ways you support HYC year after year directly supports our mission: to get young people excited about a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Even though it may not always feel like it, the things you do have a direct impact on the campers we welcome to HYC. The next generation is changing because of the work that God does in the hearts and lives of our campers each summer — work that you are a part of.
Thank you for your continued support as we plan and prepare for Hiawatha’s 60th camp season. God has been so faithful, and we’re incredibly thankful that He still chooses to work in and through this ministry we love so dearly.
Sincerely,
Blaine & Hannah Malochleb
Co-Directors of Hiawatha Youth Camp