Along with the daffodils we are seeing numerous signs of spring. The Mexico Missions work party was here earlier in March. They worked on a number of projects that help us emerge from winter and get ready for the groups that start coming in the spring. Youth camp and conference registrations are starting to flow in. There have been several meetings involving youth camp directors and conference committees as they put the finishing touches on their plans. The Outdoor School groups get going next week. They will be accompanied by a number of retreat groups in April and May. All of this looks forward to our first conference over the Memorial Day weekend followed by the first youth camps in June.

This is the time of year to see things start coming together. We are looking forward in the next couple of weeks for the contractors to finish their work and at that time the Missions Building will have the shell completed. We already have several work parties and other volunteers coming in April as the project proceeds to the next phase. Our primary goal is to get the main room available to use by Week of Missions. As always there are a number of things that need to come together, but we trust that God will still see to our needs to get to that point.

We have had a chance to share about the Camp’s ministry at Stayton Church of Christ, North Plains Christian Church, Tigard Christian Church, and Tualatin Hills Christian Church. Upcoming Camp presentations are scheduled for Oceanlake Christian Church, Mill City Christian Church, Englewood Christian Church, Newberg Christian Church and West Salem Christian Church. It is good to reaffirm the relationship between the Camp and the churches. The Camp’s ministry really is to serve as a resource for the churches and we appreciate the friendships and the fellowship that makes a ministry like this possible.

I did have the opportunity at one place to meet a young woman who was looking forward to sending her daughter to First Chance Camp. What made her stand out was that she also was telling me about her own experience as a First Chance camper. Again I was reminded of not just the continuity of the Camp’s ministry with young people, but with the significance that we have the opportunity to serve generations. To look at it another way, when you help a young person come to Camp, you don’t just help them. You might also be helping their future children and grandchildren to come to Camp experiencing God’s love and hearing His call upon their lives.