August Update!

Anxiously Awaiting...

Our anticipation is high as we excitedly await the arrival of our baby boy! The countdown to our due date is 19 days, but for us it can't come soon enough! God has been so faithful in providing more than we need to prepare for our little boy's entrance into the world--the last month we've been blessed with two wonderful showers (not rain showers, of course--we haven't seen one of those since May!). We've received lots of surprise packages in the mail as well! We've also finished the baby's room, and you can take a "virtual tour" of it by visiting our last post. Please be praying that Baby Meidal (whose name will be revealed after his birth) will arrive safely and smoothly, and that the timing and logistics will work out perfectly--including our 40-minute drive down the remote mountain road to the hospital!

The Summer Season Comes to an End

Besides getting ready for our baby, a lot of other exciting things are happening here at THE OAKS and in our own lives. Our summer season ended the middle of August, when the last of our summer staff left, and now we are finishing up our last weekend of Family Camp. It was such a joy to be a part of the summer program this past year, and to see all that God did in the lives of the campers and in our summer staff. Our group of 40 summer staff blew us away with their maturity in Christ, their desire to serve, and their growth throughout the summer. It is always an adjustment going from the busy-ness of summer and being surrounded by college students and young adults to the slower pace of the fall season--although the break is definitely needed, we still miss the excitement of having summer staff and campers here!

Ministry at Local Juvenile Detention Camp

A few weeks ago Jared and I finally received our official volunteer badges with Chaplain E.A.G.L.E.S., an organization that oversees religious activities within Los Angeles county's juvenile detention centers and camps. Just a few miles down the street from us are two juvenile camps, housing young men between the ages of 13 and 18 for 3-6 months at a time. We've been involved here-and-there over the last year in the Chaplain E.A.G.L.E.S. activities and Bible studies at the camps, but involvement is limited without going through an application process and receiving a badge. We applied back in January to become volunteers and finally got cleared.

Jared has started leading a Bible study on Monday nights at one of the camps. I've been attending the last few weeks and may help lead when I can, but once the baby arrives I won't be able to be as involved for a while. It is an honor to work with these young men and many of them are "ripe for the harvest." God is really using their "negative" circumstances and the rigors of life at the camp to humble them and bring them to a place of sober introspection. Their neighborhood and home situations are identical to those of many of the campers we work with, yet they are at a very different place in life because of some of the choices they have made. It is so exciting to be able to offer them true hope despite their circumstances, and to see them cling to that hope! Although the Bible study groups are always changing with the young men coming and going from the camp, the times they spend at the Bible study have a huge impact on them. Please pray that God will use Jared's words to bring the boys into a relationship with Himself, and that the impact in their lives will be lasting and fruitful.

New Buildings Completed!

The construction of THE OAKS' four new buildings has finally been completed! We now have a second dining hall, two new lodges with hotel-style rooms, and a Childcare Center! We also remodeled one of our older buildings that is used as a meeting area. We are having an official dedication ceremony for all the new buildings on September 14. You are all invited to the dedication, which includes lunch at the new dining hall, a tour of the buildings, and a chance to hear from some people who have played a major role in THE OAKS' growth as a camp: Pastor Jack Hayford, Pat Boone, Pastor Francis Chan, Rosey Grier, and Bishop Henry Hearns. You can find more information on World Imact's website: www.worldimpact.org.

Until Next Time...

Our next post will most likely be to announce the arrival of our son! Please stay tuned and thank you for your support and encouragement on this new adventure we're on!