Ellen Melson has been coming to Camp LIFE for 3 summers in a row now!  Her pure heart to see the lives of the Zambian orphans transformed is so passionate and contagious — so much so that her brother John and sister Ann are joining her this summer to see first-hand what Ellen’s passion is all about.  Ellen, John, and Ann wanted to get creative in how they raised the funds for their trip this year, so read a quote from Ellen below about the vision that God gave them to bring awareness of the Zambian orphans to kids right here in Highland Park!

“The Lord blesses us with different gifts, from talents to passions, so we may glorify His Kingdom.  On January 31, 2009, I witnessed what it looks like when those passions and talents collide. Clayton Kershaw, a twenty-one year old pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, had an idea to host a baseball camp in Dallas, Texas. After years of hearing my stories from Camp Life and the Zambian orphans I have fallen in love with, Clayton recognized how he could use his God-given talents to raise money for these kids. “Playing for a Cause”- the Clayton Kershaw Baseball Camp, was hosted by the Highland Park baseball team at Scotland Yard. Boys, grades 1-8, came to support the cause and learn a little more about the great American sport of baseball. Clayton ran around giving pitching lessons and coaching the boys in scrimmages. Awareness was raised about the orphans we are getting to serve in Zambia, and all proceeds of the camp went directly to Family Legacy. It was a day I will remember for the rest of my life!”

We are continually amazed at how people find ways to use their talents to ease the suffering of orphaned children.  It isn’t the type of skill or the level of talent, but the heart of someone who wants to use whatever it is they have to bring hope to the children of Zambia.

At Camp LIFE 2008, we gave every kids who came to camp a fleece jacket.  Every year we give the kids a new pair of shoes and a Camp LIFE t-shirt, but the fleece jackets were a total surprise.  As you can see in this video it was a huge hit with the kids.  When you walk around the compounds of Lusaka even on a warm day you are guaranteed to see a few dozen green fleece jackets walking around.

This year we are really felt led to give the children their very own Bible.  Last year my group of guys begged me to get them all Bibles.  They were picking up scraps of paper from the ground so that they could write down our theme verse, Psalm 23.  Thankfully this year we will able to give every child their very own Bible, Evange-Card and backpack.  These Evangelism Backpacks are an extra expense that we feel the Lord wants us to take on.  If you would like to provide a Bible for one of the Zambian children, please donate to our Camp LIFE Evangelism Backpack fund or print out this flyer to pay by check.  For only $8 you can provide a Bible for an orphaned child.

The time has arrived for Camp LIFE 2009 Team Meeting #2.   We are holding meetings in three cities so that you can come to the one closest to you. Even if you haven’t signed up for Camp yet, you are welcome to come and support those who are going…and who knows, maybe you’ll decide to join us…we are very persuasive.

At this team meeting we will be taking your preference for age and gender of kids at camp as well as taking money for your Camp LIFE t-shirts.

Please take note of the NEW location for the Dallas Team Meetings

Team Meeting #2

Austin: Friday, March 27th from 7 PM until 10 PM
Houston: Saturday, March 28th from 1 PM until 4 PM
Dallas: Sunday, March 29th from 2 PM until 5 PM

All AUSTIN meetings will be held at:

Great Hills Baptist Church
10500 Jollyville Road
Austin, TX 78759

All HOUSTON meetings will be held at:

Cypress Bible Church
11711 Cypress-N. Houston Rd.
Cypress, Texas 77429-2817

New DALLAS meeting location:

Grace Bible Church
11306 Inwood Road
Dallas, TX 75229

For those of you outside of Texas, we will send you the information about the conference call.

Mark your calendars for:

Team Meeting #3

Austin: Friday, April 17th from 7 PM until 10 PM
Houston: Saturday, April 18th from 1 PM until 4 PM
Dallas: Sunday, April 19th from 2 PM until 5 PM

Little Nora is one of the most precious children ever!  Nora is nine years old, and her father, as well as 5 of her sisters have died.  Nora’s biggest fear is that she is going to die too, since many of the females in her family have passed away.  Nora has 2 older brothers who have moved away and she stays in a little one-room mud shack with her mother.  Without a father to protect her, one of Nora’s neighbors raped her when she was only six years old.  Although she did NOT contract AIDS during that cruel raping, her little heart is still scarred.  Sadly, Nora’s mom does have AIDS, and is too weak to work or find food.  As a result, little Nora does ALL the household chores including begging for money, cooking, cleaning, fetching water to bathe herself and her mom, and even taking her mom to a clinic where free AIDS medication is available. Thankfully, Nora is sponsored in our Father’s Heart program, and Family Legacy has been able to assist in paying the rent on their home for the past 6 months since her mother is unable to work — as well as providing food assistance for them.  Nora has a strong spirit and a bright little personality.  When I visited her home back in October, her mom lit their only candle so there could be a little light for us to visit.  In January, Nora was very sick and she knew exactly where to come for help — her Father’s Heart Community Resource Center close to where she stays!  Watch the video below to see how the Father’s Heart Health Department is impacting lives, one child at a time.