Closing out July

This will be a bit of a catch-up post to highlight some of the end-of-July happenings around Aim Right.  Darrell began a Bible study about the life of Daniel with the teens yesterday evening.  He challenged youth to live differently in their culture just as Daniel did.


 Several of us ladies and young ladies attended the Girls of Grace conference in Phoenix on Saturday.  It was a great time of learning "beautiful truths" about our value and worth to God, how he wants us to use our words and clothes to honor Him, and how to have God-honoring relationships.  The music groups were a bit hit, too.  Most of the group: 

 When Stephanie and I attended a promotional meeting for the conference several weeks ago, they had given us goodie bags.  We saved them for the conference and were able to hand out music CD's, bracelets, and t-shirts to the girls who came.

Evan, Laura, and Tiffany have completed or are nearing the end of their internships, so teens and volunteers were invited to an appreciation / farewell gathering for them on Friday evening.



 Part of the fun was a Scavenger Hunt at a local mall.  Groups of teens ventured throughout the mall to find 5 disguised persons that they would normally know. 

Babylon VBS concluded on Wednesday evening.

 And...finally, a photo from teen Impact Group 2 weeks ago.  Caleb led the study about worry and challenged the teens to focus on what God wants them to do today.

One more thing:  Aim Right (i.e. Caleb and Evan!) is headed to the Conservative Mennonite Conference August 2-5 in Goshen, Indiana.  Aim Right is scheduled to give a presentation to the Sr. High youth on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.  If you have Aim Right connections or want to learn more about the intern program, summer missions opportunities, or just want to say "Hi," I'm sure Caleb would love to talk with you!

Expressions

To bring a little light-hearted fun to your Thursday, enjoy these expressions from staff at Aim Right's Teen Camp.  Photos courtesy of Sandi Shipley (and more camp photos coming soon!)



In the month Aim Right has been without a van, we have either had to rent or borrow vans, or get creative in how we do transportation.  Fortunately, it is summertime, when some of our weekly programs take a break.  However, as we begin to prepare for the start-up of fall programs such as Kids Klub and Teen Night, the urgency of replacing the van is....well, urgent!

We were blessed to receive a settlement from our insurance company, but it is not very close to the amount that is needed to replace our 2001 model with something that is a bit newer, with lower mileage, and in good condition.  The replacement van also needs to be reliable and sound enough mechanically to take teens to camp in Colorado over the next few years.

Would you consider donating to this cause?  You'll find more info. below, including the target amount we would like to raise for the Van Fund.  To make a donation online with your debit or credit card, click "Donate Now," (and be sure to include a designation of "Van Fund") or mail your gift to 1013 N. 13th St, Phoenix, AZ 85006.  And would you pray that God supplies this need?  Thank you!

Back to Babylon

Despite two Wednesdays off, there was quite a crowd of kids at Babylon VBS yesterday evening.  A.J. is having another round of chemotherapy this week, so he and Jewel didn't visit the children on Tuesday afternoons like they usually do.  Jewel said, "I just prayed that the kids would come."  God answered that prayer because they came!
 

Kids had fun playing a game where one person was the oxen driver, while the other two were the pair of oxen.  Each driver had a red "flag" in his back pocket that the oxen from another "oxen team" would try to grab.

 Thumbs up for Twinkies!

Making necklaces during crafts



Below left is Aim Right's newest volunteer -- Rachel Zook.  Rachel recently moved to Phoenix from Sarasota, FL.  She has already been a blessing!

The kids love the praise songs and motions!

At the end of the evening, Pastor Alfred Yoder challenged the children with this question:  "Has God ever done anything for you?"  He shared the Gospel and encouraged them to let God do something for them if they thought that He hadn't touched their lives yet.  Several went forward to pray and accept Christ into their hearts.  Praise God!

Three Links

1.  A blog post by veteran urban youth worker Leneita Fix about The Unchurched Kid. There are quite a few "Tony's" that come to Aim Right. (Note:  You will need to click on Tony, The Unchurched Kid in the sidebar to view this post.)

2.  "You, not God, determine your standard of living in heaven.  In an act of grace He eliminates the possibility of your determining it on earth so that you can focus on the eternal." - Walter A. Henrichsen.  You may need to read this devotional a few times to "get it," but it just might change how you think about Your Standard of Living.

3.  Nothing quite prepared me for hearing a roomful of teens belt out this song yesterday evening as they met to share testimonies of how God met with them at camp.

A faulty Internet connection in Colorado hindered on-site posting of camp updates last week, but as I have been hearing God-stories from the week, it is clear that His powerful work in hearts was unhindered!  The theme was "Healing a Wounded Heart," and many hearts were cleansed, renewed, and forgiven.  Here are some teens' perspectives about camp:

"[Camp] really helped me figure out that God was really real.  I always really believed but now more."

"I finally accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior."

"He has showed me that He loves me no matter what and washed my sins away."

"God has healed my heart by being by my side and having all the people here that love us."

"We witnessed God perform a miracle and save my friend."

"Being in this camp changed my heart and my life.  I couldn't go without the computer and the TV for a day, but since I came here, I didn't use anything."

"Thank you....for letting me have this experience away from my troubles and struggles in the city."

A pivotal moment of the week occurred Wednesday evening, following chapel, when a young man who had been praying with a counselor became unresponsive.  Aim Right was blessed to have 2 nurses on staff this year who quickly came to assess and be with the teen until paramedics arrived.  In the meantime, word spread among the campers, and they began to gather in groups to pray, many unable to control their emotions as they lifted up heartfelt intercession for their fellow camper.

God answered their prayers.  The diagnosis at the hospital was "esophageal spasm," and the young man was able to come back to camp and finish out the week without any complications. 

And now that he's back in Phoenix? Well, he wants to write a worship song.  I imagine that is a song that the One who has healed his heart will be delighted to hear!

P.S.  I will soon be sorting through the 500-ish images Sandi captured during camp week.  Then will begin the fun of posting them here for you!

Summer breaks are short in Phoenix (while summer in general surely isn't!), and children will be heading back to school soon.  Through August 15th, we are collecting new backpacks to distribute to children within our community. If you would like to participate, simply purchase a backpack suitable for a child 5-12 years old (boy or girl). You may leave the backpack empty or include a few school supplies as fun surprises for the child when they look through the pockets.


Backpacks may be given to any Aim Right volunteer, staff, or board member. Please call (602) 462-1987 or e-mail amy@aimright.org if you would like to schedule a time to drop off a backpack or arrange for someone to pick up a backpack.

If you plan to fill the backpack, here is a list of suggested items:

• colorful notebooks, pencils, or folders
• crayons, colored pencils, or markers
• pencil box or zippered pouch
• water bottle
• glue sticks, child's scissors

Please do not include:  candy, chocolate, or money.

Also, please attach a note to the backpack with your name and address.  We will be asking each recipient to write a thank you card.

Another Picacho Trip

On Friday, Evan and I made another quick trip to Picacho, AZ, to pick up campers from Youth Haven.  Each of them received a watermelon to take home.



Any clues this is a "desert ranch"?

Our group of 8 campers plus 2 teens who went as Leaders-in-Training (LIT's)



Alex wanted his photo taken with one of the leaders.  Kids make many special memories at Youth Haven!

Take time to browse....

Final preparations for Teen Camp are underway this week, with excitement mounting as we anticipate the work God will do in many of the youth who are attending camp for the first time.  Aim Right has used the scenic Circle K Ranch as its site for Teen Camp for many years, with this year as no exception. 

Although the owners of the Ranch have created a beautiful spot to vacation, hunt, fish, or ride horses, hosting inner-city campers is at the heart of what they do.  To learn more about how they are changing lives, click here.

For the link to Circle K's fascinating website and home page, click here.  As you browse through, be sure to look for "Aim Right sightings" (there are a few)!

It's Youth Haven time!  Seven campers spent the week in Picacho last week (one was already comfortably settled in the van and didn't want to pose in 100+ degree heat for some reason), and eight are there this week, along with two teens who are helping out as LIT's (leaders-in-training).  Campers heard Bible stories, learned Scripture verses, sang, swam in the pool, and earned points throughout the week to go "shopping" in the prize store.

 

Below are some photos from last week's Wednesday VBS at Paradise Valley Mennonite.  A.J. taught the story about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

 The craft was a sand art picture.

Ever seen a marshmallow catapult?  Well, now you have!

The one who caught the marshmallow got to do the next launch.

It's been a great time in Babylon thus far!