Hope Camp 2017: Learning to call on Creator in Elbow Lake

A father of several campers at our Elbow Lake Hope Camp, who works for the White Earth Nation, shared with us this summer at our final prayer gathering, that what we are doing here now may not have immediate effects, but it sows the seeds for when our campers face trials and troubles in the future. We all face troubles, but our campers can call on the God they have come to know each summer when times get tough. This father and friend to our camp explained that the tribe puts resources toward helping people in need in the community, but they really try to start with the children and youth, and we are helping with that effort. Hope Camp was full of laughter and songs and games and Jesus — and a little rain, but it didn’t stop us from having a wonderful time in our 11th year in Elbow Lake. The older boys (and just about every adult) worked on a beautifully detailed painting project for the fence at the Elbow Lake Rec Center, where we hold camp.

One of our biggest friends and supporters, a grandma in the village, said:

“Hope Camp rocks once again. The sign is beautiful and the kids did an awesome job. You know you have an impact on the kids when they keep coming back year after year.”

And come they did: We had more than 115 current, former and future campers come through our doors in Elbow Lake this year. We look forward to seeing them, and more new friends, next year!