Eagle Lake Camp 2011

Click here to view this photo book larger

Shutterfly baby photo books are the perfect way to preserve your baby's precious moments.

Last Week Photo Parade

Date night! We got to see "Jurassic Park" at Red Rocks.

The Lord has done such beautiful things through the Crew program this summer. I often think of 1 Chronicles 29:11-14 when thinking back on the summer: "Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand." I don't know why the Lord has chosen to show such graciousness to the Crew program this summer, but we are thankful He has helped us give so much of ourselves and we say with the psalmist in Psalm 115: "Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory!" 

I also know that we couldn't have done this without you! We are ever thankful for your prayers and financial support. As we move into this next season, please pray that our move back to the Springs will go well; that I will have wisdom, creativity, and love for my students; and that new donors will desire to support us in this ministry. 

If you would like to come alongside us financially, please visit our website at http://www.navigators.org/us/staff/kincaid. 

We are so sad that our summer and Crew is coming to a close, but we have some wonderful memories to sustain us! We hope you enjoy the picture parade below!

Hanley helping lead our Sunday morning pump-up:

"Enthusiasm is... CONTAGIOUS!" 

Hanley's new love...

shooting with the boys. :-)

The rabbit they got!

Working Registration with Rachel every week -

and Hanley's cookie delivery at 3:00!

A favorite quote of the week: "Eagle Lake is kind of like a giant playground for grown-ups." This was demonstrated in the boys' last tent bonding: the storming of the Eagle Lake beach via water balloon war. The campers came across the lake in canoes and were met by counselors armed and ready for war!

Hanley and Bruce hold the high ground with a water balloon launcher.

The boys victorious. 

The girls snuck over to watch...

we loved it!

Rafa is a favorite with the Crew kids.

Hanging out with two of my favorite girls ever!

Hanley's skit with the boys during the Talent Show.

My Biblestudy: Marissa, Julie, Me, Jessiann, and Beth

Our after-banquet celebration:
18 of us squeezed into a 12-passenger van!

Saying good-bye to Shannon, a girl I had the privilege to meet with
the last two years, the day before she headed to college. 

We are so very thankful for you!

Living on a Prayer...

Our Crew pre-dinner ritual is definitely in my top three reasons I love this summer's staff and kids. Imagine, if you will, our dining hall full of high school students tired from a long day's work, murmuring quietly together. Then someone shouts out across the crowd a long "Ohhhhhhhhhh..." Slowly, others join in. Then, the plunge: "We're half-way there," and louder, as more catch on, "Oh, OH! Living on a prayer..." Then 60 pairs of elbows slam loudly on the table, the echo reverberating and the silverware and platters rattling in response as 120 hands clasp and the voices grow louder: "Take my hand and we'll make it, I swear. Oh, OH! Living on a prayer!" And instantly heads bow, silence falls, and quiet voices begin to praise the Lord for the day and the food. Who knew Bon Jovi would inspire times of such joyful and sweet prayer?

Sunday Morning Breakfast!

Another "top five" has been our Sunday morning breakfast. Every Sunday morning (with a few exceptions for weddings and family), we have had the great privilege to minister to our counselors by inviting them over to our unit in Staff Housing to cook breakfast for them. They're thankful to get camp approved "counselor clump" time and "real food" in a real house, and we're thankful for them! Sunday mornings are always a bit intense cooking for 19 people, including three vegetarians and three gluten frees, but the laughter and creation of inside jokes are worth it! As we finish our last two weeks, please be praying for our counselors  and for us, that we would finish well, making the most of every opportunity!

A final "top five" is what our campers are saying about Crew. A first session camper had to explain Crew on an application, and shared his thoughts with us:

"Wolf Wednesday" T-Shirts and Pancakes

     "This summer I was fortunate enough to be chosen to serve at a Christian camp in Colorado Springs called Eagle Lake. I spent over a month there with no pay, away from my comfort zone, and isolated from all everyday distractions, including technology. I found the experience to be very humbling and rewarding as I truly learned to serve Christ. Through this program at Eagle Lake, I was able to positively impact kids from all around the country, reached spiritual goals with others and myself, and grew even closer to God.
     "The work that I did there was very challenging, but at the same time even more rewarding. I realized I had a positive impact on people by the way I served them. I learned that an optimistic attitude can make all the difference. Something as simple as a smile and a little enthusiasm can go a log way, and it's quite the difference, and it's quite possible that humility and kindness can change someone's bad day to a good day, and maybe even change the way they look at life, and to me that makes everything worth it.
     "Before I went to Eagle Lake I did believe in God, but for the most part I only piggy backed off my parents' faith and followed them. Now for the first time, I can say that I really have a faith of my own, and what had been a goal of mine is now becoming a reality."

Hanley speaking at our third baptism!

Thank you for your financial prayers and support! We could not be effective in this ministry if it weren't for you!


If you are interested in supporting us as we continue to minister to these high school students, please visit our website at: http://www.navigators.org/us/staff/kincaid

Again, we are thankful for you!

Session 1 Down, '2' to Go!

"I said to the LORD, 'You are my Lord; apart from You I have no good thing.'
 As for the saints who are in the land, they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight." -Ps. 16:2-3

Our Amazing Crew Staff!

Psalm 16 has been a theme passage for us this summer, especially these verses. "The saints in the land" - our counselors - are incredible! Their passion for loving the Lord and our campers well truly fill us with delight. They have done an incredible job in their one-on-ones, tent bonding, and in making camp fun during work.

Our brightest highlight from first session was the Doulos Program. Our regular Crew program teaches campers how to have quiet times and do inductive Bible Studies, and our counselors meet with campers at least once a week to invest in them spiritually and help them grow in their spiritual maturity. As wonderful as this has been, we have noticed over the years that returners, especially 'third years' - those who have come to Crew for at least two previous summers - do not always grow as much as we think they could, and our response to this is the Doulos Program: An intensive discipleship program to equip our returners to invest in others as they have been invested in by our staff. These campers are still in Biblestudies led by counselors and meet with their counselors; however, in addition, they agree to do a few 'extras': They will come to meetings and begin to meet with younger campers that they have connected with to invest in them spiritually. Our meetings usually consist of showing and practicing tools that Doulos campers can use in their one-on-ones with other campers.

Hanley praying over Doulos camper Lynn and her counselor Jessiann. Lynn and another camper, Heidi, both asked to be baptized at ELC first session!

The fruit of this program first session was breathtaking: 13 campers signed up - over a fifth of our total program! And as our Doulos campers were faithful to begin meeting with younger campers, these campers in turn asked if they could meet with still other campers! We began to see four and five spiritual generations. By fourth week, you couldn't walk around camp without seeing at least one-on-one. The Lord was incredibly faithful to build this program.

Katlyn with Charlotte, a camper she got to meet with during 1st Session.

As we move into second session, counselors - although excited - are also tired and sad to say good-bye to first session campers. PLEASE PRAY that they may be filled with energy and encouragement so that our second session campers will feel loved. Please also pray that the we would know how to love and support them; that we would have wisdom and patience as we lead them; that the Lord would continue to be gracious to our Doulos Program - that Doulos campers would grow in their understanding of and ability in discipleship, and all campers would leave with new understanding of the Lord's love for them and the plans He has for them.

Thank you for your financial prayers and support! We could not be effective in this ministry if it weren't for you!

Playing on Beach Day.

If you are interested in supporting us as we continue to minister to these high school students, please visit our website at: http://www.navigators.org/us/staff/kincaid

Again, we are thankful for you!

Hanley with counselors Bruce (left) and Gary (middle)