Dear CYC Team
Just a quick email zap to thank you for Camp and share. Last “Life Gets Better Camp” was the 30th we have held and once again we were fully booked, with a waiting list of children. On Friday night of camp the Casey Council had an award night and we (You ,me, the team) won the “Volunteer organisation of the year for 2014” for the second time (2010) which is very rare and just shows the impact the team is making on the community.
The weekend was amazing. Children and their helpers overcoming fears and traumas. On this camp we had 14 people who had been helped in previous camps return to help others and 6 of those were actual “Buddies”. This brought Cathy (my wife) to tears.
We have many people who say they have no faith come and assist and ‘pray’ with and for their ‘buddies’ and the other children over the weekend. One young man who gave up his ‘weekend of drinking’ to help said ‘he didn’t do prayer’ but when put on the spot by his camper buddy to do so, ‘tried it’ and actually felt something change his heart that he couldn’t explain. On the way home he started talking to God. A gospel song came on the radio he pulled over and had what could only be called a divine encounter, giving his life to Him. That very week his life changed and he has been filled with a deep love for others. He has signed up for not only the next camp but with local groups that assist children and joined an alpha coarse to seek more.
All the new Volunteers have signed up for next camp. Parents and teachers have given us tremendous support and encouragement as they see the big difference in children. Thank you for the beautiful cake you supplied and for the wonderful condition the rooms were in for the children. They loved everything, the food, the activities, the beauty of the gardens and lakes.
Just before the camp a Father died of cancer, 3 years ago the mum had died as well, the children asked me to come to the funeral and help them bury their dad. At the funeral the little girl told everyone that she was sorry to lose her dad and had wondered after mum died how they would cope but she said this time was different. She knew God was with them and that there were people that loved them. At the funeral was her buddy from camp, a camp grandpa, her chaplain, as well as me and others she had met at your campsite, who had also experience deep loss. It made a very hard time easier for her.
So thank you for all you do in partnering with us. Thank you for making such a difference. Thank you for treating each camp and child with the dedication an seriousness that they deserve and congratulations not just on a plaque you have received but the eternal mark you have made on lives needing love
Eric Weikman – CHIPS
