Lantern and Compass Project

Clarity and Direction

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Virtual Camp Behind the Scenes

We’ve been making preparations to be part of the team conducting a virtual camp for special needs adults. This would have been our fifth year working alongside Ability Tree as we gathered in Pennsylvania at Refreshing Mountain Camp but this year is going to look a bit different. We are taking camp to the cloud and transform the experience to reach even more campers. Our team has been creating the raw video for various segments of the camp week and then sending them to Ability Tree staff to edit. We are typically responsible for building the campfire and you can’t beat this team as they get ready for S’MORE night.

We visited Inglish Homesteaders and captured some video of their farm animals for the virtual petting zoo. My favorite was the Jake Turkey strut.

Rooster Ready

Summers are typically filled with several camps spanning from Pennsylvania to Arizona but this year we are limited to the borders of Maryland. COVID19 has changed the landscape of our summer activities and we have adapted to a new and interesting way of engaging campers and giving them a quality camp experience, even in the midst of change.

We are going Virtual

As unprecedented as virtual camp sounds there are some exciting things being developed to allow campers to feel connected and loved as they have fun, build relationships and most importantly draw closer to Jesus.

Our camp team, for the fifth year will be leading organized recreation and special activities for the campers. You’re kidding, right! How can you have organized recreation and special activities virtually? That was my exact question when this opportunity was presented to me. Three weeks and three zoom conferences later, with an amazing team spanning from New York to Arkansas, I’m beginning to see how this is going to work and we are only limited by the creativity that God has given to us as a team. I’m not a fan of videotaping so this has stretched my ability to communicate beyond face to face interaction but thankfully God brought along Jake and EmmaLeigh to lead the charge and come up with our team’s introduction video to the campers. Here is the raw clip before any editing. We will keep you posted as things develop.

First virtual camp video for the season. Unedited

Best Summer

This past summer, I had the privilege of working with Lantern and Compass Project.  Although only getting the opportunity to do 2 camps, my life was definitely changed for the better.  The first, Camp Wannahockalugie, was an absolutely awesome experience.  Working with Terry and our team to help teach the kids about Christ while having fun doing it was so cool to be a part of.  Getting to do skits and lead lesson-themed recreation activities amounted in so much laughter and excitement the campers were thrilled, as anyone with ears could tell.

And as much fun and impacting as this camp was, the second camp I helped with, the ability tree camp, was life changing.  Going into this one, I really had no experience with people with special needs.  I would loosely throw around the r-word as if it wasn’t a big deal, and truly didn’t understand what interacting with these people was like.  I was timid at first among the campers, sort of treating them as one would treat a kid, oversimplifying everything and talking to them differently. However, as the week went on, I started to personally connect with some of the campers, through music, sports, and Christ especially.  As I was building new relationships, I was beginning to realize that there is no us and there is no them.  We are all human regardless of our differences.  This epiphany changed my life for good.  I haven’t said the r-word since and now have a newfound desire to hang out with people with special needs, especially because of them being so commonly made fun of and left out.  A camp like that is one I will never forget, and was definitely God’s purpose for me this summer.  Working with Lantern and Compass was one of the best parts of my summer, and I’m looking forward to doing so next year!

By Keller Knode – Summer Student Team Member

Transformed

We can’t underestimate the power of sharing the gospel with our children. Our transformational  relationship with Jesus Christ has changed us forever, and we as believers need to allow our children to experience that same transformational relationship with Jesus, and that’s what Lantern and Compass does. Pastor Terry Williams is a dynamic leader when it comes to Children’s Ministry. Pastor Terry’s heart is to intentionally reach the heart of our children as she shares the love of Jesus Christ. I’ve had the privilege of working beside Pastor Terry and her team for the past two years as they conducted our VBS and how she and her team engage our children is phenomenal. To see children come to Christ is so amazing. If your church is looking for someone to come and do a VBS, this is the team you want. Love you guys, I’m looking forward to another incredible VBS this coming year!

By Pastor Rick Snyder – Faith Assembly of God, Brunswick MD

Dishchii’bikoh ?

This past summer, I had the privilege to go to Arizona, the Apache Reservation, with Lantern and Compass Project for a mission trip.  It was an amazing, life changing experience.  Our team got to experience an Apache service and helped with children’s service. We had to be flexible and help out whenever, wherever needed. Throughout the week we were always on the go.  We cleaned the Carrizo Apache Assembly of God Church, helped paint, as well as building a fence and a play set for the children.  In the afternoons, we would go to Dishchii’bikoh Community School and served by having a kids sports camp after school.  We taught all about Jesus being our savior through sports, dance, prayer and role play.  We ended our trip with seeing God’s natural beauty at the Grand Canyon.  Throughout our trip we were blessed to be able to pray with many individuals and groups.  Through this experience, I think I helped them grow spiritually but grew so much myself (physically, mentally and emotionally).  This experience was phenomenal and when I was asked what was my favorite I said, “all of it!” There were times when I was left speechless!  The experience and people were a blessing above all! I can not wait to serve more in the future!

By Kari Dillman – Mission Team Member, Victory Church, Tipp City Ohio