Cliff Dwellers

Hello Tarin Support Team!

You guessed it. If you are receiving this letter, you are on a team of amazing people who have supported me and my family through prayer and through gifts this year. In fact, 11 amazing families and organizations helped us raise $4,850! We could not be more grateful for your support!

MEXICO UPDATE – My dad (David), my mom (Mona), and I recently returned from our trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico with Camp Sonshine. We have the privilege of serving in many different ways over a week of camp. For context, we serve at two community centers built by Vida International / Lee Short Ministries. In the morning, we put on a camp for a community in San Vicente, also known as Cartonlandia. Many of the homes in this area were started as makeshift cardboard houses on a sort of “squatters rights” situation. In the afternoon, we put on a camp for a community called Mescales. The community center here has been around for more time and is more established. We had about 20 – 40 campers at each location at the beginning of the week and 40 – 60 campers at each location by the end of the week.

David served as transportation manager and sports activity leader. With the help of my uncle who lives near Puerto Vallarta, he was able to reserve and get us vehicles to drive around. He also coordinated grocery store pick ups. He also led the sports activity rotation for the counselors and campers. He was an incredible asset to have as Spanish is his first language. He’s a calm and steady support for us all through the craziness that can be a camp experience on the back end of things.

Mona served as meal coordinator and “mom” counselor. During our time with campers, we are able to serve them a meal! She coordinated with the community center leaders on meal plans, gathered supplies, and helped cook meals for the kids. She also serves as a connection to the moms who come to the center to help or to connect. She planned different art projects for them to do as well as be a listening ear to hear their stories and love them well. She does so well connecting with the moms and helping them feel like they can come to the community center year round to take english classes and learn about God!

This was my first trip to Mexico with Camp Sonshine even though I’ve worked year round for 8 years! It was really fun to actually experience what I’ve only heard stories about over the years. I had the opportunity to be a support and photographer/videographer for the trip. Although my Spanish is not so good, my heart was filled with joy at being able to get to know the campers, the moms, and the missionaries on the ground. 

Camp Sonshine Impact In Mexico – I also had the opportunity to interview these folks and heard story after story about how much Camp Sonshine has impacted these communities with our yearly presence for just one week. One mom talked about how our presence infuses attendance with new youth and families to the center who then get plugged into their year round english classes and bible studies. The teacher in Cartonlandia told a story about how when the community center first moved into the neighborhood, they had a discussion with some kids about the topic “what is a leader?” Many of the youth proclaimed drug lords and cartel bosses as the leaders in the world. However, when pastors, English teachers, and camp counselors came to the center, the kids started to see another way of being a leader. They started to realize that people who love God are great leaders. This teacher talked about how the shift in their reality has changed the community for the better thanks in part to Camp Sonshine!

Next Journey: Zambia – As many of you know, my next journey for 2024 is to take the trip with Camp Sonshine to Zambia, Africa! For context, we were introduced to an organization called Partners for LIfe Advancement and Education Promotion (PLAEP.org). Located in Kitwe, Zambia, PLAEP’s mission is to reduce poverty and disease, improve school access and quality of education, increase household resilience, and to empower communities with sustainable livelihood skills. Our goal on this trip is to help train and develop leaders from Kitwe to provide life-changing camp experiences in the time when school is not in session to reduce vulnerabilities for kids. PLAEP is also committed to send local leaders (some of which are pictured here) to Nebraska to serve on our summer staff to be trained so that they can lead camps in Zambia. 

Prayer Requests: We’d love your prayer for this upcoming trip to Africa!

1) For enough Camp Sonshine leaders who would be willing and able to serve on this trip to show leaders in Zambia what it looks like to be a great Camp Sonshine leader!

2) For health and safety for our team and the team on the ground – there is currently an outbreak of cholera in areas of Zambia. 

3) For airline tickets to continue to remain an affordable price! I am fully funded for Africa unless airline prices go up!

4) For a team rooted and grounded in the Lord so that camps in Zambia would be of Him and bring leaders who can be UNLOCKED & UNLEASHED and many kids would find a place to BELONG & BECOME!

Many thanks,
Adrianna