Our Bible Study theme this summer is “Not Your Own” based on 2 Corinthians 5:15-“And He died for all that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again.”
Campers have gotten a chance to practice living lives that are “not their own” through the Summer Mission Project, using their canteen money to support members of the Lakeview family who are sharing the love of Jesus around the world. It’s one more way campers discover that following Christ means serving others—not just at camp, but wherever God calls.
That simple act of generosity has added up in an incredible way. Over the past four years, Lakeview campers and families have contributed more than $30,000 to support overseas missions. Together, they’ve helped extend the ministry of camp far beyond our shores.
This summer, our summer mission project is supporting two mission partners with special ties to Lakeview.
From Lakeview to the Amazon: Ivy Wiens
Lakeview alumna Ivy Wiens now serves as a missionary in Peru with her family. They share the Gospel with international, national, and indigenous communities while training missionaries for remote Amazon jungle ministry. They also disciple indigenous believers to become leaders and provide practical agricultural training for those preparing to live in isolated villages and share Christ’s love.
Ivy shared this about how camper’s donations have made a difference in their mission:
“The contributions from last summer helped to construct a cabin at our jungle missionary training camp. The cabin is very similar to the cabins at camp, except they are not connected to the power or water grid. It will use solar power and water collected from rain. Missionaries that will go out into the deep parts of the Amazon jungle will practice and learn how to live in rustic conditions before they are miles and miles from modern conveniences. It is also a place to learn how to grow a diverse farm of food so they can feed their families well. We intend to construct one more cabin in the coming year or two as we have the funds.
The other picture is of the Ultimate Frisbee group that gets together to play on Sunday afternoons. Many young people have been attending to hear English and learn to play Ultimate. They build friendships and now they have also been starting to come to church to learn more about God. We had 10 young guys sit with us at church just a couple of Sundays ago.
Our family has been growing up. Our picture is from Lima, the capital of Peru. We have to fly there to do our visa and passport paperwork. It is a short 1 hour flight or an 18 hour drive through the jungle and over the mountains. I think it is funny that we live 18 hours from a McDonald’s or Burger King. It is a measure of how remote our city is.
In general the money that campers have supplied has helped to fund Peruvian missionaries that are out in the jungle right now sharing the good news. We are helping to supply them with their needs, so that they can supply the indigenous people of the Amazon jungle with the most important need…knowing God. And of course buying some Frisbees.“
Please pray that God will continue to strengthen Ivy and her family as they equip others to reach some of the most remote places in Peru.
Investing in Faithful Servants: Ken and Diane Robinson
For many years, Ken and Diane Robinson invested in Lakeview as parents, grandparents, volunteers, and board members. Today, they are serving full-time as missionaries in Citalá, El Salvador, where they minister to youth and families in their community. Citalá is in the northern-most part of the country next to the Honduran border.
This is a recent move for them – they both quit their jobs last October after hearing the call from God to become full-time missionaries.
In Citalá, Ken & Diane work independently with several organizations, one being Hope for Children which provides an afterschool nutrition and supplemental education program. Saturdays are spent incorporating sports (soccer and volleyball) to bring youth together to learn additional skills, teamwork and of God’s grace and goodness.
The “Mission House” where Ken & Diane live has a revolving door. Youth stop by after school almost daily as well as on weekends. The Robinson’s host weekend game and movie nights as well as all-nighters to get the youth off the streets into a Christian environment. It has become a great way to mentor, especially with older teens. They also host short-term mission trip groups that focus on community outreach through evangelism, construction, and medical clinics.
Years attending camp and working at camp have paid off! Last year the Robinson’s along with Pastor Oscar and Silvia Mejia hosted a two-day summer camp for 23 youth. They are hoping to increase the number of campers this November as well as adding an additional day to the trip.
Please join us in praying for Ken and Diane as they continue to grow and strengthen their relationships in Citalá and serve as a support and encouragement to the children and families in the community!
Join us in the mission!
If you would like to join our campers in supporting these mission projects, it’s easy to do so:
- Go to lakeview.camp/give.
- Click the DONATE button.
- Choose the “Where Needed Most” campaign.
- In the NOTES section, write “Summer Mission Project”.
Thank you to all the families and campers who have given to help support these missions! In total, campers have raised over $8000 of support this summer! What a beautiful pictures of the reality that we are all part of the larger Church that knows no boundaries of nation or distance or people. Our God is a great God and there is great joy in joining his mission to reach all people for him!