Counnting Blessings...

We are blessed.

-Summer began with 2 female cabin leaders, and 4 males. The second week of camp was full: 12 cabins, and by the end of the summer we had only added 3 more regular leaders. You can do the math!

-4 married women gave a week or two. Ness Lake Bible Camp loaned us 2 for a week. Other previous and Trail Ride staff filled in a week here and there. And 15 cabins were covered by Leadership doing double duty. It was not the original dream … but it was God’s provision!

-About 30 campers trusted in Christ for salvation. We can’t take an accurate count—some do not tell, others may make a decision at a later me.

Several SEED and staff made decisions to follow the Lord more intentionally. We saw increased commitments in me alone spent with God. Some developed stronger accountability or mentoring relationships.

-Finding staff for the kitchen, maintenance, and first aid was o en a weekly challenge. Once again the loads were shared between various members of the suppor ng community and Leadership doing double duty. It is amazing that the weeks where double duty occurred were also weeks when the need for First Aid was minimal.

-Back when the forecast was threatening about 7 inches for the first week of July, God gave us a vision of clearing skies—and they did clear. In fact it rarely rained, and when it did it was o en at night. The two short day me showers came when campers were indoors anyways.

-One night several girls cabins were sleeping in the field, as black clouds formed all around and over us. Lightning even crashed in the distance. Gary went around to give groups an alternate idea in case it poured. “But it won’t rain,” exclaimed one camper, “because we just prayed.” And it didn’t!

-We began the summer with our regular rescue boat (Achilles), and an- other donated boat for part of the summer. But then the Achilles went missing in late June. We found it at the Marina across the lake during the first week of camp. The motor was missing, and it showed signs of being tampered with. But the provision was already on the way. Read page 4 for more of this excellent story.

-I remember mosquitoes back in early July. Faintly! A couple days ago passerby commented on “how terrible the mosquitoes are right now” at another part of the lake. “How come you don’t have them here?”

Directors Desk

Always There...

It was the late 60’s and I was a camper in a Full Gospel Bible camp near Canmore, Alberta! What a beautiful location—’neath deep blue skies, forests of spruce,and majestic mountains! Perhaps it was those impressive peaks that caught my heart in stillness as I contemplated the constant presence of the Almighty God, or perhaps it also had something to do with a chorus we often sang…

“He’s always there when things go wrong—

He’s always there and in my heart’s a song—

He’s lifts me up, when I’m in prayer—

He’s never gone when I’m alone, He’s always there.”

“He’s up in the mountain, He’s down in the sea—

He fills all heaven and He lives in me—

He’s lifts me up, when I’m in prayer—

He’s never gone when I’m alone, He’s always there.”

God is always there! Oh, but how soon we forget when we get our eyes onto our own problems......

It was the summer of 2012, and I was directing at Camp Sagitawa. The site is not as proximal to those majestic mountains, but it has a beautiful lake, hills, and an amazing beauty of its own. Over the years, many have commented on how close they feel to God here, “Oh, I’d give anything to just live here.”

But I do live here! Have I forgotten to look at the beauty? How is it that we get so used to the every day that we forget to behold the wonderful? And yet the wonderful is all around us! You don’t have to live in some special place to sense the presence of the Almighty......

It was about 1986 years ago. A woman walked down a dusty trail in the middle of the afternoon heat to get some water from the well.

She was alone because she’d rather face the heat and loneliness than the whispers that would bite her soul. She also judged herself harshly. So everyday she waited for the heat—to be more certain that no one else would be at the well.

While God is everywhere, she would see nothing spectacular or breathtaking about that well. But this me she saw Him in the person of Jesus. This me the mundane became the wonderful— the ordinary became the beautiful- and the sinner was clean!.....

How about you? This year? Today?/

Do you need those reminders to consider the beauty of the One who dwells within you? Do you look forward to the moments when you can reflect with His Spirit about whatever He is pointing out to you? Or do the struggles of life cause you to forget about the wonderful and take focus instead on what seems so mundane?

Eternal life is not about a position that I have with God, but about a relationship that He invites us to take part in now. If this is true… then why be content to not hear from the Master? Why walk by wells and in supermarkets without speaking to Him? Why drive to work without considering His love?Why live a day without taking me in His word?

God speaks and touches in different ways. His presence is not always felt or heard, but He’s always there.

“Where can I go from your Spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend into heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, you are there; if I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the udermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.” Psalm 139:7-12

“‘Am I a God near at hand,' says the Lord, ‘and not a God afar off? Can anyone hide himself in secret places, so I shall not see him?' . . . ‘do I not fill heaven and earth?' says the Lord?” Jeremiah 23:23,24

“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever, even the Spirit of truth..” John 14:16

- Gary Pryzner, Director

Facility Rentals

Camp Sagitawa is an excellent venue for your conference, family reunion, banquet, wedding or birthday party. Our dining hall seats up to 220, and we can accommodate over 120 in our cabins. RV sites are also available.

Our flexible approach toward catering, facility use, and program options is designed to make your event as successful as possible. See our online rentals package at sagitawa.bc.ca/facilityrentals.pdf. It is usually a good idea to make your booking a year in advance. 

Penned by campers this summer...

Dear God

I know that I have been hiding my sin, and I think I have been hiding it for way too long. I would like to change that so that you could remake me back into your own image. I would love it if you could do that for me.

Yours truly B…

PS. Thank you for being so faithful. I <3 U

Letter to my Lord

Dear Lord,< p>

I thank you for all your forgiveness on my prayer last night. I thank you for always being there for me. I thank you for all your love. I thank you for being my Lord.

From: G...

Penned by a 2006 camper...

I had a great me at camp. My favourite part(s) was playing wide game, especially kingdom's Quest. It was a fun game to play and Sagitawa is the only place where it is fun. I want to come here next year and the year after that so I can become a Seed. My Seed, Ben, was extremely funny. He told us stories about cadets. He always made us laugh.

Me, Jordy, and Nevada always hung out together. Nevada was in my canoeing class and mostly my partner. They had a radio show each morning. Also mini-chapel was something new this year. The skits were funny.

For our TDA we had to get over the bar at the climbing wall without touching it. I went down the zip-line one me. I hid in the craft shop with Jordy, Jenna (seed), Chelsea (seed), Tammie (seed), and myself. I memorized my verses in the first two days. One table memorized all verses. We memorized ~ 59. I can't believe how fast the week went by. I was in guitar for my fist skill with my Cabin leader Andrew. I was the only boy camper in guitar.

Matt Schlosser’s letter to himself from 2006 as a camper! He was a Seed in 2009-10, and a Cabin Leader since 2011.

Encouragement from Jared Harfield

Hey Gary.

Just wanted to thank you for something. This past weekend I helped lead and speak at a youth event for Prairie's Homecoming event. During the weekend, we had planned an afternoon of floating down the river and getting picked up a couple hours later.

The trip which was estimated at 2.5 hours ended up taking 8 and left our whole group of youth and leaders (about 40) stranded, cold, and hungry on the riverbank with the sun almost gone.

It was getting late and it was beginning to look like a dificult situation. We couldn't find any sign of civilization and had little to work with - rubber tubes, lifejackets, and a pocket knife.

And here is where I want to thank you and the sagitawa programming. All those TDA's that I had done at my time at camp really helped to prepare me for a situation like this. I was able to assume leadership and help to direct how things went and how to organize people. I remembered not to assume the smaller or "weaker" ones were useless but was able to find jobs for everyone to do while we waited for help. More importantly, I was able to remind everyone of God's faithfulness and sovereignty as we prayed. There was no fear. I also was able to allow others to take leadership and ownership of the situation.

Planes were flying overhead and were able to give directions to people on land to get a boat out to shuttle kids back to our safety.

As I was sitting in the bus going back to Three Hills, I was thanking God for how things ended and then I thought about TDAs that we do for staff training. That aspect of camp staff training was beneficial for me in many ways and it became very clear that night on the river.

Thank you for your guidance and determination to teach staff about teamwork in "crisis" situations. It not only helps develop each summer team, but has helped specifically me continue to develop my own leadership skills and sensitivity to situations./

Thanks Gary.

JARED

Alumni Staff, rec’d July 2012

Seed Cabin Update..

The cabin has a roof! But it didn’t get used this summer. Plans are to continue the work this fall along with the crew hauling more dirt down to the site in preparation for rest of the cabins.

Director’s Home Update..

Some very supportive Fort St John volunteers have begun seeking the donations of materials and labor for a home for the Camp Director. Though the process was halted due to an extremely busy season, the goal is to continue in the spring.

Giving On-line...

Did you know that we are set up to receive donations online, through canadahelps.org? They retain a small percentage of the dona on for administration costs and deposit the rest right into camp’s bank account. They also send receipts out on our behalf. You can designate which fund you’d like the money to support as well.

Just go to our website and click on “Donate to Camp”, or go to www.sagitawa.bc.ca/donate.php.

Our Facebook Fan Page

Keep checking in on the Fan Page. Many of the summer pictures are posted there… as well as occasional comments from campers, staff, and other friends.

It is also a great way to keep up-to-date on what is happening at Sagitawa. The site is open, which means anyone can see the pages, whether or not you have your own Facebook account.

Add your own camp photos, add comments, and keep in touch.

www.facebook.com/camp.sagitawa

Wishes recently supplied...

Thanks, Bill Mann, for your maintenance help this summer. Bill’s previous cabinetry experience gave him the opportunity to spend some me on a display rack for the Tuck Shop and a counter for the kitchen. We purchased a stainless steel countertop and have installed both units. Bill and Kathleen are missionaries on furlough from Bolivia. We are thankful for their help.

Thanks, PRRD. The Regional District GIA program provided $17,000 this year for the purchase of a new range (with 48” grill + 2 convection ovens). We also purchased a canopy, a new fan and a fire suppression system. Installation coming soon.

Thanks, Maxim Industries ($8000), Trail Blaz’n Power ($2000) and Mountainview Recreation ($2000) for your donations toward the purchase of an almost new inflatable rescue boat with a 50HP,4-stroke engine. This marine craft exceeds the capabilities of our previous one. We've used it for several activities this summer, and we like it.

Thanks to several individuals who donated some used couches, dressers, a washer and dryer, and some mountain touring bikes.

Please note that the AGM will be held at the Calvary Baptist Church in Fort St John at 7 PM, January 8, 2013. All members, Member Church Pastors and Church Reps have a vote at this meeting. Others are welcome to attend as well. It would be great to see you there.