Alumni Story - Transformation

Thanks to everyone who has filled out an Alumni Form from the website (www.arrowheadbiblecamp.org).  We are continually blessed by the thoughts and stories shared through the form.

Here’s one of those stories from a current staff member.  He is a Lancaster Bible College student who has been coming to Arrowhead with one of our guest groups… a group that has had an annual winter retreat here at Arrowhead for over 15 years.

“Serving at Arrowhead has helped me care about what God cares about. It was a humbling experience… to serve in the context of camp ministry.  It is also a place that is very special to me.  I rebelled against God for 16 years of my life until I attended a winter retreat at Arrowh

ead.  I still remember sitting in the small room behind the gym on January 16, 2006 where I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior.  I have the opportunity to go back each year and now serve as a leader of my high school youth group.  It is the same time every year so I have the unique privilege to sit in that room on the same day and same time every year and thank God for His work in my life.  Arrowhead is very special place to me.  It is awesome to be able to go back and serve at a place that has played such a huge piece in my spiritual transformation.”

Bocce Ball at Arrowhead

With this weekend’s 40 degree rainy weather it is hard to believe that just last week we were enjoying a fantastic day of Bocce Ball with highs near 80 and the sun shining brightly.  It was a great day with over 100 athletes, coaches and volunteers on nine courts, for the annual Special Olympics Bocce Ball Tournament here at Arrowhead.

Many of athletes are also our campers.  It was a blessing to hear their excitement about the upcoming Shepherds Fall Retreat, just a week away.  We also had the opportunity to meet some new friends from the Special Olympics Area P, who coordinate athletes across five counties in northeast PA. 

What a day!  We had a great time at the 14th annual Buddy Walk.  Everyone enjoyed Brotherhood on the main stage and Rich Birdsall as our event MC.  Local organizations like The Magic Paintbrush Project and Maple Glen Farms: Endless Possibilities provided great fun.  The food was rolling off the line as fast as they could serve it and the basket raffles proved to be a returning favorite.  The walk extended through the zoo with all the animals to see along the way and a squad of excited cheerleaders waiting at the end, congratulating the walkers with smiling faces and shining medals. One of our new special guests was caricature artist Jon Bonfed who was a huge hit with a line that never slowed down.

On the heals of such devastating flooding, it was a privilege to offer The Buddy Walk as a fun opportunity to take a break from the labor of clean up and to strive forward with our mission to raise awareness for Down Syndrome and support our community.

Buddy Walk 2011

Join us next Saturday, the 17th from 11-3 at Ross Park Zoo for the 14th annual BUDDY WALK!  It is a jam-packed awareness event for Down Syndrome and developmental disabilities.  Keeping in step with the past few years, we are anticipating over 1,000 people in attendance for the walk.  With games, interactive booths, tons of food, t-shirts, the infamous basket raffle, face painting, juggling, balloon animals, Irish dancers, caricatures and prize raffles it is going to be non-stop fun.  You do not want to miss the live entertainment: Talking Hands and Brotherhood on the main stage!

$5 and a can of food for CHOW gets you all that, and of course, entrance into the Zoo! (There is no cost to individuals with developmental disabilities)

Shepherds Camp will be one of the interactive booths: featuring two of the greens from our brand new 9-hole mini golf course.  We invite you to stop by… play a few rounds of golf, grab some food, check out the live music and see the animals as we raise awareness and support our local community.