Teen Haven Camp: Testimonies & Transformation

Throughout the summer, there have been hundreds of urban youth who have spent one week encountering the beauty of God’s creation and serenity at Teen Haven Camp. Tomorrow will be the final day of camp for summer 2009. Please join us in praying for lasting change in the hearts and young lives of the campers. Pray that God would remind them that THEY ARE STRONGER IN HIM alone. Also, pray that they would know and experience God’s continuing mercy and peace, and remember that He desires to walk with them through all challenges they may experience.

Below is a specific testimony of the transformation that impacted the life of a young girl at Teen Haven Camp…

From the start of the week, she made known that she did not want to be at camp. She wasn’t a troubling child. She wept and would not take part in some activities and insisted on going home.

I spoke to her and asked what she did while at home. “I watch T.V. and like to read books a lot.” I encouraged her to stay away from the T.V and to continue reading. I also reminded her of the importance of being very selective in reading “good stuff”. At that point, out of the blue, she asked me for a Bible. I said on one condition, “You read it through once!” She smiled and agreed. I told her to remind me Friday before she left for home.

She came up to me on Friday and reminded me of our agreement. I gave her a brand new Bible. She embraced it and smiled. I reminded her of her promise. She smiled and said, “I will! Thank you.” Some plant, some water but the Lord gives the increase. Praise Him!

- Vinny Mikusow, Teen Haven Camp Field Director

Songs, Sharing and Unexpected Blessings

Recently my wife Deb and I had the privilege of speaking about the Water Street Mission to a group of residents at Country Meadows Retirement Home. We were greeted by a very sweet lady who happened to show up to chapel early. We were blessed to hear her story and inspired by her faith and love for the Lord. As the evening progressed we were treated to a variety of the old hymns that just aren’t sung much in most churches anymore. (Deb was particularly pleased with this part of the program.) After I spoke for a few minutes about the Mission, the group was asked to pray for two new employees, and then several of the residents gathered around Deb and I.

Along with Pastor Jim, this group of veteran prayer warriors prayed over Deb and I, our kids, the Mission staff and our clients. We were then presented with a gift from the group in the form of a song that they sang to us. Pastor Jim said that the residents had been rehearsing for some time. The whole point here is that we went there to talk about the mission and to hopefully inspire some of the residents, but God turned it around so that it became a huge unexpected blessing to us.

Scooter Haase - Executive Director, Water Street Mission

Outreach Ministries - Serving our Community

Last Tuesday, we found there was more donated produce than we could distribute through Outreach Ministries so we loaded a pallet of bread/pastry and a pallet of cantaloupe and took it to the streets. Two of the program men came along, one made a sign that read “From God to you” which we hung on the back of the truck. When we found the right spot off South Duke Street we pulled over and displayed the free goodies. One of the residents of Men’s Ministry headed off with small gospels of John to invite people to come and partake of the free food while we waited at the truck. Curious folks soon came to see what was going on and word spread fast once it got out!!

There were many neat things about this experience. We could communicate how God remembers them and is the one who ultimately provided this gift for them. It was a delight to see the expressions on faces and answer the “how many can I have question” with “as much as you can use but no more!” One of the men who came along made the connection that this is one thing his pastor was talking about on Sunday when he said – “love God, love people and impact your community” What a joy to help spread out the bountiful harvest God has given again this summer!

Dean Wenger – Redistribution Manager

Campers Encountering Christ

In the midst of challenges experienced at Teen Haven Camp, God is impacting the lives of urban youth. His grace sometimes even uses personal areas of brokenness and weakness, in the young campers, to reflect his love even more fully!

During a recent wagon ride, a young boy attending Teen Haven Camp shouted profane words to a lady walking her dog. That evening, her husband called and voiced his anger and displeasure towards the young man and us.

We took the necessary corrective action for his harsh words, and he took the rest of the week to take inventory of his actions, the consequences and the pain caused by his words. What he realized even more was his need for someone that could help him in this area. Thursday he found that One. He accepted the Lord as his Savior and made things right with all of us.

My concern was for making things right with the lady and her husband. I prayed and asked the Lord to reveal these folks. On Friday morning, I took the guys out for a wagon ride and told the guys to look for a dog that would resemble the one the lady was walking. Just as we thought the cause was lost, a young man spotted the dog and pointed to a house.

That evening I visited the house and met the lady and her husband. I expressed my apology and asked for forgiveness. They shrugged it off as typical for kids in today’s society. I told them how the Lord used all this to instruct the young man and help him realize the pain of such words but most importantly that he found his cure in Jesus. He got saved Thursday night and expressed a heart of restitution. He apologized for his actions to all and included them in this apology. They were both very moved and expressed a joy in hearing this turn of events. They thank me for sharing with them the rest of the story. In all things He is to be glorified. He was! };-))

- Vinny Mikusow, Teen Haven Camp Field Director

Aviate, Navigate, Communicate

Aviate, Navigate, Communicate. The training behind these three words saved the life of my friend, Navy Pilot Ron Carlson as he flew a night mission in support of Operation Enduring Freedom soon after the events of 9/11.

His S-3 Viking’s cockpit filled with smoke several seconds after takeoff from the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt.

With lost electronics and communication, Carlson had two choices: to eject into the water where the possibility of being found at night was remote or risk landing on the carrier which was now obvious only by a small deck light in the darkness.

During those few intense moments, Commander Carlson did exactly as he was trained: he aviated – by retaining control of the plane, he navigated – by keeping the one small light from the carrier in sight, and he tried to communicate with the ship – though unsuccessfully!

What is it that compels a Navy Pilot to trust in the training he had received during the course of a career?

I’m not sure what goes on in the brain of a Navy Aviator but Commander Carlson’s very real dilemma reminds me of a fundamental question of greater importance that each of us must answer. Can we trust in a God we can’t see especially when times are tough?

Many of our residents struggle mightily to trust others. Each remembers a time when they did extend trust to someone only to receive abuse and harm from the one deemed trustworthy. And each carries a lingering fear that broken trust is the norm and trust in God is as futile.

How can we – resident and staff member alike – learn to trust in the God who is there especially when life makes no sense?

By the way then Commander, now Captain Ron Carlson, did survive the crash landing on the deck of the Roosevelt. And he returned to complete his tour of duty.

- Steve Brubaker - Chief Vision Officer, Water Street Ministries

(Images given with the permission to document this experience)

WSHS Opens Satellite Free Clinic in Lebanon in partnership with the Lebanon Rescue Mission!

A 26 year old woman requested an appointment to see the doctor secondary to severe weight loss in the last six months. She was so thankful to have someone listen to her that she was in tears on the phone as well as the entire time of her clinic appointment. Her home situation was becoming increasingly difficult with “teenager” problems, a very demanding boy friend and the recent death of her mother whom she had found in the morgue in Philadelphia. At the time of the clinic visit, it was determined that she was in severe depression and the nurse administrator made a referral to Phil Haven the next day through Access/Phil Haven. The patient was seen/evaluated by Phil Haven and is now receiving medication and outpatient counseling/therapy 3 times a week at Phil Haven.

- Ginger Giammattei, RN, BSN, Nurse Administrator

WSHS now has the privilege of serving those in Lebanon County who have no access to healthcare services and an income at 200% or below of the federal poverty level. This young woman is one of over 100 people we have seen since opening March 26th, 2009 and each have an urgent need to be heard, helped and given hope for a future that is free of pain. Pain comes in many forms & often the physical pain can be less than the emotional and spiritual suffering.

The Lebanon community has been amazing in pulling together to support the free clinic by volunteering time, providing resources and funding. More is needed for the need is great & we know the Lord will provide by touching those who can give to help. We will share more as He provides and heals those we take care of.

NEW Art Exhibit - Debuting at First Friday

Homeless children’s art answers ‘What is Home?’
The Water Street Mission exhibit debuts for First Friday

Art composed by nine homeless children living at the Water Street Mission will debut publicly at Prince Street Café, 15 N Prince Street, August 7 for First Friday.

The children created drawings to answer the question, ‘What is home?’ in conjunction with a Water Street Mission ceremony in May to celebrate over fifty men, women and families who had moved out of homelessness.

“The children’s drawings depict simple messages of love, family and faith,” said Maria Schaszberger, director of communications at Water Street Ministries. “The exhibit shows that moving out of homelessness involves more than finding a house,” she said.

The Water Street Mission is a division of Water Street Ministries that serves the homeless in Lancaster County.

The exhibit will be on display at Prince Street Cafe through September. It’s the second art exhibit created by clients living at the Water Street Mission. The first exhibit debuted in December at the Prince Street Café and has been on display at various churches and businesses, including August showings at Manor Brethren in Christ Church and West End Mennonite Church.