Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Snap shot view of camp components

5 toilets are required for each camp
These photos depict aspects of Camp In A Box
hole digging is required



the box inside provides seating and a cleanable barrel beneath it

a washup station
shower with heated water!
barbecue pit


kitchen tent


main tent


Sunday, December 18, 2011

New Developments

We have completed the setup for receiving donations to the Camp In A Box project going to Ukraine! The organization HART(Humanitarian Aid Response Teams), headquartered in Calgary will be receiving and receipting financial support. We will be partnering with them as we begin this work to complete the first Camp In A Box container for Ukraine. HART has a 15 year history of working there.Learn more on their website: www.hart.ca.
The information is as follows:

When giving a financial gift please designate to: Camp In A Box #32506

317 - 37 Ave. NE, Suite 200
Calgary, AB, Canada
T2E 6P6
phone: 403.230.8263

The website is: http://www.hart.ca/  
On their website is secure credit card transaction capability, direct debit or checks can be mailed to the above address with the designation number of 32506.
Donations made through HART will be 100 per cent transferred to the Camp In A Box project.  This is standard policy for the HART organization.

Donations can also be made through CanadaHelps.org. It needs to be noted that there is a 3.9 percent fee charged for donations made in this manner but it may be a more suitable avenue for some.
 
If you know of anyone who would like to financially gift this project please pass along this information to them as well. 

There has been a1500 square foot, heated work space in a light industrial park donated. It will serve as an initial workshop and collection point. There have significant donations of plywood and some other useful items. There are manpower commitments as plans are made for fabrication work to begin in early 2012.
There will be significant financial needs.

We are researching the purchasing of a 40' container that will provided the shipping vehicle and the 'home' for the camping equipment. This cost will be in the range of $3-5,000.00 
Tents are required for both the meeting areas and smaller ones for sleeping in. The meeting tents are about $12000.00.  The sleeping tents are about $350 each and we would like to put 20 in the package so that is an additional  $7000.  The beds for the tents(5 per tent) are being made and we have some of the material for this already. Mattresses will cost about $60 a piece with cover.  We would need 75 of these so the total cost is $4500.00. 
We are still working out the best kitchen option which will be another big cost part of the camp. 
Other items include hot water heating , plumbing requirements, materials for bathrooms and showers.

Your prayers  are especially needed and appreciated as well as any ideas that you have on steps to see this unit completed by mid Spring.  
Praise God . Thank Him for all the doors that have opened to this point. 
Pray for BIG Faith in God.  He is our supplier.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Developmental Leadership Programs in Eastern Europe


Leadership is critical.  The journey to Jesus needs shepherds to guide the way. A video provided by Steve Janz demonstrates how Camp In a Box is participating in this important process in Latvia.(***see comments below)  This concept is being recognized as a key to going forward in Ukraine as well.

http://vimeo.com/30117699

Providing a Camp In A Box for Ukraine provides the means for placing leaders with young people in need of leadership.

***
Camp In A Box partnered with the Baptist Union in Latvia. This video presents  one of the styles of camps that they are doing there. It needs to be recognized that in Ukraine the approach may be quite different (referring to this particular type of camp for young men). We are not sure yet the approach that our partners will take in the Ukraine, but we do know they are committed to follow up in personal relationship following camp. 
The style of camp maybe different in each country and even with each group, so we want to make sure that this is fully recognized and communicated.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Christian leaders bring young people to Camp in Latvia under the banner: YourTime-Their Future.
This model includes these leaders continuing relationships beyond the scope of the time at camp.  The positive influence on these young lives through outlooks rooted in the love of Jesus is well documented.  in these tents and during these camping times youths are strengthened to face too often, difficult home or no home situations that are all too common in Latvia, Ukraine and other countries of Eastern Europe.

An introduction to Camp In A Box-Ukraine

The beginnings of this project are rooted in a number of significant events.
Missionaries Steve and Natalija Janz responded to the need in Latvia to provide an affordable and effective Christian camping experience for this tiny Eastern European country.  One result of their years of service in Latvia was a complete mobile summer camping setup that could serve up to 75 youth per session.
The effectiveness of this concept became more evident in October 2010 when  Steve was invited by several groups to visit Ukraine and conduct introductory seminars on the details of  how to produce a similar type of camp for use in Ukraine.  In the summer of 2011 some of these same people traveled to Latvia and participated in the actual set-up of the Latvian Camp In A Box for the summer season.
The sense of need and commitment were fully recognized by Steve and Natalija, knowing the challenges that are faced in Eastern European countries to organize and follow through on  events that many of us in the west would consider relatively easy not the least of which is purely economic ability.  Organizationally these Ukraine groups were ready to go forward but the placing of a Camp package there was totally out of reach logistically.
In the latter part of 2011, Steve and Natalija and their family returned for a time in Canada.
Part of their message to supporting churches they spoke at related the story of this need. When Steve mentioned the opportunity to learn more about the needs in Ukraine through an organization called HART, several people from Maple Ridge Baptist Church accepted invitations to attend a B.C. Lower Mainland fund raising dinner in early November.
Lloyd Cenaiko, the founder of  HART(www.hart.ca), has spent the past 15 years building an organization that has developed effective strategies for combating the many dark aspects and realities of life in Ukraine and bringing the Good News to thousands.  The stories he told touched every heart in the packed room. Certainly not the least of whom were the folks from MRBC.
In the ensuing days, it seemed doors just began to open for building and sending a Camp In The Box package to Ukraine in time for the summer of 2012. A fully suitable work area became a reality within days. Tools and materials have begun to flow in as word of this project is put out.  A fellow came on board to provide proper drawings for construction purposes.  Mr. Cenaiko offered up the services of his organization to provide a proper funding vehicle for the financial needs of this project that are in the area of 50,000.00.  It must be noted here that a clear statement of HART is that 100 percent of donations to HART go to the projects they are intended for.  There are no administrative deductions.
Efforting is already in process to locate a 40 foot container and more importantly develop the essential contacts that are needed to deliver a container to Ukraine, a country that is infested with corruption and complicated paperwork when it comes to successfully bringing goods into the country.
Going forward there is still much work to do and and many materials needed.
But mostly, this work urgently needs to be covered in prayer.  In the coming weeks this need is most critical of all.
The purpose of this site will be to provide an overview of progress and provide a way for everyone involved to keep in touch.