Email from Foster Grandmother - 2014

Mikki and Will,

A great email received from Camp Directors Will and Mikki L- Arvada CO. 11-04-2014

(Names have been changed)

I wanted to write and say another huge thank you.  As always, Joey and Anthony had an amazing time at camp!  I had to let you know, Anthony seems to have had a very powerful spiritual experience at camp this year.  He said every time "I will change your name" was sung he cried.  He said he didn't know why but he couldn't help it.  

In the car on the way home, I said something about how much I had missed them, but that I was not in a hurry to get home because I had so much work with laundry and cleaning and catching up.  Anthony started crying. He said he felt so bad because he knew he never helped at home and he realized how he never tried.  He has since really been trying to behave better, to help without complaining when I ask, and to be loving and caring.  

He also had a most touching insight; he said that he thinks Paul, the man that plays the guitar and sings is an angel in human form sent by God to bless all the kids.  He said he can feel the goodness and love from Paul and that he seems like he really is an angel.  I would love if you would pass that on to Paul.  

Thanks to all of you, so many dedicated volunteers.  Your hard work truly pays off, even when you don't know about it.  

Anthony doesn't open up to many people but he has at camp. He also, and this is huge, said he shared with others his personal history.  He never does that, even at school, when they're asked to do a paper or share, he plain out refuses!

Joey delighted in camp as well and they are each so excited for next year already.  God Bless all of you!

Your Sister in Christ,

Pat P-

The Great Santa Barbara Chicken Launch

Regina's Memories

Here is a recent email form a former camper.

Hello, my name is Regina F., I ran across a girl who posted on her Instagram that she volunteered at the Royal Family Kids camp recently, and it reminded me of when I attended. When I was little I had no idea it was a camp for abused children, I just thought it was a camp that my adopted parents wanted to send me to just have fun for a week. I remember always being scared when first getting there due to the fact that I didn’t know anybody. But once I got off that bus, we were always greeted by our leaders with signs with our names on them. I remember the love and hugs our counselors greeted us with, I remember the activities (dressing up, tie dying shirts, building bird houses, playing basketball, the talent show) I remember one year I was picked to light the torch, I remember a lesson on God knowing the amount of hairs on our head, and I was picked to count the hairs on a person’s head! J  I remember getting t-shirts, and cassette players and I even remember the theme song (and our water bottles had the theme song on them) it’s crazy that it’s been 7+ years and I still remember everything about the camp, that’s how much its impacted my life. I am now 21 years old with a son, our own place, and with a great job for my age! I started working for the court house at age 19 and joined the Juvenile Service Department. I’m going to school, majoring in criminal justice I have only 1 year left. I’ve grown so much, but one thing I won’t forget or grow out of….are the memories of the Royal Family Kids Camp!

Thanks for all that you do!

Texas Training 2014

We had a great time in Texas this summer doing our first training on the campus of South Western Assemblies of God.  We trained 4 new sets of camp leaders including a Pastor from Ghana.  He is a full time children's Pastor in Ghana and was a great addition to our training group.

We discussed the Birthday party we have for all the kids at camp and I asked Joshua, from Ghana, how they celebrate birthdays in his country.  Joshua said people in his country generally do not celebrate birthdays and he himself has never had a birthday party in his 37 years.  Well!!!  Telling a bunch of RFK people that you've never had a birthday party is a call to action.  The rest of our group planned a Texas sized surprise party for Joshua that night, with cake, ice cream, presents and Spiderman decorations, it's all we could find at the last minute.

We had a great week and we pray that all the camps launch successfully with great results.

Here's a great email we just received from someone who watched the Camp Movie.

"Hello. My name is (name withheld)  I am 13. I just watched your movie about your camp. I was abused part of my life and I never want that to happen to another child. Obviously I cant stop abuse but I hope I can help kids who have been when I'm older. I don't want to bother you but I just wanted to say thank you. What you guys are doing is GREAT! You guys are changing kids lives you are a true blessing to the world. You give them hope, dreams, love. You make them smile. I hope one day I can be a counselor at your camp. Again, thank you so much for everything you are doing."

Colorado Springs Camp

Back in June I had a great opportunity to visit the Colorado Springs camp where, by the way, our daughter Jessica was a Counselor (or Big Camper) for the first time.

It was a great one day visit with Jessica and the Camp Directors Michael and Brittany Babbs.

Jessica and her two campers

Jess after the dunk tank.  Way to go.

Birthday party for all the kids, they made a cake for me too.  

Proud Dad!

Camp Directors Michael and Brittany

Judy's First Piano Recital

Judy has been practicing the piano for a few months now and had a chance to play before a larger audience.

Effective Leading

Center for Creative Leadership

CCL did a 360-degree survey of 1000 leaders.  This survey asked for feedback from the perspective Leaders: followers, peers and Supervisors.   The following 13 items were mentioned as the most important.

http://www.ccl.org/leadership/pdf/research/leadingWithImpact.pdf

Tea Time Fundraise for RFK

I was recently privileged to speak at the Brentwood CA Tea Fundraiser with Dave and Sue Bowers, the Camp Directors of the Brentwood camp held at Golden Hills Church.  There were some great desserts, and various bread like things on the table with pots of Tea.  (I don't know what that stuff was).

While there, I ran into two old friends from many years ago.

My old Den Mother from my Cub Scout days.

And my Teacher from 10th grade English Lit.  Mrs. Teranova.

I told Mrs. Teranova that it was in her difficult class that I decided I had better step up my game and hit the books and become a better student.  I looked around in her class and decided the type of students that were in her class, were the type of students I wanted to be around, and that meant working harder. That decision has served me well for many years of education thus far.

Thanks for pushing hard Mrs. Teranova.

You just never know who is going to show up at a Royal Family Event!

Jonathan's Layup

Here's a quick video of Jon doing a layup in the high school summer league.

Jon is in the middle, not the one shooting.

D-Day Tribute!

I had the incredible privilege today to hear from 4 Veterans who were involved with D-Day operations over 70 years ago.

In the group photo right to left.  

Dick O’brien went in on D-30.  He was in Normandy, Northern France, the Rhineland and the  Ardennes. He was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

Bob Meyer piloted his Glider in on D-Day, landed safely and didn’t lose any of his 15 crew.  His Glider had 75 bullet holes in it.  He is one of only 12 Glider pilots who accomplished all 5 Glider operations in Europe.

Howie Beach went in on D3 as a replacement; his photo with me shows his Silver Star, 3^rd highest medal for Valor.  He earned it in Germany with 5 other Americans who stood their ground against 50 charging SS troops.  The 6 Americans won!

Jack Hammett a Navy Corpsman assisted the injured coming back from D-Day starting June 9, ‘44.  Jack was also at Pearl Harbor when it was bombed Dec. 7, ’41. 

At this meeting the Priest who usually prays an invocation was gone.  One of the members asked me to do the invocation so I was honored to pray a blessing over these incredible patriots of our country.  What a day! 

http://fc-oc.org/

Jeff Juhala  6-11-2014