Connections - Relationships - Opportunities

As I have been talking to people over the last year I have discovered that while I am fundraising, or training or encouraging people to start a camp, I have discovered that what I'm really doing is Connecting with people, building Relationships and opening the door for Opportunities. The exciting news is that opportunities flow both ways. I was very concerned when I started this new journey that all I was going to do was ask people for money. But what I have discovered is that there are many opportunities that open up once the relationship is established. Yes, sometimes the opportunity is to ask for support on behalf of abused children. I have the privilege of standing up on their behalf because they often can not stand up for themselves. But other opportunities also open up such as: praying for someone else, encouraging them, finding a need they have and meeting it for them, speaking for a group they are a part of or just being a listening ear. One of my greatest joys and surprises since starting this job has been the opportunities for friendship and encouragement that have gone way beyond the financial support and training opportunities.

Thanks for all the support and for the relationships, together we will all benifit while making a difference in the lives of abused children. If there is anything I can do for you, please ask.

Safety First - Near Miss with 50 Cal.

As a Safety guy I love incredable pictures and videos and here's one.

This guy is shooting a AR-50, watch the dust when he fires. The target, a steel plate, was 100 yards away. You can hear the ping of the hit, then the bullet comes back, hits the dirt in front of him and then hits his earmuffs on his head. The footage is amazing. You can hear the bullet as it tumbles through the air on its course back toward the shooter. He is okay, and obviously very lucky. The bullet grazed his temple.

What a difference a half an inch makes!

Family Vacation

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Share Photos - Free Video HostingClick on the link below to see more pictures: http://www.dropshots.com/JJuhala#albums/Family%20Vacation%202007/2007-07-26/13:47:15This was our first week long vacation in about 4 years. We visited the San Bernardino mountains including Camp PineCrest, Lake Gregory, Lake Big Bear, and Lake Arrowhead. Everyone had a great time relaxing and enjoying some family time.

Alabama Training Camp

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Share Photos - Free Video HostingClick on the link below for more photos from the Alabama Training Camphttp://www.dropshots.com/JJuhala#albums/Alabama%20Training%202007

Three Training Camps & Done for the Summer

Well it's over, lots of miles and lots of smiles. More on the way about Alabama.

Cicada Symphony Video

If this does not play for you try this link:
http://www.dropshots.com/JJuhala#date/2007-06-15/08:40:38

Cicadas in Wisconsin

If this does not play for you try this link:
http://www.dropshots.com/JJuhala#date/2007-06-11/08:21:18

Two Down & One To Go!

Well my second training camp is in the record books. At the Costa Mesa Camp, the original camp that started 23 years ago, we trained 9 people to start 2 new camps in Covina CA and San Antonio TX.

We had a great group and everything went well except the heat. Several days were in the high 90's and the training room didn't have air conditioning!

We were visited by a couple of bears who eat out of the trash dumpster on a nightly basis. They became a distraction mid way through the week and the Camp Director finally put an end to the bear sightseeing.

The camp was held over the forth of July and we had a special "posting of the colors" by a US Marine who returned to work at the camp after getting a week long pass from the Marines.
Pretty amazing that he wanted to spend is pass by going to camp rather than spending it in other ways. (See his picture at the link).

Everyone had a great time and we are confident that next year we will have 2 new camps in operation helping to plant the seeds of hope, happiness and wholeness into more lives than ever before.


PICTURES, PICTURES, PICTURES
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8439993@N02/sets/72157600767795643/


Jeff

One Training Camp Down Many More To Go!!!

What an adventure!

I flew into Chicago OHare and they lost one of my bags! That's life in the world of travel. They found it and got it to me the next day but for a while there I thought it was going to be an interesting week.

We met our training group on Saturday night and headed for the camp ground at Lake Geneva in Wisconsin on Sunday. What a beautiful lake, lots of old time Chicago money and millionaires around the lake, like the Wrigley Family and Bank Presidents etc.

The largest house on the lake was built in 1899 for 2 million dollars and is approximately 55,000 square feet. Now that’s a big house for 1899!

We trained 11 different people from 3 churches in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Georgia. The Georgia group is trying to start 2 camps through Non-profit group called The Village, co-founded by a player in the NBA.

I had mentioned the cicadas in an earlier email, and just to let you know, they were out in full force. Every 17 years they come out of the ground, mate and then die off while their young go back under ground for another 17 years. The males make a high pitched sound to attract the females so it was rather deafening in the woods with literally thousands of cicadas trying to attract their mates.

Here’s a link to some PICTURES from the camp.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8439993@N02/sets/72157600403725576/

All in all, it was a great time. We trained about 36 hours in the classroom with many additional hours of observation and interaction with the existing camp.

Our goal was to birth new camps in theses states so they too could make a life-changing difference in the lives of some hurting kids who have been dealt a poor hand in life.

Thanks for helping me to do my part in those life-changing moments.

Jeff

Pictures Pictures Pictures

If you 'd like to see some pictures of recent activities, click the link below:

You can view the pictures on the site or watch a slide show by hitting the slide show button - View as slideshow

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8439993@N02/

Welcome!

Having left our family and home to come to work for Royal Family Kids' Camps in August of 2006, we were excited and overwhelmed all at the same time. We were sent on our way by so many family and friends supporting our decision and lending a hand. We truly appreciate the help that everyone gave us. Help that extended to: fixing up the old house, living in a temporary house and then finding the new rental house, help finishing my work at Contra Costa Electric and help starting the new job, help with the kids and help with our finances. In so many ways we have so many people to thank and appreciate. We could never have been prepared to do what we are now doing without the help of family and friends who have been there for us. To all of you, THANKS!!!