As we wrote about in the blog earlier this month, we offer the kids from our youth programs the opportunity to go to summer camp each year. It is an opportunity for campers to have experiences they might not otherwise have and a chance for them to take the next steps in their faith journeys. Here, in their own words, is what summer camp has meant to some of our campers and camp leaders over the years. Testimonies from campers “Something that I want to remember and that I learned at camp would be that God is always there with you and that you aren’t alone even if it feels like it. He has a … [Read more...]
Having a Mentor Makes a Difference
The impact that we can have on one another’s lives was once described to me like ripples on the surface of water when a pebble is dropped in. The ripples keep on moving outward, far beyond the point of initial impact. I have always loved that image — that our actions and relationships keep rippling out beyond what we see. Most of what we do at Ciudad Nueva is relationship-driven, and nothing is more essentially relational than the mentoring groups in our youth programs. From the youngest students all the way up through high school, we rely on our mentors to make connections and … [Read more...]
Grown Up and Going Back to Camp
Gustavo was once a camper. Now he is a camp counselor. Something good keeps him coming back. Gustavo grew up in the Ciudad Nueva youth programs and throughout those years, summer was an annual highlight for him. He looked forward every year to new adventures, new friends, and deeper relationships with current leaders and friends. As a leader now in Ciudad Nueva’s youth programs, he is excited to go back to camp and share his experience with the young people he works with. This will be his fifth summer going as a counselor for the incoming sixth grade students. “I love seeing the kids’ … [Read more...]
Letting Them Take a Leap of Faith
Going to camp for the first time is a big deal — for parents and kids! But the rewards are worth saying yes to a new experience. “The first time I sent my son to camp I cried and I didn’t want to let him go,” says Tamy Diaz. “It was so hard to send him away by himself, even with a group of kids and mentors.” Think of all the firsts in parenting: the first tooth, the first step, the first day of school. As our kids grow and mature, there is so much letting go and growing we must do as parents at the same time! Some things like getting that first tooth don’t require much thought on our … [Read more...]
School Is Back in Session!
Growing up, I remember back-to-school season being full of emotions: excitement, dread, curiosity. Would this year be better than last year? Would I like my teachers? I can’t wait to see my friends! At Ciudad Nueva, back-to-school season is all about excitement. There is a flurry of activity from visiting families, schools, and volunteers. Phones are ringing, emails are flying. Students are ready to get back in the routine — and see all the friends and leaders they missed over the summer! It all starts with planning Summer is a change of pace at Ciudad Nueva. We head off in a lot of … [Read more...]
