A LIFE-STEALING, DISABLING FEAR OF HEIGHTS AND OF FAILURE THAT AFFLICTS HER WHOLE FAMILY.

(story taken from an interview with one of our girls)

8 Years of Living at ACH. 7 Years of Clinging to Fear.

“I couldn’t even get on top of a bunk bed… I got stuck on a rock during a hike – about a foot off the ground – I was so scared, I was frozen. I tried the high ropes course once, but gave up. I never tried the climbing wall or the zip line. I thought I’d never overcome this fear. It was way too hard. It was way too strong.”

TIME AFTER TIME OF CONSISTENT ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT FROM LOVING ADULTS, A SUMMER OF STIR* LEARNING ABOUT FREEDOM IN CHRIST AND HOW TO CONQUER DESTRUCTIVE THOUGHT PATTERNS, AND FINALLY REACHING THE POINT WHERE THE PIECES ALL FALL TOGETHER.

A Decision.
“I prayed about why I had this fear and why I kept holding onto it. Deep in my heart I wanted to let it go… I decided I was going to try new things and get fear out of the way so I can work on other stuff I need to work on.”

A Hike She Never Would Have Tried Before.
She made it nearly to the top of the mountain accompanied and cheered on by several staff.

“I just kept pushing myself (she never would have pushed herself before). Darrin said, “Don’t look at the ground – look up and see all of God’s beauty. I did that, and I saw all of God’s creation.”

A Climbing Wall
She made it up 5 hand-holds! She kept going back and trying again and again, the adults and kids around her cheering every try and every inch of progress:

“I really wanted to conquer something, to be proud of myself. I realized as I start trying new things, I’ll try more. If I can’t conquer them, I’ll just keep trying. Before, I was afraid to try because I might not succeed. Now I know that doesn’t mean I can’t try.”

A Camp Theme to Complement Stir
“The KAA Camp theme really hit me: Phil 3:13, about not looking back, leaving the past behind and moving forward – praying to God because He’s with you the whole way and will guide you.”

A Trip on the Zip line
…followed by another and a complete traverse of the high ropes course!
“I went on the zip line backwards and upside down! I prayed first – I don’t even know what I said – probably just, ‘God help me! God help me!’ The girl next to me was scared, but I told her she could do it, that I was scared, too. Then I counted down and jumped. It was fun, so I went again! Since I conquered that – I went on the high ropes course.”

Beautifully Victorious
Our hearts are overflowing with pride over this girl. She is living more fully, not allowing fear to cause her to miss out on life. BUT IT WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT YOU.

WITH YOUR HELP, she went to Family Camp and KAA, places of quick growth where these events occurred. Even more vital, WITH YOUR HELP, she has been poured into by loving, committed adults who consistently work out our mission statement in the lives of our kids and set the stage for victory. THANK YOU.

*STIR is our weekly campus youth group service throughout the summer