Camp Li-Lo-Li Blog

Great time at Snow Camp!

2012-01-24T08:36:00.000-08:00

This past weekend more than sixty young people descended on Camp Li-Lo-Li for our annual Pre-Teen Winter Retreat! We weren't sure if we would have enough snow for the weekend, but the Lord was good and sent us enough to make sure that everyone had a great time!

Outdoors there was snow tubing, fort building, ice carving and plenty of cold hands and feet! The tubing started off slowly with everyone practicing on the Lodge Hill, but soon felt comfortble enough to head to the Big Hill. The most tiring part is walking back up to the top with the tube!

For those that didn't want to brave the hills or just wanted to warm up again, we had an every ready supply of hot chocolate in the Lodge where the kids could play games, do puzzles or just hang out.

The most important part of the weekend is our chapel time. This year Aaron Young shared the teaching responsibility with our Director, Gary Foster. There was great ministry, a clear gospel message and of course, the popular Choose the Right Door, containing prizes and sur-prises! Gary Foster used his black light chalk drawings to illustrate his message and keep the kids engaged and listening!

We want to thank all of our volunteer staff that served so tirelessly this past weekend to create a memorable experience for our campers! Now we look forward to seeing you all again this summer!

Pre-teen and Teen Winter Snowfest!

2011-12-19T08:26:00.000-08:00

Winter is here and with it, our winter retreats! Last year we had plenty of snow, as well as great food, fun and fellowship and tremendous ministry. Start planning now for two great weekends in January!

Pre-teen Winter Retreat is January 20-22, 2012

Teen Winter Retreat is January 27-29, 2012.

Plan to come and plan to bring a friend!

Click here for the application form!

Bunny Camp gets a new floor!

2011-12-02T06:51:00.001-08:00

Major repairs are being done to the floors in the back rooms of Bunny Camp. The rooms had suffered water damage last year (and probably other years as well!), so a decision was made to replace the floors in both rooms. Grateful thanks to Bob Wheeler, John Cole, Larry Thompson and Stacy Bodder for all their hard work on this and other projects.

First, the bunks were disassembled and stacked away, then the old floor tiles were ripped out and thrown in the dumpster. Once the tiles were out, it was obvious that the plywood underneath would have to come out as well. Once all the flooring was out, we were able to see the reason for the cold temps in those back rooms! The duct work was all flexible tube and was broken and eaten away in many places. While the floor was opened up, new rigid ducts were put in and insulated, additional returns were added some extra electrical outlets were installed.

There was a lot of carpentry and a lot of underground tunneling! The work is back breaking and often down when the weather is not ideal, but they are all still smiling. John and Stacy are working together to add insulation to the floor and install new plywood over the top. Now all that is left is the new vinyl flooring and the job should be complete.

At the same time as the work inside, work was being done on the roof to make sure that water did not come back in again to undo all the hard work that has been accomplished here.

This is another project that should add many years of comfortable camping for our bunny campers and staff. Please continue to remember our hard workers in your prayers!

Help Wanted this Saturday!

2011-11-21T10:51:00.001-08:00

We arelooking for all available helpers this Saturday, November 26, as we tear outthe floor in the Lodge and prepare to install the beautiful new flooring. Weare not looking for highly skilled workers, although they are also much appreciated,but it will be hard work requiring strong backs and some heavy lifting. We needwilling volunteers who are looking for a day of fun, fellowship and hard work!

If you arehome from college for the Thanksgiving weekend, this would be a great way to catchup with your camp family and give you a great sense of accomplishment as youreturn to school. The Lodge is one ofour most visible and heavily used buildings, so come be a part of history.

If you canjoin us for this work day, please let Larry Thompson know as soon as possible.Email Larry at lilolilarry@gmail.comtoday if you can make it!

Thanks all!

New Metal Roof on the Girls West Wash House

2011-11-09T10:30:00.000-08:00

In the continuing account of our fall property maintenance tasks , here is the latest completed project! The roof on the 'old' girls wash house needed replacing and it was decided that a metal roof would be the best option.

The first step was to get all the old shingles off. Although the day began with early morning fog, the Lord gave us beautiful crisp, clear days to work on this outside project. Larry Thompson, Stacy Bodder and John Cole began the work of stripping the roof down to the plywood underlay.

Removing the shingles, tar paper, staples and nails was time consuming but necessary. Having the tractor nearby made the clean up much faster and much easier!

The original plywood was very thin and soft in a few places, so an additional layer of plywood was added to provide strength and to ensure that we don't have to revisit this roof for many years to come!

Once the new plywood was installed we were able to add the snow and ice shield and tar paper to keep the roof dry and free from ice and snow.

The final step was to add the metal roof which was attached to the roof with special screws. Most of the work, including cutting to size was done on the roof. We are grateful to have men like Larry and Stacy who are skilled at this! Please pray for their continued safety while working here at camp.

The final step was to add the snow guards to the new roof. The new roof was installed in a matter of a few days and puts us in a good position to face the coming winter!

There are several more projects to be completed, including the back rooms of the bunny camp, the repair of the roof around the chimney at the Lodge as well as the new Lodge floor. We'll keep you posted on the progress!

Snow Comes to Camp!

2011-10-29T11:53:00.000-07:00

The first snow fell at camp this week, as well as many other places in the Northeast! It is very light with just a dusting on the lawns and roofs and will all be gone later in the day. We are certain that more will be coming! But we also know that it is from the Lord. Just this week, I was reading in Job 37:6 where it says "For He says to the snow, fall on the earth." God has a plan even for the elements.

Later on God asks Job the question, "Have you entered into the treasures of the snow?" Job 38:22 So often the Bible uses snow as an example of purity, holiness and righteousness and we can see why when we consider a freshly fallen blanket of snow covering the ground below it. At other times, snow is a source of blessing and refreshment to a parched land. But in this passage, it seems to refer to a treasurehouse of snow reserved for a judgement to come. We serve a great and living God who is altogether holy, and is also the source of great blessing as well as righteous judgement. And all aspects seen in His own creation!

The final preparation of the snow plows and other snow management equipment is almost complete and we should be in good shape to handle the winter weather to come. Even though many tasks still need to be done outdoors, there are always indoor projects as well. Preliminary work was started this week to repair the walls, floor and ceiling in some of the rooms at Bunny Camp. Most of this damage happened last winter and needs to be taken care of before the winter rolls around. We still have work on the Lodge roof, east wall and floor as well. Pray for Larry and Stacy as well as those assisting with this and many other winter projects!

Season is over!

2011-10-26T10:04:00.000-07:00

Well, the 2011 season is officially over! This week we began the process of winterizing the buildings that will not be used for the next few months. The Cooks Cabin, Directors Cabin and Chapel have been closed down. Work will begin soon on replacing the floor in the Lodge as well as repair work to the interior walls and roof. Please pray for safety for those completing this work.

The canoes, paddle boats and kayaks have now been stored away in the corral and in the barn where they will be protected from the elements. Next to go away will be the lawn equipment, golf carts and outdoor furniture from around the store and pool.

It is a little sad to see the season finally come to a close, but a good time to reflect on what the Lord has done at camp this year. We were so grateful to see many campers come to know the Lord and many more make significant growth in their spiritual walk.

In the next few weeks we will be sending out information on our winter retreats beginning in January. We have both Pre-Teen and Teen weekends and are looking for great blessing. Please pray for the campers who will be attending as well as the directors and speakers who will be leading and teaching. These are a great way to start the year. More details to follow!

Bible Book Challenge 2012

2011-10-20T08:26:00.000-07:00

We have used some of the Emmaus Correspondence School (ECS) courses in our follow-up program and have others available in our camp store. Now here is an opportunity to start a group Bible study at your assembly or church using one of their courses!

Here is more information from ECS Ministries:

Get ready to register your team for the 2012 Bible Book Challenge. Last year, in the third annual Bible Book Challenge, we saw 45 churches and over 760 participants start the challenge.

This year we are studying The Gospel of Mark! The book emphasizes the servant nature of Jesus Christ, concentrating on the things that Jesus did and where He went. It is the shortest of the Gospels and probably the first one written. Mark presents the action vividly and roughly in chronological order.

Our hope here at ECS Ministries is that your group will draw together to study this book and will help each other to grow in your understanding of God’s message.

Registration begins on October 10 and ends on November 30, so take this time to get your team ready! The course will begin on

Important Links:

Bible Book Challenge Information Page

Information Poster

Rules and guidelines

Print registration form

First chapter of course

New Zipline at Camp Li-Lo-Li!

2011-10-04T12:24:00.000-07:00

The planning and construction of our new zipline was a long and expensive process but it is now complete and in service!

Planning began two years ago but was slowed down with additional engineering requirements insisted on by the County Health Department and Building Inspectors in western New York. As it added to the safety of the event, we were happy to comply in spite of the added time and expense.

Work began last fall with the poles that would hold the cables. Early this spring, work began on the foundations and platforms that would carry the zipline. The main platform was built up on the hillside which it made it impossible to use a cement truck. All the concrete had to be mixed and poured by hand!

Once that was done, the bigger and more difficult task of building the structure was started by Larry Thompson with the help of a number of willing volunteers. The structures began to take shape and at last the first cables were hung with our Challenge Course inspectors, Signature Research.

Larry Thompson took the inaugural test ride on the new zipline!

The zipline event was completed and inspected and has become a great feature of camp. We have now had a number of camp sessions as well as guest groups make use of it this fall. I am sure that it is going to be an exciting and valuable additional to the camp programs.

Next spring we will be offering an in-depth training and certification program that will incorporate training on all our ropes courses as well as the zipline. We need to have as many people as possible certified to run this event. If you are interested or know someone that is interested, please let us know so that we can include you in the training day!

Summer 2011 Summary

2011-09-20T14:14:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been a while since we last posted and there is much to share with you! It was a great summer filled with activity and spiritual accomplishments! Many young people came to know the Lord and many more made great strides in their walk with God.

Our Family Camps were well attended and the ministry was great. The speakers at our Family Camp week were Bob Johnsons and Ben Matthews. Their messages centered on the importance of the family, with each individual seeking after God. Very challenging and very encouraging!

Our Pre-Teen weeks were again a hive of activity with games, good food and of course our Achievement Program. This continues to be a unique camp experience where our campers learn and apply many outdoors skills like knot tying, cooking over campfires, star gazing, axemanship and many more! Our Pre-teen 1 session had 123 campers and our speaker was Art Manningfrom Emmaus Bible College. •The Pre-teen 2 week had 162 campers and had Chuck Gianottias our returning speaker. •Pre-teen 3 had 105 campers and our speaker was Jason Beverly. Each week has a little different flavor but all were well attended and exciting.

We had two new speakers for our Teen weeks. Dan Weaver from Pennsylvania and Matt Reese from Canada were both at camp for the first time and were well received by the campers. Dr. Ben Scripture was our speaker for the Round-Up week and instructed our campers to trust the Word of God especially where science is concerned. You don't have to make a choice between science and faith as some would have you believe!

We rounded out the summer with our Family Camp weekend. This was a packed session. Our speaker was Brian Cretney from Ontario and his topic was Christ. We were each challenged to put Christ first in our lives, knowing that we are in Him and He is in us.

One of the greatest highlights of our summer was the completion of our 1300 foot zipline event! The building project was completed, inspected and approved late in the summer but still in time to get many, many campers of all ages up on the cable! We will send out another blog update soon with more detail of the design, construction and use of our zipline.

Planning is now underway for 2012. Please begin to pray that our sessions will be full and that God will accomplish great things through the work here at camp.

Ropes Course Annual Training

2011-06-04T11:11:00.000-07:00

Experienced Ropes course leaders and helpers! Please join us next weekend for our annual re-training and certification event. We plan to start at camp on Friday June 10, at 7.30 pm with the written course work and will then spend Saturday June 11, 2011 in practical hands-on training.

It is very important that everybody be there for this training. We cannot open the ropes course unless we have trained and certified personnel manning the events.

This training is only for those who have been previously trained on ropes. Please let Betsy McIntee know that you will be attending so that we can plans for meals, accommodation and training. Email Betsy at abmcintee@gmail.com

Thanks!

Staff Opportunity for Family Camp 2011

2011-05-26T18:22:00.000-07:00

Do you:

• enjoy working as part of a close-knit team of believers committed to a critical ministry?

• find satisfaction in turning raw ingredients into delicious meals?

• have time available to spend at Camp Li-Lo-Li between July 2 - July 9?

If so, we would love to have you come and participate as part of our kitchen staff for Family Camp 2011. David & Amy Larter are our Head Cooks this year, and we are especially interested in having a larger staff than in the past so everyone involved is able to be rested and refreshed during the week, as well as be able to enjoy all that Family Camp has to offer.

We have scheduled to two outstanding speakers—Ben Mathew (Emmaus Bible College) and Bob Johnson (an excellent speaker from Canada)— who will be ministering to us from God’s Word during the week.

If you think you might be interested or want more information, please contact either Mark White (mark.lori.white@ gmail.com) or Jim O'Shea (joshea@rochester.rr.com), the Family Camp co-directors.

This is a critical staff need for this year, but also a great opportunity for serving our Lord Jesus and fellowship with His people.

We hope to see you there!

Archery Basic Instructors Course

2011-05-20T05:40:00.000-07:00

As we continue to build our pool of qualified instructors at camp, we want to announce the schedule for this year's Archery Instructors Training. To open the archery range at Camp Li-Lo-Li requires an NADA Basic instructor certification. NADA (National Alliance for the Development of Archery) is the training organization for the two main national archery organizations (USA Archery and National Field Archery Association). The stated purpose of the Basic certification, "To introduce how to teach archery to a new instructor, who has most likely never shot before." Scope of training includes safety, range setup, basic equipment setup and repair, and teaching the basic steps of shooting. The certification process is broken into approximately 50% classroom training and 50% hands-on instruction at the archery range.

This nationally recognized course will enable you to be an archery instructor and open the archery range at camp and elsewhere. Mark White will be teaching the course at camp, starting at 7:00 PM on Friday July 29th and dismissing on Saturday evening (the 30th) after supper. The cost of the training materials is $20 per person which includes receiving the certification card immediately at the conclusion of the training (which is good for 3 years). Pre-registration will run through Friday, July 15th to ensure we have enough sets of training materials for everyone. All other necessary equipment for the training will be provided by Camp.

The course is open to staff members age 17 and up. For more information, contact Mark White at Mark.Lori.White@gmail.com. If you know anyone who has expressed an interest in being an archery instructor at Camp and needs a Basic instructor class, please have them contact Mark at the email address above.

Help create memories in the lives of campers for years to come! Register early!

Wilderness First Aid Training Postponed!

2011-05-19T05:30:00.000-07:00

Due to the overwhelming number of conflicts that happen in the spring, we have postponed the Wilderness First Aid training for now. We are hoping to re-schedule for later in the year. If this something you would like to be a part of, please leave a message here or contact Betsy McIntee (abmcintee@gmail.com) to let her know you are interested.

This training is especially important if you are involved on the Ropes Course, Wrangling or participate in any of our overnight out-of-camp trips. You must be currently certified in CPR.

Sign up soon so that we can include you in the next training!

Spring Finally Comes!

2011-05-10T17:41:00.000-07:00

Stacy Bodder and John Cole started mowing today! The sun was shining, the birds were singing and the grass was growing so fast, you could almost hear it! Trees that have been dormant for a long time are growing leaves and birds are building nests everywhere around camp. So far we have seen a number of rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Goldfinches, Hummingbirds, swallows including a cliff swallow, and even an Indigo Bunting! It is great to see the wildlife return to camp after the long winter months.

So spring is here, which means the camp season is not far behind. There are plenty of cleaning projects still required to get camp ready for the new season. If any of you have any time to come down for a Saturday workday, please let Larry Thompson know so that he have projects ready for every skill level!

Remember too, that we are still trying to fill many volunteer staff positions for camp. If you have not received a staff application and want one, please contact Dave Larter, or leave a comment on here!

And most of all, keep praying. We believe that God is going to bless us in great ways this summer!

CPR Re-Certs

2011-05-02T08:15:00.000-07:00

For any still requiring their CPR Re-certification, we will be holding another day at camp on May 21, 2011. Please let Betsy McIntee know if you will be coming down that day.

Thanks!

Wilderness First Aid Training

2011-04-20T14:00:00.000-07:00

We will be holding a new Wilderness First Aid training program at camp on Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday morning, May 20-22, 2011. This course teaches how to respond to an emergency when help may be delayed and is for those who are over the age of 14 with a current CPR certification.

Topics include:
• Primary and Secondary Assessments • Head (Brain), Neck and Spinal Injuries • Heat-Related Emergencies • Hypothermia • Altitude-Related Illnesses • Allergies and Anaphylaxis • Burns
• Bone and Joint Injuries • Wounds and Wound Infection

The training will be held at camp beginning at 8.00 pm on Friday May 20, 2011 and is expected to finish around noon on Sunday May 22, 2011. The cost is $25.00 and includes training materials. Meals at camp are included. If you are interested and want to attend, please contact Dawn Washburn (dawn_m_washburn@msn.com) or Betsy McIntee (abmcintee@gmail.com) as soon as possible to reserve your space.

Note: We will also be running CPR and RTE re-certification on Saturday at 10.00 am. Please let Betsy know if you would like to be included.

Thanks again to all our volunteers!

Maintenance Workers Required - Pre Teen 2

2011-04-20T12:56:00.000-07:00

In recent years, Pre-Teen 2 has been one of our busier weeks during the summer and usually requires extra staff to make sure we have a smooth running week. One area in particular that requires help is our maintenance team. This is a critically important staff position because it involves not only cleaning and housekeeping but also set up for many of the activities in the chapel, up at Fort Seneca as well as setting up and grilling at our weekly cookout!

If you would like to be involved on maintenance this summer, let Dave Larter know at dlarter@aol.com. He can get you a staff application. And if you have worked on maintenance before, try to to invite some friends to work alongside of you! Our maintenance workers are the unsung heroes of camp!

Rifle Range Instructor Training Planned

2011-02-22T16:23:00.000-08:00

Looking for another way to serve at Camp Li-Lo-Li? We are looking to see if there is an interest to get trained as a rifle instructor to work at the rifle range at camp. Training will be at camp and would require two Saturdays in either May or June. Cost will be $60.00(US) plus.

For more information, please call Dan Lee (585-328-7189) or danblee2010@yahoo.com

Please help us get the word out!

2011 Winterfests

2011-02-15T18:40:00.000-08:00

A belated update on our Pre-Teen and Teen Winter retreats. Both weekends were a great success with plenty of fun, fellowship and ministry. Snow was falling hard, but not hard enough to prevent an unscheduled volleyball game!

Gary Foster was our Director again for the Pre-teen Retreat, with David Greer as our speaker. We are happy that over 75 young people registered to attend.

Our Teen Retreat, under the leadership of Aaron Woodring had over 115 young people in attendance! Aaron has a great heart for youth ministry and this was a great experience for him. Our friend Jeff Williard was the speaker.

Please continue to pray for the young people who attended these weekends. We pray that the experience of the weekend and the teaching they received will remain with them in the days ahead.

CPR Re-Certification Day

2011-02-15T18:16:00.000-08:00

We are pleased to announce our annual CPR recertification day, this year on April 2nd at Cornerstone Chapel in Rochester. Cheryl Parnell, Dawn Washburn and Betsy McIntee will be running it. We will be starting promptly at 10.00 am and should be complete by 2.00 pm. Lunch will be provided.

Important:
We would like to know if anyone needs to take the Responding to Emergencies course for the first time. Please email me at tewilson3@gmail.com as soon as possible or leave a comment below. This is primarily for wranglers and ropes course people as well as those who accompany any off-site trips, including canoe trips, adventure trips etc. We are considering offering a new course called Wilderness First Aid which may be more valuable than the current RTE course as it includes a much more comprehensive First Aid and Rescue program.

Let us know if you plan to attend the CPR re-cert or require the RTE/Wilderness First Aid training.
Thanks!

V.B.O.!!

2011-01-01T19:03:00.000-08:00

I received this update from Larry Thompson today. Larry and Stacy have been working hard on the chapel bathrooms and... well, I'll let Larry explain!

V.B.O.

The looks were becoming increasingly regular. A walk in the door, a quick sniff, eyes opened wide and then the look to a friend to confirm the truth. Yep, B.O. “Bad Odor” and in this case it was V.B.O. or, “Very Bad Odor.” Now it wasn’t that I tried to ignore the VBO – a few brave sleuthers tried to sniff it down and several times we thought we had found the culprit. The problem was we just didn’t sniff deep enough. We even tried to mask the VBO with industrial strength air freshener. It still didn’t work – you just can’t mask VBO.

We finally realized that we had to look deeper and find the hidden reason behind the noxious odor that was assaulting our senses. The reality was that deep down I knew where the problem originated. But to root out this odor was going to require some major demolition work and sadly, it was demolition work that was going to demolish the facelift we had given to that area a few short years ago. And now we were going to have to tear it all up. Of all places to have this happen it almost seemed sacrilegious because it was happening in Camp Li Lo Li’s Chapel.

After taking that first sad swing with a sledge hammer and the initial prying of the crowbar we quickly realized that yes, buried beneath the veneer, below the surface, was a fractured and broken drainage system. All of the surfaces would now need to be ripped out… Even the concrete floor itself would require a jackhammer to break open the floor to reveal a system that was rift with corrosion and splits.

As I worked alongside a crew of volunteers I could not help but think of the analogy in our lives. We live in a society that caters to the surface. “Cover it up, mask it, hide it, bury it, paint it… whatever it takes don’t let them see what is below the surface!” is the mantra in much of our culture today. The problem with that is that we walk then in a world that has a “Very Bad Odor.”

As Christians, children of God Almighty it is easy for us to stray into this superficial and masked world. King David wrote in Psalms 139: 23,24 to ”Search me O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. I believe we need to ask God to do just that in our lives – in essence to take the pry bar, to use a hammer so that any noxious odor in our lives can be revealed and taken care of by our Father.

The Apostle Paul clarifies in greater detail just who we are and what our aroma should be like when he wrote in 2 Corinthians 2:15,16 “ For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?” As believers this indeed should be our mantra. The question is: are you willing to have some demo work take place in your life?

I look forward to observing the looks on individual’s faces as they walk into the Chapel with all the repairs done. And knowing that not only is the surface functional and pleasing to the eyes but greater still is the knowledge that deep down it is all is well.

Registration Open for Winter Retreats!

2010-12-11T16:34:00.000-08:00

Pre-Teen and Teen Winter Retreats

Most of you know we just had five feet of snow at camp this past week! That means we should have two great winter retreats. Join us for fun, fellowship, great ministry and great music! And snow!

The Pre-teen Retreat is January 21-23, 2011 led by Gary Foster

The Teen Retreat is January 28-30, 2011 led by Aaron Woodring

Register Now...

Visit us online at www.liloli.org for more information

or click on the link below to download and print the registration form

Winter Retreats 2011 Application

See you there!

For questions or more information,

email us at campadministrator@liloli.org

Camp Li-Lo-Li Around The World!

2010-11-30T09:58:00.000-08:00

We know many will be traveling as we head into the holiday season. We pray that you will travel safely and that the many family reunions will be happy and joyous as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior.

With that in mind, it seems like a good time to start a new feature of Camp Li-Lo-Li - Camp Around the World! We would like to start posting pictures of people wearing camp clothing in front of well known landmarks. They could be US or Canadian landmarks, like the Empire State building, the Statue of Liberty, the St. Louis Arch or the White House. Or a well known visitor's spot like the Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls or an Alaskan glacier!

And for any traveling overseas these holidays, how about a photo in front of the Eiffel Tower, Big Ben or the Taj Mahal! It could be a Camp Li-Lo-Li hat, T-shirt or sweatshirt. Just try to have the name as visible as possible. Let's see how far Camp Li-Lo-Li can get!

To get us started, here is a picture of Larry Thompson with a group of young people in Russia! Larry, his brother Toby and Dave Larter were able to travel there recently to share the gospel and to help with a ropes course at a Russian kids camp. We will have more information soon on their trip. Click on the picture to get a better view.

As far as distance from camp, they have set the bar high! Let's get our cameras and camp clothing out and lets see what we can do! Be sure to check your archives from your summer trips! Perhaps you already have some great pictures. Email me your pictures at tewilson3@gmail.com
Thanks!

Construction at Camp!

2010-10-30T21:50:00.000-07:00

Many will remember what has been called "the old girls wash house" but could have more accurately been called the "old wash house in the girls area". Either way, it is no more!

This building project has been in the planning stages for a number of years and we are pleased to let you know that work has not only started but is moving along at quite a pace.

Many thanks to John Palmer for providing much of the demolition work, but also to Larry Thompson, Stacy Bodder and the great crew that came out for the work day on October 23, 2010.

I have included some pictures below, with little comment, except to say that a portion of the old building was temporarily left standing. You can see it in a number of the pictures that show the new structure.

The new foundations are going in and the

concrete walls will be poured next!

The poured concrete walls are up and ready

for preparation for roof trusses

We were pleased to have so many skilled

carpenters and builders there to help!

The first of the roof

trusses goes up!

The crane really helped get the roof on

in a fraction of the time!

While some worked on the roof, Stacy and his

crew worked on the new drains

Drains are in place and gravel added!

Finally work begins on adding the metal roof!

Meanwhile, gravel is added and leveled in the new utility room

A good days work! Compare the size of the old wash house

with the new wash house!

We are grateful not just to those who helped with construction but all of the Lord's people who have prayed for this over the years and contributed financially to make it possible!

Prayer Requests

2010-10-30T16:23:00.000-07:00

There are a number of families associated with camp that would appreciate your prayers.

Larry and Toby Thompson and Dave Larter arrived in Russia yesterday to share the gospel and to help with a camp ministry there. In an email from Larry today, he writes "We had the opportunity to teach tonight as well as sing at New Testament Church. What an incredible place. The meetings were very well received. I had to pinch myself in thinking that I was using a crazy instrument such as my saw in a building that Lenin had dedicated to communism and the squelching of Christianity in Russia. Yet, here we were leading worship, singing God's praises and speaking His Truth in that same building. Simply amazing!" Pray for Larry and Dave, as well as others traveling with them.

Several families associated with camp have recently lost loved ones. Ann Guard, the mother of Jerry Whitcomb passed away quite suddenly this past week.

Jean Musclow passed away the week before. And her son Gordon predeceased her earlier this summer. We mourn the loss of these loved ones even as we take comfort in the knowledge that they are now with the Lord. Please remember these families in your prayers.

Messages Now Available Online!

2010-10-26T14:05:00.000-07:00

We were priviledged to have a number of excellent speakers at camp this past summer. Bill Yuille of MSC Canada and Donnie Patten of Emmaus Bible College shared the ministry at our Family Camp.

Bill Yuille ministered from the book of Colossians while Donnie Patten took up a study on Judas Iscariot. The Betrayed and the Betrayer! Click on the link below to go the Family Camp page and scroll to the bottom to either listen or download the messages.

Click to download Family Camp messages

Keith Keyser and his family joined us for the Family Camp weekend over Labor Day. Keith spoke on the subject of the Sufferings of Christ. There was much encouragement from the Word of God.

Click to download Family Camp Weekend messages

All of these camp messages were well received by the Lord's people and provided many opportunities for further discussion, thought and study. We are grateful to these brothers who commit to faithfully teaching the Word.

Changing Colors!

2010-10-25T13:20:00.000-07:00

The fall colors in Western New York are breath-taking at this time of the year. It seems that each new day is more beautiful than the one before! But soon the leaves will be gone and camp will settle into its winter wear! Jim Lehmann was at camp about a week ago and took some of the pictures below. If you are thinking of a church retreat, this is a great time to come up to camp!

Fall Guest Groups

2010-09-30T17:32:00.000-07:00

The Fall season is upon us and the trees are beautiful! But one of the most encouraging activities at camp during the fall season is the increasing number of guest groups who make use of the camp facilities.

Our first was a Men's Retreat with eighty-five men from the Chapel at Crosspoint from the Buffalo area. From all reports their ministry was very interesting and very compelling. In fact, after a message from their speaker on obedience, eight men requested baptism and were baptized in the camp pool! The ministry at Camp Li-Lo-Li continues to see lives changed for Jesus Christ!

Several school have been at camp during September, including Lima Christian School, Central Christian Academy and Christian Academy of Western New York. These groups range in size from about forty to over one hundred and thirty. They make full use of the camp and enjoy spending time at the lake and up at the ropes course.

As always, we are extremely grateful to all of our staff who give up their time and energy to serve camp and to serve the Lord. The work is hard and the hours are long, but they do it with a smile and they do it "as unto the Lord" The fellowship with other believers is also a tremendous side benefit! If you haven't volunteered to serve at camp during our Guest Group season and would like to help out, contact Jim Lehmann for more information!

Several more groups will be coming down over the next few weeks and more hands are always welcome!

Summer Round Up - Thursday

2010-08-19T19:34:00.000-07:00

A light rain began to fall around 6.00 am this morning but soon gave way to a beautiful day! We have been blessed this year by the unusually good weather! And we are making the most of it! Each group heads out in the morning to focus on their major activity.

This year we had twelve people in our riflery program. Campers are taught basic gun safety, shooting through the peep sights and have various exercises throughout the day to help them develop their skills and keep them motivated. The head of our Rifle program, Dan Lee sits here are explains some of the things they will be involved with today!

Then they get to put into practice the things they have learned. Six campers at a time are able to line up along the firing line, where they are reminded of the safety procedures they must use before they shoot. Each camper is to check the safety and make sure the breech block is carefully inserted before they leave the line to check on their scores. This has been a great experience for these campers!

A favorite for the campers is store time! The addition of our soft serve ice cream machine has been a great hit with campers and staff! The store stocks a wide variety of candy and ice creams but also has a wide assortment of t-shirts, sweatshirts and hoodies, bags, books, water bottles, mugs and inexpensive items to remind you of camp. Many come straight from sports or the pool and are ready for something cold!

Tonight there were two exciting events. The camping group went on an off-site camping and canoe trip down the Allegheny River, stopping to sleep overnight on Crull's Island before returning to camp tomorrow. In the meantime, the rest of the camp is having an overnight up at Fort Seneca. They will have chapel at the Fort tonight, the sleep-over and then have breakfast delivered to them. Following breakfast, they will return to camp to resume the last full day of the programs!

Summer Round Up - Wednesday

2010-08-19T06:24:00.000-07:00

The morning began cool and foggy but soon warmed up to a beautiful day. This is so typical of Sunfish Run Valley! Having a warm and sunny day allowed us to continue with all the activities the campers had started in the previous days.

The campers are attentive and engaged during our chapel and Bible study times, which also include some skits that help reinforce the concepts we are discussing.

Morning chapel usually includes the popular Choose the Right Door to find out how much we have remembered from the day before. It has also included our skits where the performers help dramatize the stories and help the Bible come alive to our campers.

Traditionally Wednesday evenings is our cook's night off, even though they still have to prepare everything for us beforehand. We usually have a camp picnic with cheeseburgers, hamburgers and hot dogs along with salad and chips.

A new feature of Round Up this year is our Archery Certification program. We have a number of interested staff members who are working towards their certifications and will become instructors later in the season and beyond. We are grateful for the interest and for the willingness to commit the time in order to provide qualified instructors for our campers in the future. Here a new instructor practices his newly learned skills on another staff member!

Summer Round Up - Tuesday

2010-08-18T20:34:00.000-07:00

Another great day at the craft cabin! Each camper who signs up for crafts as there primary activity gets to spend at least three hours a day working on their crafts and some even add an additional hour during their optional time! There are some great projects being completed this year and enthusiasm is high!

The ropes course is also moving on to some of the more exciting events. In addition to the climbing tower, they have now moved up to the High Ropes and are also starting to add the Leap of Faith and Heaven Bound. But first they are called on to master the Wall of Jericho where the object is to get the entire team up and over the seemingly insurmountable wall!

One of the wonderful things about camp is the opportunity to make new friends. Sometimes it is re-connecting with old friends from other years or even other camp sessions. But many times it is getting to know people that were strangers on Sunday when they arrived! Seeing people learn to laugh and share the things that are important is very encouraging for all of us.

Check back tomorrow for more updates about the chapels and Bible studies...

Summer Round Up - Monday

2010-08-17T20:03:00.000-07:00

Registration went well and by Sunday all the campers were hard at work taking their horse and swim tests to determine which activity they would be following all week. One of the first activities after registration is the Hazard Hike which explains the boundaries of camp and the rules of the pool and the waterfront, followed by the lowering of the flags.

We also met our speakers for the week, Eric Smith and Jon Benson. Eric will be taking up a number of chapters in the book of Daniel, while Jon will be leading the daily Bible studies focusing on the the Armor of God found in Ephesians 6. We are looking forward to seeing how these two topics come together!

Our riding program is now well underway with the campers spending time each day learning to feed and care for the horses, as well as also learn some more advanced techniques for riding and controlling the horses. Trail rides will be a little longer and a little more challenging than the rides in other sessions!

One of the favorite activities at camp is the Low Ropes events where campers are challenged to try things that are well out of their comfort zone! In this picture, campers are trying to get as many people as possible on a small wooden platform designed to hold just a few! It is called Noah's Ark and is also a great picture of working together to accomplish what God has planned! Other events will include the Wall of Jericho , Unequally Yoked, Heaven Bound and the Leap of Faith! More to follow...!

Our hummingbird feeders are emptied almost every day! Fortunately we have a number of dedicated staff members who have made it their responsibility to care for these delicate and fragile birds who have made camp their home!

Teen 2 - Friday

2010-08-14T21:10:00.000-07:00

Last day of camp! These are always bittersweet days as camp draws to a close but it has been a great time. The campers have bonded well together and both cabins and teams are working well! Our final chapels were Standing Firm in your Commitments where campers were asked to make covenants or promises to God about how they would live their lives. Then they were asked to share that with someone else who would be willing to help keep them accountable. Our speaker Sam Butler and our Assistant Director Jeremy Bodder also worked hard to provide the music that would support the messages during our week!

A highlight of our last afternoon is our canoe races where teams compete a course across the lake, picking up additional passengers along the way before racing back to the beginning. This is always an especially competitive race and was followed by a staff canoe race as well!

The final night of the week also included a banquet! This week was an International Fiesta. The main courses were all Mexican food, with tostadas, homemade pico de gallo and chicken and pork. The desserts included Tiramisu from Italy, Baclava from Greece and Crepes from France! Campers were encouraged to dress the part!

During the day, each team had a prepared a skit for the group that would demonstrate through drama some of the man lessons learned through the week of messages. One group did the Life of Joseph demonstrating how a believer could Stand Firm in the face of obstacles. Another did the story of Nehemiah and several others focused on the Standing Firm in your Testimony with the help of good Christian friends who would help keep you accountable. They were all well planned and well performed!

The evening ended with a bonfire during which a number of campers and counselors shared what God had done in their lives. Many shared of the great struggles they had endured and others talked about how God had brought them through difficult events in their lives. It was a great way to end the night and the week! See you next year!

Teen 2 - Thursday

2010-08-14T19:47:00.000-07:00

Today is double points Thursday where teams who have fallen behind have the opportunity to come back strongly! Every team has a chance to succeed! There are extra team points for memory verses and for giving correct answers in chapel as well as the sports event. In fact, the line of campers at the left are all waiting to say their memory verses to the verse judge! Five out of our six teams have now had their entire team learn their verses and many are working on bonus verses as well! Great job!

Sam has continued his studies on the life of Nehemiah with an encouragement to Stand Firm in God's Word. His evening chapel focused on Standing Firm in Obedience. The lesson we learnt was that faith is always followed by obedience. First believe, then do! Good challenges about doing the right things and being faithful to God's Word.

Two of the biggest competitions of the day were the finals in our swim relays and in our ongoing soccer tournament! Both were hard fought to the end with victorious teams earning plenty of points to assist their team challenges. Many points were racked up and almost changed the team point race!

Several other events like Trash Can football were played but did not make the same changes to the overall points score!

One of the highlights of the evening was our chocolate fountain for late night snack! Campers were able to hold strawberries, pineapple, marshmallow, angel cake and a few other items on the chocolate waterfall for a sticky but delicious late night treat! On the other side of the lodge were a variety of ice cream floats using Root Beer, Cherry Soda or Orange Soda to build their own floats!

But by far, the biggest highlight of the night was the meteor shower! Jim Lehmann was our resident astronomer who took groups up to the hillside to lie on tarps and gaze at the sky. What a beautiful night! The sky could not have been clearer, which was a real answer to prayer. The Milky Way was spread out before us and every constellation and star shone bright while we waited for the meteors! We were not disappointed with over eighty sightings in just over an hour! God is truly an amazing God!

Teen 2 - Wednesday

2010-08-12T14:17:00.000-07:00

Another great day at camp! The weather has been perfect and it is great to see everyone appreciating the outdoors. Our campers are enjoying the team games as well as their individual electives. Our chapel times have also been well received by both campers and staff. We have enjoyed hearing more about Nehemiah and the way God worked in his life to help him Stand Firm in his Faith.

One of the great lessons of camp is a population of hummingbirds. There are dozens of them around the porch each day enjoying the specially prepared hummingbird food! They all jostle for position, hovering in place waiting for their turn before flying off at high speed. Every now and then, one of our hummingbirds will get inside by mistake and will fly around until exhausted. One of our bird lovers will usually scoop him up and help him rest and eat until ready to take off again. What a great example of the care of our Father, who sees us often flying aimlessly until exhausted before helping us back to strength again!

Wednesday is a special day for food as well! Our cook Pam, becomes Princess Pambo in her Pizza Palace! A wide variety of pizza's and salads are made for us to enjoy, including her signature Buffalo Wing pizza, her Pirogi pizza and her newest Big Mac pizza! There was no shortage of food and no shortage of fun!

Wednesday has also traditionally been the evening of our BBQ Picnic when the men do the cooking! Of course all the food has been prepared and packed by our kitchen team! We head down to the picnic area near the creek and enjoy hamburgers, cheeseburgers, salads and chips together under the trees. And our cooks finally get a chance to rest!

We rounded out the evening with a video from Louie Giglio called Indescribable, where he helped us understand the awesome enormity of our God by considering the universe he made for no other reason that to show us His glory. The pictures coming back from the Hubble telescope are truly amazing and reveal the creative power of a God who loves us!

Tomorrow we will be back in the book of Nehemiah again!

Teen 2 - Tuesday

2010-08-11T12:08:00.000-07:00

Our chapels have been great with many commenting on how practical they have found them. Sam has asked us to Stand Firm in our Testimonies and highlighted the importance of being consistent in our Christian walk. He also commented on the fact that Nehemiah was a man of prayer and encouraged us to Stand Firm in our Prayer Life. Last night he reminded us that if we make a stand for the Lord, we are likely to be mocked, discouraged and even persecuted. We should take comfort in that fact that all faithful believers will face these things!

What a great first day! There were so many different activities for everyone. Some of the teams have played 'sports' like whiffle ball, cage basketball, blind volleyball or even ladder golf! If these are not sports you recognize, take a look at these recent pictures! Ladder Golf is played with two golf balls on a string!

Blind Volleyball is played with an oversized ball and a giant parachute covering the net! None of the players know when the next ball will come across the net or from what direction! It adds a new dimension to an old game!

Whiffle ball is a great favorite and allows any of us to play without too much skill! This year we have taken the whiffle out of whiffle ball and are playing with a soft nerf ball! In addition all of the regular games like soccer and basketball are being played.

Teen 2 - Monday

2010-08-11T11:34:00.000-07:00

Teen 2 got off to a great start! This is generally a smaller camp with quite a number of stay overs from the previous week. As a result, registration is faster and camper orientation is much smoother. We have already discussed many of the do's and don'ts from the prior week. Our speaker this week is Sam Butler, who will be taking up the topic 'Standing Firm in the Faith' using Nehemiah as our text for the week. There are some great lessons to be learned from Nehemiah and his willingness to faithfully serve the Lord, in spite of the many obstacles facing him and his people. We serve a faithful God!

The early mornings are still a great time for devotions and spending time with the Lord. Seth Hogan, our Teen Director has prepared a handbook for each camper to help develop good habits and practices regarding our early morning prayer time. Each morning the cabins split up and spend a short time in the Word before heading up for breakfast!

There were a lot of campers who were getting to know each other for the first time and there were a variety of games to help everyone learn something new about their friends! There will be also be some brand new games this week that should be a lot of fun!

During chapel our team of skit players will be acting out the story each day, trying to stay as faithful to the Word as possible. Many of the stories come to life on the stage, sometimes with a little creative license!

Our introduction to Nehemiah also introduced the fact that he was a taster for the king, so a new element added to our Choose the Right Door section is the mystery cup of unknown liquid! It could be something like root beer or it might be vinegar. It will be interesting to see the wide variety of liquids that can be tested this week!

Check back to hear what Sam is sharing with us from God's Word!

Teen 1 - Friday

2010-08-08T04:58:00.000-07:00

Well, the week has flown by faster than we could have imagined. The weather has been great and there has been fun in every corner of the valley! We had our last Choose the Right Door, where campers answer questions about the previous lessons for prizes and surprises! The lessons in Joshua are winding down, with a challenge from Jeremy to not give the devil an opportunity to gain a foothold in our lives. Our prayer is that each of us will leave camp more determined to serve the Lord faithfully in every area of our lives. Our battles against sin and sinful behavior are not battles we have to fight alone. The Lord hates sin more that we do and is ready to work with us to rid it from our lives.

Our bunny campers have enjoyed their week, with a full program of activities overseen by our Bunny Camp Director, Kia Edsall and her willing helpers! This was one of the largest groups we have had in bunny camp for a while and keeping them all occupied, entertained, engaged and accounted for was a full time job! Thank you to Kia and her team! If not for Bunny Camp, many on staff would not have been able to serve this week. One of the highlights of their week was the hay ride!

The last full day of camp allows us to complete a couple of great camp traditions. The first is the canoe races between teams! Each team paddles a course using only their hands, with very strict rules for safety. Every lifeguard in camp is on duty for this event to make sure it is not only fun but safe, while all the their team members shout encouragement and directions for their team. What a great picture on living the Christian life! While we try to navigate through the chaos of life while receiving instructions that pull us in many directions, we need to listen for the voice of that One who will lead us the right way!

Some years we also end the week with a large campfire after chapel. After rain on Thursday night we weren't sure if it would happen this week, but were happy when we were able to get together around the campfire on Friday night to sing songs and to listen to the testimonies shared by many of our campers. About half a dozen campers shared their stories with us about how they came to know the Lord. Many had heard the gospel when they were quite young and recognizing their need for salvation, turned to the Lord Jesus Christ. But they also shared the struggles that they had dealing with sin in their lives or working through trials that strengthened their faith. It was very encouraging to see the Lord working in the lives of these believers. Following our campfire, many of the campers returned to their cabins and spent time talking about their own struggles. It was good to be able to pray with one another about these things.

Another year of Teen 1 has finished. We pray that the thoughts that have been shared will find a place in the heart of each us and we might seek to serve the Lord with all our heart. One of the common thoughts expressed through the time of sharing was the need to surround ourselves with good friends who will hold us accountable and encourage us through the difficult times that will come. Making friends is one of the great benefits of camp and we hope they will keep in touch throughout the year!

Have a great year and see you next summer!

Teen 1 - Thursday

2010-08-06T08:01:00.000-07:00

Wednesday was a fun filled and busy day, and Thursday started off just the same! Early morning exercises, (demonstrated by the girls on the left!), flag raising, cabin devotions, breakfast, chapel and then teen games. And that is just the morning!

The chapel lessons got off to a great start with a recounting of the battle of Ai found in the book of Joshua with the warning to make no provision for the flesh or our selfish motives.

The warm weather has kept everyone in the pool as often as possible. Here is a quick game of water polo, but it could be water volleyball, diving competitions, swim relays or just sitting in the water cooling off! We are grateful for those that had the foresight to add a pool that can comfortably accommodate a large number of campers at one time!

Our pizza buffet lines are also a camp favorite, often right after chapel just before campers start heading down to their cabins. Every year our kitchen staff outdo themselves coming with new and interesting pizza combinations!

A cool place to be on a warm summer day is the store porch. A great breeze runs through here which seem to encourage friends to get together to talk, laugh and make memories!

But one of the biggest memories of Teen camp is the Thursday night banquet. This year it was Chinese food and the Lodge was transformed with decorated tables, multiple courses complete with chopsticks! The food was great and the kitchen staff went all out to make it a evening to remember. Thanks to Dwayne and his hard working kitchen team, we will remember this night for a long time to come! In between the seven courses, teams competed for points playing Camp Li-Lo-Li's version of Minute to Win It with events like collecting marbles using only chopsticks!

Teen 1 - Wednesday

2010-08-06T07:19:00.000-07:00

Wednesday is always a great day as it starts off with our traditional coffee can or 'hobo' breakfast! Campers cook their own breakfast at their cabins using a large coffee can with holes cut out for the fire. It is great fun and everybody gets to make their breakfast the way they like it!

Our speaker Jeremy focused on not loving the world in our morning chapel. Many of his thoughts revolved around obedience to God being a natural result of faith in God and used many examples from God's word where believed and then they served God.

The day continued with sports, electives and cabin challenges. Many of the campers have spent parts of the week in the craft cabin, shaping, sanding, hammering and painting their craft projects. Some have built some great games while others focused on more practical projects that they can take home and use!

The highlight of the week, especially for our cooks, is the mid-week picnic and BBQ. The kitchen staff is given the night off and we grill hamburgers, cheeseburgers and hot dogs down near the creek and spend some time getting to know one another better!

Jeremy finished up our evening with sme thoughts from Romans 12:2 about renewing our minds, not being conformed to the things of the world but to be seriously committed to the transforming of our minds and lives. He emphasized the fact that this cannot be a passive activity, but that we need to stay actively involved daily in our spiritual walk and growth!

Teen 1 - Tuesday

2010-08-04T16:41:00.000-07:00

Tuesday got off to a great start with a continuation of our early morning devotions. Cabins are broken into groups and meet together to study the Word of God, reflect on particular passages of Scripture and learn to improve our Bible study techniques. Although this all happens before breakfast, there is more interest and enthusiasm than you would expect!

Our chapel studies in the morning focused on the lessons we can learn from Joshua and the children of Israel regarding justification and sanctification. These are difficult concepts but Jeremy has helped bring clarity to the topics and there have been some lively discussions as a result!

Much of the rest of the day is spent in sports and other electives including cabin challenges where one cabin can challenge another to an activity in order to win prizes! The prizes are things like a big bag of chips or popcorn, but the thrill of challenge is enough to bring out some pretty competitive events! Other activities would still include water volleyball, soccer, tug-of-war, etc.

There are some exciting new events planned for tomorrow and through-out the rest of the week, so check back in!

High flying boy campers all trying to top the previous one! Who will make the largest splash?

Teen 1 - Monday

2010-08-04T07:03:00.000-07:00

As the last of the Pre-teen campers left, we began preparations for the incoming camp - this time all teens! We have a large camp this week, with over 140 campers registered. Many of our teen campers have served as counselors earlier in the year and so it is good to see them join us for fun and fellowship after all their hard work.

Our speaker this week is Jeremy Martinson who is back again after speaking last year. Our theme is Standing Firm in the Faith and Jeremy is using the life of Joshua to develop his lessons. We are excited to see where the Lord will take us this week on our spiritual path! Following the example of the book of Joshua, the counselors were encouraged to go to the creek, collect twelve stones and to stack them as a memorial of what God had done in their lives. This was not to be an altar but a memorial.

Some of the early activities were team building with groups working together to build the highest tower, standing on one foot or to forming the phrase "Standing Firm in the Faith" with their bodies. It is going to be a fun week!

Preteen 3 Thursday and Friday

2010-08-04T06:39:00.000-07:00

The last two days of Preteen 3 were a blur of activity! Many of the stories we had been hearing about in Chapel came to life in these last two fun filled days! The theme for the week had been the Beatitudes found in Matthew 5. So the letter 'B' started to pop up everywhere! And we started to see 'Bee's' everywhere too!

Our bunny campers, children of staff members, participated in our chapel by singing a song. Our directors became Dr. Growmore and Bob the Beekeeper to help us understand the wonders of bees and drew lessons from their activities! Even our speaker and our lifeguards got in on the Bee theme!

The week was rounded out by the rest of our camp activities including horse-riding and the very popular pool parties! We were so grateful to everyone for maiking this a tremendous week. A lot of preparation goes into the week and it showed. We were so happy also to see so many happy campers returning year after year! See you next year!

Pre-Teen 3 - Wednesday

2010-07-29T11:13:00.000-07:00

What a beautiful start to a new day! Our early morning exercises were completed as the sun made its way into the sky. There was much planned for the day including a scavenger hunt around camp and many other surprises! Our speaker, Mr. Nate, continued his thoughts on the Beatitudes found in Matthew 5, and spent some time talking about 'Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy'. We thought a lot about what mercy is and how we have received mercy from the Lord, even though we didn't deserve it. As believers, we have received mercy and should now demonstrate that mercy to others.

It is great to see groups of campers and counselors meeting at different points around camp to talk about the lessons and to just ask questions. Some very interesting discussions come from some of these informal times! But there is still plenty of time for activities and fun. The horses are always a great favorite, but the warm weather often takes people to the pool or lake as well! The craft cabin is a great place to cool down, make new friends and work on your projects at the same time!

There was a lot of time for activity until the rain came again and stopped the outdoor fun. We quickly moved inside and the fun and the rain continued! Our evening consisted our a steady downpour outside but great fellowship and great teaching inside about the blessings that come to the pure of heart, who are promised they will see God. What a promise! We look forward to another great day of fun and ministry!

Pre-Teen 3 - Tuesday

2010-07-28T12:23:00.000-07:00

Tuesday began shrouded in fog, but the mist soon lifted leaving us with a beautiful sunny day! The campers start with flag raising and breakfast and then straight to chapel to hear the next exciting installment with Uncle Nate, who had brought his special friend, Ricky the Red-Neck Rat to help him explain the lesson!

Counselors try to find time to meet with their cabins throughout the day as they work on projects set by our directors and speaker! They also try to re-inforce the thoughts and lessons from chapel. Today's lesson was on the mis-understood meaning of meekness. It doesn't mean weakness but restrained strength!

Tonight we will continue our thoughts from the Beattitudes taught by the Lord in the Sermon on the Mount. In the meantime, there is a lot to keep our campers busy across the campground. As the day heated up the pool was also opened to play a game of water volleyball, while others played soccer or basketball.

More to come tomorrow....!

Pre-Teen 3 - Monday

2010-07-28T04:31:00.000-07:00

The week got off to a great start with a Sunday evening meeting that introduced our directors Gary Foster and his assistant Jorge Wong. We also met our speaker, Mr. Nate Thomas and his cast of puppet characters! The theme for the week is the Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount so we are sure to see many bees! The campers were broken into sports teams and each had to make their own team flag.

Nate also began our early morning counselor meeting with some thoughts from Colossians 1, encouraging each of us to 'walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing God, fruitful in every good work." Later in the morning we were introduced to some of Nate's characters that will help understand our lessons for the week found in Matthew 5.

Many of our favorite activities including the waterfront and archery were opened for the campers.

Pre-Teen 2 - Friday

2010-07-25T04:25:00.000-07:00

It is hard to be believe that we are already at the end of the week. As the weeks activities and lessons draw to a close it is a good time to reflect on the highlights of camp. Our campers have enjoyed the games and activities including horse riding, canoeing, archery, climbing tower ropes and riflery. Many have made crafts to take home and everyone has made friends they will stay in touch with for a long time. One of the highlights of Friday is Princess Pambo's Pizza Palace!

But at the heart of everything we do is the message of salvation offered to us through our Lord Jesus Christ. Our lessons in the life of Esther this week have very dramatically demonstrated our God directs the hearts of men and women who have a desire to serve Him. We have seen lives changed this week and our prayer is that we will each continue to allow God to lead us in the future as we seek to follow Him.

Pre-Teen 2 - Thursday

2010-07-23T08:12:00.000-07:00

Our day began with polka music sounding across the valley and accompanied the morning exercises! There was some concern that the day would be rainy and most of the activities were planned for outside. But it turned out to be a beautiful day at camp and the hunt for golden potatoes started with great enthusiasm. This was a team event with extra points for the teams that were able to find and bring back a golden painted potato! Teams also participated in beach ball sports and got wet in the process! It was good for our campers to see some of the directors humbly serve in other positions during camp as well.

Children of staff members have been in bunny camp all week and have been kept busy throughout the day by watchful moms. They have collected crayfish and prawns in the creek and even went on a very slow hay ride around camp! The picture is a carefully staged photo op as we do not normally allow this many people on a golf cart!

One of the highlights of the day was the baptism of Matt Girdner by Keith Adler. It was a wonderful testimony to our campers and staff of the Lord's working in the life of a young man. Matt publicly declared his faith in the Lord to those who had gathered to watch the baptism and showed by his baptism that he wanted to identify with the Lord Jesus Christ, committing himself to faithfully serve our Savior!

Pre-Teen 2 - Wednesday

2010-07-22T06:47:00.000-07:00

Blue Day! Campers were encouraged to dress in blue and were judged on the most creative use of the color. Some even dressed their team potatoes in blue! We have talked about judging on outward appearances so potatoes have been a theme through the week. Ugly on the outside but tasty in every other form! We also had potato races, but with a twist. Teams had to run to the of end of the field carrying a potato, but without using their hands! We had potatoes carried in mouths, under arms and even being balanced! Once they reached the end they were to carry handfuls of mashed potatoes back to their team! Messy but great fun!

Our chapel activities included discussion on the persecution of people who were not like us. Chuck Gianotti talked about the hatred that the Jews experienced during the time of Esther, and encouraged us to examine our own hearts. The evening chapel, led by Bill Wendlandt, ended up around the campfire where a number of counselors shared their testimonies of how the Lord had changed their lives and continues to help them to grow today.

The archery range was open today and many got to experience a bow and arrow for the first time, under trained supervision. The lake and pool continued to be popular places for campers and staff!

Pre-Teen 2 - Tuesday

2010-07-21T06:25:00.000-07:00

The climbing tower opened today and many were eager to make an attempt at the rock wall. Our trained staff are there to assist and ensure that everyone has a safe and happy climb! The craft cabin is always a hive of activity and the individual craft projects are coming together well, with some of them starting to resemble a finished product! The lake and pool continue to be some of the most popular activities at camp. There was even an organized pool volleyball game that was very competitive.

Our Bible lessons in the life of Esther focused on the unfairness of life and the fact that many evil people seem to prosper while others suffer. We can draw lessons from that even today and remember that God is love and it is man who has disobeyed. Our evening chapel led by Wes Gregory talked about the courage using the life of Esther. Courage is not a lack of fear, but doing the right thing in spite of your fears! There were many other examples in the Bible as well, including David facing Goliath, the three friends thrown into the furnace and Joseph who was sold into slavery but still committed himself to serving God.

Our greatest example is the Lord Jesus Christ who offered Himself as a sacrifice and stood in our place so that we could be saved. We serve a great God who gives us courage!

Pre-Teen 2 Monday

2010-07-20T20:02:00.000-07:00

Rain had fallen in the night and the air was cool as the campers began their day with morning exercises and flag raising. Their first activity of the day was face-painting their counselors! The day soon warmed up following breakfast with chapel and a valuable lesson from the life of Esther about making judgements on outward appearances.

After team sports and lunch, some went horse-riding, while others canoed, swam or worked on their crafts. The evening chapel focused on the character of Esther and highlighted her humility, her teachable spirit and her inner beauty. Our speaker Chuck Gianotti made sme wonderful and practical applications for each of us to follow as we continue to become the people that God wants us to be!

Pre-teen 2 - Sunday

2010-07-19T12:44:00.000-07:00

We were excited to see cars, vans and trucks filled with chattering children eagerly seeking out old friends. There were also many, many first time campers who arrived, some a little apprehensive but looking forward to the week ahead. Registration went smoothly and quickly throughout the afternoon, followed by swim tests and orientation for those riding horses this week.

After an early dinner and an introduction to our Achievement program, we went straight to chapel where our Camp Director, Duane Girdner talked about what to expect this week. He called on the campers and staff to respect and serve one another to make it a happy week for all. Our theme this week is Esther – the Beauty of God’s Timing. We are looking forward to hearing how God can work in our lives too!

Pre-Teen 1 - Tuesday

2010-07-14T20:42:00.000-07:00

Tuesday started with the Polar swim, a camp tradition for many years where the bravest of campers volunteer to get swim in a pool packed with icebergs! They really did volunteer! Much of the rest of the day is spent at the lake and pool trying to keep cool!

The story of Esther continues… The former queen Vashti has been banished from the kingdom. King Ahasuerus is counseled by his wise men to hold a beauty contest to find the new queen. Although not convinced, the king issues a new proclamation and beauty and talent competition is launched to find the most beautiful girl in all the land. This gives our speaker a great opportunity to talk about inward beauty and being less concerned with what the outside looks like and more concerned with our heart. God looks on the heart! The evening ended with a wedding feast where the chosen queen Esther is a wonderful combination of a beautiful woman whose heart is right with God. What lies in store next?

Pre-Teen 1 Monday

2010-07-14T02:40:00.000-07:00

The days start early with cabin clean up, followed by the morning exercises, the raising of the flags and breakfast! We continued with our lessons in the life of Esther and learned of the banishing of Queen Vashti. It was a bad decision but one that God was able to use for good. More exciting developments will follow.

The main camp program begins this week with the introduction of fishing, canoeing and riflery. The craft cabin is also open with opportunities to make a special project to take home on Saturday. During the day, the campers were able to enjoy using the zipline across the lake to the island. I saw more than a few counselors doing it too! Canoing and fishing were especially popular but I think our new soft-serve ice cream machine might be the popular attaction of all!

The horses began their trail rides today and the riders enjoyed the cool and refreshing trails through the woods. We briefly took shelter from the rain but soon returned to the afternoon activities before enjoying dinner and then chapel. Our speaker, Mr. Art continued his lessons on Esther by talking about sin and bad choices.

Pre-teen 1 Sunday evening

2010-07-13T21:07:00.000-07:00

Registration is always a busy time, but this year we had some extra visitors. King Ahasuerus arrived by horse to wander the grounds of the ancient city of “Shusan”. Servants were on hand to provide cookies and smiles to all those who were registering!

Following camp registration, everyone was assigned to their cabins and met their counselors for the first time. New friends and great fun! After supper, we moved straight to our achievement programs for lessons in first aid, backpacking, archery, water safety, knot tying and many more. We then headed to chapel to find out about King Ahasuerus and our program for the week.

Our speaker, Art Manning, introduced us to the story of Esther, using a chalk and blacklight drawing to talk about Pride and Humility! He also introduced us to one of our verses of the week: 2 Chronicles 20:9. “If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help.” More to follow tomorrow...

New Ropes and Climbing Tower Course at Round -Up!

2010-06-25T08:09:00.000-07:00

Three hours a day of extreme challenges, teamwork, and Dave Larter: That's what we're offering you this summer at Round-Up with our new Ropes Course/Climbing Tower major! If you choose this as your major, you can plan on getting a chance to try every event throughout the week. Your group will play games requiring you to solve problems as a team and will be challenged in many different ways while learning the intricacies of these events. You will also learn about the equipment used on the ropes course and climbing tower, practice tying essential climbing knots, and observe proper safety practices. Expect to be amazed at how much you can accomplish!

Check out this new video and register today!

Photo Competition - One week left!

2010-04-27T21:02:00.000-07:00

Just a reminder that we have just one week left to submit enties for our camp photo competition.

We have had some great submissions so far but I am sure that there are many more in your photo archive. Remember that entries close on April 30, 2010, so please search through your files and send us your best!

Please send as soon as possible to tewilson3@gmail.com

New Archery Certification program!

2010-04-14T16:20:00.000-07:00

To open the archery range at Camp Li-Lo-Li requires an NADA Basic instructor certification. NADA (National Alliance for the Development of Archery) is the training organization for the two main national archery organizations (USA Archery and National Field Archery Association). The stated purpose of the Basic certification, "To introduce how to teach archery to a new instructor, who has most likely never shot before." Scope of training includes safety, range setup, basic equipment setup and repair, and teaching the basic steps of shooting. The certification process is broken into approximately 50% classroom training and 50% hands-on instruction at the archery range.

This nationally recognized course will enable you to be an archery instructor and open the archery range at camp and elsewhere. Mark White will be teaching the course, which will be offered during Summer Round-Up, August 15-21. The course is open to Round-Up campers from ages 15 (but in their 16th year), and is also open to other staff members age 17 and up. For more information, contact Mark White at Mark.Lori.White@gmail.com. If you know anyone who has expressed an interest in being an archery instructor at Camp and needs a Basic instructor class, please have them contact Mark at the email address above.

Photo Competition! Entries Close April 30, 2010

2010-04-14T11:54:00.000-07:00

One of the great things about Camp Li-Lo-Li is its location in the beautiful Sunfish Run Valley. We constantly receive compliments on not only the beauty of our valley but also the way in which the property and facilities are kept. We want to be able to showcase camp and let others see what we see! We will be using sme of these photos in our publicity materials including brochures, powerpoint presentations, our website and on our postcards.

We are looking for your best photos in two main categories: people and scenery. The photos can be from any time of the year as each season is so very different. They can also show any of the many activities at camp including the waterfront, the horses, ropes and challenge courses, climbing tower, archery and riflery ranges, as well as the pool and crafts. Indoor photos from the Chapel or the Lodge would also be great. They don’t have to be recent, although higher resolution digital pictures will be better for print projects. They just have to be your best!

Selected submissions will be posted to a Picasa website for viewing. We will be selecting winning entries, but would like your permission to use any of the submitted photos on our website and elsewhere, even if you don’t win the main competition. The winners of each category will receive a beautiful Camp Li-Lo-Li towel and coffee mug as well as photo credit on our projects.

Please email your entries to me at tewilson3@gmail.com. The competition begins today and entries will be received up until April 30, 2010.

So start searching your photo archives and see what you can find!

New Family at Camp

2010-04-14T11:42:00.000-07:00

Since the Williards left last summer we have been praying that the Lord would bring us a new family who love the Lord and want to serve Him at camp. We are very pleased to let you know that the Bodder family will be joining us starting May 1. Stacy and Bethany have four children - Isaac 12, Lydia 9, Rachel almost 8, and Joel 4.

Stacy will be coming on board as the new Assistant Property Manager and will be working closely with Larry Thompson. Stacy has a background in farm management and has not only the practical skills we were looking for but also has a passion for the Lord. They are going to be a great asset to camp.

Please join us in welcoming them to Camp Li-Lo-Li and please remember to add them to your prayer list. There will be many changes and adjustments for them in the months ahead and I know they would appreciate our thoughts and prayers.

Important! New Camp Web Address

2010-04-14T11:32:00.000-07:00

We have added a new domain name to the current www.campli-lo-li.com The new web address will be shorter, easier to remember and will also reflect our non-profit status.

The new web address is http://www.liloli.org/

The old web address will still work but you will notice it automatically changes when you get to the site! Please start to change your bookmarks or favorites to the new site and let others know as well.

Over the next year we will be updating brochures, mailings, letterheads, and other print projects to show the new web address. And remember the new web address ends in .org not .com.

Important Update to the Zipline Training

2010-04-06T05:45:00.000-07:00

The minimum age for certification on the Challenge and Ropes course is 18, but younger individuals who have been trained may work on a course with appropriate supervision. If you have an interest in assisting on the challenge course or want to 'learn the ropes', make plans to join us the weekend of June 4-5!

Important Training on our 1700 foot New Zipline ! Must Read!

2010-04-05T20:47:00.000-07:00

After much planning and praying, our new 1700 foot zipline will be installed this spring! In addition to the design, building and inspection of the physical structure, we will also need to make sure we have many committed, competent and certified leaders and facilitators.

If you are currently certified and need training on our new zipline, this weekend is for you! If you are 18 and older and have an interest in being certified, this weekend is also for you!

We will be conducting "In-House Challenge Course and Ropes Training" Friday, June 4th and Saturday, June 5th at camp. Remember, minimum age for certification is 18. It is essential that we get as many people trained as soon as possible. This is going to be an exciting summer and we need all the help we can get!

For more information, please contact Larry Thompson or Matt Bennett.

Pre-Teen 2 Boys Registration Full

2010-04-02T21:10:00.000-07:00

Online registrations have run well ahead of schedule this year. Pre-Teen 2 Boys is now full. There is still room in the Pre-Teen 2 Girls session, but hurry because it is filling up fast.
Both Pre-Teen 1 and Pre-Teen 3 are ahead of last year in registration so please encourage as many as possible to complete their registrations as soon as possible. Online registration is best, but use the paper registration to get your applications in very soon to secure your place at camp this summer.

Reminder to all past and potential staff: please use the new 2010 staff application form. There is a great need for spiritually committed counselors and staff members. Please continue to pray that the Lord will be working in the hearts of the campers who have already registered.

The Bushes Have Been Removed!

2010-04-02T21:06:00.000-07:00

For many years, the bushes in front of the Lodge have grown taller and stronger making it more difficult to see the activities on the lawns below. These have now been removed increasing the visibility and also paving the way for some future plans regarding the front porch.
This would be a good time to remind you all of the upcoming workdays. If you or your chapel have an interest in helping, please contact Larry Thompson to let him know when you would be available!

Testimony from Larry Thompson

2010-04-02T21:03:00.000-07:00

If you have ever hiked some of the larger hiking trails across the United States you will find that many of these trails are marked with piles of stones stacked on top of each other. Cairns, as they are referred to, are markers indicating to others where the trail is and what direction to head to. Cairns can also represent a monument, or a spot of significance. As I look back on my life I can recognize several figurative cairns that would indicate moments of significance and the fact that my trail cut across this path.

That first cairn, which was followed closely by the second, was when I watched my father surrender his life to the Lord at a Billy Graham Crusade in 1967. The impact of watching both my father and short while later, my brother Toby, making Christ the Lord of their lives influenced me to do the same when I was seven years old. Camp Li Lo Li would be represented by another of these cairns as the ministry of Li Lo Li played a significant role in those early years as a young believer, and in fact, all the way into my teens; first, as a camper and later as summer staff.

Some may think that a stint in the US Navy would be a marked and significant time in my life – and it was, but the significance was not on all the places I saw, or things I had done. Rather, my time in the Navy was highlighted by the fact that I had a decision to make in who I would choose to follow. Would I follow and be a part of the World, or, would I commit my ways to the Lord? The Lord was gracious in placing Godly people in my life during these days to help me keep my eyes focused on Him. There were setbacks from time to time but the Lord prevailed and continued his refining process.

Shortly after leaving the Navy I found myself back at Camp Li Lo Li once again as a volunteer. It was on a beautiful starry night while literally standing at the crossroads at Camp Li Lo Li and figuratively at a crossroads of career paths and choices that the Lord answered my prayers by directing my steps into the wonderful ministry of Christian Camping. The rest, as they say, “is history.” Helen and are entering 20th year in full-time Camping ministry and our 10th year as Camp Li Lo Li’s Property Manager. We are so grateful for the Lord’s to allow us to be a part of such a strategic ministry. What opportunities we have!

These are a few of the cairns that have been left behind as mileposts in my life. However, I’m not much one for going over the same trail twice – so I’m looking forward to seeing how the Lord will lead in direct in the days ahead.

Reminder to all Canadian citizens

2010-03-31T21:43:00.000-07:00

CANADA PASSPORTS

As of June 1st, 2009 non-US resident over 15 years of age will

need a passport to travel into the United States

See below for details and exceptions

Paperwork required for Canadian citizens to enter the US as of June 1, 2009.

ADULTS (DRIVERS):
• A valid Passport; or
• A NEXUS Card; or
• A FAST (Free and Secure Trade) Card; or
• An enhanced drivers license

CAMPERS:
• Canadian citizens 15 years of age and under will only require proof of citizenship, such as an original or a copy of a birth certificate, or a Canadian citizenship card.
• Canadian citizens 18 years of age and under who are traveling with a school or other organized group, under adult supervision with parental/guardian consent, may also present proof of citizenship alone; or
• Passport

For more information from camp call (905) 687-9814

To apply for your passport or to find a service location near you, please visit or call: http://www.passportcanada.gc.ca/

1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232) TTY: 1-800-926-9105

Looking forward to seeing you all at camp!

Truck Destroyed

2010-03-23T13:17:00.000-07:00

Over the past month and a half Larry Thompson and Andy Bennet have worked tirelessly to bring our old truck back to life. The engine and transmission were overhauled completely, the suspension was repaired and strengthened, a new bed was installed and all the rusted out areas were cleaned up or replaced, including both doors.

The final step was to repaint and add our Li-Lo-Li logo and contact information. Over the past week, it had been put to good use collecting gravel and hauling sand. We believed that the investment made in this older truck would give us many years of good service.

Sadly this past Saturday, as Larry Thompson was returning to camp, the truck caught fire and all that work was completely destroyed. The Village of Randolph Fire Department responded quickly but the truck could not be saved. This picture was taken by one of the first fire-fighters on the scene, along with his own caption!

This is a devastating blow to camp. Not only have we lost the use of the truck, but all the money we invested is gone as well. It was an older truck and soon to be re-insured for the value of the work we had done, so there is little to none that we can claim on insurance.

However, we praise the Lord that no-one was injured and no other property was damaged other than the vehicle. The Lord is good! We would value yours prayers as we consider the next steps in replacing the truck.

From Larry Thompson, Property Manager, "We are assured that our God is faithful and has a reason for this. Would you please pray along with us in asking God to provide for a replacement for this truck. Specifically, we are praying for a four-wheel drive, late model, dump truck. I have looked into the cost of something like this and it is around 10 -12 K. I would also ask that you consider passing this on to others who would be willing to pray on our behalf."

Adventure Camp!

2010-02-18T09:07:00.000-08:00

A reminder to all! We are pleased that we will be again taking a limited group of young people on an Adventure Camp. Please let as many as possible know about this tremendous opportunity. It is a very physically demanding trip but one that these teens will remember for a lifetime!

From the website:

This year we will be headed for the wilds of the Adirondacks where we will be combining canoeing, backpacking and a host of other challenging events that will get to that "itch" you can't seem to reach. This trip is not for the faint of heart - so whiners - stay home! There is only room for 16 teens. If you are entering 9th grade, or are a graduating senior then get your application in as we expect to fill the registration quickly. For more questions, or info, contact Larry Thompson at lilolilarry@gmail.com See ya on the trail!
Campers should arrive the Saturday prior to Pre-Teen 2 and can expect to return the following Friday night or early Saturday morning.

Work Days - Help Needed!

2010-02-18T09:02:00.000-08:00

2010 Camp Li-Lo-Li Workday Schedule

May 1st                       Cabin roofs/Shop roof
                                    Demolition of two lean-tos

May 8th                       Cabin Roofs/Shop roof
                                   Zip-Line pole installation

May 15th                    Cabin roofs/Shop roof

June 12th                    Bushes in front of Lodge
                                  Painting the Caboose
                                  Pool fence repair

In addition to these “major” projects there will also be the typical spring clean-up, painting, and general sprucing up of the property.

If you or your Chapel cannot make any of these dates, but can come at some other time let me know and we will be prepared for you.

Blessings, Larry
(716) 378 6903
lilolilarry@gmail.com

Emmaus CMS week

2010-02-18T08:52:00.000-08:00

Larry Thompson, Al McIntee and Terry Wilson were pleased to represent Camp Li-Lo-Li at the recent Christian Ministry Seminars at Emmaus Bible College. Thirty-five Christian organizations were given the opportunity to present their ministries to interested students. Several students have expressed an interest in serving at camp this summer. The weekend also gave us an opportunity to connect with Emmaus as well as leaders of other camp ministries.

In addition to our presentation and booth, we were given an opportunity to lead a seminar on linking spiritual applications into games and activities. We thank Larry Thompson for heading that up and producing several memorable sessions for young people.

CPR/AED Re-certification

2010-02-17T13:30:00.000-08:00

CPR/AED Recertification will be held at Cornerstone Bible Chapel, Rochester NY on March 20, 2010 from 10.00 am to 2.00 pm. Please download the pdf from the link below for the complete application form.

Remember your CPR certification must be renewed yearly.
RTE re-certification is required every three years.

Please return your completed applications no later than March 12th.
Thanks!

CPR/AED Recert Application Form

Contact Amy Larter or Betsy McIntee if you have any additional questions.

Pre-Teen Winter Retreat begins this Friday!

2010-01-21T12:18:00.001-08:00

We have had a great response to the Pre-teen Winter Retreat which begins this Friday January 22, 2010. Please pray for a safe and enjoyable retreat. Pray also that hearts and lives will be changed by the Lord Jesus Christ. The speaker this year is Dave Greer. Please remember him in your prayers as he prepares to share the Word of God with our young people.

Also don’t forget, the following weekend, January 29th is the Teen Winter Retreat led by Keith Tyson. Pray for great spiritual blessings at both of these retreats. Registrations are good so far but there is still room for more! If you know of any young people that would benefit from these retreats, please help them to get to camp.

We expect to have pictures and reports of these retreats posted soon!

Standing Firm in the Faith...

2010-01-21T12:17:00.000-08:00

Our theme this year is Standing Firm in the Faith. There is a great need for all of us to be sure about foundational truth. There are many today who are trying to undermine the Word of God and to shake the faith of Christians. It is more important than ever that we know the truth and stand firm in it.

Paul uses the phrase “Stand fast” in several passages in the New Testament, but in 1 Corinthians 16:3, he writes “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong” (NKJV). These four instructions might easily be have given to a watchman guarding a city in Paul's day but the same truths are important for us today.

• Watch - Be alert. 1 Peter 5:8 calls on believers to be vigilant because our adversary walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. In Matthew we are reminded to be aware of false prophets who come in disguise and deceive many. Spiritual opposition comes in many forms and we need to be on the alert and prepared.

• Stand fast in the faith – The picture again is of a soldier following an order by his commander to hold or defend a position. If he was to abandon that position at the first sign of opposition, he would be an ineffective and useless soldier. We have to be prepared to hold our position spiritually as well. Don’t buckle or compromise when the opposition comes!

• Be brave – It is almost as if the apostle is anticipating our objections! It is not easy to hold an unpopular or controversial position. It requires bravery and strength of character and purpose. That courage comes from the Holy Spirit and requires us to be bold before men. There are many examples of boldness in the New Testament, but I am often encouraged by reading the account of Joseph of Arimathea in Mark 15 who took courage and asked Pilate for the body of the Lord. Even the disciples had fled by then, but this man, a prominent council member risked his life and reputation and went in to Pilate to make this request. The Lord seldom asks us to risk our lives, but He does call on us to make a stand for Him. Let's look for opportunities to make a stand each day.

• Be strong – This last instruction is a curious one. We would not suggest that a weight-lifter or athlete just ‘be strong’. Strength comes as a result of effort. They have trained and pushed themselves to achieve a level of strength. Similarly, as believers we cannot just hope to be strong without putting in the required effort and commitment. That means spending time in the Word, studying, reflecting, memorizing and understanding what God wants us to know. And then putting into practice in our lives each day. It also means taking the hardships, trials and difficulties of life and using them to grow spiritually. Instead of trying to avoid them, we should be making the most of them.

We trust that this camp theme might become the theme of our lives in the year ahead.

Bible Reading Plan

2010-01-21T11:18:00.000-08:00

Many of us struggle to read God’s Word in a consistent or systematic way. If we are going to be strong in the faith, we need to be fed daily! Sometimes we set an objective that is too ambitious and when we fall behind, we just abandon our goals and give up. There are many different helps available to help us stay in the Word and to track our progress.

You could find one online, but I like the one attached below. Each day of the week takes you to a different part of Scripture but still does it in a systematic way. And because it is not dated, you simply check off each reading as you do it. It also means if you have some additional time, you could read ahead and just keep checking it off as you go. Try to schedule time everyday to read and pray, but remember that it is important to absorb and understand what you are reading as well.

Click to Download Bible Reading Plan

Snow is Falling at Camp!

2009-12-12T20:03:00.001-08:00

This is a great time to remind you all again of the winter retreats coming up at the end of January. Gary Foster will be heading up the Pre-Teen Winter Retreat January 22-24, 2010 and Keith Tyson will be overseeing the Teen Winter Retreat from January 29-31, 2010.

Please pray:

Both Directors and their staff would value your prayers. I know they have some exciting programs planned and would appreciate your encouragement.
Pray for the speakers as they begin their preparation. We want to see the Lord glorified and honored during these two weekends.
We pray that the Lord will begin to prepare the hearts of the campers so that it will not only be an enjoyable and memorable weekend but spiritually uplifting as well.

I am attaching a downloadable version of the winter retreat brochures. Please make these available to young people who would really benefit from these wonderful weekend retreats. Printed copies will be sent out soon as well.

Please click on the highlighted text below to download the brochure.

Winter Retreat brochures

Seth Hogan's Testimony

2009-11-21T11:49:00.000-08:00

I grew up in a non-Christian home. I believed that there was a God, but did not know Him.

"He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life." 1 John 5:12

When I was 12, my dad worked at a prison and was invited by the Chaplin to attend his church. I went to church on Sundays, but it did not impact my life. One day when the pastor was preaching about Hell, I finally believed and knew I was lost. Sitting in the pew, I prayed and asked Jesus to be my Savior. I did it out of fear of eternity in the lake of fire.

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom" Psalm 11:10a

But as time went on, I wanted Jesus to be my Lord because I loved Him, not just because I wanted to be saved from judgment.

"We love Him because He first loved us." 1 John 4:19

Now I trust Him and lean on Him every day. He is my Rock. I take great comfort in the fact that I am going to Heaven, and that my salvation is secure.

"In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory" Ephesians 1:13-14

- Seth Hogan, Director Teen Camp

Winter Retreats Coming Up Soon!

2009-11-21T11:43:00.000-08:00

An early reminder! Our Pre-Teen and Teen Winter retreats will be held the last two weekends in January. The Pre-Teen Winter Retreat is January 22-24 and the Teen Winter Retreat is January 29-31. If you know of any young people that have been before or would interested in going for the first time, encourage them to set their weekend aside now. Encourage them to bring a friend as well! More details and application forms will be sent out soon. Lets begin to pray now for great spiritual blessing as we start the new year!

Jim Lehmann Testimony

2009-11-05T11:52:00.000-08:00

I came to know the Lord after lots of seed planting in Blasdell Chapel's Sunday School, watering and cultivating there and at home by my family, and then a special Billy Graham movie "Mr. Texas" shown in downtown Buffalo. It had been announced several weeks before and Mom and Dad took me with my brother Bob and his date, Rose Marie (now his wife).

It was there I was impressed with my personal need of the Savior and accepted him. I was 9 years old then, in February of '53. I was baptized that spring, attended Camp Li-Lo-Li the first year that summer at old Camp 11 in the state park, and have been active with camp for over 50 of the 56 years it has been in existence.

- Jim Lehmann, board member

Northgate Bible Chapel Retreat

2009-11-05T11:46:00.000-08:00

On October 16-18, 2009 Northgate Bible Chapel had their second annual retreat at Camp. We came expecting to enjoy the fall colors and fellowship, but the Lord had other plans. Instead of a fall retreat, we were treated to frosty temperatures and some snow. Not what we expected, but enjoyable all the same!

Over 90 people attended the retreat. We enjoyed time playing games together, taking a hike, playing in the snow, and of course opening up God’s Word. A special thanks to the Larter Family (Dave, Amy, Sarah, Beth and Allison) and Heather Nicholson for cooking our meals and to Andy Bennett for playing the role of excellent host.

We had a great time and look forward to doing it again!

- Jim O'Shea
-Pictures by Aaron Milford

Testimony of Steve Lucas

2009-10-26T19:11:00.001-07:00

I was lead to the Lord through a born again believer from my Sophomore English class who attended the now defunct Berkshire Avenue Chapel in Buffalo, NY. Dan befriended me and invited me to the chapel young people’s meetings. I was raised Roman Catholic and was familiar with various portions of Scripture, but lacked the understanding of the need to acknowledge my sinful condition before God.

About six months after meeting Dan, the young people went on a retreat to Camp Li-Lo-Li. It was there that God’s love was demonstrated to me as Dan and another young person, Ken, woke early on Sunday morning, drove me to Salamanca and sat through Catholic mass with me. We timed our return so they could attend the Breaking of Bread. As we pulled into Camp, they once again afforded me the opportunity to respond to the Gospel that I’d been hearing about for the last six months. So there outside the Lodge office, with a believing heart, I acknowledged my sinful state before God, and confessed Christ as my Savior.

Forty-three years have passed since that cold day in January 1966, but I will never forget how Christ’s love was manifested to me in the loving actions of two young believers who rejoiced with the angels in heaven on that day. Dan, Ken and I came to be known as the three amigos and were groomsmen in each others weddings. Until Christ calls me home at His appointed time, or until we meet Him in the air, Camp Li-Lo-Li will always be a very special place to me.

-- Steve Lucas, Board member & Director

Welcome to the Li-Lo-Li Blog!

2009-10-25T13:56:00.000-07:00

Thanks for visiting today. We hope you will come back on a regular basis to find out what is happening at camp. We will be posting updates on activities, events, and people in the news. We will also be posting some staff profiles and personal testimonies.

We want this to be an informative and helpful communication tool, so let me know if there is specific information you would like to find here!