Attending summer c

Many of these campers come from amp at Camp Polaris is a tradition for many families in southwest Alaska. For generations, children have eagerly boarded planes and boats to spend a week in this remote, pristine setting.

less-than-ideal homes where poverty, alcoholism, and abuse are common. Some work hard and carry heavy responsibilities.

“So it’s a really big deal that they get to come to camp. And the fact that they get to be away from their families, away the pressures of home, away from the village is awesome.”

Camp Polaris is an oasis year after year where the kids can escape the challenges they face at home.

“The fact that these kids can get away from it and actually be kids is huge. They struggle every day.”

All year long, the children look forward to camp where they can grow closer to Jesus, play with friends, and enjoy activities from crafts to watersports.

“Everyone here has one focus in mind, and that focus is that these kids learn about God and how He is their best friend and how He created them and loves them very much and wants them to go home with Him.”

Through the years, the staff at Camp Polaris has done an incredible job of reaching out to the community with the few resources they’ve had. But they have faced some real challenges. Many of the buildings were in desperate need of repair, having been built more than 60 years ago. Restroom and bathing facilities included two outhouses, a rundown sauna, and the icy waters of Lake Aleknagik (uh LEK nuh gik).

But all of this has changed, thanks to your contributions to the 13th Sabbath Offering in 2015, which provided supplies to build two bathhouses with showers and toilets.

“The new bathhouses at Camp Polaris are going to make a tremendous amount of difference for the kids that come to camp here. It rains a lot here, and so we often have kids that are wet and cold. They’ll go swimming and they’re cold because the water’s cold. And in the past, they’ve just gotten out and really had nowhere to go to get dry. And now, with the new bathhouses, they’ll be able to get out cold, go in, get a shower, and get into the steam and get warm and toasty. So now our kids are going to go home happy and healthy too. So our bathhouses are a tremendous asset. We’re going to have more and more kids because of them.”

The new facilities will make it easier for the staff to reach the children spiritually because they will be able to focus better when they’re warm and comfortable. Camp will be extended during the summer, and this will include the addition of a family camp for the community.

“I just want the world church to know that this is really setting a foundation for more exposure in the community.”

Campers and staff at Camp Polaris were blessed by your generous support through prayer, giving, and even with letters from all over the world!

“It was just from the heart of all of you out there in this whole worldwide church. Those of you who I didn’t know your language and I couldn’t respond, well thank you so much for your offerings. I don’t know how to express how much this all is going to make a change out here for the gospel.”

Thank you for supporting 13th Sabbath Offering projects like this. As a result, more hearts can be touched by Jesus as we await His soon return!