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The Not-So Lazy Days of Summer
Whoever coined the term "lazy days of summer" never spent any time with UIM International! You will never hear the words "I'm bored" around the ministries of UIM International, especially in the summer season of North America.
You can rejoice with us in the hundreds of children, youth, and adults impacted by the ministries of the Gospel that took place this season. Not just "campers" either, but the many who volunteered their time to join in this great cause of reaching many with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It's a great way to spend a summer!
Your connection to UIM International is here. Take a moment to read all about it. Send this UIM Connection! to someone else for their encouragement and challenge. If you've been bored this summer, shame on you! Get connected with UIM International and you will never be bored again! Now, don't be lazy either. Read on, and pass it on!
Boredless in Christ Jesus,
 Dan Fredericks, Executive Director UIM International 
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A Summer of Firsts at UIM Camps
The summer of 2013 brought a year of firsts for the UIM camps in Mexico, Canada, and the United States.
Alpha and Omega celebrated an inauguration of their new facilities in Mexico on July 6. For several years they tried to find water on the property God had given them by digging wells. Try as they did, they never found water in the ground, so they looked to the heavens. They purchased water troughs to take rain water from the roof to prefab water cisterns. The Lord has used UIM missionary Richard Johnson's expertise to bring innovation and technical advancement in the rain water concept, electrical system, and now he is working on a rain water purification system that will keep them from having to purchase and transport hundreds of five-gallon water bottles. With the first rain of the season, the 10,000-liter cistern filled quickly! Another cistern is almost in place, so they will have plenty of water! The camping season began July 15 with younger teens followed by a week of older teens and young adults. Retreats and various events will be held throughout the year now that they have their own camp.
At Rock Nest Ranch, this was the first year with a theme. The theme, "God is Bigger," allowed the speakers to emphasize that God is bigger than circumstances, God is bigger than problems, etc. The regular camp director, Wendell Garrison, along with his family, took a sabbatical this summer. UIM missionary Daniel Koster and Scott Anderson (son of UIM missionary Doug and Sherrie Anderson) shared the directorship responsibilities. Out of 90 campers, 10 accepted Christ as their Savior.
The numbers for Broken Arrow Bible Ranch were down this summer, possibly due to school summer programs and local sport leagues, but the enthusiasm wasn't down! This is the second year that Chuck Anderson, with Discovery Ministries, came to BABR with the message of salvation using the truth of creation. 
Everyone loved his 16-foot dinosaur and had lots of laughs when he would unplug the blower and the dinosaur collapsed upon them and gobbled them up! Out of 882 campers, 32 received Christ as their Savior.
The 2013 summer camp season is over, but for those who accepted Jesus as their Savior, their spiritual growth is just starting. Please pray that those who started their spiritual journey at one of the camps will have the desire and the means to grow into mature Christians. May they be used by God to be a witness to their families and communities and serve the Lord at camp someday.
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UIM Staff Conference, 2013
August 6 - 10 found the U.S. and Aviation Field staff at Broken Arrow Bible Ranch for the annual staff conference. The Mexico staff held their conference in Guadalajara, Mexico, in February and the Canada staff in March near Smithers, B.C.
At the UIM staff conference Pastor Paul Bufford of Abington Bible Church in Abington, Virginia, spoke on "Character Counts: Both God's and Ours." He used the first six chapters of Daniel to speak about convictions, humility, commitment, pitfalls, courage, and integrity. There was a sense of unity among the staff as people enjoyed a time of refreshment and fellowship with one another. 
Kenny and Cecelia Light (UIM's Administrative Assistant) spent the week ministering and getting to know our missionary youth. Kenny led the teens in an encouraging study of the Fruit of the Spirit. This is what Cecelia has to say, "Our hearts are for the young people. Every session we met with them, we asked one of them to open and end us in prayer. My heart melted hearing the most sincere, loving, worshipful prayers of these teens. What a testimony they each have!"
The children's program went right along with the others, focusing on the armor of God. For several years a group from the Evangelical Brethren Church from Omaha, Nebraska, has graciously volunteered to teach the younger children through a Vacation Bible School program. This year the theme was "Kingdom Chronicles" by Answers in Genesis. Each session focused on a piece of armor from Ephesians 6 with crafts and a snack to go along.
Next year each field will have its own separate conference. Preparations are already being made for UIM's 60th anniversary staff conference in 2016 when all the staff will congregate.
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