Upcoming Event: Hoops On The Rez 2008

by Krystin Shipman, Columbus, Ohio

July 7th-11th 2008, Hoops on the Rez will be returning to Whiteriver for our 5th year. The highlight of my summer for the past 3 years has been traveling to Whiteriver to help run this basketball camp.

Hoops on the Rez is a basketball camp that serves middle and high school students on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation. Over the past 3-4 years, I have had the opportunity to meet many Apache teens, and develop great some great friendships. Each year many kids count down the days until we return to the rez for camp.

Continued...

Each summer, coaches from all over the US (Florida, Indiana, Tennessee, Idaho, and Ohio) all come together to pull this camp off. Our goal is to develop meaningful relationships with campers, encourage them to make positive choices and lead them to Christ. We end each day of camp with a devotional time, and pray for the teens as they are facing many temptations, tough home situations, and health issues. The campers are also encouraged to get involved in programs offered through the Kennel and Apache Youth Ministries.

Over the past four years, I have developed some amazing relationships with many Apache kids. It is always neat to receive emails, cards and letters from kids that I have had the opportunity to coach at camp. I have also committed to praying for each camper and their families throughout the years. Being involved in basketball for the past 18 years of my life, I have attended many camps as a player, and also as a coach. Hoops on the Rez is by far the most rewarding camp that I have ever been a part of. God has truly blessed me, and all coaches who have shared in this experience.

A Community Connection

A few months ago, a couple of the pastors from the youth department of Saddleback Church (Lake Forest, CA) came out to visit us to talk about a potential partnership. It was great getting to know them and share with them our heart for the Apache people. As we brainstormed together about what we might be able to do with so many volunteers we began to imagine having a "carnival" type of event in the backyard of our youth center. It would be a big event for the whole family. We also wanted to get work accomplished on our new building that will house a business education program and fix up our dilapidating skate ramps.

continued....

Over Memorial Day weekend they brought out a team of 45 junior highers along with several adult sponsors to do some outreach and work at our youth center. The weekend was amazing and the team accomplished so much. They were able to completely wire the building electrically, hang most of the drywall in the building, repair all of our skate ramps, and pull off a really neat community event in our backyard!

This team really blessed us by purchasing all of the supplies needed for the construction and by bringing all of the games and prizes for the event. We estimate that there were over 150 people that stopped in to enjoy the carnival with us. Knowing the stress and oppression that comes from living on the rez, it was awesome to see so many just relaxing, eating hot dogs, playing games and just having a good time with us and their kids!