Spring 2018

Dear Friends,
Our theme for Project Lost Sheep this year is BE VISIBLE. As we know from the Bible (Mat. 5:14), “We are the light of the world”, and we are not to hide that light but bring glory to God.

A big way we are more visible is with our new website: http://www.projectlostsheep.com. This is the result of many hours of work with www.Shamikodesign.com doing the design. We have our programs clearly set out, and they can be seen across all mobile devices and platforms. We are introducing more ways to get involved, including volunteering, and are actively looking for people in the Bay Area to expand the ministry there.

At Touchdown Camp in Redwood City, we are again expecting a full camp of 150+ children. We will be engaging our team more so that the children can see us, and also so that the visitors from other cities can find out how they can draw from community support to help start new camps. I plan to be there to help this August 6th to 10th 2018.

Camp continues to make an impact that we can see on the high schoolers who come back to serve. This year we anticipate giving a scholarship for a worthy former camper who has been accepted to college or is entering college. We plan this to happen in front of all the campers as a visual encouragement and I hope help all to “dream big”.

My plans for this year include more travel to other cities and networking with other Christians who work in community. As God opens the doors, I will be flying in.

Let’s move forward together for the children.

Sincerely,
Joyce Dueker
Founder of Project Lost Sheep

Fall 2017

Dear Friends,
President Patty Cardona, reports a great number of children coming to faith at Touchdown Camp 13th in Redwood City. This summer, her daughter, Cynthia (in photo leading), had a key role in the missionary drama.

The Bible says, a sower went out to seed.

In order to harvest we must sow the word. If we neglect to do this for the children of America, we will see fewer and fewer adults who believe.

Statistics show that most Christians today came to faith before they were twelve.

I am happy to report that we had fly-in visitors from Fontana, California which is a troubled area of Los Angeles. Then we had ladies from a non-denorminal church in Miami, Florida, who wanted a children's program similar to Verbo, Redwood City.

For the second year, a pastor's daughter from Madrid, Spain took an active role in camp.

Can you see the seeds being planted in these strong leaders from other cities? Yes, it is not only the children, but all who help with camp get touched to lead and do more.

Seeds are important. We not only give thanks for your prayers and support which allow us to plant seeds that change children’s lives, but we provide on-the-job training for young leaders to keep seeding for years to come. Thank you all for being a part of this growing ministry.

Sincerely,
Joyce Dueker
Founder of Project Lost Sheep

Summer 2017

Dear Friends,
Patty Cardona, President, brought the entire Sebastian family to the Spring dinner and board meeting. Yoeli Sebastian became connected with Verbo Church by receiving help in the tutoring program. Lauren Younger, a regular volunteer there, remembers her. Yoeli spoke at the meeting with great emotion about how much coming into the church had helped her and all of her family. Yoeli has come to a living faith in Jesus Christ and now is teaching Sunday School at Verbo Church in Redwood City. Two of her siblings attended Touchdown Camp. Her oldest brother hopes to attend college and has been accepted but lacks funds.

Patty Cardona announced the camp dates for summer 2017 in Redwood City as August 7th to 11th. Visitors are always welcome. This year her daughters will again be helping lead the camp. There is much work and much need in order to receive and provide for over 100 campers this year.

More than 1000 children have attended camp to date, to the glory of God! Seeds planted long ago have grown into strong soldiers for Christ and have transformed lives, as we have seen in Yoeli.

Our reward for hard work is always to see lives and families changed. Let us maintain this good work. We are trusting for larger amounts for the greater works to come.

“Everywhere I go, people are asking about Touchdown Camp,” Patty said to me. She did a workshop for a church in Miami, FL, and now they are working to open a camp. Other cities are ready to start as well.

We are doing well in Idaho, opening tutoring programs and planning a new type of camp. Lots to do as the needs and opportunities to serve continue to grow.

Sincerely,
Joyce Dueker
Founder of Project Lost Sheep

Winter 2016

Dear Friends,
We are so thankful to all of you who make our outreach work to the children possible. The 12th annual Touchdown Camp was held in August at Verbo Church in Redwood City, with 140 children and 60 volunteers, including many teens who were past campers.

Patty Cardona, president of Project Lost Sheep and director of the camp, said that Touchdown Camp is changing the lives of many people, not only the kids, but of all who were there as they were so blessed. “This ministry is very unique, powerful, and active for winning the lost and building up Christians to become mature spiritually. 46 kids received the Lord during the daily Bible teaching classes, but the last day we made a [altar] call, and more than 100 kids came to the Lord.”

Camp is wrapped in love, and in each camp there is Bible teaching (this year about Noah’s ark and also Peter walking on the water), arts and crafts, sports, missionary stories dramatized, and speakers who represent various career paths to encourage the children to stay in school and to work toward a fulfilling goal. At the end of the week, each child receives a back pack containing a Bible and school supplies which has become a camp tradition.

Camp this year also had visitors from Verbo Church in Spain. Sophia Monterroso from Madrid was leader of volunteers and teaching.

Project Lost Sheep plans and prays all year as a group to launch camps. We are looking for more volunteers to join us in the Bay Area. Please contact secretary Elaine Biser, ebiser7@earthlink.net for further details.

The impact of camp goes beyond the children, as noted by Patty Cardona, “two entire families from camp are now attending Verbo Church and sitting in the front row.”

I can say from my heart that if you give a bit of time and resources, you will discover JOY.

Working to expand,

Joyce Dueker
Founder of Project Lost Sheep

Spring 2016

Dear Friends,

We are in a time of expansion in Project Lost Sheep. It is a time of Asking, Seeking, and Knocking.

First, we have been asking God for new cities. More than 7 people prayed for 40 days for the great city of Chicago, and we asked for many things for the work ahead. Thank you to those who helped Ask! We also are continuing to pray for the San Bernardino area.

Second, we have been seeking cities where we can share the models started in California. When you read this letter, we expect the opening of a tutoring program, to be held in a church, for a school in Nampa, Idaho. This state has great needs, among them the suicide rate is sixth in the nation.

We are knocking on doors for the opening of a camp in Idaho next year, and we also anticipate work in Chicago to begin in 2017. Meanwhile, back in Redwood City we expect the 12th Touchdown Camp to continue to bless and change lives.

We ask, we seek, and we knock and keep on knocking. We thank you for joining us in this transforming work. We praise our risen Lord that He continues to do more than we ask or think!

Sincerely,
Joyce Dueker
Founder of Project Lost Sheep

Winter 2015

Dear Friends,

As we celebrate the end of this year serving children and expanding programs, I want to address a question that has been asked me a number of times over the year. Here it is:

CAN ONE WEEK OF CAMP REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN A LIFE?

I will let you read the response of Daniel Casillas (pictured) who went to Camp and is now our first scholarship recipient.

My name is Daniel Casillas. I am currently attending College of San Mateo, a local community college. This is my first semester in College of San Mateo. I am majoring in Administration of Justice. There are many reasons why I chose this field. The main component of this decision was to empower and help guide the “at-risk” youth in their journey of discovery. My goal is to obtain an AA degree and transfer to a private college. After I have reached this, I plan to give back to the community I grew up in. 

Daniel Casillas and Catherine Parlanti

Camp Touchdown was an amazing experience in many ways. It helped guide and educate me about the world as we know it, and it also planted the tools I never knew I would need when I lost myself in my teenage years. 

This scholarship is an amazing gift from God, as everything he has put in my path has been. Thank you for all the dedication you have put in our communities.

Sincerely,

Daniel Casillas

P.S. If there is anything I can help with, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I can always work around my schedule and find time to help out. Thank you for all your help, support and prayers.”

May you and your family be blessed in this sacred season of miracles.

Sincerely,
Joyce Dueker
Founder of Project Lost Sheep

Summer 2015

Dear Friends,
This year Project Lost Sheep is celebrating 20 years of serving children in camps and tutoring programs. Our main focus has been California where over 1000 children, by the grace of God, have received a one week day camp involving sports, food, crafts, drama and values instruction.

Patty Cardona and family again head up the camp at Verbo Church in Redwood City. This model camp will have visitors flying in to get trained in camp from Vancouver, Canada and other cities.

I was able to visit San Jose, California and meet with Glen Inn and others. The Tutoring program at a Korean Churcn there is going strong we moved to Idaho a year ago and with a year of listening and meeting with people here I see the need for programs here. Another on going effort is enlisting people for foundation work in prayer.

My heart breaks when I read of gang related shootings like the seven year old slaughtered on 4th of July in Chicago.

Thanks to all of you on the team who give of your time and talents. Over 50 volunteers will help at camp, including Tracy, California this year. We all have diverse gifts given to us by God. Let's invest in the children for their future and the future of America!

"Whatever you do, do it heartily unto The Lord.."

Sincerely,
Joyce Dueker
Founder of Project Lost Sheep