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Hello family,
Summer is coming around and once again I have been called to serve at the Royal Family Kids Camp as a part of Tapestry LA’s short term missions. For those who may be receiving this letter for the first time ever, RFKC is a week long summer camp my church puts together once a year for the foster children of Los Angeles County. This year our camp will run from Sunday, July 26th through Friday, July 31st.
50% of the homeless population,
75% of incarcerated individuals,
And 80% of sex trafficking survivors,
were at one point or another in the foster care system.
Our mission is to join God’s work in leading his children away from becoming a part of this trajectory. We have seen how even just a week at camp can influence a child’s life if we move in faith and say yes to Him. Even more, we become increasingly aware of our own emotional traumas and brokenness and begin to unlearn our defensive behaviors and step further towards our own healing in the service of others. Last year was particularly special as we got to witness so much growth and breakthrough in our campers: 2025 Recap Video
I have been serving at this camp for the last 3 years and I have truly seen God move for his most vulnerable. As followers of Christ, we are called to care and serve the quartet of the vulnerable: the orphan, the widow, the foreigner, and the poor. I will confess that I have not always lived up to this calling in my day-to-day life. However, it is in the times that I say “yes” that I see the most fruit in my spiritual & personal life and realize that I too have a part to play in a larger story. This year, I am stepping into a new role and instead of being the photographer & media lead, I will be the Dean of Men, or in other words, the lead male counselor for camp.
The role of counselor at camp is known as the “front line” volunteer. Each counselor is assigned 2 foster children to care for during those 5 days. They spend all of camp together in the cabins as well as during activities, bible lessons, and mealtimes; essentially, it is an early introduction to parenthood for 5 straight days. Seeing as I’m still unmarried and without children, I felt this was an opportunity to develop my skills with youth before I step into that life stage. I may find that perhaps it was not God’s plan for me to get married and have kids of my own.
As my team and I prepare for this year’s camp all we truly ask is that you please keep us in your prayers:
That God’s will be done at Camp
That we embody Jesus’ pure love in our words and actions
That the Holy Spirit be present and direct us daily
The optional request is that if you feel moved to contribute financially to our mission, you may do so using the following:
https://www.tapestry.la/give: under “Fund” please select RFKC STM 2026 and include “Andrew W. Shin”
Zelle: finance@tapestry.la – write “Andrew W. Shin – RFKC STM 2026” in the notes.
As I promised in previous years, if I do not meet my fundraising goal of $450, I will not hesitate to fulfill this financial obligation. An additional $150 comes from my own pockets for a total of $600. Any sum you contribute will be graciously received and if you would like more clarity on how we use these funds, that information can be provided.
I have never failed to meet this goal and I am thankful to be blessed by wonderful friends and family. I hope to pass this blessing onto the children I serve this year and show that even if they have no earthly family, they are still part of a Royal family of the faithful.
Thank you for reading,
-Andrew Shin
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