Lumber Jack/Jane Retreat News

This past weekend over 100 middle and high school youth with their adult sponsors descended upon camp Wakon Da Ho for our annual Lumber Jack/Jane work retreat. (A similar retreat weekend occurred at Camp Kum-Ba-Ya in Western Kentucky.)

     Throughout the weekend many hands came together in one spirit of love to get our camp ready for this summer's camping season. We dug out the fire pit and lined it with bricks. We gathered firewood for this summer's campfires. We cleaned up trash, brush and debris from the premises. We raked leaves. We cleaned cobwebs and dead bugs from cabin floors, fans and windowsills. We scrubbed kitchen floors and appliances. We replaced light bulbs, cleaned out the camp garage. We organized and shopped to have our medical closet up-to-date and ready for the frequent needs of summer campers and counselors. We emptied out and sanitized a craft closet that had been taken over by a large family of mice (yuck!). And through it all we sang songs, played games, and worshipped together each day! We also welcomed Matt Nalley, our new camp caretaker, and Huck, his beagle (and our new Wakonda-dog)! And with all this flurry of activity there was a new spirit sweeping through the air–the Holy Spirit filling us with excitement for our Outdoor Ministries future! There is so much love for one another and for God shared at this place, you cannot help but feel its sacredness. 

     With all this said and done, there is still so much left to do. Camp Wakon Da Ho is in serious need of repairs and attention that one weekend and 100 teenagers cannot accomplish alone. Our camps need your help too. Please consider some of the following suggestions to help our camp and conference program in the near future…

1. Pray daily for the youth and adults who actively participate in all our camp programs.
2. Give of your time: an afternoon, a weekend, a week-long foray into Casey County to work at our campsite. 
3. Donate much needed tools or craft and cleaning supplies that can help us keep camp running smoothly throughout the year. (The situation with the mice meant that all our craft supplies had to be disposed of and the previous caretakers moving out and taking their tools with them means we have no tools for regular work or repairs on site.)
4. Financially back the Kentucky Region and its Outdoor Ministry program to ensure every generation has a summer church camp experience.
5. Consider counseling a week of camp at Wakon Da Ho or Kum-Ba-Ya.
6. Consider aiding the church with scholarships to send a youth to camp this summer. Last year we were able to send 17 children and youth to camp through your generous donations.
7. Think outside the box to find new and exciting ways to extend this ministry to the very edges of our region to impact lives with the love of Jesus Christ that is taught and shared at each camp gathering. 

These are just a few good ways to be involved. If we work together and prayerfully consider the directions we are called to, with regards to Outdoor Ministry and the ways God moves and works through us, I'm sure thousands of opportunities await us…if we listen with our hearts.

Blessings,
Tracy