The Duckstein family joined our staff at the end of 2023 and are excited to be a part of their first full summer camp experience. Their time at camp has been filled with many ups and downs but through it all, they are so thankful for God’s provision and care.
Before we dive into what’s going on at camp, a lot happened in our family in February and March. As most of you were aware, either by online means of Facebook & Caringbridge or by church prayer announcements, Beth came down with a nasty strain of Influenza B and Strep which quickly turned into pneumonia and sepsis. She was hospitalized the last week of February and ended up intubated for 2 1/2 days before coming back home to recuperate on March 10. Words can’t express how much all your support, prayers, and concern encouraged and helped us through this tough time!! God worked miraculously through your prayers, and Beth is recovering far faster than her doctors thought possible. Praise the Lord for his healing! She still has to pace herself until her muscle tone and stamina improve, but she’s so enjoyed being able to go back to church and start doing a few local outings. Continued prayers for strength and staying healthy are greatly appreciated as we get back to normal life and the busy camp season!
Before Beth got sick, Jake greatly enjoyed Winter Recharge over New Year’s with ice skating fun, a great Bible speaker, and getting to know other kids. Phillip loved helping as a dorm leader with the younger kids’ winter retreat called Winterama. Both groups were well-attended and had fun despite the lack of snow! Thankfully, we did get to enjoy snow activities for Snow Day, which brought many families from the area out to camp to ice skate, cross-country ski, and tube down the giant hill. Lots of happy screams! In March, visitors got to see maple syrup making up close from trees on the camp property that had been tapped. It’s amazing how God provides through His Creation! If you’re in the valley this summer, try a yummy jug from the gift shop! In March, a group from camp traveled to Mexico for a missions trip where God worked through their willing hands to help with the construction of a building and teach kids about Jesus through after-school programs. In April, several camp families drove to Indiana to witness the solar eclipse in its totality. God’s glory is seen all around us!
As we enter summer, please pray for all the kids and families who will come to camp and hear about God and His love for them! We’re super excited about this year’s theme “Created for Worship”! There will be a life-size Tabernacle to learn about worship in the Old Testament, and stories from heroes of the faith like Corrie Ten Boom, who worshiped in the midst of so much suffering. If you would like to see the Tabernacle, contact the camp office and we’d be happy to arrange a tour— it would be a great day trip for your youth group, men’s/women’s Bible study, or homeschool field trip!
So many great things are about to happen at Camp! We’d love to see you there! Are you looking for a place to serve God this summer &/or fall? Volunteers are needed and greatly appreciated – give us a call to find out more! We’d love to visit with you here or at your home.