If you are reading this it’s likely because you are here at Camp Wakonda looking forward to this wonderful camp meeting week!
As you look around you will likely notice things are changing, and in a good way. God has blessed us with this wonderful camp ground and it is an honor and privilege to be able to take part in the up keep and ministry that takes place here.
It has been over a decade since any major improvements have been made to the various facilities at Camp Wakonda and it was time to make some changes. God provided us with three things to enable these changes to happen:
1. An event, 2. People, 3. Resources.
The event took place last year during camp meeting which brought this conversation to the table. We had a severe weather alert with high winds. We even spent some time in the tornado shelters. During the storm our Youth Division tent was destroyed. This event brought the discussion of renovations to the forefront and got the ball rolling.
The second thing God provided was people. Elgin and Becky Ziesmer, Elder Brian Stephan, Pastor Tom Michalski, Floyd Brock and many more leaders, including the camp management committee, put their heads together to formulate a plan. Their talks started with replacing the division tents with permanent structures, remodeling the bathrooms, building a new medical building, and the list grew from there.
From these conversations resources began to appear. Both in the form of financial contributions as well as dedicated man hours. Volunteers in organized groups, such as Maranatha International, have come and made a big difference. But by far it has been “YOU”, the local church member, that has made the biggest difference. Countless hours of sanding, painting, picking up sticks, raising walls, pouring concrete, fastening siding, trimming bushes, and spending days off, weekends and holidays doing what needed to get done. These efforts were led by people such as Darwin and Dallas Kasner, Bob Sachse, Tom Michalski and Glen Mills to name a few. Without the dedication of these and many others we would not have been able to accomplish so much in such a short time.
I want to thank each of you for the man hours, financial support, and prayer that you have given toward this project! Without YOU all this would not have been possible! Together we are Building Our Future!
We aren’t done yet, but by this time next year we will be able to enjoy a long list of beautiful improvements at our camp. A new Nature Center, a new Conference Room, a new Camp Store, a new Medical Building, bathrooms that have received a needed facelift, an already appreciated new laundry facility, and new division buildings. And this list just hits some of the high points.
There are dozens of people deserving of recognition, maybe even hundreds. Knowing I would not be able to thank them all I would like to take a moment to recognize the leadership and vision of Elgin and Becky Ziesmer as they live onsite and oversee the ministry facility that we know as Camp Wakonda.
It is my prayer that, until Jesus comes again, we will be able to enjoy ministry at this wonderful facility.
Lastly, I would like to thank you for being a part of Camp Wakonda.
Adam Case, Ministerial Director