^{David Mitchell and Larry Lanaville have both spent many hours volunteering at Camp Wakonda}

It all began at the end of last summer camp season when we discovered that the trees between the camp entrance driveways were dying… 

It had already been voted to renovate each bathhouse, and relocate Boy’s Village along with moving the Nature Center to White Pine Lodge so that Cedar Lodge could be utilized as another meeting space for the campground. Then came the decision to do away with the tents and construct buildings for the Primary, Junior, Teen and Youth Divisions. First though, the infected trees must be taken care of.

Tree cutting work days were organized for the Fall and plans were made to hold Wakonda Winter Work Days with the idea that we would be prepared for the Maranatha Volunteer group to arrive in April to construct the buildings. As the plans were made and the calendar created it seemed doable. We prayed for volunteers, knowing that was the only way the work could be accomplished, and hoped for strong turnouts for the organized events. 

In the beginning there was a feeling of discouragement when so few showed up to work. But, in my devotional reading, I was directed to 2 Corinthians 4:7 which says, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.” NKJV

Then the story of Gideon came to mind. He was also asked by God to do a seemingly impossible task. You know the story, God said to send the majority of his, already small, army home. I realized that this Wakonda renovation project was an opportunity for God to demonstrate to His people that this work would be done by His power, not by ours. So, our prayers changed from “send us many volunteers” to “please send us the people you want to be here, and help us to be faithful witnesses.” God was faithful! As each work day arrived we welcomed those who came and prayed together before the work began.

There were many first-time volunteers, some of whom were not Seventh-day Adventist and had not even been to camp before! God was bringing people to a deeper knowledge of Himself through the project before even one meeting was held in any of the new buildings.

There have been roadblocks too, as the devil tried to stop us; a lost cell phone, and a lost wallet (both were found). One project manager had a stroke and another had a heart attack, but both recovered and continued the work. The weather seemed to be against us too, with the exception of one week of fair weather in April that allowed for the foundation work. Cool rainy weather prevented the Maranatha group from completing the buildings while they were here, but God provided another construction crew to come for a few days to lend a hand.

Little by little the “faithful few” chipped away on the projects right up to the last special Work Bee when more new volunteers arrived to help. There is not time or room to tell all the stories, but God has shown us time and again that this is His project, and He has been faithful!

We aren’t done yet! There is work to be done to finish the buildings, and funds are needed to complete Cedar Lodge and the construction of the new Medical building and Camp Store. But as we look back and see how God has provided, we know He will provide again.

There is room, though, for more to join Gideon’s army…room for donors to help fund the projects, and for volunteers to come and work. Join us and be blessed!

 

Becky & Elgin Ziesmer
Camp Wakonda Admin Assistant & Camp Wakonda Ranger