Seasons of Change
This edition of the Elkanah Express written by Kaitlin, our Guest Services and Programming Coordinator.
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: (Eccles 3:1)
The year 2020 has been a year of uncertainty, unknowns and changes for all of us and Camp Elkanah is no exception. As we head into fall with its vibrant colors and changing temperatures I find myself reflecting on all that has transpired in recent months. The good news is that we know God is sovereign and nothing that happens here on this earth catches God by surprise. He walks with us through the hard times, rejoices with us in the good times and is there helping us during all the in between times.
At the beginning of summer we formally accepted two new positions as year round staff at Camp Elkanah and this set in motion the process of relocating our family to the La Grande area. While COVID meant the abrupt end of the 2020 camping and rental season it did allow us ample time to sell our home and for Josh to transition out of his community paramedic position. For our family this summer has been a time of sadness in closing one season of life and at the same time a season of excitement in embarking on a new adventure that God has placed before us. Josh will be fulfilling the role of site manager and I will be coordinating guest services and programming. We are both so excited to meet the people of Elkanah and hear all of your camp stories so track us down and let's share a cup of coffee.
With the loss of camp programming it meant that all of the usual spring cleaning and summer maintenance had to be taken care of by our camp director and a few seasonal staff. Fortunately the summer was relatively uneventful and they were able to complete projects like painting the showerhouse, forging a new trail across the hillside, painting a mural on the recreation hall and updating some of the cabins. I am certain they savored many small victories like keeping the grass green and utilities working.
As September arrived the relative calm of summer came to an abrupt halt and the autumn storms started to come. Just as we were getting settled into our new jobs at camp a forest fire started, a main water pipe burst, the freezer stopped being cold, the ice machine wouldn’t make ice, there was a strong sewage smell on the property, the gator wouldn’t start, the coffee maker flooded, the water pump broke and the water tower was drained. In addition to all of the aforementioned chaos, the local pack rat population decided to assemble an army and launch a full scale attack on many of the primary buildings and equipment at camp. (On a side note, this battle is still being waged so we welcome any strategies for winning the war with the rodents.) Through all of this we find ourselves reminded of a verse in Daniel that says if we are thrown into the blazing furnace that the God we serve is able to deliver us from it. This fall camp has felt like one catastrophe after another (hence the blazing furnace), but we are thankful that the Lord held back these storms until we were working daily on the property and Josh could immediately handle these situations (deliverance!).
On a recent Saturday we survived our first event as camp staff and experienced the joys of having guests on the property when we helped host the Eastern Oregon men's roundup. Good food and company was enjoyed by all as the men were able to take a deep unmasked socially distanced breath of fresh mountain air and spend some much needed time in fellowship with one another. I could feel the joy permeating through the camp grounds and buildings as they were finally being used again. We hope to do more of these one day events throughout the coming winter season and I will be looking for volunteers who want to help make them a success.
We praise God that He has and will continue to supply all our needs. As Charles Swindoll said, “When you accept the fact that sometimes seasons are dry and times are hard and that God is in control of both, you will discover a sense of divine refuge, because the hope then is in God and not in yourself.” We know and rest in the assurance that the Lord’s unfailing love and mercy will continue; fresh as the morning and as sure as the sunrise. (Lam 3:22-23)
Moving forward we find ourselves in a new season of waiting and wondering what the future holds, but we know that while we wait God will use that time just as effectively as the good seasons and the hard seasons. He is transforming us into the likeness of Christ. These times of waiting are not to be wasted and are a part of His process. God is faithful even in the midst of pandemics, protests and political unrest. He is in control and will continue to keep us on track through all the changing seasons.
Kaitlin Gustafson
