Waking up…
In 1 Timothy 1:12 Paul is reflecting on the grace given him by God, when he says, “I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service.” As camp staff we talk about what an honor it is to be given the strength and judged worthy by Jesus to steward His Camp. As Camp makes the transition from winter to spring, we watch as Creation wakes up from its winter sleep. The creek rises and the trees begin to bud, and we feel something rising in ourselves. Over this past year we feel camp has been resting, preparing for the moment to squint at the morning sun, enjoy the first sip of coffee, and live the day that the Lord has made. It will be a busy day so let us get started.
Overnight summer camp has been approved from the State and we are looking forward to providing a great experience for children in Northeast Oregon. We should receive guidance from the state soon. Once we receive that we will be able to provide more details. But for now, mark your calendars for June 13th through July 2nd and find updates on our website and social media.
We have received a grant from OSU Outdoor School that will help make camp more accessible for everyone. Our goal is to improve our pathways and build two new restrooms and shower houses. It is a huge undertaking that we are very excited to start on. Partnerships with our local contractors will be essential to the completion of this project. We are blessed that the grant will fund a large portion of the total cost of the project. You can find updates about the project and donate to support the project here www.campelkanah.com/projects.
COVID has shown us that God will provide. The Track Crew continues to grow, and when combined with the foundational support we receive from our partner churches, our monthly support now covers almost 40% of our monthly expenses. Through the generous support of donors, we were able to replace the ice machine, coffee machine, snow cone machine, broken hand tools, and tackle numerous projects throughout camp. This support truly overwhelms and humbles us as a staff. Thank you, for providing the resources to renew some of Camp’s tired spaces.
Elkanah is waking up this spring and we invite you to come join us for our Spring Work Weekend. We have a full weekend planned with four worship services dedicated to praising God and learning about service to Him. We will provide tools, food, and a bed to lay your head. Bring your heart for service, a sleeping bag, and a smile then see what God is doing at Elkanah.
Blessings from your Camp Elkanah family!
Joe (Mr.) Wing
