Can you imagine how much you could get done around your place if 220 friends stopped by to lend a hand?

That’s what it’s been like at Camp Luther this spring!  More than 220 volunteers stopped by in April and May to help get Camp Luther ready for Summer 2010.  What did they do?  They….

• installed new siding and windows
• rebuilt the Outdoor Chapel
• remodeled bathrooms
• built picnic tables
• put new wheels on the swimming area dock
• cut firewood
• painted and stained
• cleaned every building on camp
• helped with spring retreats
• landscaping
• put out cottage docks
• installed a new basketball hoop
• planted flowers
• and much  more!

What does it mean for Camp?  Those volunteers contributed over 2600 hours of service to Camp Luther!  Imagine if camp had to hire additional employees or contract with local contractors to get this work done?  To my estimates, these volunteers have saved Camp Luther well over $30,000 this year so far!

Volunteering at Camp Luther is a big deal!  It saves a ton of money, it gets a ton of work done, and it brings blessings to those who serve and those who are served.  On behalf of our our staff, our summer campers, summer cottagers, and retreat goers, thank you volunteers!

Like to help?  Join us for our Fall Workbee Weekend, October 1-3 or just give us a call (877-264-CAMP) and set up a time and we’ll come up with the projects.  Thanks!

Keith with young boy at Barrio Nuevo.

On December 28 I headed out on the first-ever Camp Luther Mens Mission Trip to Leticia, Columbia.  Prior to the trip I was asked why I wanted to be a part of a trip like this.  I came up with the four goals listed below.  I never expected that these expectations would be met and more.

Goal #1: Rediscover serving God.

Result: I experienced a new joy of serving in Columbia. Yes, even hard, dirty, manual labor in 90+ degree heat and 121% humidity, was truly a joy. I discovered that I was ready and willing to do whatever was asked of me, because serving was the only thing on my agenda. I learned that when my agenda took a back seat to God’s agenda, I found joy in serving. It’s a lesson I am trying to remember. It makes me wonder how many opportunities are missed in our lives because we are too busy to serve. Perhaps it takes a mission trip, free from the distractions of our everyday lives, for an individual to experience the joy of serving.

Matt pours cement for playground at the orphanage.

Goal #2: Experience firsthand the value of Camp Luther mission trips.

Result: My commitment toward mission trips as ministry has increased exponentially! A trip like this offers so many opportunities for individuals to serve, to witness, to care for those in need, and to grow in their faith. I witnessed the lives of eleven men change over the course of a week in Columbia. They grew in faith, in community, in compassion, and developed a greater awareness of what God is doing in the lives of believers all over the world.  While each and every one of us was committed to doing everything possible to bless the lives of the children of LaAljaba Orphanage and the impoverished people of Barrio Nuevo, we found that it was our lives that were blessed through them. There is great value in short-term missions.  They help those in need, and they inspire and encourage the hearts of those serving.

Goal #3: Set an example for my own family.

Result:    It is my hope that this mission trip will serve as an inspiration to those who are closest to me.  So far so good.  My wife Debbie is very interested in participating in a Womens Mission trip tentatively planned for late this year.  Bekah, my daughter, has asked why there isn’t a trip available for high school students?  She has also asked about sending clothing and shoes to the girls at the orphanage in Leticia.  Andrew, our eight grader, has asked a lot of questions but is currently uncommitted.  Two out of three ain’t bad.  Seriously I hope that they have seen that I am committed to serving God, and not because it’s my job as a camp director, but as a response to God’s call in my life to serve Him.

Goal #4: Experience the changed-life I have witnessed in others.

Mens Mission Team with Anna, Lucy, and Kimberly who work at the La Aljaba Orphanage.

Result: Unlike a vacation, a mission trip is a spiritual experience. My faith was encouraged through Bible study, prayer, and worship, but also in other ways. I saw eleven men grow in unity and faith as they lived and worked side by side. I witnessed believers of Columbia and the United States gather together in worship, prayer and song (Spanish and English together). I witnessed the joy on the faces of those who received our gifts of service and food. I witness the happy faces of individuals who have very little in terms of possessions, but are rich in so many other ways. My faith was encouraged through this mission trip. This trip has renewed my zeal for ministry and given me a heart for missions that I didn’t know before, especially for the poor and needy in our world.

Is God calling you to serve Him through a short-term mission trip?  Consider getting involved through Camp Luther, your congregation or many organizations of the church reaching out in God’s love to our world.  It will change your life.

More photos of our trip.

]]> http://blog.campluther.com/2010/01/12/mission-trips-changed-lives/feed/ http://blog.campluther.com/2009/11/18/kids-helping-kids/ http://blog.campluther.com/2009/11/18/kids-helping-kids/#comments Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:36:23 +0000 Gary Vought http://blog.campluther.com/?p=203 Camp Luther summer campers are doing great things for children in South America! Each summer campers are encouraged to drop their left over canteen cash into our mission trip fund. Others like Family Camp cottages and other visitors also contribute the fund. This past summer campers were very generous and donated over $4000!

Those funds will soon be on their way to South America to help children of orphanages in Peru and Columbia. Two teams leave Wisconsin on December 28 to share these gifts. In Peru, our college-age mission team is visiting Hogar DeLos Ninos Orphanage near Lima. The funds are used to purchase gifts for the children and needed supplies for the orphanage the runs on a shoe-string budget. In Columbia, our men’s mission team will be constructing playground equipment for children in an orphanage in Latista and distributing meals to the very poor at Barrio Nuevo a slum on the edge of town.  Without the gifts of our summer campers, these projects and improvements wouldn’t be possible.

Thank you Camp Luther Campers for providing the funds for ministry to take place in South America.  Though each contribution may be small, together we are doing a great thing in sharing the love of Jesus with these children.

Pastor Barg has been a fixture at Camp Luther Workbees since 1973.  His permanently assigned workbee project is splitting firewood for campfires.  Ed regularly arrives on Thursday prior to the weekend and turns a two-day project into a four-day event.   Pastor Barg is also our main coordinator of Campbell Soup Labels (now UPC symbols).  He has cut and trimmed hundreds of thousands, perhaps a million of these labels over the years.  All of which turn into cash, supplying Camp Luther with thousands of dollars in athletic and av equipment over the years.  In addition, Pastor Barg annually coordinates a volunteer group from his home congregation, St. John’s Lutheran in Ladysmith, WI.   They join us each winter or spring a are responsible for getting huge mailings our of our office.

Pastor Barg is a tremendous example of Christian service.  His love for the Lord and the church is evident to all.   Ed’s long term consistent volunteering has had a wonderful positive impact on the ministry of Camp Luther.  Since 1973, Pastor Barg has attended approximately 108 Workbee Weekends.  On those weekends he has split firewood for a minimum of 16 hours, usually more.  That’s 1728 hours, which is 33 weeks of wood splitting.   His efforts have made it possible for Camp Luther to enjoy approximately 500 campfires a summer for cookouts and campfire devotions.  That’s 18,000 campfires since 1973.   If you were a camper at Camp Luther at some point in the last 36 years, it is very likely that Pastor Barg split the wood for your campfire.

Pastor Barg we thank you for all that you have done at Camp Luther in service to the Lord.  You are a great example to all.  May God continue to bless you, his loyal and humble servant.

Bubba with another satisfied customer!

For the third year, we offered an online survey and invited parents to participate.  273 completed the evaluation this year.   Each year we offer a FREE camp to one individual who completed the survey.  Congratulations Ashley Jahnke of Gillett, WI who has won a free camp in 2010!

Here’s a sampling of the responses to our survey.

Which camp did you attend? 82% of those responding attended Youth Camp

How did you learn about camp? 48% of those responding heard about Camp Luther through their congregations. 21% said it is a family tradition.

What was your primary reason for choosing Camp Luther? 39% You teach the faith and values we want for our child. 20% Our child ask to go to Camp Luther. 14% We received and Every Kid to Camp award.

What was your impression of the Camp Luther staff? 68% Outstanding. 28% other positive responses.

What was your child’s reaction to camp? 80% “It was awesome!” 18% other positive responses.

Do you believe the experience had a positive impact on your child’s faith? 0% said “No”. Only   3% said “I’m not sure.” 97% made positive comments.

Rating different aspects of camp. Dining Hall food has the fewest Excellent ratings at 51%. The Villages had the highest Excellent ratings at 82%.

Least favorite meal at camp? Mexican dishes and eggs

Are you planning to send your child back to Camp Luther in 2010? 83% responded “Yes”. 17% responded “Not Sure”.

Our survey also asked the following questions which received hundreds of unique responses.

If you could add a single camp activity what would it be?

What activity at Camp Luther should be dropped?

What was your favorite meal at camp?

What would you have changed about your experience?

What suggestions do you have for camp?

Thank you to every one of the hundreds of responses, thoughts, and ideas. We are of course thankful for the overwhelmingly positive response to our summer camp programs and we take your responses and input very seriously and will use this information in our preparations for summer 2010!

]]> http://blog.campluther.com/2009/10/09/results-of-our-summer-camp-2009-summer-camp-survey/feed/ http://blog.campluther.com/2009/07/19/how-are-we-doing/ http://blog.campluther.com/2009/07/19/how-are-we-doing/#comments Sun, 19 Jul 2009 13:54:28 +0000 Gary Vought http://blog.campluther.com/?p=175 Half way through out summer camp season I decided to take a peek at our online Summer  Camp Survey, just to see how we are doing.   111 parents have taken the survey so far.  I will have specific results at the end of the summer, but I thought I would post a few of the wonderful comments we are hearing about Summer 09!

“Sam enjoys reading his bible much more now than before camp. Thank you Camp Luther.”

“THEY (the staff) ARE VERY OUTGOING & POSITIVE - A GREAT INFLUENCE FOR ANY CHILD”

So how are we doing?   We like what we are hearing.  Its our mission at camp to build up the children of God.  These comments seem to be a good indicator that we are doing just that.   This is not to say that there aren’t areas of our camp and program that can’t be improved upon.  And we welcome and have received some of those comments also.

If you are a summer camp parent and haven’t taken the survey yet, please go to www.campluther.com and click on Summer Survey.  We want to hear from you.

Counselors: Cresendo, Book and Crush

We love our Camp Luther Summer Staff.  Here’s why:

1. They bring fun and enthusiasm!  Fun is a big part of what we do as a camp.  Without our summer staff we would haven’t any fun, and without fun we wouldn’t have any campers. Our staff makes camp fun!
2. They are full of energy.  Being a counselor is hard work.  At 43, I would last about 3 days as a counselor.  Its amazing to watch what the do and how they are able to keep going, even when they are tired.  In other words, our full time staff couldn’t do this without them.
3. They love kids.   How do I know.  Today as I looked at the tear-filled eyes of our departing campers I could tell they have been loved.
4. The have a heart for mission.  More and more we are seeing young people on staff with a since desire to serve.  They aren’t here to just for the fun, staff friendships or outstanding salary :), they are here to give back and to help young people know of what they have found in Jesus Christ.

In recent years we have begun to look at our Summer Staff not as employees, but as an important leadership program of Camp Luther.  It is our goal that they not only perform as counselors and contribute to our mission, but that through their time here, they are also built up and ministered to.    And that is our sincere hope and prayer for the 32 young persons on our staff this summer.  We pray that they are able to give, and give and give while they are here, but leave with even more.

Please keep our 2009 Camp Luther Summer Staff in your prayers as the give it everything they have for the sake of the Gospel.  May God grant them everything they need in doing his work.

Learn more about our staff here.

For thousands of children, youth, families, and adults, crossing the little bridge has come to represent a crossing over into a different world.  Its why Camp Luther is so special to so many people.  Their lives have literally changed through their experience.  Here is what I see happening the lives of the people who cross the little bridge.

For children coming to camp, crossing the little bridge means crossing into a place of fun, and laughter, and excitement.  A place where counselors are interested in “me”.  A place where Jesus love overflows in the smiles and the hugs of the people they meet.

When youth and young adults cross the little bridge they enter into a place where they are free to be themselves.  A place where they can express their faith without fear of criticism or ridicule.  A place where they can ask questions without feeling judged.  A place where they can discover who they really are in the midst of love and forgiveness.  A place where they can realize that being a Christian can be fun!

For families, crossing the little bridge means a chance to relax and be freed from the busyness of our everyday lives.  A place where they can let the kids run and play and have fun, without worrying about their safety.  A place where they can renew their relationships with one another and develop new friendships with other Christian families.  A place where memories are made.

For adults, the little bridge brings a sense of relief.  Relief from the stress and hassles of our lives.  A place where they can take a peaceful walk in the midst of God’s creation.  A place where they can rediscover God’s Word and find solitude and rest for their soul.   A place where they can find joy in a heartfelt conversation with another believer.

Crossing a bridge can change a life.  We see it all the time.

What about me?  I can’t even imagine how many times I have crossed the little bridge since that first time in 1979.  10,000?   To be honest some of the mystique has worn off, it is a job after all, and so crossing the little bridge sometimes brings stress, worry or weariness.   But thankfully, on most days, it is still a joy to cross the bridge and enter into the world where God changed my life.

How about you?  How has your life changed through Camp Luther?  Let us know by posting below.

I would like to invite you to cross the little bridge some time soon and discover or re-discover, the ways in which God might change your life through the people and the ministry of  Camp Luther.

Gary “Woody” Vought
Director of Outdoor Ministry

www.campluther.com

Have an image we should consider?  Let me know.

Thanks for your input.  Have a super May!  See you this summer!

Woody

I’ve been thinking a lot about this verse lately.  My journey though Lent this year was a good time of reflection, and much of that reflection has reminded me of how very thankful I am for the blessings in my life and for Camp Luther.  So I thought I would compile a list of what I am most thankful for this spring.   Here’s my list:

1. I’m thankful our March 31 Summer Camp registration report was down just 2%.   In a year when the “experts” have predicted a 10-15% decline in summer camp attendance, we are on track to meet or exceed last summer.
2. I’m thankful for the opportunity to visit Trinity Lutheran Church in Klein, TX.  It was my first job after college.  My wise and dedicated co-workers there had a huge influence in my life.  I am thankful for those three years in Texas.
3. Over 60 college students and over 90 high school students applied for summer staff and junior counselor positions at camp this year.  We are thankful and honored that so many outstanding young people want to be a part of the Camp Luther ministry.  We consider it a great complement that they would want to serve on our staff.
4. I’m thankful for my family.
5. I’m thankful for those who support our ministry.  A simple request of our donors to fund our Campership program in a year when we are seeing more and more requests for financial aid, has resulted in approximately $16,000 donations.  With those funds in place, we believe we will be able to meet all of our campership requests.
6. I’m thankful for the dedicated people that I get to work with at Camp Luther and in the North Wisconsin District.
7. I am thankful for the good health of my whole family.
8. I am thankful for the tremendous friendships that have blessed my life through my association with Camp Luther.
9. I am thankful for so many individuals that are willing to serve Camp Luther as volunteers who fix, and build, and clean.  And for so many other who serve on committees and tasks forces.  They are wonderful blessings to this ministry.
10. I am thankful to be able to serve the Lord in ministry in the special place that has made such a huge difference in my life and in my faith…….An opportunity to live an attitude of gratitude.

What are you thankful for?  How would like changed if we all focused on what we do have rather than on what we don’t have?

God’s Blessings - Woody