Our 6 Workcampers and 2 adult leaders packed up the 14 passenger van on Saturday, June 25^th (Beth’s 16^th birthday!).  Although a seasoned veteran Workcamper Colton Weisser wasn’t able to join us after working diligently to fundraise, the group kept him in our prayers as Hannah O’Donnell was able to attend Workcamp for the first time in Colton’s place.  First timers also included Mallory Parsons (friend of Beth McCabe), Nick Zamora, and Clint Mack, our male chaperone.  Veteran Workcampers that attended included Trent Lewis, Jordan Geiselhart, Beth McCabe, and Brea Atkinson.

As the longest Workcamp travels yet (nearly 800 miles!), the group traveled across Minnesota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and into Montana, giving up cell phones, Ipods, home cooked meals, a comfortable bed, and barefoot showers, all to act as God’s hands and feet in Mission Work.  After a day of travels (including time travel into Mountain Time!) and visits to the Corn Palace, Wall Drug, the Badlands, and Mount Rushmore, we stayed at our host church in Piedmont Valley, South Dakota.  On Sunday, we worshipped with our host congregation of Piedmont Valley Lutheran Church, and we headed off to arrive in Busby, Montana at the Northern Cheyenne Tribal School, amped up after a good nights’ rest and began to prepare ourselves for the week ahead.

During this week, our youth collaborated with 350 youth from across the country in service, worship, and daily devotions.  The many projects our youth and chaperones encountered included painting, siding, scraping, building wheelchair ramps, and more!  Each of the youth and chaperones was put into a separate “Work Crew”, designed to develop and utilize each members’ skills in the project.

The theme for the 2011 Workcamp was “Connect”, based on John 15:5, "I am the vine, you are the branches.  Remain in me and I in you, and you will produce much fruit.”  Each day, work crews and our Bethesda group spent time sharing in devotions based on a snippet of this verse.  Think of it as intense, weeklong Bible Study!

This week was an INCREDIBLE experience, and we couldn’t have done any of it without the amazing support of Bethesda!  Thank you all for your prayers, notes, support, and of course, funds to help get us there!  We’re already looking forward to planning next year’s trip!  A very VERY special thank you to Clint Mack for giving of his time and talent as a chaperone for this year’s Workcamp!

Please join us for the 2011 Workcamp Shareholders Dessert on Sunday, September 11^th at 7 pm in the Sanctuary.  We will share our stories, pictures, and experiences, and serve dessert.  All are welcome to attend!