WSS May '08 Ministry Report

“Our oldest daughter is now a U.S. Public Health Service LT on USS ___ with a USPHS Det on a humanitarian mission in Central America. She’s been working with the navy chaplain, a Catholic priest who seems to really be a man of God and an encouragement to the whole team. Our son is deployed to the Persian Gulf, a P-3 pilot on his first “real” deployment. Our youngest son is reactor controls assistant on USS ___ Gold. He and his wife have connected up with OCF in JAX/Kings Bay. All of us have greatly profited from OCF and WSS, and my kids, during their formative years especially from AO! So keep up the great work!” -- Navy retiree, OCF member, WSS attendee, AO! donor

Overview

May was a busy month hosting groups and getting ready for summer programs. We started the month with our dear friends, the OCF Volunteers for the spring work period. Then we hosted weekend groups including the WSS Advisory Committee, Christian Center ladies, Quantico OCF’ers, Halvorson wedding guests, NCR OCF, Youth Leadership Bedford County and Allegheny Outback! staff training. We met with the engineer for the driveway and road plan for Heritage House and set the date for the road construction.

Significant Events

- The ever-faithful OCF Volunteers gathered on 30 April and worked straight for a week and a half on numerous needed projects to beautify, repair and improve the facilities and grounds here at WSS. These great warriors built two new cabins at Camp Caleb, re-tarred the barn roof, planted flowers, raked and landscaped around Harrison House, painted guest rooms, mended bedspreads, upholstered a chair, built stairs to the barn loft, repaired the lumber rack, wired the driveway lights, leveled and set a stone table at the picnic area, patched the porch decking, painted the porch roof, cleaned gutters and roofs of debris, refinished dressers and chairs, led devotions and Bible studies, played “Hand and Foot” cards, told jokes at lunch and generally enjoyed fellowshipping with one another in the Spirit. What a fun way to stay involved in military ministry! I would hope more folks would take advantage of such a wonderful ministry opportunity. We truly appreciate the following who came this spring: Andy & Reba Anderson, Richard Garverick, Johnnie & Diane Johnson, Mark & Sharon Lintz, Jim & Lu Mattern, Mike & Debbie McDonald, Bob Nelson, Lyn & Lynne Neyman, Tom Noreen & Ben, Roy & Liz Springer, Curt Stanfield, Sam & Diane Tate, Bob Thompson, Kirstina Rehberg and Dick & Carol Zahn. The fall volunteer work period is set at 24 September through 3 October, 2008.

- Quantico OCF folks met here their spring retreat. Two families and 6 Lieutenants gathered with Rick Hamme for a super series of challenging talks by Chaplain Guy Lee, USN who led us in examining principles of biblical leadership.

- Betsy Halvorson and Elijah Peters were married in Manns Choice on 17 May, and Harrison House was full of guests who attended the wedding and reception that followed at the Halvorson’s home. It was a grand time of reunion with lots of Art’s and Paula’s as well as Elijah’s two parents’ families. We served a Saturday brunch buffet for which Barb Pensyl and our food service staff prepared delicious options. We saw many friends including Greg and Mary Kaye St. Cyr (Greg performed the wedding ceremony), Dr. Bob and Nancy Spoede (Paula’s parents), COL (Ret.) Rick and Carolyn Grube, CAPT (Ret.) Glenn and Sue Whaley. It is a joy to have Art and Paula in the local area and to have their occasional volunteer help in the WSS ministry.

- Mark and Deb Benz, NCR OCF representatives, brought a group of folks for the annual NCR OCF Memorial Day Retreat and had a great time of teaching from Chaplain Mike Dugal, USA. It was another small group, but the Holy Spirit was present as Mike challenged us from the book of Ephesians. Mike’s wife Lynette did a great job also leading us in musical worship. Her vocal and piano accompaniment talents were a true blessing to all. This weekend we particularly enjoyed seeing CPT Jim Grube and his wife Karen, both of whom had previously served on our permanent staff.

- The Allegheny Outback! (AO!) staff reported aboard on 26 May for the start of their training before moving directly into AO#1 which began on 31 May. We are particularly blessed this summer to have these four leaders: Curtis Bowden, Angie Tobias, Arne Ulbricht and Jessica Arnold. AO! is good hands with these senior staffers, and we pray that hearts of military dependent teens will be open to the Holy Spirit. Pray with us for this!

Challenges and Opportunities

The pace of the Growing and Building Campaign quickens as we head into the contracts for driveway permitting, road construction and architectural design documents. We are 77% of the way toward the $7.5 million goal for starting construction on Heritage House! This is a great opportunity for increased ministry, and it brings with it tremendous challenges for coordination and timing among the WSS staff as well as the capital campaign steering committee members. In addition, the startup of a new effort among Bedford County and W. Pennsylvania citizens to raise funds to sponsor a major area of Heritage House will take a good amount of my time.

Hindrances

Water leaks in old construction continue to dog us, but Fred is staying the course. I’m thankful for him and Aaron and the way they make the facilities and grounds look good.

Ministry Support

We are truly grateful to God for the work and support of the members of our Advisory Committee. We held the spring meeting on 2-3 May and were blessed by all who attended and lifted us up with encouragement and good counsel. They were: Mike & Brenda Piirto, Cliff & Gail Saxton, Lee & Marcie Deremer, Nat Hale, Mickey & Ruth Garverick, Art Halvorson and Penny Wiseman. Thanks to Mike Piirto, new chairman, who coordinated the meeting and led us to the Throne before each session. Also, Gail Saxton recorded the minutes of the meeting and Cliff edited them. LTC Joe Orosz, USA (Ret.) has been a great help to WSS on all the work relating to the engineering and architectural contracts in preparation for breaking ground on Heritage House (scheduled for mid-2009). Joe and Cathy faithfully remember WSS staff birthdays and anniversaries as well as invest their time and energy directly in furthering the ministry here. We are truly grateful to God for all these servants.

Ministry Recommendations

None new.

Prayer Requests

- Pray for all who come to our summer programs to be encouraged and equipped for reaching out for Christ in the military. Pray for the college-age and teen-age summer staff members to receive grace and energy for the whole summer. Pray for all the speakers and mentor couples to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Pray for us on the permanent staff, too.

- Praise God for Bob Thompson being back home after his fall and recovering from broken ribs during the OCF Volunteer work period this spring.

- Pray for many to respond to the Growing and Building Campaign and the need for new facilities at WSS and Spring Canyon. Pray for the Bedford County Veterans Project as we seek to raise funds within the local/regional area. Pray for Doug Braendel as he coordinates this new effort.

- Pray for our troops deployed in combat situations and for OCF families who are separated because of deployments. Pray for our nation’s leaders and President Bush to stay the course in the face of political uncertainty.

Blessings to all,
Clay Thomas