Bethel Camp News – October 24, 2011
We had the privilege of hosting about 25 people who came down to Breathitt county for the wedding celebration of Kimberly Miller (daughter of Tommy & Carol Miller of Clayhole, KY) and Hans Stutzman. Hans’ parents were two of the guests and we always feel so honored to be able to spend some time with them. Hans’ dad is an organic corn and soybean farmer in Illinois and his wife Carol delivers mail for the postal service. Time spent with them is always a joy. They both have a way of being both candid and encouraging at the same time.
Needless to say, the wedding was great. The bride looked beautiful and the smile on the groom’s face as she walked down the aisle was complete joy. I know that God’s blessing rests on their marriage. They have followed in obedience to his ways, saving themselves for each other until marriage. They asked for and received Godly counsel from their parents as they pursued this relationship. And now have started this relationship by asking their parents to bless the marriage in prayer during the wedding ceremony. I’m excited to see what God does with another relationship that is devoted to him.
I want to use this space to say a word of Thank you to the sponsors of the Talcum Church youth group who invited our boy Judah to join the on a trip to see the “Casting Crowns” concert in Lexington on Friday evening. From what I heard, it was a great concert that challenged the youth to continue growing in their faith. While we were waiting for the call saying that they were getting close to home, Ruthie and I had fun making cinnamon rolls for the guests here at camp. They had asked for a continental breakfast on Saturday morning before the wedding, and we thought that throwing in some fresh cinnamon rolls would be appropriate. It made it even more appropriate that the cinnamon roll recipe we were using came from a cousin of the family, Heather Wesselhoeft, who spent 6 months here helping out with stuff at camp. Here’s a copy of that recipe if anyone wants to try it out:
3 T. yeast
1 c. warm water (110-115 degrees)
¾ c. sugar
2 tsp. salt
1/3 c. butter (at room temp.)
1 egg, beaten
1½ c. warm milk
7 – 7½ c. bread flour
1 stick butter, softened
1 c. brown sugar
1 T. cinnamon
Frosting:
1 lb. box powdered sugar
2 T. butter
1 tsp. vanilla
milk (or coffee)
Dissolve yeast in water. Add sugar, salt, 1/3 c. butter, egg, milk and 3 cups of flour. Stir until smooth. Mix rest of flour to make a soft dough. Turn out on a lightly floured board. Knead 8-10 minutes. Put in a greased bowl; cover and let rise about 1 hour. Punch down; roll out into a square and spread softened butter on dough. Combine sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over dough. Roll up jelly roll style. Slice about an inch thick, put in pans and let rise 30 minutes. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes or until light brown. Combine powdered sugar, butter, vanilla and enough milk or coffee to make a smooth frosting. Spread frosting over baked cinnamon rolls after they have cooled for 10 minutes.
The Little Buckhorn Creek Mennonite Church is having its homecoming services this coming weekend. Everyone is welcome to join them as they celebrate God’s goodness and petition for his power and his grace to be active in our lives as we finish out this year of our Lord. Services start at 7:00 Friday and Saturday Evening and then at 9:30 on Sunday morning. There will be a carry-in dinner after the Sunday service.
There are numerous projects to complete during the off-season months to prepare for next summer’s camps as well as keep the campgrounds in tip-top shape. Let Roger know if you would have some time to volunteer for any of the following projects. Painting cabin floors, cleaning shower stalls and tubs, cutting trees, transplanting flowers and trees, making signs for hiking trails, fixing fences, and lots of similar odd jobs.
Lately we have had the opportunity to host a number of elk and deer hunters for their hunting expeditions in the area. We are located close to the Paul Van Booven wildlife management area and that gives the hunters easy access to that large hunting area. One of the hunters, who had shot an elk with his bow, followed the trail for a good while and then lost it, asked me if I knew of anyone who had some good tracking dogs who could help pick up the scent. I didn’t know who would have those kind of trained animals. If you have a resource like that and want to give me your name and number, I’d keep it here at the camp office to share with hunters who required those special services.
The fall weather has been a real joy to me lately. The cool mornings and warm crisp afternoons have lifted my spirits. I found myself in the middle of the yard the other day with my hands lifted up to heaven and a spirit of thanksgiving on my heart as I voiced out loud the thanks that was in my heart. I told God that he was worthy of all my service. I let him know that he is worthy of great honor. I wanted to take a minute to just stand, breathe in fresh air, feel the joy of being free from the slavery of sin, and show by my actions that I was willing to look crazy to the world if it meant bringing glory to His name.
May the red leaves remind you of God love, the yellow of his holiness, the orange of his grace to combine the red and yellow together in the cross. May the green pine needles remind you of his constant care for you that never wavers, and may the brown leaves that hang on to the beech trees until spring remind you of His persistence in pursuing the ones he loves.
