A Simple Way a Crowd is Making a Difference

A whole crowd of people gathered the cast off things, piled them on the lawn and welcomed the masses! Some call it crazy. We call it amazing! Welcome to a glimpse of the Yard Sale Fundraiser in Fort Myers, Florida.

Several years ago one adult group of people began to bless Whisper Mountain by selling a few things. The one simple idea has since exploded into four storage containers getting filled all throughout the year until the first weekend of March rolls around. Then all the willing and able come set up, run and clean up from the yard sale. IN THE FLORIDA HUMIDITY. (mind-blowing)

This year the sale ended early due to rain, but the volunteers stuck it out with a smile! So amazing! Although cut short, the success of this sale still managed to bring in thousands of dollars to support Whisper Mountain Camp. Seriously, do you understand how huge this is to us?

Even though we are sort of in the routine of them doing this work (and our guys going down to help out each year), we are still continually blown away by so many people willing to give so much of their time, energy and treasure. We know it’s a sacrifice, which makes receiving the blessing so entirely humbling. And encouraging, but so humbling.

While providing financially for the camp, they also give in other HUGE ways too! You may not know it, but ministry can be lonely and discouraging work at times. The job requires grit, resolve and perseverance. When people sacrifice even a little to be a part of the mission — there’s just no words. The overwhelm of support and encouragement helps to renew our resolve and grit to help us keep on keeping on. We feel stood with and if you’ve ever felt that, you know what we mean!

Whether friends of the ministry stopped in to say hello or volunteers came to do the work or shoppers came to shop: thank you to each of you who were a part of this Yard Sale in whatever way you were able to be a part! God sees and knows and we trust Him to bless you in ways we never will be able to. Thank you for standing with us and helping Whisper Mountain in the work of proclaiming Christ to teens!

To God be the glory!

staff take a road trip | GIC 2019

A couple weeks ago our staff hit the road and headed down to Florida for a week to participate in what’s called the Global Impact Conference! As a supporting church of Whisper Mountain Camp, McGregor Baptist invited us (and many other missionaries they support) to participate in their weekend of blessing and encouragement. We couldn’t be more thankful to have been included.

Much of our week was spent connecting with people, life groups, churches, families and friends. The community of people within Whisper Mountain is amazing! People who share our heart to proclaim Christ to teens, who support us and participate with us, who encourage us to keep going! Amazing: the number of people God pulls into His work here at WM! We wouldn’t be able to do any of what we do without the community He’s pulled together! (If you’re part of this – thank you for being here!)

Along with the event, gathering and meeting with people, and some of us getting brave to speak in front of crowds, we were also able to have a few stolen moments of play and relaxation! A quick swim here, a hurried beach walk there, a nap when possible.

How refreshing to find a piece of hold still and enjoy the beauty of winter days in Southwest Florida! We were completely thankful for the hospitality of Brad and Melloe Nash! They welcomed us, invited us to make ourselves at home (which we took them up on!) and overwhelmed us with love and fellowship and goodness of all kinds.

We put together a video to give you a glimpse into our trip! We hope you enjoy!

Watch the Video

Thank you to all who made the time to meet with us, encourage us, and give to us in some way! You are a big reason we remain encouraged to keep going in this thing called camp ministry!

Come visit soon!

 

 

Author + Photography | Cassi

success was caught while fishing

Most of the Whisper Mountain Staff enjoyed a quick weekend in Florida for an annual fundraiser put on by some board members. The Casting For Kids Fishing Tournament turned out to be quite a success, in large part due to the spearheading by this guy.

James, with the help of many wonderful people, led the event with integrity and finesse! (Though they may not have felt the finesse part!) Those of us spectating or participating felt it!

Anglers had hours on the water to catch their big fish before weigh in.

With boats tied down at the Port Sanibel Marina, anglers enjoyed Lighthouse Restaurant's a/c and good food throughout the rest of the evening's silent auction, raffles, and announcement of the winners.

As with anything, the people are what make things great!

(tons of people not pictured!)

Lots of work, fun and connecting…a team pulled together to support the work of Whisper Mountain. We are grateful to all who touched this event in some way. We praise God for the success He provided to keep us working away for Him! May He be proclaimed!

Would You Cast a Line?

In less than a month's time, anglers in Southwest Florida will be boarding their boats in the early morning hours, gliding to their favorite (and ever so secret) fishing holes of the Gulf in hopes of landing the best catch of the day! Anglers young and old, experienced and newbies, male and female. Anglers with a desire to help the teens of today and a few just wanting another reason to get out on the water and maybe win a little cash. Whatever the reason, whoever the angler, Casting for Kids Fishing Tournament is in the making!

{photo by Debbie Propp}
At the helm of this Fundraising Event (for Whisper Mountain) is a man named James. An avid fisherman himself, but with his line cast in hopes of hooking others on the vision of partnering with Whisper Mountain to Proclaim Jesus through camp ministry!

{there's even a billboard!! Photo by James Propp!}

3 reasons why I share this with you:

1. If you are a Fort Myers, Florida fisherman/woman/family, you have the awesome opportunity to be a part of this fundraising tournament! Visit the CastingForKids website to sign up! (Our staff looks forward to seeing you down there!)

2. If you are a small business owner or generous individual, James is looking for themed gift items to be donated for the silent auction held at the event. (Anything related to your products/services or a group of items with a theme such as Dinner & Movie, Mother's Day, Family Fun, Backyard BBQ, etc) Contact James or let me know if you're interested in helping out in this way!

3. For everyone else, would you mind praying for James as he gives every ounce of his energy and spare time to this endeavor? A great amount of work (stress, headache…) goes into an event like this! Thanks for helping out in this way!

After spending all their energy, doing what they knew to do but lacking success, fishermen friends only found a catch when they trusted the God of the ocean standing on the beach! May we be so bold today!

Sunshine & Palm Trees

[photo by ramsey. see more here!]

If you've followed this blog for at least a year (God bless you!), you may know that the WM Staff travels each year to participate in a mission's conference at a church down in Florida. Their GIC (Global Impact Celebration) event brings missionaries together to love on and encourage. But bigger than that is their heart of having their church body get involved in some way with the ministries represented. You know, get off the couch and do something type of deal!

Sadly, me and the kiddos were left in the dust this year (our decision– That algebra, you know!). Which means I don't have the usual postcards to share with you all. But I do have a few scenes Shaun sent my way!

His Colorado roots soak in the sunshine and palm trees of Florida's perfect winter weather!

The trip is usually packed full of meeting together with people, catching up with old friends, and speaking to different groups of people. Adding to the full this year is the elementary school hosting WM as their missionaries. Which means speaking in their chapel service each day!

There's been lots of minute to win it games, classroom checks (to resemble camp cabin checks!), and Hope (a last year's summer staff) sharing her experience! The classes are in competition to raise money for WM! Such an awesome way to involve kids. And help WM! (Our WM FB Group page has more pics and a couple video classroom checks if you're interested!)

Well, I'm off to get my man from the airport and hug his neck!

See you back here tomorrow for the Big Picture Game!!

Upside Down & On His Way Down

We've been dragging ourselves along in some areas and feeling upside down in details the past few weeks (mostly Patti) as we prepare for the annual Whisper Mountain Board meeting. Last year's board meeting was held here at WM, but this year Marty will be traveling to Florida. The point is to reconnect the guys with all the happenings of the camp and then to help direct the moving forward of the ministry!
I know there will be a little breathing happening the next few days…a sort of dignified flopping in Patti's case!

If you would, please pray for Marty heading down to FL (and truck to hold up!), wisdom and great sharing of ideas, and a reigniting of excitement and passion for all the camp is about! These guys are awesome! We're glad they are on our team!

What team(s) are you a part of serving alongside of? Isn't it great to be a part of something with others who care about the same thing?! Happy Serving & Happy Day to you!

poles & prayers

The Fishing Tournament is this weekend down in Florida! Would you be willing to pray for this event? Pray for all those organizing and heading it up. Pray for Marty as he will have the opportunity to boldly (and briefly) share Jesus! Pray for safety, a great turnout, pleasant fishing weather, and success as we seek to fundraise scholarships for campers and meeting other financial needs of Whisper Mountain!

Thanks for praying! Your awesome!

May your weekend be filled with goodness!

casting for kids

The above is home of our new Casting for Kids website! What's Casting for Kids? Glad you asked! Well, it's a super fun way to help Whisper Mountain while also getting some Floridians out on the water doing what they love to do! Go fishin'!

Come May, we hope that there will be lots of anglers, sponsors and families joining together! James Propp has spearheaded these fundraising events for us before and he does a phe-nominal job! If you are part of our prayer warriors (that's an unofficial position, just so you know!), would you be in prayer for James as he works his tail off to find sponsors and promote this event? Would you also pray that God would be very involved in the details of this in such a way that He is made famous?! AND if you are a Fort Myers reader, consider joining the fun this May!

Thanks ahead of time, friends! Now, go visit the Casting for Kids site! (There's still more info to be added, but you'll get the idea!!)

Blessings on your Tuesday!

Luettich Lodge

Our little family had the fun priviledge of staying with the Luettich Family while in Florida for the missions conference! Set back in the woods, near a quiet river, surrounded by Florida beauty, the Luettich Lodge was a perfect getaway for us! We had to undergo cabin checks daily! Cabin 2 (my and Shaun's room!) ROCKS! I must say we had a favorable judge (smiling up there in the yellow!). The laughter from the kiddos, the connecting with the adults, the times of prayer for each other…man, it felt like camp for the camp people!

Wayne and April are the humblest, most sincere and fun people to be around! And they are on an exciting journey with God right now. We are thrilled for them and blessed to have spent this week at their home!

Thank you Luettich family for loving us! We will be missing you!

{We enjoyed each of those we were able to spend any amount of time with. Our only regret is that we could not see everyone we care about down there!}

We return feeling refreshed and encouraged! More on that to come this week!

(p.s. in case you didn't realize…colored text above are links, some to the Florida Postcards I posted throughout the week!)

Happy Monday, friends!

Florida Postcards 006

05 February 2012

Dropping in to wish you a peace filled day. 

Warm Greetings,

The WM Crew