CWE Build | Week Three

If I were to pick one dominant emotion evoked from week to week with these CWE volunteers, I would pick overwhelming gratitude. People! — we are busy, am I right? Life just tends to suck us in and it can feel too hard to step away from. Yet, each week we watch a new set of volunteers show up to camp, ready for the work of the week, ready for their part in this big (to us) project. And each week we feel washed with the gratitude again, just when we thought we couldn’t possibly feel any more grateful.

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I was talking with one of the volunteers this past week and he was commenting on how so many of us just make so many excuses. We make up reasons why we can’t do this or that, and yet there was a man on the crew this past week with bone cancer. If anyone has an excuse it’s him, but he was so excited to be there, taking part in the work. It was convicting and left me feeling again just so grateful for all the people giving up something, stepping away from or out of their lives for a week to serve us. God weaves all our stories for His glory and there’s nothing more beautiful!

Watch this week’s video right here:

We say it a lot around here, but Volunteers, YOU are the superheroes! Thank you for inspiring, serving and leaving the fragrant aroma of your love for God behind with you!

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Author & Photography | Cassi

CWE Build | Week Two

The volunteers from last week’s group were just as excited to be serving as the first week! They were responsible for putting on the roof and siding, and they did so with gusto! Because of their hard work, they finished early and were able to enjoy a little swing by choice on our ropes course at the end!

We’ve put together a video we would love for you to watch! Let us know what you think of all that’s happening!

We are entirely grateful for each person who gives their time and energy and talent to be a part of this building! God continues to encourage us by His provision, but also His people!

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Author & Photography | Cassi

CWE Build | Week One

Well it happened! Week one of CWE building the camper lodge has been completed. In four days, we went from concrete pad to doors and windows! People from Georgia, North and South Carolina, New Jersey, Florida and Ohio came to kick this project off.

These volunteers didn’t let weather, the fact that a boom truck driver couldn’t make it, or sore muscles slow them down. They worked hard, with such willing and cheerful hearts. It was a wonderful thing to behold.

We’ve put together a video documenting this first week of work! Check out the transformation below!

Stay tuned for next week’s update!

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Author & Photography | Cassi

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!

2019 Summer Volunteers | June

Each summer we rely heavily on people coming alongside us to help get the work done. Our summer staff are obviously critical to the work we do, but we are already tell you all about them on our Awesomeness Takes the Stage! (you should go read about them if you’ve been missing out!)

The other set of people that are pretty critical to our work here, especially in the summer, are our week-long volunteers! In fact, we call them our superheroes because most people are giving up vacation time, family time or rearranging a whole slew of things just to make it possible to be here helping out! We are continually blown away by our volunteers! So this post is about telling you all about our June volunteers!

Well, let’s back it up to May when people helped us get ready for summer to begin!

Craig and Weston drove looooooonngg hours to come and clean. COME.AND.CLEAN. What?! (Hold on while we try to pull ourselves together real quick.) We felt so blessed by their hearts to serve us in this way because here at Whisper Mountain Camp the few do it all! (phew. Okay. we’re okay.)

A lovely couple, Richard and Tina, spent their time with us beautifying spaces, building more sets of corn hole boards for our campers (which they have loved BTW), folding a bazillion t-shirts for our camp store, forming the new sidewalk that was put in just before summer, among many other things! Their mark is all over the place!

The Harkness family came alongside us in many ways as well. Shoveling gravel (among other manual labor that young men excel at!), fixing vehicles, helping in the kitchen, etc. Seeing a family serve together is always a beautiful thing, especially when they have a strong work ethic already in place! Such a gift!

Kathy is a woman who mentors and works with college kids at Columbia International University! We met her through Sam, and were delighted she was willing to come and use her skills and know-how in the kitchen to help Patti cook all the food! We were thankful for her thoughtfulness and encouragement while she served!

I’m not sure how it happened at around the same time, but we had a week where we got to have a few past staff come and serve! Whatever ways they could be involved or helpful, they were! Returning during summer can be weird for past summer staff because they see how things are different than when they were here, but their time is also refreshing as they get away, remember how God has been working in their lives, and see how He is working in campers and current staff’s lives. We are thankful for the time we got with Anna, Megan and Kyle!

What a surprise to get Foster and Virginia back again this summer! When we said goodbye last year, we thought it was the last time they’d be back to serve with us! Imagine how sad we were because they are the greatest! Virginia keeps us laughing in the kitchen with her sass and Foster finds so many small things we’ve let go too long to help out with. They are both such an encouragement and help! We love them to pieces!

Dennis and Corrie have been serving with us for years! Dennis, all the things with Marty plus serving on the food line and cleaning dishes! Corrie, all the heavy cooking in the kitchen. We are always thankful for the ways they encourage us and help us when they come! Well, mostly thankful! Dennis can be a real stinker! But we love him and are thankful for the fun he adds to life! We’d keep ’em both around forever if we could!

We are completely thankful for all these who have given their time, energy and talents to work alongside us as we strive to reach teens for Jesus! It takes a team effort to keep all the balls moving! Every minor or major part each of these played while with us has been seen by our God. When we serve with a heart of worship, no matter how big or small the task, we bring Him the greatest glory! May we each be encouraged to continue (or start) serving with a willingness in whatever capacity is made available to us! To God Be the Glory!

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Author + Photography | Cassi

 

 

 

We lost a Super Hero

If you’ve spent any time around Whisper Mountain or read our stuff, it’s likely you’ve read about how highly we esteem our volunteers! We see them as super heroes, really! They are the turbo boost to the work that happens around here — we simply couldn’t do it all without them!

A little more than a week ago, we lost one of our favorite volunteers and friends.

Mr. Alex or Alex Alex, as we called him (his last name was Alexandrov so it was easier!), got to take the flight of a life time as he headed to heaven! Since near the beginning of Whisper Mountain, Alex has served with us! Here are a few of our favorite things about him (that we can share — because he was a character!).

 

He was bold in his faith, willing to do the most tedious tasks, spent his retirement serving (not just us, but multiple non-profits), and helped us keep an eternal perspective. His honesty sometimes surprised us but also made us think. He didn’t seek the spotlight but was well deserving of it.

He always made us laugh, shared a passion for people knowing Jesus, was a man who made mistakes in life but allowed God to work in and through him to make him a brilliant light in this world.

He was family to us and we looked forward to his spring and fall weeks of coming to “live” with us, serve with us, and share in the work of Whisper Mountain.

He brought life to the broken down and new life to the passed over — both in equipment/material things and those things involving people.

We are most thankful for the life Alex shared with us individually and as a ministry. He’s a valuable part of our family. We love him and will miss him greatly.

Until we see you again, Mr. Alex!

 

Summer 2016 Volunteers

We couldn’t do what we do here at Whisper Mountain Camp without people serving alongside us. We also can’t thank those enough who spent their time, talent, vacations and energy to come serve with us this summer! These quick snapshots don’t do justice to what these people did to help us this summer, but here’s a try at helping you see some of the faces of our volunteers!

Some served all summer, some two weeks, most one week! For the big and small things they did — we trust God to bless them for their hearts in serving Him!

Thank you, Aaron, Jamie, Bay, Bruce, Brooke, Lori, Dave, Foster, Virginia, Gary, Nancy, Dave, Nancy, Kaleigh, Selah, Lexi, Mitchell, Traci, Parker, Susan, Chuck, Tara, Olivia, Emily, Bernie and Tayman. We appreciate all the ways you helped Whisper Mountain proclaim Christ this summer! 

holy smokes, folks

Down in south Florida there exists a small community of people with a really big heart to come alongside the ministry of Whisper Mountain! Last year, one bright idea later, these people found themselves worn out, but successful in having raised thousands of dollars for WM. A couple weekends ago, this same small community organized enormous amounts of donated goods to sell at their second yard sale with all proceeds to be given to WM. If you’ve ever had your own yardsale you know what work these sales can be. Times that by 100 — holy smokes folks!

Spear heading the small community of people are Dave and Nancy Kreller, two wonderful servant leaders who walk an exemplary life of faith, who welcome people with sincerity and grace, and who display super hero strength under stressful circumstances. They are responsible for many of the details of this event and we couldn’t be more thankful for them!

As great as Dave and Nancy are, they couldn’t do this on their own. The event took an army of awesome people with willing hearts to give their time and energy and resources. Being on the receiving end of something like this feels overwhelming. Humbling. Encouraging. Exciting. The support we feel strengthens us to continue carrying on in this (very often) challenging work of camp ministry while also meeting the practical needs of the ministry. In the end, this year’s yard sale raised $15,959.61!! Pick up your jaws, guys — that really happened! Thank you, thank you, thank you to any of you who were a part of this event. We thank God for you and for His provision through you!

(A BIG THANK YOU to Tricia Coggins for her ninja photo skills to capture this event for me to share with you here!)

(see more about last year’s yard sale)

power in the lines

After days of working endlessly to repair a home structure problem. After piling kids and belongings into the car for a twelve hour drive north. After car problems leave them stranded for hours. After climbing the last of the trip into the mountains of North Carolina, we welcomed Keith and Cheryl and family to Whisper Mountain. Cheryl had been praying for four years to be able to come up to camp! Four years! Keith offered us the skills of an electrician for the building of our Volunteer Cabin.

We enjoyed the company, the help, and the sacrifices they made to spend a week with us. Cheryl spent her first Easter away from her family in order to be here. Her husband missed days of work. Their son is battling muscular dystrophy and being on the hills was difficult for him.

We are always floored by the generosity of people investing their time, talent or resources to further the work being accomplished here at camp. We made new friends and new memories and are completely grateful for all this family offered during their time with us.

Thank you Keith and Cheryl and family for all you sacrificed to be with us and lend a helping hand! We very much appreciate you and look forward to seeing you all again!

yardsale of the year + video

About a week ago Ramsey, Shaun and I had the opportunity to fly to Florida to witness first hand the body of Christ in action!

 
An adult Sunday School class put together a large scale yard sale in an effort to raise money for Whisper Mountain! The only word that keeps flashing through my mind is overwhelmed. The amount of items donated, the amount of volunteers giving up their time and energy, the amount of work put into this, the amount of money raised, the enormous amount of encouragement we received from the sacrifice of others–all of it overwhelming!

Everything under the sun seemed to be at this yard sale! The faces you see above are only a few of the volunteers who worked the event. These people, who have their own busy lives with work and family, put in hours upon hours of their time. Late nights getting ready, early morning setups and sale, loooooong day of selling and organizing and keeping up with the buyers, overnight guarding of the tents, preparing and serving of food for all the volunteers, helping customers load their treasures, clean up at the end…the work seemed endless. But I never heard anyone complain–they were all cheerful and just glad to be a part! Folks, that's humbling!

Even with a rainy day, this simple group of people sharing a heart for Jesus raised over $15,000 to benefit Whisper Mountain! In case it's not registering–this is a BIG DEAL! An overwhelming gift, both financially and spiritually as they continue to allow us to invest in lives for eternity! 

We've put together a short video capturing a little more of the event for you. 

 
{if unable to view video, click here}

Thank you to each of you who gave your unwanted items, who worked until you were bone tired, and who came and bought goods or gave a donation. And thanks to all those who stopped by to see us! Each of you is such an encouragement! It was a beautiful thing to witness the body of Christ in action! To God be all the glory!

[A few more photos can be found on our Instagram feed.]