11/19/2024
2024 year end newsletter
November 2024
Hello Friends,
Here we are again, the end of another year and the camp is closed until next Spring. Hard to imagine we are so close to 2025. We had another amazing summer at the Lahti Retreat Center (LRC). The season started off with two local schools using the facility in May followed by a very busy summer of rentals, camps and many improvements done as well. The fencing around the new playground was completed, all the walkways by the Superior dorm were replaced with concrete, the chapel steeple was re-stained, the old barn was cleaned up and some repairs done, and we added more hiking trails to the grounds.
The best improvement/upgrade this year was the purchase of a very large commercial lawn mower. It has turned 8+ hours of mowing into just under 4 hours! This is a huge time saver for sure, since time is of essence when you have 20 buildings to maintain and improve. Our goal is to continue to make LRC not only look good but be the best quality camp around.
With that being said, our goal moving forward is to limit the number of reunions so there is ample time to clean and maintain the facility. It was so busy with those rentals this summer it was hard to keep up. Rather than quantity, we feel a quality camp experience is very important. Since the LRC work crew is very limited, it is something we need to take very seriously.
The LBF camp this summer had record numbers and all things went well. Everyone ate well, slept well and heard the Word! Pastor Scott Seppala was the camp pastor and Jenifer Kilpela was the director. They both did an amazing job. Pastor Jesse cooked again, and everyone survived! He is looking to pass the reins next summer and mentor a new LBF cook going forward.
We would like to offer more faith-based opportunities for churches. LRC hosted another Youth Rally and added a Marriage/Couples retreat in September. Both were well attended and will be offered again in the fall of 2025 along with the Ladies Retreat which is early October and generally the last event of the season. This year the scheduled speaker from downstate became ill and couldn’t make it last minute. No worries Lahti Ladies, Judy and Mona carried on and they even featured a special speaker, our own retired chef, Arlene who gave the ladies an encouraging message on Listening to God. Lord willing the speaker from downstate will make it next year. She works for Revive Our Hearts.
Looking ahead, the septic system is an ongoing project we are fundraising for. It will be a major expense, but we need to keep it in the forefront as it is a necessary improvement. Also, 12 exterior doors need to be replaced in 2025. If you are wanting to contribute to the upkeep of LRC, consider giving to this project by donating a door which would cost around $350. Of course, not as beautiful as a statue or flowers, but think of the opportunity for a child who walks through that door and hears the Gospel and makes a Christian friend.
As the director, I would like to thank you all for supporting LRC over the years. Without God’s help I know we would not be where we are today. No matter what, we know God will take care of LRC so please continue to keep LRC in your prayers. Your prayers mean more than all the silver and gold in the world!
Thank you once again, and just know we are all praying for you as our LRC family.
Thank you and God’s Peace,
Pastor Jesse
20… giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20
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