When I was asked to become the new Director of Deerfoot Lodge, 1982, my father began telling me stories about the camp. He had been on the camp staff (1931-2) while preparing to be a medical doctor on the mission field. DL was just beginning: 12-16 campers each session. My father told me about the program, and he told me wonderful stories about Dad Kunz, the founding Director. Dad Kunz was a very special person to father –who was a teenager when his father had died.

When I became the Director of DL, I had only seen the camp once – on a bitter cold, snowy winter day! The following June I arrived at camp three days after our family had moved to New York from Texas. Jeff Littauer was opening camp – there were no work weekends. The only staff member I knew well was Jeff – who served as Guide leader that summer. I had met Dave Naysmith at his home. Nay had been at DL perhaps 15 years, and he knew the program and the staff very well. Nay helped me select a few good men from the previous summer’s staff – Dean Dover, as head cook, was a key carry-over person! Charlie Karner agreed to come for several weeks to head up maintenance. These staff members patiently helped me get up to speed.

By the time campers arrived I felt very much at home: the program and the organizational structure seemed very familiar to me. The physical setting was very much like I had enjoyed at Pioneer. Soon I learned Dad Kunz had spent several weeks at Pioneer Camp – he wanted to learn the program and organizational structure of an excellent Christian Camp. I was camper in 1948-49. Dad Kunz was there before 1930.

The Lord had prepared me to become the Director of DL…just as he had prepared Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Paul, and many others – before they had a clue how God would use them. Between attending Pioneer Camp and becoming Director of DL God continued to prepare me for DL. I had no clue what was coming.

Moses did not choose his parents, to be put into the river, to be found by Pharaoh’s daughter, to be raised by his own mother and to live in Pharaoh’s palace. When he killed an Egyptian, he did not know that his actions had been observed by a Hebrew, and that he would have to flee for his life to the desert where he lived for 40 years. God knew – and orchestrated Moses preparation to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.

Look back on your life. Can you see how God prepared you for what you are doing? Please do not try to figure out how He is preparing you for what is to come! Be confident that if you desire to be In Partnership With God, He is continuing to work out His plan for you.