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Amazed. Blessed. Encouraged. Excited.These are the words that come to mind when Leslie and I look back at all that God has

done in our familys life. I am amazed at what canhappen in just one year! It was just over twelvemonths ago that I turned in my resignation to my

previous ministry and began the process of packingup for our move to the Copper Country. We saidgoodbye to good friends and to eighty-four degrees,sunny Florida and moved to twenty-eight degrees,snowy Upper Peninsula where we began buildingall new relationships. We saw God provide in somemiraculous ways financially, spiritually, andrelationally.

I quickly realized how blessed I was to be a partof this exciting ministry to all age groups. It wasduring the three youth weeks that we got to seeover 29 students accept Christ as their personalSavior and 70 others dedicate their lives to Christ,desiring to walk in a more intimate relationship with Him. Many others committed to gohome and share their faith with friends and family. The family weeks were an unexpectedblessing as I was ministered to in such a special and unique way seeing families give oftheir time to be in a place where they could grow closer in their walks with Christ

together. It was also during family camps that six of the children came to know Christ asSavior in their own classes. During our bike camp we saw a young man wrestle with hisbeliefs and understanding of God. After praying for him all week, we had the opportunityto see him turn his life over to Christ on the last day of camp, just before heading home.We finished off the camp ministry for 2013 with the senior saints retreats whichsurprised me the most as I went into the week not knowing at all what to expect. I wasso blessed to see veteran Christians sold out to the Lord and as on fire to share theirfaith as they were when they first believed in Him. I also found myself just as worn outafter the senior saints retreats as I was after youth camps!

Looking back on Leslies and my first season at Gitche Gumee, I would say thatanother recurring theme was that of encouragement. I was encouraged to see the love,passion, and desire for this ministry in so many people who gave voluntarily of their time,made financial sacrifices, and most importantly, labored with us in prayer. The summerministry was also blessed with volunteers who came wanting nothing more than for theGospel to go forth and for the camp to succeed. It was also a blessing and encouragementto sit in the office and daily receive financial gifts that were given to aid in the continuingministry of Gitche Gumee.

Finally, I am excited. Nothing gets me more excited than seeing someones life changefor the glory of God. My Grandpa Hart used to say, You will not be able to leave the sameway that you came in to camp. You will either be in a more intimate and close relationshipwith the Lord or walk away with your heart hardened to the things of God. It wasexciting to be a part of a ministry that puts the Gospel and a resulting, transformed lifeas a focus for people as they are confronted with His Word. I look forward to what Godhas for this ministry and am so amazed, blessed, encouraged, and excited that I get to bea part of it!

Leslie, Robbie & Maggie Fischer

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Youth Camp ReviewWords cannot express the blessing it was for the camp to be able to provide financial

aid for families to send their children to youth camp. Due to your sacrificial gifts, we were

able to give out over $13,000 from the Hart Youth Scholarship Fund. Over 70% of our

campers required a full or partial

scholarship in order to come tocamp, and we used every bit and

more of that money. I had a

young girl who had filled out her

own scholarship request write me

a hand-written note to thank me

after I told her that her week at

camp had been fully paid.

What an awesome testimonyto the Lord as He provided

through His people! Those who

gave to this scholarship fund will never know exactly who their money went to but can

be encouraged to know that their gifts had a lifelong impact on a young persons life.

One of the requirements for the kids that came was to write out their testimonies at

the end of the week. We asked them to share what their lives were like before camp and

what God had done in their lives through the teaching of His Word while at camp. Below

are a couple of examples.

I didnt really want to come to camp but just came because I did before. When I was

listening to the missionary speaker and Pastor Paul I realized how far I had wandered from

God. I thought that God was not even talking to me but the truth was I was not trying to

listen. This week I recommitted my life to Jesus and thank God for the shout!

I have been coming to Gitche for many years. This week at camp has convicted me in many

ways. I have now realized that I need to be a witness to

others wherever I go. The Lord is really telling me that I

had to show others in school the true way to eternal life,

Jesus: I am now feeling a need to tell other non-believer

friends about the Lord. The messages this week have

helped me grow spiritually and I am very grateful for this

camp and its faithful servants of the Lord. The Lord is

really talking in my heart and I just really want to strive

to do everything for Gods glory. I have encountered

many trials being a part of the public school, but I now

see that I have more opportunities to spread the goodnews.

I never felt as secure as I have been here. Ive never told

about my cutting or my suicidal thoughts but being with

these girls made me feel safe. I still havent accepted

Jesus as my savior because I believe that Im such a piece

of (trash) that I dissevered to go to Hades. But, I hope

that in a few years Ill accept Him as my Savior.

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As you may imagine, it was both a blessing and a heartache to read through some of

these. It was also apparent that the students fit into one of three categories: those that

came to know Christ as Savior, those that rededicated their lives to Him, or those that left

having learned about Him but having not accepted His free gift of grace and salvation.

The need for the youth scholarship is great as the last testimony suggests. Would youplease continue to pray for the youth of the Copper Country who are dealing with some

very deep and difficult issues? If the Lord would impress upon your heart to give

financially, that would be an added blessing to these campers and to the future ministry

of the camp as well. When you consider that your gift could change the course of a

campers life for eternity, you can see that it pays great spiritual interest. Our goal this

year is to see $20,000 raised for this fund, as it would allow even more students to come

and hear the Gospel. We did not have to turn away any campers who needed financial aid

last summer, but what we gave only scratched the surface of the number of kids in thearea who could have come if we hit the streets, schools, and other local areas.

ProjectsWe were so thankful to see almost all of our big projects completed last spring with

the financial gifts of many and the willingness of others to serve during the work weeks.

We had a large group of people give of their time and expertise, allowing us to complete

necessary projects which would not have been an option without their service. The bridgeproject, which was probably the biggest undertaking, was completed just before our first

group of junior campers arrived on campus. We saw many other tasks accomplished

including replacing heating, lighting, and a variety of other electrical projects which made

life much easier and safer in many of our cabins and dorms. In addition, the ladies met

countless needs with their cooking, sewing, cleaning, raking, and organizing. This year

we already have a growing list of necessary projects for which we are also raising funds.

We already have money donated for a new playground that will be erected before camp

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next summer. We dismantled the old one as it was a bit of a safety hazard. We have need

for the continued replacement of outdated electrical wiring, new roofs on four of our

cabins, a new mower, and the replacement of our handicapped accessible ramp leading upto the lounge building. We have already had money given specifically to some of these

needs and look forward to seeing God provide for the remaining projects.

Other Exciting NewsGitche Gumee has another staff member who has joined the

team! Caleb Hamm served at camp this past summer as our

program director and support staff manager and did an excellentjob serving in both of these capacities. Caleb will be working as anintern, helping update our website, initiating use of social media,developing promotional material, and aiding in a plethora of otherprojects. Caleb will also play a vital role at First Baptist Church ofCalumet in the youth department as he works with Pastor TonyLaidlaw. Please pray for Caleb as he is in the process of raisingmonthly support to meet his financial needs in order to minister

alongside of us here. You can follow his ministry and progress atCopperCountry4Christ.com.

Life of MinistryMel and Carol Jones have faithfully served for almost five decades in the ministry

here at Gitche Gumee! Mel has worked in the capacity of director for thirty-two yearsand was involved in many other areas of ministry before becoming the director. Carol

Caleb Hamm

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has ministered faithfully by his side by serving as kitchen manager, office aid,housekeeping supervisor, childrens teacher, and in whatever capacity was needed.It is impossible to describe the powerful impact that they have had on this ministryand in the lives of the many people who have come through the gates of GitcheGumee. At the fall Gitche Gumee board meeting, Mel requested to set the date of hisofficial retirement to be October of 2014. This will give me another camping season

to work alongside of Mel, learning all the tasks and responsibilities that are involvedin being camp director. This should provide the smoothest transition from Mel andCarol to Leslie and me. The camp extends this invitation to attend an open housedessert fellowship dedicated to Mel and Carols ministry during the final week offamily camp on Sunday, August 9th from 3-5:30. We would certainly welcome anyand all kinds of letters, emails, and gifts that would show your appreciation for theirlives and ministry which will be presented to them during this special service. If you

would like to provide a financial gift please make checks payable to Mel and Carol

Jones. Send your gifts to the camp office where they will be placed in a separateaccount until the party date.

Mel and I have had many discussions about what this time of transition will looklike, and I am comforted and thankful that they will continue to be a part of thisministry that they know and love, willing to serve in whatever capacity that isneeded. They have been so good to Leslie and me as we have adjusted to life in theUpper Peninsula, working patiently with us as we have learned the ropes during

this time of transition. It is a huge support knowing that they are just across the

street as needs arise. We understand that we have some pretty big shoes to fill!Please consider being a part of this week of camp as we celebrate Mel and Carolsministry and their great example of dedication to the Lord!

Carol & Mel Jones