Olympic Refuge

October is here and with it comes the sudden realization that summer is GONE! The weather denies it: clear skies, warm temperatures - oh, maybe a few fallen leaves here and there. And we, out here at The Refuge, along with the weather, are in denial as well. It may have something to do with all the wonderful people that came through, or the memory-filled events that took place here this summer, but I suppose until the frost comes and says in no uncertain terms that summer is truly gone, we will be still hanging on to the last vestiges of summer.

Several work groups filled the Duckabush House, accomplishing clean-up tasks, building a foot bridge, installing trail steps, weed whacking, and raking and weeding trails. Even guests lent a hand in emptying and cleaning out our pond and staining decks. Others came out for a day here or there - installing water pipes and electrical wire to our RV sites, and chain-sawing slash. All in all, a great deal was accomplished on the grounds.

Meanwhile, Mark, Alan and Greg (a new helper, until he and his family left for the mission field - Thailand) worked steadily on the building. Tarpaper now covers the roof, most of the interior framing is done, and balconies are in place. Everything is covered - we are ready for rain!

As for events, camp at Wilderness Northwest went well with lots of use of the Duckabush House during that week. Other groups came through - some using the grounds for picnics, others using the house for get-togethers and retreats. A Bible study group from Whidby Island came and worked one weekend, a father-son group (ELITE) came another weekend, a family group helped another weekend. And then another family came and worked while they vacationed here for two weeks. On Labor Day, we held our first Pastors’ (and wives) Retreat. Dr. Carl Armerding, a Board member, was our speaker on that most beautiful day - lots of food and fellowship, and of course, a tour of the grounds and building. To end the summer, a pastor’s family and seven of their nine children vacationed and worked here for a week. Lots of fellowship, evenings of singing, shared meals - all of these helped to make this a most memorable summer.

But for me, one event stands out which characterizes the whole tone of the summer - the lettuce incident! Let me recount what happened. Some dear folks called to tell us they were in town and asked to come out for a visit - and dinner only two hours away! Out here, 45 minutes away from stores can be a problem, so ordinarily we try to keep a good stock of food on hand. In this case, however, we had all the necessary ingredients for dinner except lettuce for a salad. Then I remembered that back in March, our grandchildren planted lettuce seeds up in our cold frame. I had noticed early on that the slugs got the seedlings and so had stopped watering. We were well into a drought where everything needed water, but I took a chance that somehow there might be a few straggly, un-eaten lettuce leaves left and asked Jim to go up and check - my last resort! He came back with the most beautiful head of lettuce that “somehow” had survived the slugs and drought! The only one, by the way!

It was clear to us both that God had known back in March of our future plight and provided for our needs as hosts and those of our guests. This “incident” was a great encouragement to us as we faced a financial “drought” during the summer. And sure enough, just in time, God provided a generous matching grant of $50,000 - right when we needed it. As of now, more than half of this amount has come in. But more than these gifts, the people behind this outpouring have touched and encouraged us both - people who have come forward to affirm this project and say by their gifts, ‘We expect that God will use The Refuge for His glory.’

And so, if this outpouring typifies the end of summer, we can only wait with joyful expectation to what God will do in the next three months as we enter Fall. Praise be to God for all His mighty works - including the lettuce incident!

Robbie Edgren