On March 16th of 2009, Camp Istrouma had a wonderful group of volunteers called NOMADS. NOMADS means - Nomads On a Mission Active in Divine Service. Boy, were these 5 couples active - more about this later. NOMADS are a group of retired folks that travel south for the winter months to volunteer their time to churches, camps and other organizations who need them. They have different skills sets which always seem to match the projects that are to be done at the camp. This was the second year for me to experience the NOMADS here at Camp Istrouma so I was more prepared this year than last.
With a proud look on my face and my long to-do list in hand, I gladly handed the list over to the team leader of the NOMADS. As we were going over the list I felt confident that they would have enough work to do for three weeks. Well......
Within two days they were done with items that I thought were going to take a whole week for them to do. I started thinking about other projects that we could accomplish so I added them to the list. Remember what I said about these couples being active. For those three weeks I became their gopher: go here go there and go for some supplies. By the end of the three weeks I realized they were running circles around me as they completed all the projects that were needed to be done.
Awesome was a word I used a lot as they kept completing each project. Here are some of the projects that were done: fixed rotten boards around windows on the Chapel, removed old fans from all eight cabins, gave the inside of Wilkes a fresh coat of paint, updated our canteen area with newer cabinets, installed a new water fountain in Wilkes, added a lean-to to the back of the workshop and installed a wooden cross on the hill by the lake. These were just a few of the projects they completed. I hope that everyone will enjoy and appreciate what the NOMADS have done for us here at Camp Istrouma.
I give praise and honor to our God for providing such a wonderful group as the NOMADS to come here to Camp Istrouma and to further God's mission. I also would like to thank all the churches who volunteered and provided meals for our NOMADS during the three weeks: Blackwater and Broadmoor UMC.
I have already started working on next year's list. 
Grace and Peace,
Garth Frenzel
Camp Director
