Camp Maranatha

GUIDED TOUR OF THE NEW EAGLE MOUNTAIN TABERNACLE #1

2010-09-16T13:14:00.000-07:00

The New Eagle Mountain Tabernacle passed final inspection by the county on June 22, just days before the start of our first summer camp. The entire project, including demolition and removal of the old building, took just 190 days, which is a testimony to God's goodness.

The ministry team here at Camp Maranatha is very excited about this new building and we are looking forward to seeing how God is going to use it in the coming years.

GUIDED TOUR OF THE NEW EAGLE MOUNTAIN TABERNACLE #2

2010-09-16T13:03:00.000-07:00

We are so grateful for all of you who volunteered in the construction of the new tabernacle, and also for those who helped support the work through giving. Camp Maranatha has been tremendously blessed by so many who have invested themselves so generously in the ministry at Maranatha.

GUIDED TOUR OF THE NEW EAGLE MOUNTAIN TABERNACLE #3

2010-09-16T12:56:00.000-07:00

Come on in through the main double doors and have a look around the room. Hopefully, over the winter, we will construct some sort of portable staging.

GUIDED TOUR OF THE NEW EAGLE MOUNTAIN TABERNACLE #4

2010-09-16T12:46:00.000-07:00

Care was taken during the construction phase of the project to preserve some of the natural features, including boulders and trees, that surround the building. This video also gives you a good look at the sidewalk which runs around three sides of the building as well as the porches that cover the side entrances.

GUIDED TOUR OF THE NEW EAGLE MOUNTAIN TABERNACLE #5

2010-09-16T12:39:00.000-07:00

Unlike the old building, which had only two entrances, the new building has five. Just off to the side of the main double doors is a side entrance which leads into a small lobby area. This will be great for heat retention during the winter and will represent less of a distraction than opening and closing the big double doors. Also a graceful sidewalk now connects the tabernacle to the Oak Lodge, which is a big help for some of our less mobile guests.

GUIDED TOUR OF THE NEW EAGLE MOUNTAIN TABERNACLE #6

2010-09-16T12:19:00.000-07:00

Thanks for coming on the tour.

PROGRESS UPDATE ON THE NEW EAGLE MOUNTAIN TABERNACLE

2010-06-01T13:52:00.000-07:00

After hanging all of the sheet-rock they did all the taping and mudding

At this time all of the windows and doors have been installed.

Then they came and textured the sheet-rock. The next step for the interior walls is to paint them. Otherwise, this is how the inside of the building is going to look.

Gutters and rain spouts have been installed.

With everything on Keith's plate he decided to hire a couple of guys to help him with the building. Danny (left) is a local guy and, of course, Dutch (right) is no stranger to most of you as he has been a fixture here at camp for a long time. We are grateful to both of them for helping out.

At this time the roofs over all of the entryways are nearing completion. I think they look pretty sharp.

We have been blessed by so many volunteers coming up on the weekends to help with the building. For the past two weekends we have had serveral families join us here at camp to lend a hand.

Here's Larissa, Keith's daughter, painting the pieces of trim that will eventually cris-cross the exterior of the building.

The dark brown compliments the cream-colored paint handsomely and lends a nice, finished look to the building.

The main doors have been installed and now the buildeing is almost completely closed up. I was very impressed that the doors open and close so quietly- they're as quiet as a cloud, and even though they are really heavy they are not hard to open at all.

All of the doors have been installed, and eventually they will all be painted a dark brown to match the exterior trim.

Check back in here soon for more progress updates. Keith is optimistic that all of the exterior sidewalks and porches will be poured next week!

NEW EAGLE MOUNTAIN TABERNACLE UPDATE

2010-05-18T09:04:00.000-07:00

Lots has been happening up at the work site. The building is now completely roofed and the all of the sheet rock has been hung. Now that the roof is on I'll have to stop calling it a work site as it feels more like a building now.

The sheet rock guys were amazing. They hung that sheet rock with the speed and intensity of a nascar pit crew, and they maintained that pace all day. They managed to hang all of the sheetrock in one day. I was impressed.

The night before the sheetrock guys came I saw these switches on the wall and wondered if they worked. Out of curiosity I flicked a few switches and was rewarded by the lights overhead coming on.

Wow!

It's really coming together, huh? The sheet rock guys are going to return this Saturday to tape and texture. I'll try to get some good action shots of that for you.

Keith is looking into possibly buying a scissor lift like one of these. How else would we change the light bullbs? I'm not climbing a ladder up there!!!

NEW WORSHIP CENTER UPDATE

2010-05-04T16:15:00.000-07:00

I apologize for letting so much time slip by between updates. Thanks to God for all that has been completed up at the building site. In summary, the steel supports have arrived and been installed. Much of the roof and insulation has been installed and a lot of progress has been made on hanging the sheets of fiberboard on the exterior of the building.

They brought in this crane to lift and move all of the heavy steel.

That's a lot of steel dangling overhead, hardhat-shmardhat! If that sucker comes down, you better be right with the Lord!

Keith has fallen in love with this lift I think. The contractor has kindly allowed us the use of it after his guys are done with it for the day, and Keith has been busily using it to cut dead limbs throughout the camp as well as hanging fiberboard to the outside of the building.

It seems much bigger in person with all of the wall panels in place. It's going to be a really big space.

They got all of the steel pieces up.

These wire straps are what hold the insulation up under the sheets of roofing.

Here's what it looks like with the insulation installed

Before the building is completed there will be porches and walkways on the side of the building. Keith has been constructing the porches in the maintenance building, and here you can see he's already installed a part of it to the side of the building over the door.

I'll try and get you another update soon.

WORSHIP CENTER UPDATE

2010-03-24T14:33:00.000-07:00

Wow, things are moving so quickly up at the building that these pictures are already outdated. Things are moving very quickly!!! These pictures show the panels arriving. The building is constructed in sections called "panels."

They sat in the ballfield for a while, but work began almost right away on setting them up, and finaslly things are beginning to look like a real, live, honest-to-goodness building up there.

Camp Maranatha is blessed by the most amazing community of volunteers. Just about every weekend someone or some group of people come up to help with the building. Back during the teen march retreat we needed help backfilling the retaining wall along the eastern side of the building. Pictured above are the Vinings (left) and Walt Shirley (right) who spent a considerable amount of time working on the project. You've got to love volunteers, not only for what they do, but also for the spirit with which they do it. Just amazing!

One shovel full at a time.

Then we convinced the March Retreat to help with the wall as a service project.

Here's Captain Dave. He's the sort of Captain that would never ask his crew to do something that he wouldn't also do.

But sometimes the crew isn't as good about doing what Captain Dave does. There is still some backfilling to do, but they got the lion's share of it done, which is a huge relief.

Then the panels starting going up.

It's going to be a very tall building.

The peak of it's roof will be twice as tall as the Mt San Jacinto Chapel, which is right next door.

It is so exciting to see it coming together.

The next step was to hang sheets of concrete that closely resemble plywood (but weigh a lot more) to the outside of the building. More on that in the next installment.

EAGLE SIGHTING AT CAMP MARANATHA!!!

2010-03-09T11:20:00.000-08:00

Rick Weibe, one of our favorite MMAPers, served as project coordinator during the Month of February. Rick is a gifted carver, who generously agreed to use his time here to carve a beautiful eagle, which will eventually grace the entrance to the new Eagle Mountain Tabernacle.

It was really fun to take a stroll up there everyday to see the progress on the Eagle.

I asked Rick he he did it, and he said, "You just take everything off that doesn't look like an eagle."

Looks pretty good, eh?

Rick burned the portions of the eagle that should be black.

Here's Rick with his wife, Helen. Thanks guys!!!

NEW WORSHIP CENTER UPDATE

2010-03-04T15:50:00.000-08:00

Yesterday morning I woke up to the sound of trucks rumbling past the house. It was the day of the big pour!!! All day long a steady stream of cement mixers and work trucks entered and exited the grounds.

On my way down to the office I walked past the worksite to snap a few photos. I found the crew hard at work. I watched for a while- long enough to decide that I never want to be employed pouring cement. That looks like very hard work.

They poured cement into the retaining wall at the same time they poured the slab. This guy went along the top with this device which vibrates inside the wall, compacting the cement and working out any air that might be trapped inside.

The job was big enough that they had to rent a special truck to do the job. I believe it was called a boom pump, or something like that (again, pardon my lack of technical language). Basically it sent cement through this big arm and dropped it right where it was needed.

Here's how it worked. The cement mixer would back up to the pump truck...

...Where the cement was poured in.

Then it was pumped up through the arm (which was incredibly long)...

...until it plopped out at this guy's feet.

As the cement was poured, the crew worked hard to even it out.

Until the pour was complete they always had a couple of cement mixers waiting in the wings with a fresh load of cement. the cement never stopped coming until the entire slab had been poured. It was a very efficient operation.

After the slab had been poured, and was firm enough to walk on, they brought out these machines which look like a cross between something you might see on Star Wars and one of those boats with the big fan mounted on the back zipping through the Florida Everglades. I'm not sure what they're called or exactly what their purpose was, but I do know that they looked like the most fun part of the job. In fact, I would have paid money to zip around on one.

In order for the cement to cure properly, keith ran warm water through it overnight. It snowed a little, just a dusting, but when I came out this morning the lab looked to be in perfect shape.

What an exciting day!!! We were so grateful that it didn't rain, and this stage of the building is now done. Now, like never before, you can really get a sense of the size and feel of the building. I'll keep you posted as new developments occur.

NEW WORSHIP CENTER UPDATE 2/20/2010

2010-02-20T15:01:00.000-08:00

Today is kind of a gloomy day here in Idyllwild- cold, wet and foggy- but we were blessed by a great week with unseasonably warm weather and lots of sun. The crew took advantage of the great weather by preparing the site for the pouring of the slab.

They layed plastic over everything to prevent moisture from seeping up out of the ground into the concrete when it is eventually poured. Then they spread sand over everything to make it as even as possible. The sand kind fo filled in all of the depressions and made the whole spot as close to even as it could be. Then they laid these styrofoam pads around the edges to help with heat retention. As mentioned in a previous post, radiant floor heating tends to lose a lot of heat out of the edges of the slab and the styrofoam should help with heat retention.

Here's Keith, our General Contractor, Mike Hammer, and some of the MMAPers installing a manifold for the radiant floor heating. As you can see, in the photo above, after spreading the sand and laying out the styrofoam pads they crss-crossed a grid of rebar across the entire area.

Then they began laying out the radiant floor heating on top of the rebar matrix.

It looked like quite a job getting all of the radiant floor heating tubing installed correctly. When the concrete slab is eventually poured it will be flush with the tops of these electrical boxes.

Eventually they got it all laid out and hooked up. Now lets just pray that there aren't any leaks!

I also noticed that they have sealed the backside of the retaining wall. They'll pour concrete down through the wall at the same time they pour the slab. Then this space behind the wall will be backfilled.

WHAT'S IT GONNA BE?

2010-02-09T13:45:00.000-08:00

Camp Maranatha is always blessed by the MMAPers who come and volunteer at the camp every year. We are currently hosting three couples who are seeing to some much needed maintenance issues. One of the MMAPers is a Canadian gentleman who has been here on previous projects named Rick Weibe. Rick is a real artist when it comes to carving wood. He has agreed to use his time here to make a large chain saw sculpture using one of the logs felled to make way for the new worship center, and which will eventually grace the entrance to the new building.

What will it be?

You'll just have to wait and see.

WORSHIP CENTER UPDATE #9

2010-02-09T13:22:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday a crew of guys showed up at seven in the morning and by three in the afternoon this wall was done. Keith kept telling me that they thought the wall could be finished in a day, but I have to admit that I was a little skeptical until Keith called me on Sunday afternoon to say that the wall was finished. It's a nice solid looking wall too.

This morning I went up to take a few pictures of the wall and found the electrician laying out conduit that will run beneath the slab.

These little boxes with the yellow covers are floor outlets that will end up being flush with the floor. Several inches of sand and concrete will be poured over the dirt so that is why they are raised.

After laying everything out, they came back and buried the conduit under the dirt. It was a race against time as it keeps spitting snow, rain and hail and the forecast is promising more of the same as the day wears on. It's kind of a gloomy day up here.

It seems like every day brings some new development to the work site so keep on checking in here for new updates as they become available.

NEW WORSHIP CENTER UPDATE- #8

2010-02-05T09:27:00.000-08:00

Following the inspection on Tuesday (which we passed by the way!!!), Keith spent a good portion of the afternoon meeting with Mike Hammer who is the contractor coordinating and overseeing the construction of the new worship center. How about that name, huh? A contractor with the last name hammer. That's like a judge named Justice or a banker named Bill.

Then the next day they started pouring the footings. For most of the day trucks rumbled in and out of the grounds bringing fresh loads of concrete. I was sad for my two year old, Jack, as he wanted to go out on the porch and watch the concrete trucks go by, but it was a little chilly for him to be out there so he had to be satisfied standing on his tippy-toes and peering out through the window.

These poor guys (the ones with the shovels) were surprised to find that the soil had frozen hard over night. As the concrete pours into the trench their job is to back fill with dirt to keep the concrete from sliding out under the form. The frozen dirt made that job quite a bit harder until the sun softened things up.

I hope this guy likes working by himself. The guys pouring and shoveling were gabbing and laughing the whole time, but this guy just quietly followed along behind them smoothing things out.

Seeing the cement truck in there really gives you a sense of how big the building will be once completed. You could comfortably park several of them within this space, and the peak of the new building will be almost twice as high as the Mt San Jacinto Chapel in the background.

And then everything was quiet... the footings were poured and the crew had gone home. I went up and snapped this picture. The next thing is a retaining wall which will be built to hold back the bank along the eastern side of the building. The blocks were delivered for that yesterday, and they were hoping to start on the wall tomorrow, but the forecast is calling for rain all day so we're not sure what's going to happen. Then, after that, the slab will be poured. Check back in here soon for more updates.

NEW WORSHIP CENTER UPDATE #7

2010-02-02T10:42:00.000-08:00

For the past several days a crew of guys has been up at the site digging trenches and getting everything ready to pour the footings for the new building. Now everything is ready for the concrete. The only thing left is the inspection, and as I type, Keith is talking with the inspector who will hopefully sign off on everything before so they can start pouring conrete.

Once completed, this building will have radiant floor heating, which means that pipes will run throughout the slab carrying heated water which will radiate up through the floor and heat building. A similar system was used to heat the Oak Lodge's chapel, and that works great. This morning Keith was telling me that radiant floor heating can lose as much as 25% of its heat out the side of the slab so the walls of styrofoam will insulate the slab and hopefully cut down on some of the heat loss.

The rebar will help hold the concrete together once it hardens.

How's that for product placement? Coke should pay us for publicity like this.

This elaborate system of rebar runs all the way around the trenches, and is suspended at intervals by little concrete blocks and wooden posts. They'll pull out the wooden supports once the concrete is poured.

This little square on the southeastern corner of the building will eventually be a store room. Now that the trenches have been dug for the footings it is a litle easier to visualize the dimensions of the building. It's fun to watch things coming together. We're hopeful that they'll start pouring concrete tomorrow. Check back in here soon for more updates on the building's progress!

NEW WORSHIP CENTER UPDATE- #6

2010-01-29T14:51:00.001-08:00

After all of those days of shoving earth around the grading people left us with a beautiful piece of nicely packed ground. When it is eventually completed, the building won't be much smaller than the area photographed below. I don't think the photo does the size of the space justice, but when you walk out into the middle of this area you are really struck by what an immense building it is going to be once completed.

The snow delayed work for a week or so, but this week heavy equipment, trucks and construction workers have resumed rumbling in and out of the grounds. The next job is to dig the trenches so that the footings can be poured. keith prepared the site by bulldozing the snow off so they could get in there and work.

You can see the big snow berms that encircle the work site.

Here are the trenches into which the footings will be poured.

Pretty exciting stuff!!!

SNOW!!!

2010-01-29T14:31:00.000-08:00

Last week Camp Maranatha received more than a foot of snow in roughly a 24 hour period.

I love the snow. Isn't it beautiful. What a creative God we worship! Isn't he amazing?

After the long dry summer the stream is flowing again.

Of course, for Keith and I lots of snow means lots of work, but we don't mind because our guests love it so much. Plus the novelty of a big snow storm makes it fun.

The snow made for some great sledding.

Our guests from Mi Joo peace church loved the sledding hill down in the gully.

THE OLD TABERNACLE

2010-01-12T15:44:00.000-08:00

This morning we had our weekly staff meeting. During the meeting, Paula Shirley mentioned how the skeleton of the old tabernacle, which is resting out at the end of the ballfield looks "really small," and everybody nodded their heads in agreement. It was something we had all been thinking as we drove in or out of the grounds, but I was glad to learn that somebody else had the same thought. It isn't significant or deep. It's just kind of strange. In my mind the building was so huge, imposing and heavy. It's odd seeing it reduced to a few piles of metal, which do look "really small."

KEITH DID IT!!!

2010-01-12T15:37:00.000-08:00

He was able to pull out all three of the original footings intact. If you missed the earlier post- I explained that prior to the old tabernacle, the earliest camp meetings at Camp Maranatha were held in a large circus tent, and these footings were what the tent's poles' rested on. When they laid the foundation for the old tabernacle they just left these footings in place and poured the cement around them. I thought it would be a neat way to tie the old into the new if we could preserve them and use them in a walkway or something. I'm just really thrilled that they made it out intact!

NEW WORSHIP CENTER UPDATE- #5

2010-01-12T13:50:00.000-08:00

It has been a few days since my last update. During the interim, the work site has continued to be a beehive of activity. Most of the work has consisted of moving dirt, digging dirt, hauling dirt, filling holes with dirt, compacting dirt, smoothing dirt, and so on. All of it dirt related. Oh yeah, and rocks too! That big rock above is the very same one that used to sit at the southwestern corner of the old tabernacle. We were wondering how we were going to move it until...

...Keith ate a can of spinach and WHAMMO! he slid it 15-20 feet of the way!!! He didn't even break a sweat!!!

Alright, I must confess, that wasn't entirely truthful. I was no less impressed though to learn that a bulldozer was able to shove it over. That's a lot of granite right there! I had become resigned to the idea that we were going to have to break it up and cart it away, but thanks to Keith...er...um...I mean, the bulldozer we able to preserve it as a nice climbing/sitting place next to the New Worship Center.

For the past several days they have been working on compacting and processing the soil upon which the foundation of the new building will eventually be laid. It has to be good and packed down before they can move on to the next step. In the photo above Walt Shirley, our most tireless and devoted volunteer, is wetting down the soil to aid in the process while the dozer shoves dirt around.

I don't have much to comment on a lot of these pictures, but I wanted to include them so you can get some idea of what has been going on up at the work site.

It's kind of a crummy picture above, but the aforementioned rocks look really nice arranged under the shady arbor of the cedar trees. It has always been a nice spot, and a favorite with the campers, but it has only been improved by the addition of the rocks. I can imagine how very nice it will be to eventually have this spot, with rocks, benches, picnic tables and graceful trees right outside the new Worship Center.

They scraped another two feet off the bank on the eastern side of the work site to leave room to seal the back side of the retaining wall that will eventually be built there. I walked along the edge hoping to find an arrowhead or some other artifact sticking out of the newly exposed dirt, but found nothing.

This big brute has been doing most of the earth moving.

One day the engineer on the project came by and instructed the guys to dig down thirty inches, soak everything down and compact it really well before the foundation could be laid. I learned that digging out thirty inches of dirt from an area that size makes some mighty dirt piles. Anybody up for a game of king of the mountain?

I think the dozer would win.

Our little garden house was not putting out enough water to do the job so they brought in this big water truck and a fire hose.

Well, as I type they are busy leveling out the dirt. After digging down thirty inches and compacting all of the soil they have to smoothe everything back out. I suspect that the next time I check back in, it will be to report that they have begun pouring the foundation. Pretty exciting, eh?

Timber!!!

2010-01-09T15:42:00.001-08:00

Here's some more tree-cutting action for you from the other day. Keith took this video, and bravely stood his ground when the top of the tree came WHOOOOSHING down. I had scurried for cover behind a tractor and consequently missed the moment when tree met earth. It is kind of sad to see such a beautiful old tree cut down, but it had developed kind of a scary lean, which meant leaving it in place next to the new worship center would have been too risky. Ah well, enjoy!

NEW WORSHIP CENTER UPDATE- #4

2010-01-05T15:21:00.000-08:00

This morning I took the scenic route on my way down to the office so I could see what was new at the work site. I found that the concrete slab had been entirely removed and carted off, and a crew was arriving to take down trees that were going to be in the way or might pose a future hazard to the building. The tree that was apparently causing the greatest concern was an immense Ponderosa Pine which had developed a scary lean, but was otherwise healthy.

Trees aren't the only natural objects standing in the way of progress. The rocks which have always stood at the southwest corner of the tabernacle, and which have been climbed and sat upon by generations of campers will have to be moved to make way for the new building.

Sorry for the crummy pictures. They fail to convey just how large these rocks are. Keith is hopeful that they may be able to shove the rocks out of the way so they can continue to be a nice sitting/climbing area for campers, but as a last resort they'll have to be broken up and removed.

Here's the big Ponderosa I mentioned earlier. A very brave man named Eduardo came over and cut it down. Using harnesses and ropes he shimmied up the trunk, limbing the tree as he went. It left a real impression on me.

He was way up there!

While Eduardo was risking life and limb above, the other guys were sawing up lesser trees into firewood and clearing brush down below.

The most exciting part for me was when Eduardo cut off the top 40 feet. He had tied off a rope which two or three guys pulled taut. Then he cut out a wedge, before back cutting the tree. When Eduardo started back-cutting the tree the guys pulled on the rope and CRACK-CRACKLE-CRACK-WHOOOOOOOSH 40 feet (and I don't know how many tons) of Ponderosa came thundering down.

Look out below!!!

After Eduardo made his way down I went up to thank him and I also asked him what was the scariest part of the job (The whole thing looks scary to me). He said "After the top comes down, the whole trunk sways back and forth. That's scary, man." I bet.

Eventually all of it was cut down except for this stump.

Great care was taken to make sure that this cedar didn't mar the beautiful manzanita hedge that will eventually separate the new building from the road. Once again they cut out a wedge, and then using a tractor they pulled it back towards the clearing as another man back-cut the tree. I was worried about the tensile strength of that strap.

It's a very aromatic spot as you can imagine.

NEW WORSHIP CENTER UPDATE- #3

2010-01-01T15:13:00.000-08:00

The last few days of 2009 were kind of drizzly, wet, and cold here at Camp Maranatha, but that didn't seem to slow the demolition crew down too much. After disassembling the beams, and carting them away to the ballfield, they set to work on the main supports. (Again, pardon my lack of appropriate terminology if I describe something incorrectly.)

It was interesting to watch them disassemble such big, heavy pieces.

Keith got in there with the camp's tractor and started tearing up the slab.

Poof! Except for some of the remaining slab, the building is completely gone. David Copperfield, eat your heart out! You're not the only one who can make a building disappear!

This square footing has an interesting story. Before the old tabernacle was constructed the camp held meetings in a circus tent. These concrete footings were what the tent's poles rested on. There are three of them, and when they poured the slab for the tabernacle they just left them in place and poured around them. Keith is going to try and pull them out intact with the tractor so we can use them in a walkway or something. I think that would be a neat way to tie the old into the new- to celebrate the camp's heritage even as we look forward to the exciting things God is doing in the life of the ministry today.

NEW WORSHIP CENTER UPDATE #2

2009-12-30T10:27:00.000-08:00

Wow! Things are moving fast up at the work site!!! It's really exciting to see how quickly things are moving along. Of course, as a general rule, it is always easier to tear something down than to build something up, but it is still encouraging to see things progressing so quickly. As I type, a crew is up there busily dismantling the building's steel skeleton. I anticipate that the next update I bring you will show a completely bare spot where once stood the venerable old Tabernacle.

As I said in my last post, it is really striking, in a strange sort of way, to see the building without its walls, and now with the roof gone it looks even stranger to me. It has been over fifty years since the sun shined on that concrete floor.

I feel like a little boy again watching the crew work.

Of course, taking down a steel building can be noisy, and we have had a group from Thanksgiving Korean Church meeting in the Mt. San Jacinto Chapel, which is right next door. The workers have been really accomodating by trying to keep the noise down, and by working around the campers schedule. Of course, the campers, and the work they are doing here, is the reason why we exist as a ministry, and it goes without saying that the campers are the most important people on the grounds at any given time, so we were more than willing to put their needs first, and we were grateful for the construction guys' willingness to accommodate our requests.

Please forgive me if my language isn't technical enough. I don't have a background in engineering or construction so I sometimes don't know use the proper terms to describe a building's components. (I'll try and avoid descriptive terms like "thingy" or "Thing-a-ma-jiggy" though.) Yesterday afternoon, the guys started taking down these beams, which run north to south.

As you can see, when I went up to the site to check things out this morning, all that remained of the extreme north end of the building were the base of the supports (...or "Gilly-Wompers" as I call them) in the corners.

Here they are disassembling the building.

...and taking the pieces down to the ballfield.

Pretty exciting! Keep on checking here for more updates as they become available.

NEW WORSHIP CENTER UPDATE- #1

2009-12-22T15:30:00.000-08:00

It has been a busy few days up at the job site. A group of volunteers from the conference churches came up over the weekend and dismantled the front wall as well as what remained of the stage inside. Walt and Keith Shirley have been working very hard demolishing much of the stage and taking down the large wooden murals that have graced the walls behind the stage for many years. Yesterday, a crew came up and removed the walls from the north, south and east sides of the building. It looks more like a pavilion now than an actual building. For those of us who have been coming to camp for a long time this looks kind of surreal, huh?

After standing there for so many years it is strange for me to walk past and see the old Tabernacle like this. So naked and open. I'm kind of a sentimental person. Part of me is kind of sad to see the old girl go, but I am also excited about the new Worship Center and by all of the improvements and possibilities that it will represent. I wish I knew how many decisions for Christ have been made in thia old building dfown through the years.

Things are moving fast now, so check back in here regularly for more updates. I am getting so excited about the new Worship Center.

MURALS!!!

2009-12-22T14:50:00.001-08:00

The next time you're up at camp check out the new murals. Here at camp we are always blessed by the MMAPers who come and volunteer as well as by the diverse talents. This past November a couple of MMAPers, Charlotte Dunaway and Karen Greenslate, worked on these beautiful murals, which feature scenes from nature accompanied by scripture passages. They turned out great!

The first and largest mural is at the end of the south end restrooms, and features Romans 1:20. I like the bear in the tree to the right.

The second mural is located on the front porch of the Birch Lodge and features Isaiah 30:15.

Do you recognize that rock? The third mural is located on the end of the Douglas Fir Lodge and features Luke 19:40.

Thank you MMAPers for all of the hard work you invest in the ministry at Camp Maranatha. We love you guys!!!

BLAST TO THE PAST!

2009-10-02T08:15:00.000-07:00

Several weeks ago I was walking across the grounds toward the office when Nancy Beggs found me. She had found this old flyer (from the 60's?) and thought we should have it here in the camp's archives. I recognized Dwight Shirley on the left and Betty Crimi crouching down on the right, and Nancy probably remembered more names, but I didn't write them down then. Do any of you recognize anybody else in this photo?

I couldn't fit the entire centerfold on my scanner. This was the best I could do. The biggest surprise in the flyer was the revelation that it only cost $6.50 to go to camp back then!!! Another surprise was that the camp began with dinner at 9:30 pm, and that lights out was pretty late- after midnight! Some of our campers wouldn't mind having lights out that late, but that might be a tougher sell to the counselors. What can I say? The 60's were a crazy time!

I'm also intrigued by this game called the "basketball bop" (also apparently known as "double dribble"). According to the flyer it involved a basketball and coins. Do any of you out there recall how to play this game? I think we should resurrect it.

Thanks for the trip down memory lane, Nancy.

WORK DAY 2009!

2009-06-09T10:57:00.000-07:00

We want to say "thank you" to everyone who came up and helped at this year's work day. Work day was well attended and we got a lot done. Thanks guys!

WHAT A PERFECT MORNING!

2009-04-02T09:08:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I feel so privileged to live where I do. It seems such a shame to me that more people can't be here at the camp right now to enjoy this beautiful morning. As I left my house to head down to the office it was just cool enough that a long sleeved shirt felt good, but warm enough that if I had started to exert myself I would have been comfortable in a T-shirt. The ragged green mountains looked superimposed against the blue sky like they had been cut from a magazine and placed on a sheet of blue paper. Nowhere on the horizon was there a single cloud to mar the perfect blue horizon. The sun was glancing through the trees, causing the dew to sparkle on the grass. Bunnies and robins were hopping around and everything seemed springtime fresh and perfect. The air was flavored with that heady mixture of wood smoke, breakfast preparations, and the all-pervasive scent of pine. It put a spring in my step as I headed out for a day of service and directed my thoughts to the wonderfully creative God who I am privileged to serve through the ministry here at camp.

Have a blessed day, Josh Tate

DEER IN THE CENTER GRASS

2009-03-13T10:50:00.000-07:00

During the week, when the camp is empty it can get pretty quiet here at Maranatha. This morning as I was walking across the grounds I was surprised to find these three deer grazing on our center grass. When I first saw them they were in front of the dining hall, almost as far as the fountain, but by the time I fetched a camera they had mosied back over by the gazebo.

I wanted to get a really nice picture of them right in the center of camp, but, for some reason, they didn't want me to get too close to them. My camera, and my abilities as a photographer were not equal to the task so you will have to be satisfied with these fuzzy, too-distant photos.

My efforts to get in closer for a better shot caused them to move out of the grassy area and closer to the woods.

Eventually the deer were so annoyed by me that they trotted off on those springy slender legs of theirs into the woods behind the Oak Lodge.

WALKING IN A WINTER WONDERLAND AT CAMP MARANATHA

2008-12-19T09:02:00.000-08:00

Yesterday the day dawned clear and bright. The storm had moved on and the sun shined uninterrupted on a shimmering world where every branch and twig was etched in white and the camp sat quietly under a heavy blanket of snow. It was absolutely beautiful, and camera in hand I set out for a walk. In places the snow came up to my knees.

Bobcat track!

LET IT SNOW! LET IT SNOW! LET IT SNOW!

2008-12-17T09:37:00.000-08:00

As my fingers dance over the keyboard it is snowing to beat the band outside. Every branch and twig is etched in white and theheavy silence that always accompanies a snow storm has settled over the campground and the surrounding woods.

Keith has been busy plowing for much of the morning. The Dodge does a great job pushing around the snow, and all of us who live here at the camp are grateful for the great job Keith does plowing.

You can just barely see the truck over the berm at the end of the parking lot.

What a beautiful day!

FIRST SNOW OF THE SEASON- 12/15/2008

2008-12-16T21:12:00.000-08:00

IT'S A RAINY DAY HERE AT CAMP

2008-11-25T10:24:00.000-08:00

It's not raining hard though- just a nice steady drizzle. On the walk down to the office this morning I was reminded of how much I enjoy walking in the rain. The only thing better is walking in the snow. I'm sure that will be coming soon enough as well.

"As the rain and snow

come down from heaven,

And do not return to it

Without watering the earth

and making it bud and flourish,

so that it yields seed for the sower

and bread for the eater,

so is my word that goes out from my mouth:

It will not return to me empty,

but will accomplish what I desire

And achieve the purpose for which I sent it."

Isaiah 55:10-11

JAMES 5:7-8

2008-11-22T11:24:00.000-08:00

"Be patient, then brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm because the Lord's coming is near."

I used to work with a guy who would routinely arrive at work 15 minutes late. He did as little as he could get away with and what little he did he didn't do particularly well. When we would talk about work he seemed bored but when discussion turned to his plans for his days off he became more animated. He would spend his shift dodging supervisors, playing games on the computer, trying to look busy, and making plans for the weekend. He was all weekend, no workday, and a horrible coworker.

As Christians we have a lot to be excited about. I have to confess, with a little shame, that until about a year ago I was too in love with this world to truly look forward to Christ's return, but today I find myself continuously longing for it with a fervor and an anticipation that I have never felt previously in my walk with Christ. Sure, there were moments, hours and even days before when I yearned for Christ's return, but today it is a continuous state. I live and walk in it. I want the clouds to part and to see Christ in all His glory. I want to see every knee bow. I want to walk through the untrammeled perfection of a new Earth. I want to sing God's praises in the new Jerusalem. I want to see the place that Christ has prepared for me, and to live in unbroken relationship with God, man, creation and time. My mind is not capable of perceiving how wonderful it will be, but my spirit directs my heart towards it as surely as a compass needle must point north. This is the weekend I am looking forward to...

...but today is not the weekend (O' that Christ would prove me wrong!).

There is work to do, and I catch myself at times possessing a similar attitude towards Christ's return, and the wedding that will follow, as my coworker held for the weekend. It tempts me to resent and neglect the present. For those who have passed from death to life we are already living in eternity. Not only have I been forgiven my sins, but I have been given Christ's reward. I am a new creation today and always. These are the last days when we can choose to deny ourselves. These are the last days when we can say "no" to sin and truly offer up ourselves as a living sacrifice- forgoing things we desire for something of much greater worth.Just like the farmer in James 5 we have a day to look forward to, but the watchwords for today are "wait," "be patient," and "stand firm." Don't be a horrible coworker. Delight in today, and in the labor of your hands. Enjoy the challenges and pleasures that God has set before you. Give God what he wants to take and take from God what he wants to give. Watch a football game, get together with friends, go for a walk with your kids, and continue steadfastly in the work of the Lord and the study of His word. These days matter.

2008-10-29T11:09:00.000-07:00

The camp’s compost pile, which was built at the suggestion of my wife, Sarah, sits atop the rim of the gully at the end of a short path behind the office. I carved the path out of the surrounding vegetation with the help of a weed-whacker and some pruning shears two years ago, but the regular foot traffic of the kitchen staff coming and going from the spot has been enough to maintain it ever since. The compost pile, which sits in a small clearing at the end of the path, is kind of a crude affair, just four pallets standing on end in a rough square and reinforced with chicken wire. A sheet of plywood rests over the whole, presumably to keep raccoons out. The flimsy defenses of the chicken wire and plywood don’t actually do much to keep animals out though, and sometimes I jokingly refer to it as our “wildlife feeding station.”

Occasionally, I take a break from the office and walk down there to rotate the compost with an old pitchfork. The top layer, which represents the most recent deposits, resembles a ghoulish salad bar with a multicolored mélange of strawberries, carrots, cantaloupe, egg shells, lettuce, squash, and coffee grounds all piled in a heap. It looks moldy and wilted, and it smells rotten, but as the pitchfork flips and mixes the pile, the under-layers, still kind of moist but uniformly brown with an earthy aroma, are revealed. I think it is almost magical that all that rejected produce and trash can be transformed into a rich useful soil.

I was reminded of the compost pile recently while reading II Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

Some of our guests arrived at Camp Maranatha this past summer dead in their sins, and left the grounds alive in Christ. This has caused me to think of Camp Maranatha as a compost pile of sorts wherein an amazing transformation takes place in the lives of our guests. Although Camp Maranatha is situated in an idyllic spot with wonderful facilities, what is remarkable about camp is not the venue or the buildings. Just like the compost pile, it is the transformation that occurs here that makes it remarkable. For me, the fact that these grounds are dedicated to the work of the Lord lends beauty to the surroundings, and it is exciting to know that some of our guests are transformed during their time here into new creations--a rich useful soil from which good works will bloom, bear fruit, and bring joy to the heart of our Lord.

We can’t say that it is Camp Maranatha that makes this possible, because God doesn’t need anyone or any place to accomplish His will, but it is our great joy to be used in this way. Thanks be to God!!!

2008-07-04T13:36:00.000-07:00

Recently, I was walking through the parking lot on my way to the camp’s office when I saw a woman standing at the far end of the ball field taking a picture. At first, it wasn’t clear to me what she was photographing. Her camera was aimed in the general direction of the maintenance yard, but when I looked in that direction I didn’t see anything worthy of being photographed- just a line of shaggy cypresses that flank the driveway and the entrance to the maintenance yard. I looked back at the woman who was still busily taking pictures. Convinced I had missed something I scanned the area a second time, but still saw nothing. As the woman walked off the field I asked her what she had been photographing. She pointed toward the peak of Mt Tahquitz in the background, and said, “Aren’t the mountains incredible?”

Isn’t it amazing how easily we can become habituated to truly remarkable things? To me, a guy who lives and works in the mountains, the view of Mt Tahquitz had become an unremarkable backdrop, but to this woman it was “incredible.” It never even occurred to me that she might be photographing Tahquitz even though it dominates the horizon. We were looking at the same scene, but we saw things very differently.

This reminds me of Matthew 13:54-58, which reads as follows; “When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?” So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.” Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.”

Jesus was not common (anything but!), but to His neighbors He seemed common. To them He was just the son of a carpenter…a fellow who had grown up among them…from a humble and unremarkable family. Unbelievably, His neighbors, and even His family (John 7:5), didn’t recognize Him for who He was, and these were the people who would have known Him best. They didn’t believe Him. They thought of Him as common. They must have thought all the hoopla surrounding Jesus was very strange. I can imagine them saying, “It’s just Jesus!” And when confronted with Jesus’ wisdom and mighty works they couldn’t reconcile these experiences with the Jesus that they thought they knew. Whereas others saw Jesus as something wonderful, new and remarkable His neighbors and family remained skeptical. And because of their lack of faith, Jesus did not do many mighty works there.
I’m aware that many of you, like me, grew up in the church, and, in a very real sense, we grew up around Jesus. We went over to his house on Sundays. We attended Sunday school and VBS. We have sat through countless hours of sermons, prayer meetings, and Bible studies. Yet, for some, the years have dulled their passion, and have caused them to question the efficacy of prayer. For some, their walk has been reduced to a ritualistic pattern of dates, times and obligations. There is a warning here for any of us who have begun to view the church or our relationship with Christ as unremarkable…a common thing. If this sentiment could be true of people who met Jesus in the flesh, heard Him speak and witnessed His miracles it can certainly be true of us today. In scripture, Jesus performs some miracles as an aid to faith, and certainly His victory over death is the best example of that truth. In many other instances though He performs His mighty works in response to faith, “Be of good cheer, daughter, your faith has made you well.” (Matthew 9:23b) If our hearts are essentially the same before Christ as His neighbors in Matthew 13, than it follows that He will not do many mighty works in us either, and that not from want of grace or power in Christ, but rather from a lack of faith in us. Many of us want to see Christ move in powerful ways, but in our heart of hearts we simply don’t believe that He will. We have been habituated over the discouraging years to regard Christ’s statement, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God,” as an inspiring thought rather than a truth to live by. Over time, if we’re not careful, our relationship with Christ can become something we take for granted…something we’ve come to view as common and unremarkable. As a result, we may cease to believe in our heart of hearts that uncommon things can truly happen.

THE LADIES OF PROMISE LUTHERAN TIP-TOE THEIR WAY THROUGH THE SNOW TO THE DINING HALL-4/21/2007

2007-04-21T10:10:00.000-07:00

SNOWY MORNING AT CAMP MARANATHA- 4/21/2007

2007-04-21T07:51:00.000-07:00

April 20, 2007

2007-04-20T21:40:00.000-07:00

For those of you who only get to visit us during the summer, here's a glimpse of our latest spring storm.

SOME MORE OLD-TIMEY PHOTOS FROM GOOD OL' CAMP MARANATHA

2007-04-19T15:18:00.000-07:00

MOWING THE BALLFIELD

2007-04-19T14:54:00.000-07:00

"All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, because the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever."

CCCA Sectional Conference

2007-04-13T14:51:00.000-07:00

Eight of our staff members attended the Christian Camp and Conference Association's sectional conference at beautiful Big Bear's Pine Summit this March 19th- 23rd. Camping leaders from all over Southern California gathered for a time of renewal and reflection within a community of Christian fellowship. It offered seminars on everything from facilities and food service to leadership and spiritual formation in which we could share ideas, gather new information and bolster enthusiasm. They fed us very well, and there was always a willing ping-pong opponent available. One of the most exciting aspects of the conference was being in the general sessions among people who have been called to the camping ministry. Worshipping alongside so many others who have left their "regular jobs" to serve God through serving others was a blessing and encouragement.

Attendees left to right: Jeannie Oleson, Bobbi Crawford, Nancy Beggs, Kaitlin Barr, April Wilson and Rita Reynolds (Pine Summit).

Left to right back row: Lisa Richard, Keith Shirley, Paula Shirley, Jeannie Oleson and Bobbi Crawford. Front row: Kaitlin Barr, Nancy Beggs.

2007-04-09T10:02:00.000-07:00

Camp's office is now easy to find thanks to our beautiful new sign. It was designed by our former Food Service Coordinator Cameo Lussier- Lawrence and fabricated by MMAP volunteers and Walt and Keith Shirley. Its large scale makes it visible from our entry gate, and we've already received compliments from our guest groups and UPS driver.

FORMER REDSKIN SPEAKS AT CAMP MARANATHA

2007-01-30T11:34:00.000-08:00

Greg Huntingon with Camp Maranatha's Assistant Director Josh Tate
This past weekend Camp Maranatha hosted Restored Life Fellowship, a men's group from South Pasadena. Their speaker was Greg Huntington who played for Penn State and was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the early nineties. He went on to play for the Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears before leaving the sport and pursuing ministry full time. Washington Quarterback, Mark Brunelle, played an integral part in bringing Huntington to the Lord. He faithfully invited him to Bible studies at his house and conferences, and also modeled what it meant to be a Christian by living with integrity in the midst of their profession. Huntington accepted Christ into his heart as his personal Lord and Savior during his stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars, and was baptized in Brunelle's swimming pool. For the past few years, Huntingon has served as co-chaplain for the Washington Redskins while pursuing other ministry opportunities as well. Many of the men who attended the retreat said the Huntington's life and message had a big impact on them.
The men of Restored Life Fellowship reported having a wonderful stay here at the camp. They enjoyed wonderful weather and fellowship during their time at the camp, and are already planning another retreat next year.

SUMMER STAFF 2007

2007-01-18T15:36:00.000-08:00

Camp Maranatha, located a mile high in the beautiful San Jacinto Mountains of Southern California, is looking for High School and College students who are seeking more than a typical summer job. Do you long to invest yourself in the Lord’s service? Would you enjoy living and working with like-minded young people in a camp setting? Do you feel that the Lord is calling you to use your gifts in His service? If you answered “yes” to the above questions, you should consider joining Camp Maranatha’s 2007 summer staff.

Ever since the camp’s beginning in 1951 our summer staff has played a major role in the camp’s ministry. They have come from all around the country to serve the Lord through serving others. Over the course of the summer you will develop important work experience, make friends, and be stretched in your relationship with God. The summer staff experience isn’t just about work either. We also make time for staff activities, Bible studies, day-trips off the mountain, and just hanging out in the beauty of God’s creation.

So, what are you doing this summer? If you have a heart for the Lord, and are looking for an exciting and rewarding summer ministry experience, Camp Maranatha is the place for you. For an application or for additional information about working on the 2007 Summer Staff contact Camp Maranatha today!

Camp Maranatha is owned and operated as a non-profit organization by the Advent Christian Conference of Southern California.

Keith Shirley, Director
Josh Tate, Assistant Director
Lisa Richard, Food Service Director

Camp Maranatha
PO BOX 1736
Idyllwild, CA
92549

951-659-2739
camp_maranatha@juno.com

The Oasis House Church

2006-11-15T09:01:00.000-08:00

This past weekend, The Oasis House Church of Tempe Arizona drove out for a retreat here at Camp Maranatha. It was a lot of fun having them.

We also hosted a group of about 50 from the Rock Church. Both were first time groups, but things went really smoothly. Meeting new brothers and sisters is one of the joys that comes from working at Camp.

LIABILITY PROBLEM!!!

2006-11-09T14:11:00.000-08:00

BEAUTIFUL DAY HERE IN IDYLLWILD 11-9-2006

2006-11-09T13:58:00.000-08:00

It's a beautiful day here in Idyllwild. The kind of day where you would be comfortable in a sweatshirt, but if you start moving around you might want to take it off. There is a little bit of a breeze blowing the smell of pine around, and there isn't a cloud in the sky. I like the way the green mountains are juxtaposed next to the blue sky. Everything is so crisp and clear in the mountains. Really it is a beautiful day up here. We wish you were here to enjoy it with us... cancel that... why don't you come up?

For no particular reason I am posting two old Kids Kamp pictures. I just thought you would appreciate them. The top one is from 1968 and the bottom one is from 1957.

THE NEW OAK LODGE'S DEDICATION CEREMONY

2006-11-09T13:16:00.000-08:00

Lunch was served prior to the dedication ceremony.
Dave Crimi led everyone in prayer before the meal.
The afternoon sun shining through the fish cut outs which adorn the railings and stairways throughout the building.

2006-11-09T11:09:00.000-08:00

2006-11-09T10:16:00.000-08:00

Roughly 90 people attended the dedication ceremony. We were grateful for the turnout.
Conference President, Dave Crimi, addresses those in attendance.
Walt Shirley, Camp Maranatha's most faithful volunteer and honorary MMAPer, had a few brief comments. He is pictured here cutting the ribbon. Several people cut the ribbon throughout the ceremony in recognition of their contribution to the camp and specifically the building project.
The MMAPer ladies donated two framed Thomas Kinkade puzzles, which they completed during past projects. Eva Sprague (pictured above) and her husband, Jay Sprague, were instrumental in introducing Camp Maranatha to the MMAPer organization.
Veteran MMAPers, Dave and Vaal Eckenroth, were recognized for completing their 100th MMAP project- twelve of which have been at Camp Maranatha. Over the construction of the Oak Lodge the MMAPer organization has contributed 17, 825 hours of volunteer labor. The construction of the Oak Lodge would not have been possible without their hard work and generosity.
Keith Shirley and his "right hand man" Dave Shoemaker. Dave Shoemaker, from the Tustin Church, regularly drove up to camp on weekends to assist keith with the building.
A slide show was shown showing the different stages of the construction project down through past few years. It was an incredible visual reminder of what a massive undertaking the building was and it also served as a reminder of how faithful God has been.
Louis Gransee dedicated the building to God and His use through prayer.

BOBCAT SIGHTING AT CAMP-11/7/2006

2006-11-07T09:27:00.000-08:00

Last night, as we were sitting at our dining room table eating dinner, we heard the ravens outside making an unusual amount of noise. We are used to ravens making a lot of noise around our house, but their cawing was of an unusual intensity, frequency, and volume. Sarah stepped out onto the porch to see what all the fuss was about and saw a bobcat right across the road by the fountain. I joined her on the porch just in time to see the bobcat jump down into the concrete area around the fountain.
The ravens were dive-bombing the beleaguered feline, who left the fountain and made its way calmly around the edges of the center grass. Sarah ran back inside, grabbed the camera, threw on a sweater and shoes and then went out to see if she could get a picture of it.
Being the expert tracker that she is, Sarah caught up with the bobcat at the far end of the center grass by the gazebo. She was able to take a couple of pictures, but because of the gathering dusk they are a little dark and fuzzy. Sarah got a good look at it and said that it had short dark fur and most of one of its ears was missing. The ravens didn’t leave it alone until it disappeared into the manzanitas on the hillside just north of the A-frame.
One of the MMAPer couples also saw the bobcat walking through the camp’s parking lot shortly before we saw it across from our house.

THE NEW OAK LODGE

2006-11-03T16:01:00.000-08:00

Looking north from the Gazebo.

Looking south from the tabernacle.
Rooms connected by bridges on the back side of the building.
The back side of the building looking north along the dirt road.

The chapel.
Inside one of the building's 16 rooms. The bunkbeds can be taken apart for campers who don't want to climb to an upper bunk. In this picture the bunkbed has been taken down. Each room has a private shower and toilet. Most rooms have three beds, but some have 5.

RT 243 FROM THE BANNING SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN IS STILL CLOSED

2006-11-03T14:48:00.000-08:00

If you are planning to attend the ribbon cutting and dedication service for the new building tomorrow the way up the mountain from Banning on rt. 243 remains closed due to damage from the recent wildfire.

There is a possibility it will be reopened before tomorrow, but you should check to make sure before you leave home.

To check if 243 has been reopened call the State Highway Conditions phone number at 1-800-427-7623 and request information about 243.

We are looking forward to seeing you here at Camp tomorrow!

RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY THIS SATURDAY

2006-11-01T15:38:00.000-08:00

A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held this Saturday the 4th at 1:30pm to dedicate the new Oak Lodge and thank the MMAPers and other volunteers who assisted in the building's construction. Lunch will be served at 12:00 pm prior to the ceremony. There is no cost for the lunch or to attend the ceremony, and we would love for you to come!

We hope to see you there!

THE CAMPS BEGINNINGS- EARLY 1950'S

2006-11-01T15:17:00.000-08:00

Click on the image to view an enlarged version.

Check out that huge parrot on that guy's shirt. I like his style.

The Old Big Pine Lodge.
The Old Ponderosa.
The Maple Lodge (staff house).

10-29-2006

2006-11-01T15:11:00.000-08:00

This past weekend we hosted three groups. The group pictured here in the Oak Lodge's chapel is Charisma in Missions. They brought 150 campers from the Los Angeles area. The other two groups, not pictured here were Village Bible Church (teens) and Promise Lutheran (women). It was a good weekend despite the distraction of the wildfire on the other side of the mountain.

FIRE UPDATE 10-27-2006 at 4:30 pm

2006-10-27T16:23:00.000-07:00

There isn't much new to report with regards to the wildfire. Route 243 andState Highway 79 remain closed, and although the fire has grown it has not moved any closer to Idyllwild. Ironically the Santa Ana winds, which are fanning the flames, are also driving them away from Idyllwild. Today was less smokey here at the camp with blue skies, and only occasionally was there noticeable smoke or haze in the air.

At this time, you will be comforted to know that Idyllwild is in no danger. Our hearts go out to all those whose property lies in harm's way and for those firemen who are working so hard to safeguard the welfare and property of area residents at great personal risk.

We are especially mindful today of those firemen who have died and become injured fighting the fire, and our hearts go out to their families and loved ones. Please remember those who have been affected by this loss in your prayers.

It is hoped that sometime in the next 24 hours the Santa Ana winds will cease and an off-shore breeze may blow the fire back onto the 26,000 acres it has already scorched and thus extinguish it. We are grateful for the brave and dedicated service of the firemen and others who have been battling the fire, and we are also grateful that the fire has not effected the camp's operation in any way.

Our three guest groups are still planning to attend this weekend, but we have made sure, as a precaution, that all guest groups bring and maintain a sufficient number of vehicles to safely evacuate their campers in the unlikely event that an evacuation becomes necessary.

Your prayers are appreciated. We will update the blog as developments occur.

A good resource for current local information on the fire and its effects is the Idyllwild Town Crier's Web site;

www.towncrier.com

IDYLLWILD NOT IN DANGER AT THIS TIME

2006-10-26T16:01:00.000-07:00

For those of you who have been following events on the news with regards to the Esperanza Fire you will be comforted to know that Idyllwild, and thus Camp Maranatha, is not in any danger at this time.

Route 243 between Idyllwild and Banning as well as State Highway 79 have been closed to through traffic due to encroachment from the wildfire on that side of the mountain.

The air here at the camp has been a little smokey throughout the day, but otherwise we remain uneffected.

We are expecting three guest groups this weekend with approximately 200 campers in all. We do not intend to cancel this weekend's retreats, as Idyllwild is in no danger at this time.

We would appreciate prayers for the safety of the firemen battling the fire, as well as prayer that the fire would not move further in the direction of Idyllwild.

I will update the blog with any developments as they occur.

CALLING ALL SERVANTS

2006-10-25T11:33:00.000-07:00

This weekend, October 27-29, we will have approximately 200 campers here at Camp Maranatha, and many of our regular kitchen workers will not be available to help. So, if you are interested in volunteering in the the camp's kitchen this weekend please give us a call. We would surely appreciate it!

951-659-2739

camp_maranatha@juno.com

10-21-2006

2006-10-21T09:12:00.000-07:00

This weekend we are hosting the Spirit of Joy Lutheran and the Good Shepherd Lutheran Women's groups. Lucy Tate is enjoying the pancake breakfast.

RAINY DAY IN IDYLLWILD

2006-10-14T11:22:00.000-07:00

It is a cold and drizzly day here in Idyllwild. On my drive to the dump this morning I saw more than one chimney with smoke curling out of it. Mist and clouds shroud Tahquitz peak as well as the surrounding mountains, obscuring them from sight. As I type, rain is plip-plip-plopping on the tin roof above the office. The weather and cooler temperatures is a novel and pleasant change for our guests who live down off the mountain.

2006-10-14T11:09:00.000-07:00

One of Camp Maranath's most faithful volunteers, Walt "Iron Man" Shirley, was back at work today putting some finishing touches on the new Oak Lodge.
Dave Shoemaker, another faithful volunteer who regularly travels from Orange County to help out here at the camp, is working with Keith Shirley to make aluminum templates for the "light boxes," which will be mounted around the Oak Lodge's ceiling-mounted light fixtures.

Staff Devotions 10-14-2006

2006-10-14T10:58:00.000-07:00

This morning, after a delicious breakfast (are there any other kind at Camp Maranatha?), the kitchen staff took a break from their labors to share prayer requests and spend a little time in the Word. This morning we read Psalm 5 and a portion of Psalm 17.

Pictured left to right are TJ, Maria, Lisa, Erin, Kaitlin, and Lucas, who is hiding behind the head of Aaron.

Camp Maranatha is so thankful for servants such as these!

THE MMAPers (AND WALT SHIRLEY) HARD AT WORK

2006-10-12T15:45:00.000-07:00

The MMAPers are busy making "light boxes" which will surround the ceiling mounted light fixtures in the new Oak Lodge.
Because the Tabernacle is unheated it is used as a garage/workshop in the fall, winter and spring.

Camp Maranatha is so thankful for the MMAPers and other volunteers who selflessly devote their time, abilities and resources to the ministry at Camp Maranatha.

10-6-2006

2006-10-05T09:53:00.000-07:00

Camp Maranatha has come a long way since its beginning in 1951 (the photo above shows the dining hall under construction), and now there is a new and exciting way to keep current with what is going on at camp. That's right, Camp Maranatha has a blog!

We plan on updating the blog regularly with pictures, weather reports, prayer requests, guest group information, and just about anything having to do with camp.

So if you are one of the many folks who love Camp Maranatha, but can't get up here as often as you'd like, this will be a great way to stay connected!