Ironwood Christian Camp - Newberry Springs, CA
Dry, dusty, gritty and copious amounts of sand! That is what the Mojave Desert has to offer but for those who live here are accustomed - for us Easteners it is another story! No matter how often you dust or vacuum there is always at least a light dusting over everything (even if the windows are kept shut)! If you are walking down the road (sand) and a vehicle passes you, DON’T OPEN YOUR MOUTH OR BREATHE until you can see clearly! You can even feel it between your teeth!!!! Now I know why the cowboys wore bandanas over there faces. At night you can blow enough out of your nose to compose a small sand dune!
Speaking of sand dunes………we hiked to Soldier Mountain Saturday, well, Wayne got there, I only made it to the cell tower because of a wrong turn. Ever climbed sand? 18 inches up, slide down 12………18 inches up, slide down 12……..18 inches up, slide down 12……….get my drift! It was a nightmare but the view was incredible…….360 degrees of desert. Contrary to popular belief (news hype) AMERICA IS NOT OVERPOPULATED!
Ironwood from lake side. Close to sunset - gorgeous sky every night.
We are planning a short weekend jaunt to the Pacific Ocean, Laguna Beach just below Los Angeles this coming weekend. That is, if the car is fixed………oh yeah, Satan has attacked once again. To the tune of $200 for a new alternator. Wayne is as we speak, down at the camp vehicle garage pulling the radiator just to get to the old alternator, will install new one and then the tedious task of putting it all back together with no screws or parts left over. Ok, we are looking at this positively……..glad it happened here and not on the road to Los Angeles only to break down on the Freeway and glad it happened here and not in the Mojave Desert on the way to the Carotenuto’s for Thanksgiving next week. There is good in everything that the Lord orchestrates. Our Sunday School lesson yesterday ended - God is good and God is right. ALL THE TIME!
The men have been busy extending the Meeting Hall an additional 8 ft. including the roof line, porch and new railings, and then revamping the electrical wiring inside the Meeting Hall. The women have been sewing new curtains for several of the 70+ cabins located on this campus. You read right - 70+. This is the biggest camp that we have encountered. Below is a picture of the campus from Soldier Mountain that shows just how large the complex is - it’s bigger than the actual city of Newberry Springs which is where it is located (just outside of). It is amazing to me that the camp can run 3 camps at the same time. They also offer an institute to train people on how to operate a successful Christian Camp. We have met so many young people that are serious minded enough to leave this place and either start or contribute to an existing camp. They are certain that God has called them to this ministry and they are determined to survive even if it is in the desert!
The first weekend we were here we experienced a “brown out” - no electricity for about 12 hours. These people were not phased! Me, I wanted my electric blankie working and coffee in the pot when I woke up. It’s a way of life.
Even the cactus in the desert is beautiful and unusual.
Last Friday night the camp had a “Thank You” dinner for us along with the other 2 camps that were operating at the time. It was followed by about 1 hr. of entertainment - a skit performed by the counselors and staff. I have not laughed that hard in a long time. Better than any TV or theatre show around. It was a super evening.
Extension on the Meeting Hall (outside)
Extension inside
Selma & Sue sewing curtains
We will be here for the month of December as well. One of three Sower couples will be leaving for another project but the two of us remaining will be continuing the projects we are currently working on. Till then we wish everyone a memorable Thanksgiving and a Christ-centered Christmas. Strange spending the holidays in the desert, got to admit, once in a lifetime! RV crazy, or what?!
Making homemade pizza for potluck supper night/game night. L-R: Gail Fieler, Selma & Len Janzen,
Roy & Sue Anderson, and Wayne Fieler
YUMMO! It's worth working for!
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