First Edition

Pine Cone Ponderings

When I read accounts of the Israelites in the old testament I’m amazed at how they can see such miraculous signs of God’s provision, then in the next chapter question God’s plan. Then God opens my eyes to see how much like the Israelites I can be. I had one such encounter this summer. As some of you know we have been in the process of building the Hemingway Operations Complex at Camp Buxton. The complex consists of the Hemingway Operations Building, a new duplex for the guides to live in, a team building challenge course, and individual low and high ropes courses. Our plan for the last offseason was to construct the exterior of the guide quarters during the fall. That would allow us to spend the snowy winter months finishing the interiors of the guide quarters and the Operations Building. Things didn’t go according to our plan. We ran into delay after delay with the building department and couldn’t work on either building until December. That opened up the fall so that we could build the team building challenge course and the individual low ropes course. We were worried about constructing the guide quarters in the middle of winter, but God provided a miracle. He withheld snow for the entire month of January until about 90 minutes after we finished putting the roof on the building. His timing was perfect because we were able to get our final inspections for both the guide quarters and the Operations Building the week before our summer programs started. His plan allowed us to complete the two challenge courses as well as the two buildings. His plan was perfect. Things were no different with our summer programs. Since God’s hand was so evident in preparing us for the summer I thought that He was going to ‘open the flood gates’ in terms of our registrations. Once again, things didn’t go according to my plan, and our registrations were very low this summer. Like the Israelites, I had just seen miraculous signs of His provision, then questioned His plan when it wasn’t going the way I thought it should. Needless to say God’s plan for the summer turned out to be perfect. We had some students who came and had life changing encounters with God that they could not have had if there had been more students. Jeremiah 29:11 says “ ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” I pray that the next time things are not going the way that you planned you will rest in the promise that God has a plan for you, and that His plan will always be perfect.

News From Buxton

The Hemingway Operations Complex is nearly complete. As I mentioned in the Pine Cone Ponderings, we have finished the Hemingway Operations Building and the duplex for the guides. Here are some pictures of the buildings and ropes courses.



Hemingway Operations Building

Interior of Hemingway Operations Building


Guide Quarters


Ten foot wall on team building course

We are currently working with an engineering firm on the design for the indoor climbing wall. We hope to start construction on that in the next few weeks. We also hope to start construction on the high ropes course this fall if budget allows.

Thoughts from Alumni

I would love to hear your thoughts! If you have a thought or a story that you would like to share please email it to me at outdoor@springcanyon.org with the subject ‘Thoughts from Alumni.”

For this issue I will include some of the comments we received this year on our debrief forms:

· “I felt like RMH truly helped me grow in my relationship with God and gave me the tools I need to live as a Christian in the military. I thought RMH did a great job of using God’s creation to enhance learning about him.”

· “One thing is very evident – the love of Christ is everywhere at RMH. From the moment I arrived I felt very welcomed and I knew that the Lord would work in my life if I open up my heart and eyes to Him and listen to the message being shared. The experience has really made me examine myself in a new way with reference to the leadership position I will be entering into. I enjoyed every aspect of this week especially the things that challenged me physically and spiritually. Everything was new to me but the RMH staff with their patience, instruction, and overwhelming enthusiasm made this experience better than I could have imagined.”

· I learned that the time is right for me to accept Christ in my life.