As 2008 proves to be another exceptional year of ministry at Mount Hermon, it is also proving to be a year of challenge.  With economic fear on the rise, giving has slowed – when the need could not be greater! 

Last year Project R.E.P.A.I.R. raised almost $500,000 towards much-needed infrastructure repairs.  While the needs continue to grow, we continue to trust God for His provision.  The 2008 goal for Project R.E.P.A.I.R. has been set $1 million. 

2008 Project R.E.P.A.I.R. items include:

• Conference Center Lodging Upgrades (Azalea Lodge Bathroom remodel, Beechwood and Camelia Cabins remodel, additional bedding upgrades, etc). $282, 000
• Redwood Camp Pool Resurfacing $66,000
• Ponderosa Lodge Dining Hall and Cabin Re-Carpeting $12,000
• Replacement Vehicle Purchases $96,000

Proverbs 11:25 says, “A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.”  Project R.E.P.A.I.R. may be about refreshing buildings, but it is about more than that.  It is about refreshing lives.  God transforms our generosity into transformed lives.  Will you partner with us in our pursuit to keep our facilities “ministry-enabling?” 

Thank you for the ministry role you play through your support of Project R.E.P.A.I.R. and Mount Hermon.

Multiple fires began just before 2 p.m. today approximately 15 miles southeast of Mount Hermon, and are far enough away that they should not pose any danger to those guests attending Mount Hermon.

The fires are located alongside Highway 1 between Airport Blvd. to the Mar Monte Avenue exit.  As of 3:16 pm the Highway Patrol has closed Highway one in both directions between Freedom Blvd. and Airport Blvd. in Watsonville.

If you are planning on arriving at Mount Hermon this evening and are coming from south of Watsonville plan on finding alternate routes (Freedom Blvd. appears to be a good alternate route) and expect some additional traffic delays.

Updated information on the fire can be found at the following locations:

http://www.santacruzsentinel.com
http://www.ksbw.com
http://www.nbc11.com

Fire Update:

Firefighters continue to make significant progress in fighting the Martin Fire up near Bonny Doon. Thankfully, it does not pose a threat to Mount Hermon.

Weather has been assisting with cooler temperatures and higher humidity. Some residents in the Bonny Doon area have been able to return to their homes. Reports are now estimating full containment sometime late Saturday afternoon if weather continues to cooperate. For the most up-to-date official information click here.

Firefighters Rest at Mount Hermon

Mount Hermon was able to provide lodging and rest to 68 firefighters (65 men and 3 women) who came in with their 15 engines. They came from as far south as San Bernardino up to San Francisco. They stayed from 6:30pm Thursday to 5:30am Friday. They had to report back to the fire line at 6am.

They loved Mount Hermon! The timing was awesome because the evening weather was perfect and they had a sweet view of the recreation field and the dry run of the Family Camp opening program (live entertainment) from their lodging (Pine and Fir). You could tell they were totally relaxed and in awe of Mount Hermon.

They are very grateful for the accommodations. The other alternative was sleeping on the dirt! Some could have gone home, but they would not have any time to rest with all the traveling.

In a three hour window our staff went from knowing nothing about this to clearing the parking lot, opening up the rooms, coordinating the housing, communicating with four different strike team leaders, throwing some extra food on the BBQs, and taking care of the payments. From Registration, to Custodial, to Food Service, to Housekeeping, to Conference Services, to Program making special announcements to staff to clear the parking lot…it was an awesome display of the unity, servant’s hearts, and professionalism of our staff. All of this in the midst of a very busy staff training and Family Camp prep week. They are amazing!

Here are some images of their arrival and preparing for a good night’s rest here at Mount Hermon:

As of 7:30 pm the fire is still burning and continuing to head away from the Mount Hermon area. The fire has grown to approximately 300 acres and more than 1,400 residents have been evacuated.

For more up-to-date news coverage you can visit these local news websites:

• CAL FIRE Official Fire Information
• KSBW News
• KRON News
• Santa Cruz Sentinel
  
• KGO/ABC News

A map of the evacuation area and the distance of the fire from Santa Cruz may be viewed here.

Some of you may have heard that there is another wildfire burning in the general Mount Hermon area. At this time the fire is 5 miles from Mount Hermon and currently moving away from our location.

The fire at this time has burned approximately 50 acres and fire resources are being called in from all of our surrounding areas. Several of Mount Hermon’s staff are volunteer firefighters and they are already on the scene with their departments.

Images of the fire are available here online on the Flickr sites of Dan Dawson and Jonathan Assink.

Redwood Camp’s Zayante Lodge is perfectly situated along the Zayante Creek. With its large windows, the room seems to be enveloped by its surroundings. In such a blissfull setting, who would notice the carpet? We did.

During the fall, winter and spring, Zayante Lodge’s Meeting Room is the central hub for all Redwood Camp guest group activities. Throughout the summer the meeting room serves the many primary and junior campers at Redwood as a place to play games, hang out, and be ministered to.

Recently, the room was packed with junior campers playing games, hanging out, singing, and hearing the word of God at Junior Getaway.

After many years of hard, but kingdom worthy use, the carpet has been replaced. Replacing this carpet is especially exciting because it is the first time we’ve installed carpet tiles. This will allow a longer life out of the carpet. Inevitably there will be accidents and spills resulting in unslightly stains. Instead of living with the stains for years, we will be able to change out just the affected tiles. No wonder our custodial, programming, and conference services staff are rejoicing.

Total Cost: $ 11,700

The new carpet tiles in the Zayante Lodge Meeting Room were laid in a “checkerboard” pattern.

Two years ago, Mount Hermon designed a more effective and attractive sign system to help guests navigate the conference center.  We were unable to install these new signs to budget constraints.  But now, thanks to generous donors of Project R.E.P.A.I.R., we have been able to purchase the metal brackets and wooden posts needed to do the installation.  More than half of the new signs have been installed around the conference center with more to come.  Look for the signs on your next visit.

Our friends from the Winkler Bible Camp Cross Current Discipleship School in Canada.

This November was the fifth year that the Winkler group came to Mount Hermon on their annual service mission. The Winkler Bible Camp Cross Current Discipleship School is an 8-month program that combines in-class, Biblical training with various on and off-site ministry opportunities. A unique relationship formed years ago between Cross Current and Mount Hermon has proved to be a great blessing for all involved.

These energtic young people always accomplish many, many volunteer projects on their visit with us each year. This year in particular, they helped with the demolition of Black Cabin. Black Cabin was beyond renovation with a large hole in the roof and growing grass, broken windows, a rotting floor, and no ceiling. The perfect habitat for Mount Hermon’s local varmints.

Watch the video below as Black Cabin comes down!

Here is a list of other work projects Winkler accomplished during their stay:

1. Installation of a gray water system at 12 Prospect
2. Replacement of the water main and rebuild the the steps and decks at Oak, Maple, and Madrone Lodge Units
3. Help transport, arrange, sell Lost and Found items
4. Painted five guest rooms
5. Built a split rail fence at Redwood Camp
6. Refinished and painted tables and blocks at Play School
7. Data entry and office support
8. Dug a trench at the Bird Blind for water and electrical service
9. Split many cords of firewood
10. Spread wood chips at Redwood and Ponderosa Camps
11. Sequoia Trail Maintenance
12. Rearrange prop storage
13. Gardening - and the list goes on

Thank you! God bless you in your ministry and your travels. We look forward to seeing you next year.

We have three new footbridges near the Fieldhouse (a great improvement over the old plywood boards) thanks to more of our unsung heros, our volunteers. The footings were poured in late September by the Cornerstone Evangelical Free Church Men’s group from Yuba City. The actual bridges were built by Jim Cone, carpenter, and friend, Jim Koschene, who came for their annual volunteer trip in October.

Some of the men from the Cornertone Evangelical Free Church in Yuba City build the forms for the footings for one of the bridges.

Jim and Jim lay the last rail to complete one of three of the bridges. They also built a fence to enclose the unsightly air conditioning units behind the Fieldhouse.

The men’s group from the Cornerstone Church also completed several other projects while they were here. The projects included:

• Disassembly of the boat dam
• Yard clean up at 7 Forest “Sorrel Cabin”
• Chopping wood
• Re-roofing the pool pump house at Ponderosa Lodge
• Building a barricade to close off the old green swinging bridge that is no longer safe

We then had a pleasant surprise in the arrival of a missions group from Master’s Commission Urban Missions Institute. There was a delay in acquiring visas for their mission’s trip to Brazil and they chose to wait it out here at Mount Hermon. These servant-minded young people were able to accomplish several tasks during their stay with us. They washed and detailed the camp vehicles, painted three cabins at Redwood Camp, worked in the bookstore, helped with data entry, and washed all the windows in the Fieldhouse. We are so grateful for all they were able to do on their short stay with us. May God watch over them and protect them as they head to their adventure in Brazil.

We are grateful for every one of our volunteers and the countless projects and tasks they do.

Several well worn cabin decks and stairs sorely need replacing at Ponderosa Lodge.

The volunteers enjoyed a beautiful day as well as great fellowship.

Each deck was repaired by a team of 6 to 8 men led by an experienced carpenter.

Volunteers mean so much to the continuing ministries at Mount Hermon. Recently at the Hillside Men’s retreat approximately 50 men gave their time and skills to bless Mount Hermon and further God’s Kingdom by participating in a service project at Ponderosa Lodge.

These men gave nearly 250 hours of service time, replaced five cabin decks, three handrails and seven sets of stairs representing over $8,000 in materials. They also hauled away all the old materials and scrap and cleaned up the area around each work site.

Thank you Hillside men. We are are truly blessed and amazed at all you were able to accomplish by God’s grace and the gifts He has given to each of you.

One of the newly replaced cabin decks and stairs.