I watched our five-year-old grandson, full of the spirit of life, casting stones in the river. With each stone he would raise both his arms, give a little jump and say, “I hope this one is aerodynamic. Let’s see what it does.” He then tosses his rock into midstream, watching and screeching with delight as the ripples concentrically move. He repeats the ritual at least twenty times, then looks to me, satisfied and says, “Did you see that, grandma? Did you see how aerodynamic that was?”
It is what we hope for in life; to be aerodynamic. Well, at least we hope to have the qualities that allow us to easily fly through life, with minimal friction and create a few ripples of the good and meaningful kind.
When we witness ripples, it confirms our plop in the pond results in something more impactful than a stone simply sinking to the bottom. It is a relief and a joy when our life is “Aerodynamic”!
The quest of our lives is to find the treasure of knowing we have made a difference. We have extended, even by “coincidental” encounters, a unique series of waves that could be not initiated by anyone else. A “coincidence” that could not be orchestrated by anyone else but God. Einstein defined “coincidence” as God’s way of staying anonymous”. There is no such thing as coincidence. God always has the glory.
Our lives were designed to create ripples for a greater good, a greater God. We are, by design, searching to affirm purpose. Today, is when we need to know what we had in front of us to do (and did), continued bubbling out in significance. A reward waiting after this life is too remote; a crown we won’t wear anyway. When we are a memorial, we will not care. A living legacy is to plunk in the water now for God’s glory.
I meditate on how to be the visible manifestation of God’s character; the Living Water, moving, sustaining, creating, embracing.

Dear KFC,

We are excited to announce that today we have received the grant for the Garrett Stewart Memorial Training Center in the amount of $10,000.

In anticipation of the check's arrival, Up Camp has already purchased training mannequins for winter training and new manuals to replace those that burnt up in the fire. Additionally, an expert is coming in two weeks to bring a new computer system that will meet Up Camp's needs for data management and program training/development. This gift will help build future leaders in service to people with special needs.

Your gift is a huge boost to Up Camp's post fire recovery.

THANK YOU!!!

We will be visiting our new friends at the Eugene KFC soon and plan to post the news on our website asap.

Most appreciatively,

Jerry and Laura Pierce

Evans Creek Retreat Up Camp 2023

Thank you!
​The place is looking like a camp again.
We praise the Lord for His goodness in sending you and the
​resources needed to create anew His place of respite.

We are excited that we will be able to hold Easter Services beneath our new Pavilion!

Designed and orchestrated by Craig Eaton, Eaton Construction, and built with the labor of volunteers: Hannah Southard, Steve Bohrer, Jim Harvey, Jeff Castle, Troy Farwell, Pete Russell, Craig Hartman, Mike Hartman, Victor and Jose. Steve and Jeff also created places for quiet repose by the creek, and put in fence posts. Jim H cut some major size downed trees.

The Christ Mission College of San Antonio volunteers Monte, Reva, Natalie, Saulo, Sarah, Jeremy, Ray, Lynette, Yari, Elizer, John, Anna, and Jenifer cleaned all the foundations, filled the metal box, stacked wood, cleared debris and sorted thousands of dollars of lumber donated by Parr Lumber.

Tina Eveleth, camper, Cindy Wilson and Dana Gleanon worked on restoring the trails through the memorial garden. CMC students made memorial stones that will be added to other volunteers’ creations to form a wonderful wall of remembrance.

Also thanks to Liz Donnelly and Tina for supplying plenty of Gatorade, water and lunch supplies.
​Panera Breads supplied pastries and bagels.

Many thanks for log splitting, tractor work and general heavy lifting to Nate, and Forrest.

Architect and former staff, Noel (Sergio) spent four days measuring and drawing sketches that will create the final plans for rebuilding. And special thanks to David Freeman that arranged for volunteers Al Osterhoudt, and John Newberg to complete the survey.

It is a blessing to be surrounded by so many skilled people willing to share
​their time to recreate what the fire turned to ash.

David F. and his wife, Shelly, brought tables, chairs, and tools for the work crew.

James Dezellum, alumni staff, put his chainsaw to work with enthusiasm and
​John and Debbie V. returned to cut up more metal to haul away.

Bruce F. finished the bridge and Steve, Jeff, Troy and Pete put in the railroad ties for the fence line.

Thanks to generous donations we will be able to bring in our mobile kitchen unit and construction will begin on a small cabin that will be used this summer for our infirmary.

It is our gift from God that He would choose to raze all to ashes so
that He can bring glory to Himself through this great community of people.

​So much in one week!
Blessings,
Jerry and Laura

Sue Woods celebrated her 40th year as a camper. She has not missed a single season since 1978, sometimes coming
two or three times in a year. Sue is not just a camper, she is family. I have spent more holidays and summers with Sue
than members of my birth family. Sue was there when the camp first started, a rustic, primitive wilderness camp. She
came to camp on a bus packed with others from the state institution for the “mentally retarded”. They came to cook a
S’more over a fire, wiggle their toes in the grass and sleep on the earth under the stars.
Today, Sue lives in a group home called “Home Life”. Sometimes she comes to camp with her housemates, and
sometimes she leaves them at home. A lot has changed in Sue’s world over forty years.
Somehow, while camp was growing, Sue transformed from a stocky little blonde, to a slightly balding, a bit rounder, gray
haired woman with chin hairs. Over time Sue participated a little less in water fights and adventure hikes, preferring to
hang out in the breezeway listening to Bible stories or participate in a rousing, no rules, ten player UNO game. She
continued to proudly hold up the fish she caught, posted her newly created art and gloated over her bowling score card.
However, these activities were last on her lists of pleasures at camp. She had her chair.
Sue religiously rose every morning, brought her folding chair out to the corner of the field, and positioned it so that she
viewed the mountains. From her post, she would watch the sun come up across the tree tops. She would close her eyes
and let the sun bathe her face. One knew by her peaceful smile she was in communion with her Creator and His creation.
Frequently, a laugh or a giggle would burst forth and then her demeanor returned to a quiet stoic pose.
Once the breakfast bell sounded, Sue would clutch her little red purse (that had nothing in it) and take a deep breath, let it
all out and then half run to the morning meal. She belted key words to the “Johnny Appleseed” chorus; “thank
Lord…giving me…I need…sun, rain, apple seed…good me…amen”. When the meal was over, she would return to her
chair and await the next invitation to activity.
Sue didn't talk much. In fact, Sue didn't talk unless you talked to her first. Food topics would grant more conversation
opportunities than politics. Careful to get to the point, she mostly answered in one word responses. "Would you like to go
paddle boating, Sue?" "Yes", and then immediately she was off to the river. Staff had to learn to not ask before they were
ready to go.
On talent show night, she would put on the costume of her choice look in the mirror, giggle, and then go sit in her chair.
It wasn't important to perform. The joy was in looking in the mirror and having a laugh at what she saw.
I'm not certain if Sue's spirituality conforms to a denominational preference, but I do know that when you sing the line
“Jesus Loves Me” she will echo the next line as matter a fact as her own name, "this I know".
Labeled as autistic, it is common to see Sue sit a little off from the group. She isn't annoyed by other campers, just doesn’t
need them to complete her camp experience. She will share a bunkhouse with the rambunctious young ones (at camp so
that parents could have respite) and the snoring older ones (whose parents are long gone). Her great escape would be
the nights she camped outside (now atop a mattress) on the ground under the stars. You could hear her giggle half the
night.
Like her chair, Sue's little red 1950's purse was a Sue trademark. Sometimes she would show up for campfire in her
pajamas and still be holding her little red purse. On dance nights, Sue would dress to the hilt with heels and beads to
adorn her dress. It was not important to coordinate her purse. She liked her red purse. Sometimes she would just hold it
and giggle, and rock her body back and forth.
I don’t recall her ever really dancing, however, she seemed to make a ritual out of the pre-dance prank. Waiting until a
group of men entered the showers, Sue would sneak to the door and turn off the lights. She would giggle and run back to
her chair as they all screamed for the staff person to "find the lights."

​The 40th Year Version of "Everything I know I Learned from Sue” (while sharing camp together):
Begin each day with fresh enthusiasm.
Breathe in, let it out and then go eat a good meal.
Never say, "No" to an opportunity to catch a fish, make a craft, or explore a new trail.
Dance, or at least, dress up for the occasion.
Be content with your purse, even if it is empty.
Giggle out loud without caring if anyone knows the reason.
Don’t be afraid to laugh at yourself in the mirror.
Find pride in who you are but never take yourself so seriously that you forget who He is and that He made you
exactly who you were meant to be.
Show off when it shows God's glory, but remember performance isn't everything.
Slow down. Stop. Sit. Let yourself rock.
Position your “chair” for maximum awe.
Contemplate the hills and the valleys and God's faithfulness to provide.
Never worry.
Say "yes", to ice cream making, watermelon and S'mores.
Speak less, listen more, and use your words to say what you mean.
Get up and act when it is time.
Live so you don’t have to use words to communicate love and hospitality.
Know your comfort zone, but don’t be afraid to leave it.
Stretch. Trust.
Soak in God's amazing plan for everyone to celebrate life and community.
Giggle together.
Sing together.
Pray together.
Give thanks together.
“The Lord is good to me, AMEN.”

We give the glory to God that camp is not about property or equipment.
Camp is about relationships. The intrepid spirit of the camp community thrives undaunted.
We have received phone calls, texts, emails, and letters of encouragement from all over the world and from every era of camp since 1978. Renewing connections and listening to stories of how camp has impacted so many lives is a soothing balm, a rich treasure far more valuable than anything that could be burnt into ash. Camp has been and will continue to be, a conduit for ripples of influence, and an eternal well of lives changed.
When all is lost, that which is found becomes more precious.
Both fire and water are cleansing agents. When they meet in the sky the result is lightning.
We have been struck. The camp facility as far as can be seen is total ash.
All property, possessions and program materials have burned up.
Camp will rise again physically under the wings of a great Provider who is woven into the memories of campers, staff, donors, neighbors, caregivers, families, and friends.
We are excited to see how God will demonstrate His love and glory next. He is faithful to restore.
God is in the business of making all things new. He will, through all of those who are the camp community, increase the joy, the peace, and the hope we feel going forward.
We are collecting memories and stories to preserve the heart, traditions, and essence of camp for those who haven't yet had the opportunity to experience that camp is more than a place.
Like a book that may go unread, every person has a story within them; a story that needs to be told.
We welcome you to send your “story”, pictures, or remembrances. These can be sent to [email protected].
The plan is to assemble contributions and create a calendar for the new year.
Our hope is that 2021 will be a better one for everyone.
As Grasshopper loves to quote, “This too will pass”.
Evan's Creek Retreat will once again become a place to refresh, renew, relax and retreat. We look forward to continuing a tradition of celebrating the undeniably purposed lives of the camp community at "Up Camp".