Summer Outreach Camps 2013

Summer Outreach Camp Preview

Camps at Pico Escondido are fun. Kids have a blast. We want this to be the best week of their lives, and for many, it is just that. This is not just because of the great food, the gym, and the giant swing. It is because of the love of God they experience. Every aspect of camp is designed to point to their loving Creator.

Some highlights:

The Giant Swing

The Pool

Club

Time with their leaders

Here's a short (45 sec) video message about summer outreach camps.

As the video says, between Vida Joven and our international schools ministry, we are expecting 800 kids at outreach camps this year. 297 in 2011, 571 last year. That is some significant growth. Pray that God would continue moving through this ministry. It is exciting! 

Stay tuned for more info soon.

Pico Escondido employee profile - Raffy Figueroa

With this entry, I want to start introducing our staff at Pico Escondido. They are a key reason for Pico Escondido's success. They are great people, and I want those of you who are interested in the work Rebeca and I do to know them.

Raffy Figueroa, Pico Escondido Guest Services Coordinator

Raffy tells his story:

Hello my name is Rafael Figueroa (Raffy). I was born in Las Yerbas - a farming community outside of La Vega. I have 3 siblings. I am the youngest. In my childhood everything was very good until the moment when my mother had to go to the United States. After that I had to several times change what family I lived with and adapt to new customs, but I continued my studies - with great sacrifice. I moved to the city of La Vega where I graduated from high school. In July 2003 I was invited to a Young Life outreach camp, where I met Christ. From that moment my life started making sense. I entered college in 2005 to study civil engineering, finishing classes in 2011. In February of that same year I started working at the camp where I met the Lord. At that time I worked in the construction department under Joey Espinoza. In mid-June of 2012 I began as the head of the guest services department.

In August 2012, our guest services coordinator (Jacob Salmond) moved back to Oregon to work with Young Life there. After a long search and interviewing several candidates, we decided that Raffy was the man for the job. In addition to being smart and hard-working, he also has a history of service, faithfully serving as a volunteer leader in our field ministry for several years. Until recently, he was the head leader at the Vida Joven club nearest camp. Raffy loves the Lord, loves the ministry of Vida Joven, and even though he could earn more money working elsewhere as a civil engineer, he chose to stay here to help other kids have the best week of their life at Pico Escondido, just as he did back in 2003. Raffy got married on May 11. Please bless Raffy and Genesis' marriage with your prayers.