Desert Palms Scholarship Fund

A fund established to provide educational opportunities for young people/students who show promise and who are in need of financial assistance.  Volunteers are mentors for the young people who are scholarship recipients.

DPPC Mission Trip to Montlure Camp

Monday Morning Musings

There were not too many casualties as the Desert Palms Church Mission Team arrived at the Montlure Presbyterian Church Camp to do some work April 27— May 2, 2008 … On Sunday evening Camp Director Kristi Gropel’s cat, Smokey, ran up a tree. Smokey would not come down from the tree in spite of all of our pleading and coaxing. Kristi, Bob Seerley, and Associate Pastor Don Houdeshell then hatched a plan to rescue Smokey. The camp pickup was parked at the base of the tall Ponderosa Pine. An extension ladder was put in the bed of the pickup. The ladder was extended up the side of the Ponderosa. Bob and Don held onto the ladder as Kristi climbed it and stretched out a hand to rescue a frightened Smokey the cat. (You wouldn’t catch Bob or Don up that ladder.)

Once Kristi came down the ladder with Smokey cradled in her arm, Bob and Don began to remove the ladder from the tree. That is when catastrophe struck. The upper section of the extension ladder collapsed and slid down in a split second. Don was able to pull his hands away from the careening ladder. Bob was not able to let go and suffered a nasty gash on one of his fingers. Nurse Norma and Nurse Julie patched up Bob’s wound. It didn’t seem to dampen Bob’s spirit. That’s Bob with his back to the camera playing dominoes after one day’s work was done. 

Oh, what we won’t do in order to serve God and the church camp! Rescue cats and play dominoes. Somebody’s got to do it.

Faithfully,

Associate Pastor Don Houdeshell

Words from Pat Kincaid

Thirteen of us loaded up our vans and SUVs and drove to Montlure Presbyterian Church Camp on Sunday, April 27. At 8,500 feet in the White Mountains it is a gorgeous setting. Mountains of pine and groves of Aspen, the Little Colorado creek running through a beautiful meadow with wood cabins dotting the hillside above the gathering lodge, complete with a roaring fire.

Kristy, the camp manager, daily outlined the jobs to be done and the materials needed. We all chose the projects that fit our expertise and energy level. We accomplished a great deal. Pine needles were raked from the whole camp. Stair treads were replaced, railings were rebuilt, concrete steps were poured, supplies were moved to the medical cabin, the boy’s bathhouse was painted, dirt and gravel were moved, floors were waxed, food was prepared and served three times a day. Plumbing was replaced and repaired, songs were sung, devotions were given, a cat was rescued, Mexican Train dominos was played, puzzles were assembled, trails were explored, a finger was hurt, dogs were petted, laughter was heard, and God’s presence was felt.

The “campers” were: Don and Julie Houdeshell, Ken and Glema Weaver, Bob and Norma Seerley, Lyle Albro and Judy Probstfield, Pat Casey, Judy Beacon, Diana Fredlund, and Duane Peterson.

See you next year

Pat Kincaid