In the words of Roger...

"I was led to Jesus in 1965 by Glen F. -- he was the best Bible story teller of all the camps I attended. He introduced me to the book of Esther, which is still one of my favorite books. With Glen F., chapel consisted of flannel graph stories and altar calls were given all week long. He led me to Christ in the back left corner of the boys dorm; I remember it as clear as it was yesterday.

During camp we would leave a couple times a week with Dwight M. as our bus driver. Harts Pass and Pearrygin Lake were the main destinations. We would swim and picnic at the lake. The bus trips were all about singing camp songs as we went. My home church was Little Stone Church in Lakeside, near Chelan and Pastor Showalters was the pastor then.

I remember going to MBC a couple times as a camper, then a few times as a counselor. Jess and Frances Hintz were the only directors that I remember. Frances was the camp cook and girls’ counselor, and Jess was the overall director. He had strict rules and was firm in how things should get done.

One of my fondest memories of MBC years were the Dwight McGuire midnight hikes! He and Dennie enlisted to go out into the woods and scare the unsuspecting campers. I had an elk mule and Dennie had a gorilla mask! We had to stop because of the many wild stories that were coming back to Jess by the parents - OH but it was fun while it lasted!

In 1974 I was working in the area and was contacted by Dennie Smith, dean for that week, and he asked if I could help out as a counselor. Of course I couldn’t say no. I don’t remember the day of the week, but when Viola, Jess Hintz’s daughter, came to dinner, “something clicked in my brain. She was the one!” Now, Jess had struck rules about the pool, NO throwing or pushing people into the pool. Me being me, after getting to know Viola a little, I threatened “the pool” and how cold it was. She in turn reminded me of the “rules”, and Jess, her father, was standing nearby and nodded his head yes. So I picker her up and carried her into the pool and set her down. I didn’t break any rules, and we have been married for almost 50 years now!

Through MBC over many years, we have seen many missionaries form, but most are in heaven now. Kim and Wayne Platts are one of the ones we have stayed in touch with and supported over the years. They smuggled Bibles into communist countries as young married kids, but now reside in Wales taking care of other missionaries who are having troubles in the field or heading back home for retirement. Kim was a MBC camper and a “problem child”, and Viola was her counselor. They joke about it when we get together.

Mazama Bible Camp may be out of the way and rustic for some, but it is an outreach for God, worldwide even. God has blessed MBC in so many ways and through so many people. Jess and Frances’ legacy have been passed onto their children, grandchildren, and now their great-grandchildren who still are attending Mazama Bible Camp. Viola and I got to see our children and now our grandchildren attend! What a blessing from God! 'The Camp Reunion in heaven is going to be something else!'"