Looking for Stories

In my travels , I constantly meet people who have had God-inspired, life-changing experiences at Pecometh or Drayton Retreat Center (now closed). Yet, we haven't done a very good job of sharing those as an inspiration to others. So, we're asking for your help. If you've had an experience at Pecometh or Drayton that has truly impacted your life, we'd love to hear about it.  If you'll post it here, we know it will be a blessing to others. Thanks and God bless!

Jack Shitama
Director

Comments

[Cynthia Gulden]

Dear Camp Pecometh,

My daughter was always a momma's girl, and would never go far from home...anywhere!
However, when she turned 15 years old she became extremely independent, and was given the opportunity to go camp. Well, she absolutely LOVED it. She roughed it along with all the other kids, learned alot about the Lord, life and commitments. She made many friendships, and still keeps intouch with the teens she met at Camp Pecometh. I am forever greatful for the wonderful teachings, and care she received from the leaders. She will never forget the wonderful experince she had, and can't wait to go back. This time she wants to stay for two weeks!

[janet hunteman]

My children ages 10 and 12 now, attended Camp Pecometh for the past 2 years during the summer. I want to share the love of the LORD that these two came away with. In these troubled times, Amanda and Zachary learned about the Beautitudes and have attempted to bring themselves closer to God by following them. Amanda was Baptised on March 11, 2007 AT HER REQUEST. Only good things come from Good Things. Amen. Zachary is preparing for his Confirmation in the Church as well. The friends they met during the summer still stay in touch, even though we have moved away. The internet is a wonderful tool. Thank you for allowing us to share their stories.

[Shannon Robertson]

This will be my third year as camp nurse. I look so forward to my week at camp. It is renewing for me, physically, mentally and spiritually. I always leave the dirt lane with a sense of belonging, accomplishment and peace.
It's hard to find those things in this hustle and bustle world we live in. I am so grateful for the chance to have that in my life.

[Barbara Hall]

Jack, you have asked for a mountain of sharing. I think that nearly every day spent at Pecometh - as camper, staffer, and later, as camp nurse, was a day spent "lost in wonder, love, and praise." God's handiwork was there in the beauty of nature, in the examples set by staff, in the relationships that were fostered there. The first hymn that I learned at camp was "This is my Father's World." - and I especially remember the line "in the rustling grass I hear Him pass." And nearly every morning I would feel the breeze come off of the Chester and blow into the grasses on the hills as we awoke. And now, when I hear the "rustling grass" I think of the place where I met God, face-to-face, and gave my life to Him. May God always bless Camp Pecometh.

[Joseph Ramathula]

I am a south africa who worked at camp pecometh about six years ago. It is interesting that every now and then, I talk about the wonderful experiences that I have had at camp as a counselor. I can just about image had i been a camper there too. So i really do understand when your kids come home and bug you to send them again and again to camp. I can clearly remember one camper attending all but one program that summer of 2000. At first i thought it just parents wanting to get "rid" of their kids. However, after talking to this camper, I later discovered that, she would have not chosen any other place but camp pecometh, to spend her summer vacations.Four years later, I travelled back to the states visiting different schools with my schools(where i am now a teacher) basketball team.We stopped over at camp and were greeted and welcomed with open arms by the staff(Jack;Bud-d;Bill;Richelle and JUJU). It was great to be back at camp, seeing all the staff and camp stuff.I just had to drive the golf cart haha.My school's basketball team, were flooding me with questions about camp and they too want to work at camp one day when they graduate from high school. THanks Jack, thanks camp pecometh, for changing lives everyday.Yours in Christ Joseph Ramathula(cousellor-2000 and co-ordinator 2001)

[Jack Shitama]

I was preaching at Wyoming UMC yesterday and a woman told the congregation about how her son had gone to camp for two years and last year came back and said that he wanted to be a pastor. It never ceases to amaze me...everywhere I go I hear stories about people whose lives have been changed at Pecometh.

[Shirley Hudson Jester]

My brother, Bob Hudson, and I came to Camp Pecometh when we were in our early teens...1940 something..Two of my children came to Camp Pecometh when they were in their teens, Kelly and Richard Bender. This year a third generation, my grandson, Nicholas Rodden, Kelly's son, will be coming to Camp Pecometh in June. Keep up the good work! I hope you are there for many years to come! Shirley Hudson Jester

[Dori]

My mother was born again at the age of 12 at camp pecometh at the candle light sevice(release the candles on the river) I gave my life at 12 at the same service and now my child has given her life to christ at 12 at the same service! God is Good!

[Dori]

My mother was born again at the age of 12 at camp pecometh at the candle light sevice(release the candles on the river) I gave my life at 12 at the same service and now my child has given her life to christ at 12 at the same service! God is Good!

[Benjamin Gordon]

Pecometh treated my family with contempt.

My grandfather was refused entry to the camp in 1947 based on the color of his skin. Pecometh has never apologized for their past, and it brings into question all of their good deeds.

[Jack Shitama]

Sadly, Mr. Gordon's story is true of much of Pecometh's history. I have heard other similar stories and the hurt still lingers. We do apologize for our sin of racism and continue to work toward its elimination. Thanks for sharing this, as it reminds us that Pecometh was a place of hurt and rejection for some, even as it was a place of spiritual renewal for others.

[Amber (Fink) Thorburn-Humphrey]

I will never forget something that was said during Staff training week my last year at Camp Pecometh. One of the morning devotions had someone speaking and they said that "there is something in the wind here." Of course that something is the presence of God. For me it was something I could always feel there. I miss sitting on the pier looking out over the River and hearing the laughter of the kids from a distance off. Camp Pecometh has brought me lifelong friendships and my Husband of two years now. Camp Pecometh will always have a special place in my heart!!

[myles mc corry]

such a place!
i first met pecometh in 1993. my mother had just died and i needed to leave ireland for a change of scenery and emotion. so i dropped out of college and ended up at the bay bridge end. driving thru the gates to dreamland i entered my adult life. a christian enviroment with the creme of gods people, my eyes widened, i grew up and flew. such a place
i fell in love , made life long friends and learned to swim. i painted a cabin pink got attacked by a drunk bear and learned to sing loud whilst all around wished i hadnt. i came back in 94 and build a attachment for the place that the summer of 93 dug. again in 2000 with different people and smaller kids i soared.
such a place.
i have travelled to over 40 countries and never have i felt the warmth you get on a bench, on boys hill (and the odd time on girls hill!) the kids in bed and talking with soulful good people. such a place.
someday i will return, prehaps i will send my own son there someday, i will run down the drive at night, sweating, feeling the kind air and sweet crickets and stop in a place where my heart started beating for real.
pecometh: such a place.