How can you come to a Camp Ventana and not eat the best Tortas in the world? Pastor Brandon seems to think so. We thank you for your servants hearts, playful spirits, and delight in God’s word. We hope you guys come back next year for a week. Continue reading ‘Camp Ventana - Temecula Creek’

I dunno.

Perhaps the media tends to sensationalize things a bit. I mean if we lived our lives based on the perspective of the television I’d imagine few of us would rarely head out the door if we lived in LA or New York. From what I gather those two places seem to teem with life.

Who would’ve thought TJ (Tee-a-juan-a) could look so pretty? Continue reading ‘No problems in TJ’

A

NEW WIDOW

An older man in our church died a few weeks ago.  His name was Nacho and he was 79 years old.  After a week of pneumonia, a heart attack stopped his suffering.  His wife Cande, (pronounced Cahn-day) has attended our church for the majority of her adult life, but Nacho only became a Christian about four years ago… the first year we came to Porvenir.  He will be missed as a stable, supportive member of our church.  Cande told our pastor’s wife what a loving husband Nacho had always been, always looking out for her and showing love by bringing her a single rose on every birthday, Mother’s Day, and anniversary for countless years.  Though we didn’t know him well, three of our former students have stayed in their home. His funeral was in the middle of the most enormous rainstorm that Porvenir had seen in years.  There were many friends there to greet and console Cande, but I’m sure the night is all a blur in her mind.  She came to church a week later and her eyes carried a heavy sorrow; dark circles spoke volumes as we prayed over her and witnessed an unbroken desire in her heart to still sing and worship the God of comfort and love. Continue reading ‘VomSteeg Voyage January 2009′

January 2009 

Dear Faithful Friends of Ventana,

If the cows from California had their say, life would remain simple. Similar to the verdant fields of our neighbors north of the border, our Baja campus was transformed into a perfect pasture due to the winter rains. Despite being followed around campus by my two sons and being fed leftovers by some of our concerned students, the borrowed cow named Dulce (pronounced Dool-say) certainly hasn’t suffered much. She saunters from side to side, chewing her lush greens and depositing her nutrient-rich cow pies. Yet her life of tranquility and peaceful existence recently came crashing down.

Continue reading ‘Dulce the Cow’

 (Pastor Mike spoofing Doug and his addiction for Eggnog)

The famous political figure and Christian author Chuck Colson coined a phrase that I want to lift from. He defined paradox as truth turned upside-down. For many of our students serving the homeless and indigent population these past two months has been just that - a paradox. Continue reading ‘Ragamuffins loving on Elm Street’

With incredible weather, often in the 80’s, students and staff found themselves taking needed rest days strolling along the beach and visiting the many sights of Santa Cruz.

Continue reading ‘Chillaxin’ in Cruz’

Quite a few people have inquired about our past Ventana students, so in an effort to keep you up to date I thought I’d feature a few every once in a while.  And so it is with great excitement that I announce our first Ventana couple!  Emily from Hemet, CA, and Austin from Portland, OR, got engaged a few weeks ago in Southern California, and are in the midst of planning a June wedding.  Continue reading ‘Ventana graduates making purple!’

I thought I’d mix it up a little. Instead of reading developments from my perspective, it seemed rather appropriate to hear from our students.  Since our arrival in Santa Cruz in early October, we’ve scattered students along an area called Pacific Avenue each Wednesday and Saturday nights where tons of homeless seem to congregate and pander for money.

Continue reading ‘Not everybody has religion-but everyone has a worldview’

Now that we’ve been in one spot for 3 ½ weeks, we’re packing up again to roll south to Mission Springs Christian Camps.  We anticipate being in Santa Cruz once more where we can serve the homeless and be part of a community of marginalized people.  Continue reading ‘Otra vez! (One more time!)’

From the look of these articles and pictures … you’d think Ventana was just a cheaper version of Club Med or something. I must confess that at times our staff feel more like cruise directors that cultural architects. Continue reading ‘Camp McCullough ain’t no picnic’