Dear Friends: Pioneer's summer was rich and joyful. We are full with deep gratitude for the over 350 staff people and 952 campers touched by our ministry at the Ranch, Lodge and Peace Country. This is the most campers since 2002, and reflects God’s blessing through diligent service on the part of our volunteer community and management staff. And we are having an active fall, hosting groups.

Generous donors supported the growth of our horse program, a new Voyageur canoe, new chairs in the Lodge dining room, and skills training. Donors supported our dedicated paid staff, facilitated the presence of a number of young leaders, and provided very important camper bursaries. 

So much service! – silver-haired Henry smiling in the dishpit, newlyweds Jill and Matt Church stepping in to direct Quest on short notice, and many more stories. While we celebrate these blessings we also pray for growth and joy for Kayla Pearce and her family as they move to Australia; and for Sydney and Ryan Lemphers who have decided to set out on a "life out-trip" starting in December. We are grateful for all that they are and all that they have offered up to serve.

Many of you received my recent e-letter informing you that I have accepted with regret the resignation of Roberta Cross as Director of Pioneer Ranch Camps, effective November 30. Roberta feels that she must care for her family as they face the serious illness of her mother, and that this commitment needs to be free of responsibilities at camp. Please join me in praying for the Cross family. Roberta has served us well.

There is a very fine staff team at Pioneer, people who serve in summer program as well as year round. The work at camp continues to be in good hands! Even so, we do need a full-time executive director. I will soon initiate a search for a person to fill this position. The staff and I would appreciate your prayers for God's choice.

Larry Offner, Acting Executive Director

Peace Country Pioneer's philosophy is: get involved, get dirty, have fun, create memories and relationships. This spring, at the “Balisky Rodeo,” our annual networking and fundraising event, Roberta Cross and other staff demonstrated their ability to get dirty and create memories as they ran the human chuckwagon races, leapfrogged horses, and survived the Pack Race. The annual pie auction is a huge fund-raiser and show of support.

Peace Country's camps are always full and staffed by wonderful volunteers. The junior camps happen on the banks of the Smokey and Peace Rivers. Further west, at our Kakwa Wilderness mountain site, are five more camps. The adult camp, Ride and Relax, has been a highlight for many years as “older folks” ride, fish, or hike, and spend evenings around the fire with pioneers Wayne and Anne Arthur. All our camps set the stage for many life-changing experiences.

On the Pack & Ride I was party to an incident that summarizes the purpose and worth of this ministry. As we traversed a scree slope, a young lady was not only too fearful to ride but couldn’t even walk across behind the horses. Although nearly immobilized by fear, she vowed to conquer this task. As I walked with her, she kept saying in her broken English (not her first language), “Oh you’re my saviour, you are my saviour.” Later, in Bible study, that experience became the metaphor to explain our need for a real saviour, and she realized Who she needed. Amazing!

Get involved, get dirty, have fun, create memories and relationships!

Dave Penner for Peace Country Pioneer

On Thanksgiving weekend 50 people, campers and staff, gathered at Pioneer Ranch for the Plunge reunion known as Pumpkin Party. The sun was warm and the trees were ablaze with colour.

The theme carried on from Plunge – A Simple Life Fully Lived. We lived together simply – being warmed by a wood fire; riding a horse through the fields; paddling down the North Saskatchewan and climbing to the Blackstone fire lookout. We lived fully through drinking deeply of the wonder of the star-studded night sky; through gathering at the table to feast on Edda’s delectable offerings; through thoughtful discussion about how Jesus calls each of us to live our lives in our family, with friends and at school; through a classic wide game culminating at Miller's for singing around the fire.

Early Monday morning we stood on the dock with the wind on our faces. In this place of beauty and peace we blessed and prayed for one another, encouraging each other to be strong and stay faithful to God’s call as we return to the places that are complex and sometimes feel so empty. 

Rick and Marj Erlendson are coming back on staff –  not that they ever left, really. For the past 20 years they have been active volunteers  in the Grande Prairie area. Rick, for example, has sponsored VCF at Grande Prairie Regional College and directed camps at Peace Country Pioneer. Marj directed Sr. Girls at Pioneer Ranch in the 90s, and in 2007 was head cook at Sr. Boys. Before they met both were on staff with IVCF and Pioneer Camps. Even earlier, Marj became involved with VCF and Pioneer Pacific, while Rick was a wrangler and leader at Sr. Boys and Plunge.

The Erlendsons have come full circle as they look to end their careers by serving with Pioneer. Marj will start next spring, supporting summer camp directors (especially new ones) and the camp registrar, and developing weekend camps. Rick is already at work on marketing and communications of year-round Pioneer ministries, and new programming including a “gap year”. He will help recruit and support year-round ministry staff and volunteer summer staff.

Marj and Rick are thrilled about this shift: “Working with Pioneer is a privilege for us. We’re looking forward to working together, and working with long-time friends. We’re looking forward to meeting many new folks whom God has called to the IVCF/Pioneer ministry. We’re looking forward to working with youth and emerging young leaders. We’re looking forward to being at camp, and using our gifts for the kingdom. But we’re not looking forward to the next months of transition as we sell our home, find a new one in Calgary, say good-bye to so many great friends, and leave our community, church, and all that comprises Peace Country Pioneer. Even though we never really left, it’s good to say we’re back with Pioneer."

We welcome Kim Guzmanuk as Pioneer's Office Manager, responsible for administration and registrations. She joined Pioneer in September to have 2 months of overlap and training with Kayla Pearce.

Kim became familiar with Pioneer, and especially Kayla, through the church community around Sundre. The stories and experiences that Pioneer people talked about described an atmosphere that Kim wanted to be involved in. Knowing Kayla’s future plans and the position that was becoming available, she prayed long and hard to discern God's call. Her plans and pathway kept leading to Pioneer. 

Kim has been impressed by the dynamic and energetic people that it takes to operate Pioneer, and how that is expressed to each group that walks through our doors. Each day is a new opportunity to minister to others, the way God intended us to – that's a gift in itself.

Terri Gillespie is excited to be part of life-changing adventures with students at U. of Calgary and at camp! She recently joined IVCF staff, dividing her time between Pioneer and the campus ministry. 

Terri has an Outdoor Leadership degree from Columbia Bible College. She lead mission trips to Mexico and El Salvador, fell in love with the outdoors, and worked at several Christian camps. In 2005 she was the Out-trip Coordinator at Pioneer Ranch and quickly discovered alignment with her own values of risk, adventure, creativity, faith and community. 

In the near term, Terri must build her financial support base; she welcomes any opportunity to talk about her vision for ministry. (Call her at the Pioneer office.) She is working on the NSLC (see Calendar), leading backpacking skills weekends, and supporting the U. of C. students. Next summer, Terri will co-direct Girls Adventure camp.