Camp Bellevue at Cayambe, Ecuador was the dream of Ulf and Margret Hallen from the Bellevue church of Christ, Bellevue, Washington.  From its inception they have overseen its development until it now serves as a camp, retreat center and conference center for groups of all ages throughout the nation of Ecuador.  This work in its entirety has been funded by members of the Bellevue church.

      Ulf & Margret Hallen                         Main Camp Building                                            Cabins

Camp Bellevue:  Summer Report 

As the summer days in the northern hemisphere have come to an end, so has the summer season at Camp Bellevue in Ecuador.  This has been the busiest summer yet with almost continuous activities since the beginning of June through the beginning of September.  While we are looking forward to some rest, we also feel a little let down now as the busyness and children’s voices at the camp are slacking off.  However, as the school year for the children resumes in September, we are gearing up to host our programs, enhanced and improved, for the neighborhood children.  How necessary these programs are, is underlined by an incident that just happened this past week.  A young boy of 11 took his own life!  Apparently, his father was very strict and he took his own life in anticipation of what was going to happen one morning.  Camp Bellevue truly has come into its own being a place of growth and peace in many ways!

Let me recount the groups we hosted during the summer months.  While talking in terms of groups, it is a little impersonal but it is good to remember that each group is made up of individuals who hopefully have experienced something that will have a lasting impact on their lives.  During the last four months, these groups visited, or these activities took place:

Considering the number of groups, and the preparation in anticipation of all groups that was completed, the actual hosting of all the groups went very smoothly.  But, as smooth as it went, nothing of this sort ever goes without problems.  When water pumps go out, water supplies get cut off, or electrical service is turned off, it definitely brings about much inconvenience and stress when the camp is trying to function at full capacity!   You only need to imagine what it is like when everything needs to be done by candle light and flushing of toilets is done with buckets of water which has to be dipped from the cisterns.  Looking back on the activities of this summer, it certainly was the most emotional one we have experienced yet here at the Camp Bellevue.  It is difficult to put all of ones feelings onto paper with such an abundance of memorable moments. 

We know that the majority of our visitors experienced something good and we pray to God that it will be for the glory of His Kingdom.  But we also have to thank all of our brethren who have made this work possible.  And lastly, we want to solicit your continued prayers for the work here.  We are by no means at the zenith yet, the best is yet to come!  If your congregation is looking for a mission experience, contact us!

                                                                                                            Ulf and Margret Hallen

www.bellevuechurchofchrist.org/documents/ecudor/missionscayambe

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