History of Camp Construction
Beginning in the year 2000, with the purchase of the first property, God has blessed in construction of what is now a BEAUTIFUL Christian campground in Seki, Mugi, Japan...Camp Raphayada.
First there was nothing but a hill covered with weeds and unruly bushes.
The road that led to nowhere
With weeds to the left and a bamboo thicket to the right, there seemed to be little use for this small lot of land in the mountains of Mugi cho. That is, before God planted the vision for a campground on this very spot.
Even after the initial weeds were removed and the land made presentable, it was difficult for most people to envision what God was going to do with this little parcel of land in the days and months to come.
It all starts with level land
The first year brought about the purchase of the land and leveling the property in preparation for construction.
Making the land useable
Bamboo trees had to be removed, and gravel brought in to raise the low ground for the girl's cabins and bathrooms!
Bamboo is tough to kill!
We had to pour a concrete base and then the foundation just so the bamboo shoots would not grow through the floor into the Girl's cabins!
Lumber arrives...it's time to start building!
Lumber was purchased from both the United States and contractor friends here in Japan. The project, from start to finish, was to be done with the help of volunteers, both amateur and professional.
And finally the volunteers started arriving...
...and we were able to begin construction in earnest. Our first group of four, Bob, Nathan, Sara, and Tim, worked hard all summer to build the first three buildings of Camp Raphayada...almost in time for our first year of camp!
Please peruse the remaining photo pages for the current progress...
...after over ten years of adventures at Camp Raphayada, we are happy to share her present story. :-)