Jodi & I have been a part of the ministry at Camp Id-Ra-Ha-Je for many years. I grew up on a Dairy farm in the small town of Mt. Lake, MN. I have a large family with six brothers and one sister. My parents raised us in a strong Christian home, to which we are very grateful. I accepted Christ at a young age and recommitted my life at a camp in Minnesota. Diagnosed with Diabetes at 16 was a very life-changing blow for me and it made me depend more on the Lord. Even through Jr. High school, I have felt the Lord calling me to be a missionary. My first summer serving at Camp was in 1979. I returned to camp in 1983 as the full-time maintenance assistant until the maintenance director left. Taking on the director position, I have worked on everything, from building repairs and improvements, plumbing, electric, roadwork, vehicle repair, large equipment operator, furnaces, and anything else that needs to be done!

Jodi grew up in Colorado with her two older brothers and her parents. She attended camp every summer from 1973 until 1980. She started wrangling in the summer of 81. The summer of 1983, my first fulltime summer, is the only summer she was not able to work at camp. We met at camp in 1984 and we were married in 1986 at Camp. Jodi has taken on many jobs around camp such as wrangler, roadrunner, secretary, fill in cook, counselor, but her love was the horses. She was involved with the horse program for many years.

Our Daughters, Megan and Kayla, have had the privilege growing up at camp. They have enjoyed the benefits of being on staff. Megan is a natural horse person and was able to learn more about horses growing up than most kids ever dream about. She spent the last summer giving lessons and training horses in the area. Although Kayla didn't have the natural ability with horses Megan did, she has learned much over the years and now is in full competition with her sister! Kayla spent her first summer serving on staff this past year and enjoyed the new feeling of being a “part of the summer staff” separate from her family. Kayla's other love is music. She is playing the piano in church now and enjoys time learning new songs.

We have been very blessed to be a part of the Camp family for over 22 years. We have seen the hand of God move and change lives. I can't tell you how many campers have committed their lives to Christ in the years we have been here, but we are blessed to be a part of this ministry. When God brings Camp Id-Ra-Ha-Je to your mind, pray that He would bless this camp, the staff here, and the people that step foot on this ground! May we be able to say “Id Rather Have Jesus” than anything!