Our November 2009 project was Victory Ranch in Moreno Valley CA.

Victory Ranch is an 87 acre Ranch located in the foothills of the San Jacinto farming valley - 25 miles east of Riverside, California. Victory Ranch’s facilities comfortably accommodate a minimum of 25 and up to 200 people.  Its Spanish-Western buildings stand as a silent reminder of the area’s colorful history. Victory Ranch is a ministry of the Regular Baptist Conference of Southern California.

This was our second RVICS project at Victory Ranch. Our first time here was November 2006. We will continue here for our January 2010 project. Our team for November was; Paul and Germaine Gauerke Long term RVICS-S, Ed and Mary Compton, and Jim and Bette Pickin.

Work:  As long term RVICS-S at Victory Ranch, Paul and Germaine continued there regularly assigned tasks of routine maintaince for Paul and assisting Deb Cayot with the children and office work for Germaine. In addition, Germaine joined with Mary and Bette in there painting assignments. The ladies painted the pool furniture, 2x2 lath boards, the upstairs hallway in the Hotel, and doors and carpet ball tables in the Recreation Building.

The men performed many small to medium sized jobs. Finding Jim to be a commercial electrician, Paul Cayot (camp director) found many wiring jobs needing attention. Lighting was installed in the Bunk House attic, ceiling fans were wired and installed in each of the eight Bunk House dorms, Barn lighting was repaired, the water tank float switch was repaired, wiring was repaired in Parsons Perch, wiring was added to the Chapel for four additional ceiling fans, a motion sensor light was added to the Shop, and a closet light and additional outlet was added to the directors residence. The men also repaired two golf cars; repaired plumbing in Wagon Wheel and the Kitchen; repaired a broken water main; ripped, stained, and installed 2x2 lath boards on the Recreation Building porch roof; and framed and installed three doors in the Recreation Building.

Social:  We all joined together for movie nights, tacos in a bag, and stew. We also enjoyed meals together on Sunday afternoons and Wednesday evenings when we attended the First Baptist Church of Hemet for Bible Study.

Tour:  The Comptons and the Pickins enjoyed four tour days. Our first was to Oak Glen with a visit to the Conference Center (our February project) and an area cider mill. Our second was to Mt. San Jacinto for a tram ride to the top, lunch at the top and a drive through the back country of Riverside County. Thirdly, we enjoyed the March Field Air Museum with over 75 aircraft on display. Our last tour day we drove to Mt. Palomar for a visit to the Conference Center (our March project) with a return stop at Camp Wynola and a drive through Julian and Shelter Valley (Compton’s old home area).