Camp Id-Ra-Ha-Je West - Founded 1974

Uncle Paul and Aunt Mary Eiselstein, pictured to the right, help to found this camp back in the early 1970s. They had worked as church planters throughout the west, and founded Camp Id-Ra-Ha-Je in Bailey, CO over 50 years ago.

Not being able to sit still in retirement, and realizing the need for a camp on 'this' side of the mountain, Camp Id-Ra-Ha-Je West became one of Uncle Paul's last large projects in a life of ministry.

He was quite active working around this camp for many years until his health began to decline. By 1980, Dale and Luella Smith became the directors of the camp, where they served until 1994.

Uncle Paul Eiselstein went to be with the Lord on April 5, 1985. Written in his own hand, the following statement was found in his desk by Aunt Mary after his death: "To come to the end of life and know that you have lived well, according to God's standards should be the goal of every Christian. It behooves us to spend every moment of this fleeting life, with which we have been entrusted, in the right place doing the right thing, for the right person. God does not look for 'big people' to do His will. He seeks out the 'little people' who will let Him transform them into big people through His power. The key contact is relationship with God through Jesus Christ, the source of greatness."

Click here to see older photos of the camp