Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year from HIS Ranch

We want to update you regarding what's new in the last couple of months at the ranch. Perhaps the most exciting news is that God is leading one of our wonderful volunteers from this past summer back "home" to the ranch. Alicia Steffen will be joining us in mid-January and we cannot wait for her arrival! One of the most encouraging and humbling parts of running a ministry is when others choose to come alongside to help carry out God's will and plan.

We are working hard in the off season (well, okay, especially Shannon) to continue remodeling the buildings/property in preparation for next summer. The work on converting our large curvette building to our official "barn" complete with individual horse stalls and a center round pen is continuing. Dallas Haerr has been a HUGE help with this effort. We are also grateful for the budget-friendly consulting of Alan Knobloch : ). We were very humbled when Harold Knapheide from Knapheide Manufacturing offered to pay for ALL of the stall doors!!

In addition, we are almost ready to officially move the ranch office to the new Welcome Center. The building is not completed, but is at a stage where it is usable. We hope that the new office will be ready for Alicia's arrival.

The horses are thriving in our crazy Missouri winter. We have had negative wind chills to 50+ degrees and everything in between. We received one new horse, Amigo, earlier this fall. He is a beautiful, buckskin gelding that has a wonderful disposition.

We have one presentation scheduled in Bluffton, IN in February but still have dates open if you would like us to present this ministry to your church or community group. Just let us know as far in advance as possible.

Thanks for your prayers and support. God bless you in 2009!