As we prepare to open the season here at His Ranch, we are amazed to see how God has brought our team together this year from all over the country, different backgrounds, different personalities, different dreams, but the same heart to know and love God better while serving Him as the body of Christ. He has blessed us with a core team of five full-season staff and volunteers this summer. And we know He will send us many others to leave an impact on our lives and this ranch ministry throughout the season. So let's start by introducing our long-term staff.
Carrie Blunier from Indiana has joined us again. She did an internship here last summer while working towards her vet tech degree. She has now graduated and moved to the Ranch and is looking for a part time job with a vet. The rest of her time will be devoted to the ministry here. We are so happy to have Carrie back and grateful for her expertise to keep all the "greenhorns" afloat. Carrie is supervising the ranch office and lessons. If you call or email us, she is likely the first person you will talk to, but she will also be training some of the other staff to help with these responsibilities.
Carrie loves dogs and horses and has always wanted to be a vet tech. Her knowledge will be helpful in caring for our horses. She is doing a great job coordinating the staff and volunteers and is eager to see our schedule fill up with riders!
Anneliese Hoerr is from Phoenix, Arizona, where the sun always shines! She is so delighted to experience the crazy weather of the midwest, and delights us all with her enthusiasm. Anneliese taught kids in martial arts and homeschool co-op classes for several years. She spent two weeks at the ranch last summer while taking a year to travel and seek God's direction for the future. God brought her back to us this year to help for the whole summer! She is always ready to jump in and try new things. She's already learning some basics of horse training and recently had the privilege of being the first person ever to ride our newest horse, Peyton. She will be teaching lessons and helping with general ranch work.
Anneliese is a spirited go-getter who helps us to keep looking up and we are blessed to have her on the team!
Ruth Virkler hails from Remington, Indiana. She met Shannon during a mission trip to Haiti several years ago. Later she heard about his vision to start the ranch. After the place was up and running, God put Ruth on Shannon and Susan's hearts and they invited her to come and work on the ranch. She came out to help at the fall fundraiser but was not convinced at that time that this was what God had for her to do. However, a few months later God gave her peace and confirmation about coming, and she committed her summer to the ministry. Ruth is training to work in the ranch office and learning horsemanship along with everyone else. She will also be helping with lessons. She has gained a lot of confidence already in dealing with the horses.
Ruth has a sweet, gentle spirit and is an encouragement to us as she seeks to put God first in her life and be available and sensitive to His leading. We are so glad to have her with us!
Ben Lindberg comes to us from southern Georgia. We are hearing rumors about his amazing sweet tea and grits and are hoping to get a chance to experience these delicacies soon! Ben is from a family of ten kids. He has a love for horses and has worked extensively with them at home since he was about 12 years old. He is experienced in riding and training and has even trained a wild mustang that he bought. His expertise will be invaluable to us as he will be working with the training of our ranch horses and teaching lessons. He is also doing some heavy duty work around the place. He and a short-term volunteer, Max, built the frame for a shade canopy on our loading dock at the arena. This will be such a blessing when it is finished.
After Ben fully surrendered his life to the Lord several years ago, he had a desire to reach out and disciple other young men. He heard a message about using the gifts God has given you for ministry and felt that God was leading him to be involved in reaching young men with horses. Last fall he was in the area at a church event and learned about His Ranch. He decided to come for the summer and be a part of God's work with the kids here. We are enjoying his sunny smile, friendly disposition, and servant heart. He can tell some great jokes, too!
Kari Keener grew up in northeast Ohio. She has dreamed of owning and riding horses most of her life. God has given her a desire to help kids with special needs, and after she read Kim Meeder's stories about Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch, which was the inspiration for His Ranch, she was inspired to be a part of this type of ministry. Several years passed between the birth of that dream and learning about His Ranch. Kari also came out to the fall fundraiser to experience the ranch and was praying about coming back to stay long-term. God has directed her to take this step of faith and move to the ranch indefinitely. She is excited to be a part of what God is doing here and to learn everything she can about horsemanship. Kari will be teaching lessons and helping out wherever needed. Her greatest desire for the summer is to grow in love for God and others.
We also want to welcome back Kyle Reinhard, who helped out last summer. He lives nearby and balances his time between the ranch and his job at Best Buy. Kyle is helping us on Tuesday and Thursday mornings and especially enjoys working with the groups from Transitions.
Max Knobloch from Iowa was here for two weeks, helping us get things ready for opening. He worked hard on the loading dock canopy and other projects. We hope to see him back again soon.
We look forward to the many other faces and stories that God will bring across our path to help in His work these next few months. We are grateful for every one. Only He knows all the imprints each one will leave on the lives that are touched here on His Ranch.
