Sign off until we get back to SD.

Decided this was a rather interesting picture...........

JDC tonight and then we will pack it up and head out in the early morning hours.

We probably won't update again until we return from our Michigan trip. Thanks for keeping us in your prayers and thoughts.

Gary and Barb

Andre' and John.....

Well, Andre'(Youth Pastor) and John DeNeef have left for home. It seemed to be a VERY positive trip for them.....He's planning on taking the youth group out to minister to the young people at the JDC for several days in June. Andre' left very excited. And we are excited as well. They will be traveling straight thru to Michigan so we would ask that you lift them up in prayer.

Of course, no trip is complete without checking out the ranch life and Andre' had a good time there as well.

We will be leaving tomorrow morning (Friday) and hope to arrive in time for a bridal shower for Marti on Saturday afternoon. Prayers for that trip would be appreciated also.

Thank you! Gary and Barb

Three Day change.........

Out here on the prairies we have gone from 90 degrees on Thursday......YUP you guessed it - there was a hint of complaining going on...."man! it's hot". Then on Friday it was about 47 degrees tops.....Now this morning (Saturday) there is about an inch of snow on the ground. Oh well, keeps you on your toes! DON'T put those winter coats away yet!!!

Yesterday evening Gary went to the neighbors to help with some branding. It was one of those ---- round 'em up, rope 'em, cut 'em, brand 'em--- type of events. About 7 cowboys roping, 4 branding (12 irons in the fire), 2 vaccinating and so on. Gary and Vern vaccinated the 330 calves... Lots of little boys got to get their hands in there too and try to hold those tough little calves down. Lots of fun. Then afterwards the rancher feeds all the help.....there were probably 30 people there or more. And the food was magnificent.....ribs, scalloped potatoes, corn, green bean casserole, salads......and about a dozen pies. No that meal fixing was not loaded on one poor tired gal.....lots of food was brought in by the other neighbors.

Gary and Barb

ORC has arrived!!!!!

Our friends from Overisel arrived early Saturday morning after 16 hours of driving and this is how they greeted us. What Fun!!!!

When we finally got to our place we put the men right to work on the ranch. The Hereford bulls were being ultrasounded and there was a job for just about everyone. And of course, us girls had to come and check out the progress. As you can see the dust was really flying. The bulls had to have their hair cleaned and they (the bulls) weren't too sure that they liked it. While the guys went out hunting - the girls were busy making a tote bag....thank you !!!! Margo. What a cute idea.
The muddy roads were very possibly an experience they will remember for a long time. We have had a great time together and the time has really gone by way too fast.

Tomorrow morning our ORC friends will be leaving us so you can lift up a prayer for safe travel for them.

Thanks!!!! Gary, Barb and Ken, Sally, and Bruce, Glenda and John and Margo

Sometimes up and sometimes down.......

We continue on..........



This past Sunday was a downer for the most part. So many tears and sad faces at the Detention Center....too many to handle. It's hard to see these young people so sad and so quiet and you don't know how to help them. And at that point they really don't want to talk to us either. We just tell them that we are praying for them and that we care.



The Lakeview church had a service at the Center on the 12th. It went good. Again the only problem was with the noisy fans in the gym. But they had their PA system set up so that was helpful. The kids really enjoy singing Amazing Grace and it is so wonderful to hear their voices. Of course, not all of them sing...but compared to the nothingness when we began ---- this is wonderful.

Our Release Time on Tuesday went good. We just wish we could get the 7-8th graders to come out of their shell. It just boggles our mind what a change can happen from 5-6th grade --- they are so open....and then the 7-8th grade is so--SO quiet. We did our Easter Lesson with them even though Easter was past, and we had a small craft for all of them.

Our Thursday evening at the Detention Center was good once again. One of the young men had told Gary that his 18th birthday was on April 20. So we made sure we had a cupcake with a lite candle on it for him at snack time. He enjoyed our little surprise. We also asked him to stay afterwards and we got to give him a Bible and visit with him a while. We also found out where he lives so now we will be able to touch base with him. He has been with us almost since the beginning and we will miss seeing him there.

And now we go on with the battle of the MUDDY roads. It's supposed to rain again all day tomorrow ---- so the roads will be soup!!! Our company from ORC should have a muddy adventure..........anyway we hope they consider it an adventure! :-)

Gary and Barb

Sandhill Cranes.......

We have been invaded by thousands of Sandhill Cranes. They began their fly-by last night and it continued this morning. They have settled in (for the time being) about 1/2 mile to our north. It has to be a sure sign that spring is on the way!!!! This morning I went out for some photos....of course, I knew I would scare them away but I did manage to get some good shots.

Hope you enjoy .........

Barb

Still Winter in April.......

We were beginning to think that we might miss Release Time again this week. But school was in operation and so we figured on it. However, we heard that the roads to the east -- the route we usually took were TERRIBLE -- almost impassable. And especially not advisable with our van.....(it's NOT 4 wheel drive!!) But we couldn't bear the thought of not going --- it had been 2 weeks without Release Time already. So we ventured out with the truck in the lead and the van following.....we headed toward the one road that is usually open and it was. We fought a lot of mud but made it through to the church. That meant that we had one mile of mud to go back and forth on 6 times.....getting the kids and taking them back to school....and then back to clean up.

We read the Easter story to the kids (both groups) and they listened (for the most part) very intently. One little guy even remarked "poor Jesus" when it said "they hit him and spit on him". The kids made an Easter cross.....K-1 made a "stained glass" cross and the others decorated a cross with "He Lives". We were even successful in finishing all of them so they could take them home.

We left the van at church -- thinking that it will be some time before the roads get much better and we might just as well not have to make that trek next week if we can avoid it.
The following is a picture of the spot we were advised not to go through. We were told that it took the guy 2 1/2 hours to work his way through these banks with the road grader and the big V plow in front.




This photo was taken at the end of a beautiful sunny day....so the bank had time to settle some already. It will take a while for this to all melt so we are planning on mud for quite some time yet. Not all of the roads have snow banks like this. It all depended on the wind.

We had another blessing toward the end of yesterday (Tuesday) we received an email from one of the girls that had been in the JDC. She was at home and doing good in school.....and we were also told that a little girl that is in our Release Time -- in the Kindergarten--- is her niece and they are reading her Story Bible together...."we're almost through it". AWESOME!!!!

God hears all prayers and the blessings continue to flow.
Gary and Barb

The joys of JDC.......

Our Time at the JDC was again exciting. We have been going over different portions of the Book of Hope. Last night we went over the Trail of Hope, which tells about Jesus and his plan for Salvation. All the kids had a book to follow along and everyone was VERY attentive and followed along nicely. We sang Amazing Grace and WOW --- we could hear male voices --- it is so awesome!!!! The girls were sitting in the back so I couldn't hear them as good but we know they were singing too. They even asked to sing it again. We also sang When I am Afraid a couple of times and then OF COURSE -- the Banana Song.

Gary was able to pray with another young man...."Bill". Gary says he was very serious about what he was doing and seemed eager to start reading in the Bible.

Never underestimate the power of your prayers!!! We are so amazed when we come away from there.....that God is using our faltering words for His glory. We have a gal going along with us now. Her name is Julie and she is truly a blessing to us and the kids!!! Julie is a teacher and she is also a member of the Lakeview Christian Ref. Church where we go. The kids enjoy visiting with her and she has brought along some good visuals and good teachings.
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We are expecting another winter storm starting tonight and going until Sunday. Doesn't sound too good for little calves.....or people ----- or roads. There are already some high snow banks and if the wind and snow comes as they predict we might be snow bound for a time. If the electricity stays on we will be snug and warm. If not --- we will snuggle under the blankets together :-) Will keep you posted.

Thank you for your wonderful support!

Gary and Barb