Past time to share once again.........

It's been a while since we updated our blog.....my sister had to email us and ask "are you still there?!?!" So I guess we had better get something on here again because maybe more of you are wondering. Below is a photo of our new home. We have many more trees here.....had none around my Aunt's home. There are pros and cons connected with the trees. They make a good wind break!!!, but they also cut down on the view. Another pro is the animal life......lots of birds - would you believe even a couple of squirrels, and we don't have to go far to view the deer coming out of the corn at dusk. So Gary has his eye on a couple of good sized bucks.We have been blessed with a lot of company this month. Not sure if they come for us or for the birds :-) :-) --- just kidding!!! It has been a LOT of fun. Each weekend this month we have had visitors (and more are on the way.) We thought we might be overwhelmed but that has NOT been the case!! They have really been a blessing.....LOTS of laughter. And even the Bible states that laughter is good for the soul. PLUS the work that was accomplished..... My sister and husband helped get us moved......the Van Malsens helped clean up around our place. Dan moved ?? a couple of acres... Dale and John got to help work with the cattle.....and give us a ton of laughs each day. And those who came for pheasants got to take some home with them.

And even though the view is different we have not been missing some awesome sunrises. The color can just be breathtaking!!

We have been busy with Release Time. We are doing crafts this year and that is going good. This week we worked on some Thanksgiving "wreaths" (on paper plates with colored leaves) and the one little guy who I thought would need "lots of help"...did just awesome. This past Tues. one of the little K-2 girls was concerned about one of the new boys....."he hasn't asked Jesus into his heart yet". That one little comment was enough to keep us going for a long time!!!!

It's so easy for me to get discouraged that we aren't doing enough...........There is such a need for follow-up. We have ideas but almost feel that we can't take anything more on our shoulders. We would appreciate your prayers that this can be worked out for the good of the kids out here and that we can handle it...... Don't know but maybe a prayer would be "send more workers Lord".

We have gotten started with the PMO (stands for Piya Mani Otipi) -- haven't figured out what that means (will try to find out and let you know).....so we call it the "Youth Ranch". We have had one young man pray to receive Christ. We know some of the kids from the JDC but lots of new faces. It's always a time before they feel comfortable with us. We haven't gotten into singing with them yet but one is asking....so next week the guitar will probably go along. We had tried to go on the same night that we go to the JDC.....trying to save on gas. However, we have had several RUSHED times and that DOES NOT feel good. Kids at the JDC want to stay after and pray with us. We can't let that stop!!! So we are now going to the PMO group on Tues. evenings and the JDC on Thurs. as usual. The travel distance is less now that we have moved so that is a good thing.

We have a weather watch for the next couple of days. We could be in for a good amount of snow. We are on a dead end road so we could be the last one to get plowed out. Yes! winter could be very interesting!! Good thing we have an adventurous spirit in us.

Ranchers are busy bringing in their herds and we have been part of that too. This past Monday we got into some really fantastic country. Some places were too steep for our quads but the views were wonderful. There were 2 on horseback to get into the places that we couldn't go. Believe we got the whole herd into the next pasture --- 400 pairs (cows with calves). Now next week the calves will be weaned and the whole herd trucked out. It's neat to be able to help out our neighbors.

Thank for again for your interest and your prayers!!!

Gary and Barb

Moved!!

Yes, our move has been accomplished. We are getting settled in and each day is better than the day before. Today, we unscrewed the kitchen faucet.......the pressure was "sad" to say the least..... But we now have really good water pressure at the kitchen sink. There is a sand problem that will have to be kept in check. Tomorrow I hope Gar will look at the washing machine.....cold water has a problem on that too.

My sister Linda and her husband, Dave, came for a couple of days and brought some of our belongings to make this feel more like home. Things like our couch, coffee table, pictures and so on. I will try to get a photo of our new place so that you have a visual.

Release Time continues to go good. We have larger numbers this year with the younger groups. And each time we have new kids. Which is great!! Our numbers will soon finalize as kids get their permission slips brought in. This week we will again have the K-2 and 3,4,5 groups. Our lesson will be on when The Wise Men Followed the Star.

We have been able to keep our lessons organized with Release Time and JDC and the PMO (at the Youth Ranch)....... Every other week at the JDC, Julie L. takes charge of the lesson and it has been going really good. The kids seem to enjoy a change of pace. We read a passage in the Gospel of Luke.....break into small groups and discuss the passage.

The other exciting thing is that we have been having between 3 to 5 kids stay after each week for prayer requests. Tonight the Lakeview Church had a worship service at the JDC and 3 girls stayed to pray- it was their idea --- they asked if we would pray with them. One of the 3 prayed outloud with the group. Numbers have stayed down at the JDC.....only 10 there this week. ????Is that a good sign -- don't know that for sure.

Winter has arrived here. We are hoping for a warm up this week. However, as of right now we are both saying "i'm COLD"!!.....and there is snow on the ground --- has been off and on ever since Friday evening. That also means that the furnace has been running a lot.....seems way too early for that!

God Bless! Gary and Barb

Prayers from the teens at JDC!!!

First of all -- we should say that we started at the "Youth Ranch" this past Tuesday. We came away thinking --- "that could have been better". But it is started. We really don't know any of the 4 kids well at all.....and so the relationships need to build. Pray for that, please.

Another side note is that our move to a new place is a process....that is moving along slowly at times. We need some septic work done before we can move in, in addition to a few other repairs. Some of the workings in a Mobile home can be puzzling to say the least.....so pray that things can get figured out and then fixed properly.......

What a wonderful night at the JDC tonight.

It's been a smaller group of kids that are "incarcerated" at the JDC..... and so that really makes for closer relationships. We have been teaching the story of Jesus and, of course, that begins with his birth....so we are talking about Christmas in September. Tonight Jesus was born and the Shepherds shared the wonderful news with those around them.

We sang a bunch of songs tonight. Amazing Grace, When I am Afraid, Victory for Me, I am a C, and finally to end it all -- the Banana Song......oh yeah---we even tried "Praise Ye the Lord, Hallelujah"....need to work on that one!!! That one was done without preparation....so......

Then after our snack we said that if anyone would like to stay afterwards -- for a time of prayer or to receive Christ --- they could. One boy and 4 girls stayed. They all stayed because they had prayer requests.

"Pray for my Grandpa, my Grandma -- he's/she's having surgery, pray that my mom can complete treatment, pray that my family can stay strong and safe, pray for the family of the Officer we just lost (Officer Earl Horse Looking of the JDC passed away this week - the victim of a car accident), pray for my cousin who had a heart attack and had a procedure done and now needs to exercise, pray for the rest of the kids that didn't stay, I pray for myself that I can stay strong and complete treatment"......and on it went. Tears were shed as we ALL lifted a prayer up to God. YES --- each one of these kids prayed as we did a circle prayer.

What a joy to have witnessed this. We praise God for the awesome thing HE is doing with these young people. Keep them in your prayers please......Jeremy, Kendra, Miki, Autumn, Kathy and all the others "who didn't stay".

Thank you for your awesome support.
Gary and Barb
ps. The house is shaking from the wind outside!!!!!