Friday, January 20, 2017

Friday - Final day of serving

From the Ranch Team 
Friday was the culmination of the concrete project, as the guys worked with Ken (our ranch team leader) and Manny (a terrific ranch kid), to mix, pour, and finish off the stairs beautifully. Ken tells us this is the first step (no pun intended) in a larger project, so who knows what we'll see next year!

The gals finished up the Scripture verses in one more home. It was especially fun when the electricity went out for a while, and Karen finished up by iPhone flashlight!

We were blessed to enjoy a bonfire under the stars with Ken and his family as a wrap-up to a busy week.

All that being said, the true highlights of the week were the smiling faces of all the ranch kids, who are experiencing the love of Jesus every day through the giving hearts and caring hands of the Rancho Ebenezer staff. We've been privileged to serve them this week ... and we're already looking forward to next year.  Join us!











Psalm 16:11 "You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand."






Thursday, January 19, 2017

Thursday - Day 4 The week is going by fast

Thursday with the Ranch Team: 

Chapel with the ranch kids was the perfect way to start our day! 

God blessed us with beautiful weather again, which the guys were thankful for as they tackled several projects. Along with painting the new plywood siding they installed on Wednesday, they also replaced the old gutter - although Bob got baptized with some mud when he took it down!  The guys also braved major dirt and impressively large spiders to clean out a storage room that will become a useful sports equipment space.

The gals continue their project of painting Scripture verses in the family homes. Today's house features 2 Corinthians 13:11 and Romans 5:12. Look them up!

We enjoyed a mid-day break by having lunch at a small local restaurant owned by a former ranch employee.  On the drive back to the ranch, we encountered about half a dozen logging trucks loaded to the max. Honduran drivers are amazing - we were literally inches apart.

We're thanking God for hard work, good fellowship, and His constant provision.

Morning Chapel

Last touches on this project

It's not as easy as it looks!

Having lunch at a former ranch worker's new restaurant!

A tight squeeze

Too close for comfort!

Thursday with the Mission House Team

It's us again! We all went to churches that were new to us today. There were many "God" experiences shared with the group during our evening devotions. No matter what we do, the Hondurans are always extremely thankful. Please pray that we finish strong!










2 Corinthians 13:11 "Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you."


Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Wednesday - Day 3 some work and some play

Hello from the mission house teamToday we had beautiful weather, and a relaxing day, either visiting the Valley of the Angels to shop or to tour Rancho Ebenezer. And a few of us stayed "home" and counted pills, and perhaps had a nap. Long bus rides, but there is so much to see on the way. After our day off we are anxious to get back to the brigades tomorrow to serve these precious people of Honduras.

Some members of the team toured Rancho Ebenezer

Hearing about all the wonderful things going on at the Ranch. 

Learning about the coffee process. 

Coffee plants growing on the Ranch

Part of the mission team at Valley of the Angels




There was no rest for the Ranch Team but the day did seem like a variety show! The first act was the Scavenger Hunt where we had to search the workshop for plywood, 2x4's, screws, nails and assorted tools. (This act repeats itself throughout the day!)

The second act was Demolition. We tore off the plywood siding from the porch behind the ranch office. and removed broken bleacher boards at the soccer field. (This act also includes instruction in power drill usage for the team novice.)

For Intermission, some of the Mission House team visited Rancho Ebenezer. There were lots of hugs and good conversation! 

The third act was Construction:  We attached new plywood siding on the porch, installed and sanded new bleacher boards (just in time for an upcoming soccer game between the ranch kids and another mission organization), and started painting Bible verses in a second family home. Finally, we shoveled gravel into the stairway form built on Monday.

The Coming Attractions for the rest of the week: Paint the plywood siding. Keep painting Bible verses. Mix and pour concrete for steps. Discover what else is on Ken's list for us. Sleep hard every night!

Thanks to God for a great week so far at Rancho Ebenezer!

New plywood siding on the porch. 

The new bleacher boards were done just in time for soccer!

The steps are looking good! Lots of hard work. 

John 8:32 "And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free."




Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Tuesday - Day 2 Happenings

Tuesday at Rancho Ebenezer was a wonderful day for the ranch team. It was also a great example of everything that goes into some projects. 

For example, the guys on the team had to fix the saw... before they could cut the wood...in order to build a wooden frame...into which they will pour concrete this week... to build a safe ascent into the ranch office, soccer field, and play structure. See the before and in-process photos below. 

The gals finished the scripture painting in Casa de Amor. Check out the verses for this house...what wonderful reminders to see everyday! They are partway through the first boys' home, and if those little guys had their way, they'd be painting right along with them! 

One final note, we had our fist "injury" of the week - Bob's jeans. We think his patch job is both resourceful and eye-catching! 

Before...

In progress...

Bible verse in Casa de Amor

Second Bible verse in Casa de Amor

Bob's fashion statement


It was a miraculous day for both brigades of the mission house team! Each brigade had the opportunity to install a water filters in a local home. It was a blessing to be able to give them clean and safe water. Tomorrow half the team will go shopping and to the park. The other half will go to Rancho Ebenezer to receive a tour and some will visit their sponsor child. 




1 John 4:16 "And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love, lives in God and God in them." 

Monday, January 16, 2017

Monday - Day 1 of serving

The Ranch Team jumped into many projects today. We started by assembling some whiz bang new water filters - with a 1 million gallon guarantee! These will be used in all homes at the ranch and are an amazing gift to everyone here. 

The remainder of the day was devoted to acts of demolition and acts of creation. The guys tore down a very old, and very unsafe, play structure. They saved the plastic slides to add to another structure and the wood will make a splendid bonfire. Nothing goes to waste here at the ranch!

The gals on the team starting a project of painting a Bible verse inside each home. It sounds easy but it's quite a process. The verse for each house is chosen by the mentor parents specifically for each family group. We pray that these Scripture verses will bless the children for years to come. 

Water filter assembly

Demolition of the old wooden playset. 


Painting the Scripture verses is patient work. 


The Mission House team had a wonderful, exhausting, faith-filled day. The lines were already long when we arrived and we'd heard that they began forming as the sun began to rise. 

We saw over 300 people in optical and over 500 in medical and dental. The children's ministry shared the Gospel with many children and washed A LOT of hair. Many of the girl's were given some relief from the lice in their long, beautiful hair. It was a blessing for us to be able to love on these children and wash and style their hair with the hair pretties that were donated by so many of you. 

It was also encouraging to give two families a concrete floor in each of their homes. This lasting imprint on their lives is tiring and back breaking but well worth it. 

The medical team sees both adults and children. 


Looking cool! 

One of the two concrete floors done today. 

Exodus 33:14 "My presence will go with you and I will bring you rest."




Sunday, January 15, 2017

Sunday services and preparing for the week ahead

Hello from the Mission team! Tom preached the Word today and after church we headed back to the mission house to count and bag pills for the week ahead. We counted 64,800 pills; enough for 2,160 treatments. Thank you to everyone who donated medicines or funds to purchase medicines! 




From the Ranch Team: The ranch team headed into the city with Ken and his family for services at Union Christian Church and then experience lunch at a mall food court. Talk about a North American influence - we could've been anywhere in the U.S.! Our next stop was the grocery store where we purchased apples from Washington state! 

Our work projects begin tomorrow so today we enjoyed a walk around the ranch. Check out the coffee beans drying and the brand new fenced garden. And let's just say that zucchini flourishes in Honduras just like in the Midwest - baseball bat sized!

The most interesting part of the day? The bovine traffic jam on our way back to the ranch from church.
Coffee beans

New fenced garden

Zucchini flourish - just like the Midwest

Sunday afternoon traffic jam on the way back to the ranch!

Psalm 19:1 "The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the work of His hands."