Changes...by Lucy

For those who have been blessed to join us this summer at Refuge Ranch, I wanted to share some of the changes that have taken place here. I thought I would start with the birds because the last group that was here got to see only little beaks peaking out of this nest in the warehouse. They are almost ready to fly away. I think Rosa is happy about that since they are very near her cooking area. I'm afraid one of them may fly right into one of her cooking pots!
This furniture includes desks and chairs, tables and toys for the preschool/kindergarten area when we get the new school space cleared out. We plan to use it in the old school area so they can have more space for creativity and play...and maybe make a little more noise! Right now it is in the hallway to the staff area/school area. This is where we used to keep the medical supplies for crusades, but those have all been moved to the warehouse, and are on organized shelves and boxes ready to be used. When we get to move this furniture out of this space, it will become a staff lounge for Rosa, Magda, and Erika. Many who visit Refuge Ranch will also be able to enjoy this space since now there is also a window to allow more light inside!
These are pictures of our new living room furniture. After using the lawn chairs for 9 months, they were getting a little threadbare, and needed to be replaced. We found a good deal on these, so now in the evening, we sit in the lap of luxury. Notice that Aaron is doing what he does best...sleeping! And Joanna and Angie are playing a game during youth group. It makes movie nights so much more enjoyable.

These are pictures of the old school area which we are still using since we don't have the new area ready yet. It has been opened up and we now have a new door to enter in so we don't have to disturb staff when they are resting or sick. It has been newly painted, and Cirino was working today to break through the concrete to make a doorway inside from the old school to the new school. It will be so much nicer than the cramped quarters we were working in before.
The ramp was put in this summer along with the concrete floor inside the warehouse. The doors were put up last week, and really help keep out the cold (Yes, I said "Cold!...It is not 90 degrees here during the summer like some might think!), and the rain. We now eat inside the warehouse which has much more space than the kitchen that we outgrew long ago.
I wish I had a picture of Rosa working in her new kitchen. She was sick the day I took pictures. She is so much happier working here in her own kitchen inside the doors of the warehouse, rather than outside in the cold and rain. The giant table was purchased for her to work on, and also for Victor for when he butchers the family steer (something I am not looking forward to!) soon.
Mark and John have worked all week trying to get the new school area ready to move into soon. They have tiled and grouted, along with some other work teams here this summer. Then they moved on to electrical work so we have more lighting in the new school. We also have a new door and window to this space so it is much brighter. The only holdup there is that we are still suffering with some leaks in the roof, but someday when it stops raining, that won't be a problem either!
Ruth is holding Estrella (called Squeakers by me) who has grown twice the size from when we first found her. She is a little bundle of energy that has added much joy to the lives of the cat lovers in our family (Joanna and me!). Okay, I've seen Mark and Aaron cuddle her too...sort of! Ruth is also getting ready to start kindergarten, and boy is she excited. She is coming up to school for Julie to give her work to do even though she hasn't technically started yet! Now that is dedication!

I wanted to say thank you (again) to everyone who felt called to come and serve here this summer. You will never know how much we truly appreciate the time and energy you sacrificed to help Refuge Ranch become even more of a place for people to meet God and grow in his love. Some day you may meet up with one of the kids here at Refuge Ranch, and they'll say, "I remember when you came, and served." How will that feel? Won't God be smiling then, just as He is now!

Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to Got the Father through him. --Colossians 3:17