Real Ranchin'

This week has been a good week! It did snow again on Tuesday night, but we did not have as extreme cold as last week! And now we have propane to keep our heater and hot water going, so we are good to go! I was able to meet with each of my groups this week since we were not snowed it. Tuesday after I took the girls home, the snow began, and I got my first real experience of driving in heavy snow. The further I got, the worse it got, but I made it back to the ranch safe and sound, and with a testimony that I am becoming a pro at dealing with this snow stuff :).

Yesterday, Todd, our supervisor, and his family left for Louisiana to visit our director and his wife, Albert and Dianne Hagan. They were in Houston, receiving cancer treatments for Mr. Albert, but they have gone to their home state of Louisiana to allow him to rest and be out of the hospital. Todd and his family will be gone for the next week, so Preston and I are in charge of the ranch for a while! We have been given our assignments to take care of the animals on the ranch, and continue the ranch chores every morning and evening. We'll be taking care of the cows, horses, miniature horses, chickens, dogs, cats, and the bird! So I am getting the real ranching experience!

Mr. Albert is not doing so well these days, so please pray for comfort, strength, and encouragement for he and his wife. I am working to plan a retreat for some girls at the end of February, so pray that it would come together and that I would plan according to what God would have us do. Continue to pray for the girls I am ministering to, that they would learn, grow, and come to know the Lord if they do not.

Snow!!.. and COLD!!

New Mexico has taken a big hit from the storm that swept across the country this week! We've been snowed in at the ranch since Tuesday. I was able to meet with my group of girls on Monday, then the storm began! After our group meeting, I was on my way to take the girls home as it began to snow. Thankfully, I made it back to the ranch before the storm got too bad. Tuesday and Wednesday, were days of constant snow and wind, and frigid temperatures! We have ended up this week with at least 2 feet of snow, and the temperatures at night have gotten as low as -10. I don't believe I have ever experienced this sort of cold before, but thankfully God has sustained our heaters and pipes, which we are keeping running, so far! In the trailer I live in, we are low on propane, and are praying that the workers can make it out today!

Since I have not been able to meet with my groups this week, I have been trying to stay warm indoors most of the time. (It has been too cold, and the snow too powdered to go outside and build a snowman yet :)) So I have been doing a lot of reading this week! Not only this week, but in any spare time while I am here, reading is what I am generally doing. Although I would love to get on the internet and talk to yall at any time, I do not have internet access in my room, but this has been good for me in the time that I have as opportunity to read and study God's Word.

As I continue to meet with my girls weekly, we will be planning more events and activities for campers throughout the semester. Right now, I am working on a girls' retreat we are hoping to have the last week of February. We are planning to take some youth snow tubing this month, and the spring festival is coming up in March. Be praying for these events, as they are great opportunities to continue to minister to the youth who come through Eagles' Wings.