Glenhaven Ranch

This month finds us at Glenhaven Ranch near Russelville, Arkansas. A lot of changes - weather, project people, camp staff and camp purpose. This Ranch is totally dedicated to young people between 13-15 years of age with a few younger and a few older. It is a resident Ranch with all the residents living with house parents. The residents can go home once a month, if they have a home to go to. Probably some dysfunction in the home or trouble with the law brought the kids here so most of them are here against their will. As in the Ranch in Orlando, FL that we worked at 2 years ago the structure is tight, discipline is strict and Bible study is mandatory. We have not seen one instant of rebellion from the residents, we see young people who we hope finally get to the point of wanting to make their life count for something. The average stay is 1 1/2 years with some staying on for 5 years. Several of the staff were here as residents when they were a little younger. A wonderful place filled with love and a desire that the young people would commit to being good citizens as well as have a foundation built on God's love. Love has not been evident in their lives up to now so it is a hard concept to grasp. Who loves me?

The first picture is where Laurie and I have spent the working portion of the last 2 days. No, we do not call it a dungeon for nothing because it is a pump house with a dirt floor which angles precariously in various degrees and has a fine sand topping which is slippery if your feet aren't firmly planted in the dirt. Also the pump and various accessories are all over the place so only a small portion of flooring is available for us to stand on. We are to paint the ceiling, walls, shelves, doors, etc. So after I have set the stage of the pump house we can still say that we are having fun (of a sort, doesn't take much to make us happy, right?). I have decided it really doesn't matter if you work in a "pump house" or in a surrounding that is very nice. It still is painting and if we can have fun doing it so much the better. This project is a challenge but also a simple job because anything we do will be such a huge improvement. Again, I trim and Laurie rolls. We don't have to be scared of spilling. In fact I filled my little pail too full yesterday and before I noticed it paint was running out of the bottom of the handle (it is a patent something like an overflo in a sink or tub). Just hadn't seen that little item quick enough so I had a trail of paint from pail to wall. I guess on dirt floor such things don't matter.

As some of you know our cell phone doesn't work down in the valley where we are parked. We do have Internet for which we are glad because it does give us some mode of communication with all of you. So after lunch I go up the hill and do some calling. The place I sit has a nice view which you see in the picture. There is a little lake a midst the trees and the white peeking through the trees is where the RV's are parked. Not the most convenient situation but workable.

Dad continues to be the oldest male working on the project but he will pit his strengh and agility against any of the others and he will win. He is doing mostly plumbing so far but they have a lot of little electrical jobs (one of the men is a former electrician) and they have other general construction jobs as well. The Ranch staff that we work for is a Hawaiian and a fun guy to be around. He is so dedicated and works so hard that it is easier for us to have the desire to do a good job and do it well.

I skipped a lot of the fun stuff we did last weekend but the internet is giving me fits so I will sign off for now and try to blog again within the week.

Thanks for your love and we love you all more than we can say. Hope you are all doing well and enjoying the work or play or challenges or responsibilities that come your way each day.

Love, Mom/Dad Marilyn/Wilmer