I didn't fall off the end of the earth--I just went to the end of the trail and ended up at Glenhaven Youth Ranch which is located about 45 miles north of Hot Springs, AR. The setting is a beautiful valley with a small stream flowing behind the SOWER RVs.
Scooter (the Host) said our project was to work on a house that needed a little TLC--oh by the way it has been vacant of a couple of years. What we really did was an EMO (extreme make-over). Repaired floors, walls, plumbing and more plumbing, windows, skirting, deck, electrical, cabinets, siding, blinds and painted/cleaned. Also built a new deck. Some of the ladies deboned boiled chicken for the house parents--kind of a yuky job but really appreciated by house parents also helped in the classroom and library.
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Truly a ranch: complete with cows, chickens, horses and dogs.
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SOWER parking in the valley
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Project house--Just needed a "little" TLC
This is the front; the back is a different story
but did have a rippling brook until it started to rain
then a raging stream--not a river. When we finished
the interior was beautiful--ready for a family. |
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| Fred the Paint man |
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| Dorothy the Kitchen lady |
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| "Little" Bill the Carpenter |
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| Sue the Paint lady |
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| Mike the Wall man |
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| Glenda the School Lady |
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| Maynard the Plumber |
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Arva the Office lady
who didn't get to work in the office--
cleaned and painted instead
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| Rudy the Electrician |
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| Esther the Cleaning lady |
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Carole the Lady Leader
at the "bead party" |
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"Big" Bill the Group Leader
in the kitchen |
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| Host--fishing |
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| Fred fishing |
The project house will be used as a "relief" house when the regular house parents have a weekend off. Instead of moving the house parents, the kids move to the relief house for the weekend. The house has three bedrooms, three baths and a very large kitchen/dining area. Usually there are seven or eight kids per house. The ranch presently has three houses (two for girls and one for boys. The kids are from 12 to 17 years old. The State wanted to duplicate their program because of their success ratio but gave up the idea because the state couldn't include Jesus in their program.
GHYR focuses on the kid's strengths and builds relationships from there--the use of horses is a major part of building these relationships. The kids don't trust adults but form a bond with the horses and many times share feelings while working with the horses. All of the kids attend school on the ranch--academic and vocational training as well as life skills. Most kids stay at the ranch about 17 months and are scholarship funded.
We are now in Branson MO for a few days before our April project near Camdenton MO (NTM missionary training center.) I have internet here so I can catch up on my computer work.
A few more pictures from GHYR.
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| Spring had arrived in AR |
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| View from the back window of our RV. |
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| House on the ridge where we could get cell reception |
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| The fishing pond |
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| Picture from side trip to Heifer International Farm about 35 miles from GHYR |
God's peace. nlsower
2 comments:
Well thanks for the photos and updates. Fun to see the projects you are working on and the people you are working with.
Kevin
That sounds like a neat place. I see you were with Bill and Sue Kablack, whom we met at GRM in Arizona.
We are home, and tying up loose ends. Spring has come several times on our travels, not quite here in Albrta in all its glory.
Watch for more blogs in the fall!
Alice and Terry
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