The Last Ride,

     For all of you who know me and those who don't,  I have loved horses since I can remember. My time working with them, taking care of them and riding them brings pure joy to my life. I do feel that God has truly blessed me in having a special way with these large beautiful animals. There is nothing better to me than to ride up in the mountains and enjoy God's creation. It is a very special time when both you and this large animal can come to an understanding with each other.

   Trust is so very important as I work with the students at Acts 2. There has to be a trust bond developed before they will come to me and ask for help in so many areas in which they are struggling. I had one of our young men to call me crying because he could  not understand why so many crazy things were going wrong in his household. They were so bad that he didn't want to share the details. All he wanted was prayer and guidance on what scriptures would help him through this difficult time. Sometime after this he was at our Monday night bible study. He made a statement that he would love to have someone meet one on one with him to help him understand God's word better.  When I took the students home, before my young gentleman stepped out of the van I challenged him to start reading Psalms and Proverbs and to start tomorrow with Chapter 17 because it was February 16. The next night I received a call from him. He asked if it was all right to stay in chapter 16 because it was so good and he wanted to really understand it before he moved to the next chapter. My heart was so overjoyed  he asked what it was to die to yourself, wow! We talked for an hour and he asked me to get him a journal so that he could write down his favorite verses and what they meant to him. Please be in prayer for my young gentleman as he seeks to know God's word. Pray also that more men would come to Acts 2 and volunteer their time to one of the many young men that we ministry to.

  All this to say I have sold Maddie Girl, my horse. After much prayer I left it up to the Lord to provide a buyer for her if it was His will. Since starting at Acts 2 my time is very limited and horses can take a lot of your time. Not having my own place and having to rent, plus the normal expenses of care and feed for the animal seems to me to be a want instead of a need.  I thank the Lord for the privilege and joy of having and raising Maddie since she was 3 months old.  All the students loved and enjoyed going to the barn and experiencing first hand the trust that was needed in dealing with something that is so much bigger than themselves.  I can say a lot were very fearful when they were face to face with Maddie, but with time they brushed, gave apples, and loved on Maddie so much that when it was time to leave they didn't want to go.  The whole experience has taught me that my love for both the students and horses has brought me such joy over the last 3 years.

   I'm still seeking God's will for a House of Hope Ranch where God could use me for both helping students who have no hope or are not wanted by anyone, allowing them to experience God's love as they would live in an environment of hope and encouragement and to work on the many anger and trust issues that have taken them down the wrong path. Please be in prayer for me as I pray and seek what God has laid on my heart. Also pray for Maddie's new owners as they work with her and the safety of all.

 In His Service,

Gena