The Trip: Dad and I left home at 12:45 am Thursday morning and made it all the way to Seward Nebraska the first night. We spent the night with our cousins and it was a lot of fun getting to see them! Our plan for the second day was to drive through Wyoming and spend the night there. But due to high winds along a pass we had to detour through Denver, Colorado and ended up staying the night in West Jordan, Utah. We headed out the next morning and made it to Bend Oregon around 4 in the afternoon. The drive was crazy long, but traveling across the country and seeing God's beauty throughout was amazing!
Monday: Dad and I left around 6:30 for him to catch his bus to Portland airport. It was definitely hard to say goodbye, but when I got to the ranch I was distracted by all that we were learning! We went over general rules and how things would look. Then we went on a tour of the main tour and got more information on each area and what happens there. Next we went on a tour of the West and North ranch on the jitneys. It was so cool to see how the Lord has grown and blessed Crystal Peaks over the years! In the afternoon we had safety training and learned how to drive the jitneys, with and without a trailer, and the tractor! Before we headed out we helped feed the horses hay. By the end we were all tired, covered with hay, but excited for the rest of the week!
Tuesday: Today we started with mock sessions! Each of us interns got paired with a staff member and we went through how they do sessions. It was a lot of fun and it was good to get a glimpse of how sessions look. At lunch three of the directors and Emma came to eat with us. Emma was the intern supervisor and had done all our interviews and helped get us prepared to come to the ranch. Emma and her husband were moving on Wednesday so we all loved getting to meet her before she left. During the lunch we heard the directors stories on how the Lord had led them to the ranch. It was so cool to see how He had worked in their lives and a good reminder that His timing is perfect! After lunch we had discussion on sessions and really got into how to build relationships with the kiddos who will be coming through the ranch. Then we went to the wood working shop and were taught how to use all the tools they had there. Everyone paired up (Alyssa and I worked together) to make a bird house! We didn't quite get to finish it, but it was a lot of fun! Afterwards we went to see the green house and help plant a couple beds. We helped hay the horses again and then headed home!
Wednesday: Today was horse day! Sarah is the horse manager at Crystal Peaks and she is so sweet! It was so cool to see her heart for the Lord and how she incorporates the horses to share Truth. In the morning we went over bringing the horses in from the field, grooming, and tacking. Then in the afternoon we rode! We went over all the basics, and at the end did a really fun obstacle course! I rode Silas, the same horse I used Tuesday for the mock sessions. He was so much fun to work with! At the end of the day we were debriefing and Troy and Kim Meeder came in to talk with us! For you who may not know, they are the founders of Crystal Peaks! They came in and talked to us about the summer and where they would be.
Thursday: We didn't need to be at the ranch until 12:40 so us interns went out for breakfast at The Original Pancake House. It was a good time of fellowship and just getting to know each other better. When we got to the ranch we headed down to the West Ranch and Troy and Kim shared their hearts for the property and how God has been working. Then we all dispersed over the ranch and prayed over the property, for the people who will be coming through, for the staff, interns, and volunteers. Over the horses and buildings. It was an amazing time of worship, seeing how He has worked in the past, how He is working now, and His vision for the Ranch. As I was going over the ranch I was reminded of what a great and awesome God we serve. When we allow Him to work in and through us He will work and move and the result is amazing. I went to pray over the horses, and as I was with the individual horses and thinking about their stories and how God has used them at the ranch He once again reminded me that no matter what our past or our scars, when put in His hands He will use them for His glory.
Afterwards we all met up at the cross and sat and worshiped as Troy played worship music. I was sitting next to one of the staff who let me use her Bible. It opened to Psalm 126 and 127.
"When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy. Then they said among the nations, 'The Lord has done great things for them.' The Lord has done great things for us, we are glad." Psalm 126:1-3
"Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil, for He gives to His beloved sleep." Psalm 127:1-2
As I looked over these verses all I could think of was Crystal Peaks. The Lord gave Kim and Troy a dream, and they allowed Him to work through them and use them. The Lord built up the ranch. If Kim and Troy had tried to build the ranch on their own, it would have failed. But God took a cinder mine and restored it to bring Himself honor and glory. Thank you Lord for this place!
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