Faithfully Serving Jesus In the Sunshine of His Love by Linda L. Linn - HTML preview

Faithfully

Serving Jesus

In the Sunshine

of His Love

Linda L. Linn

Faithfully Serving Jesus In the Sunshine of His Love

Linda L. Linn

Printed by TheBookPatch in the United States of America.

November of 2024

All rights reserved.  No part of this book may be reproduced or

utilized in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical,

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and retrieval system, without permission from the author.

Preview

 What’s going to happen next in Pine City and on Mercy Valley Ranch and Farm?  Will there be new ways for believers to continue faithfully serving Jesus until he returns?

 What successes will some of the young people from the ranch and farm have?  Which of them will get married?  Will some couples move to different places?  What’s special about some different ways to travel?  What is Mindy going to do?

 The ranch has surprising plans.  What will the changes be and will the plans succeed?  What will happen to those little horses the girls and boys are growing too big to ride?  How will the ranch get horses to take their places?  Keep reading, and find out.

 If you haven’t read the first three novels in the Sunshine Series, it would be most helpful for you to read # 1, “Everywhere There’s a Sunrise, Let’s Tell the Good News,” # 2, “Rejoice as the Sun Shines on Restorations,” and # 3, “Gladly Serve God In Sunshine or Storms,”  before you read this one, # 4, “Faithfully Serving Jesus In the Sunshine of His Love.”  All four books are available to buy as printed copies from thebookpatch.com.  Or you could get each of these books as ebooks or PDF files, free of charge from free-ebooks.net and read them in sequence.

About the Author

 The author, Linda L. Linn, has lived in Colorado all her life.  She has believed in, and loved Jesus since she was a young child.  When not doing housework, cooking or baking, she likes to play the piano, write stories, sew, and read.  She also enjoys travel and photography.  

 Before she retired, she enjoyed teaching first, second, and third graders in the public school system for 27 years.  She and her husband, Richard, have traveled to see much of God’s beautiful creation in the western United States.  They are presently living in Montrose, Colorado.  She hopes you enjoy this novel.

Dedication

This novel is thankfully dedicated to

the Almighty God, who is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

God is supreme and He is the sovereign ruler.

Only He deserves our service and praise.

Introduction

 This is a work of fiction, except for the Bible Scriptures, which are God's Word and are therefore true.  The State and National Parks and Monuments are real places where some of the people in this novel travel to visit, so are the four-wheel drive roads and destinations.  If you are interested in visiting any of those places be sure to check locally for current conditions and road closures.

 No person in this novel exists in real life except for God the Father, God the Son, (also known as Jesus Christ or the Messiah), and God the Holy Spirit.  All the other characters, places and events in this novel are fictitious.  Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to actual events is purely coincidental.  But, many things in the story, and especially the miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit can really happen.  

 This novel is meant for adults, not children, although with parental guidance, it has parts children might learn from or enjoy.  Any places where I have copied parts from other stories in this Sunshine Series are with the author’s permission, since I’m the author.

 Scriptures are shown by italics, and are this author's paraphrase of the King James Version of the Holy Bible.  I chose the King James Version because it has no copyright.  Basically, what I do is change words like "thee" and "ye" to "you", "thy" to "your", take the "eth," etc. off words, and sometimes use synonyms, to make it sound like more modern English.  You can do the same thing as you read the suggested old hymns in a hymnal.

 The author encourages you to look up these scriptures in your preferred Bible translation and read them there also.  The Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs chosen for this novel really do have meaningful words and teachings.  I encourage you to look up each hymn and spiritual song in a hymnal or songbook.

 If you don’t have a hymnal or a songbook, try looking up the title of the song on the web to find the lyrics.  Reading the lyrics for the songs, finding pictures of the real places people travel to, and other things the characters look up on the web could enhance this story if you can take the time to do it.  Just type the song title, name of the national park or any other topic into the search engine for the web and you can find a wealth of information.

 There’s a list of the characters and horses in this story in the addendum at the end of this novel.  It might help you to keep track of who is who as you read.

Prologue

Colossians 3:23,24, And whatever you do, do it heartily,

as to the Lord and not to men; knowing that of the Lord you shall receive the reward of the inheritance, for you serve the Lord Christ.

 Sara and Kim had been living in Pine City for about a month since they turned nineteen and therefore it had been time for them to leave their foster home with Ian and Yolanda Hopkins on Mercy Valley Ranch and go make their own livings.

 After supper one evening Kim asked, “How do you like your job, Sara? I like mine.”

 Sara answered, “I like mine a lot.  My boss is a good Christian.  She’s easy to work for and shows when she’s pleased.”

 Kim suggested, “Maybe we could just stay single and live like this so we can continue to help each other and minister together.”

 “Well,” Sara admitted, “I’ve been praying about staying single or getting married, and I think it’s God’s will for me to get married.  So, I’d rather get married to a certain gentleman I know, than stay single.  But I have no idea how that gentleman feels because he has been friends with Mindy and all the girls in our family ever since he and his family started riding horses on the ranch with our family.  Of course I can’t just come right out and ask him how he feels.”

 “No, I suppose you can’t,” Kim agreed, “although I do think Denji would be just right for you.  Well I’m glad we talked about marriage, because I’ve been hoping you and he would get married since you like him so much!  Anyway, if you do get married, I hope I can also find someone very soon.  I don’t like the idea of living alone.”

 “I don’t blame you,” and then Sara questioned, “Do you have anyone in mind?”

 “Well,” shared Kim, “there’s a guy at the Discount Mart.  He’s asked me out lots of times, but I always told him I couldn’t date because of family rules.  Also, he wasn’t a believer.  I used every opportunity to tell him the Good News.  Finally last month he accepted Jesus, praise the Lord!  But even though I’m allowed to date now, I don’t think I want such a young Christian for a husband.”

 “No, I wouldn't either!” Sara exclaimed.

 Kim continued, “I thought you’d understand.  There were those boys who sang with us at the party.  All four were good looking and nice mannered young men.  I know that one of our friends, the one with the long dark hair, who lived next door to us on the ranch has her eye on Carlos and it’s fine with me.  One of the others might be good.”

 Sara suggested, “Let’s pray together.”  Kim nodded and Sara began, “Father in Heaven you heard our discussion.  Please guide each of us to choose the best man for a husband.”

 Kim continued, “I agree, LORD.  Please make it very clear to us and them.  Keep us all pure and true to you.”

 Then Sara mentioned, “I’m glad we asked Pastor Don to find a small group you and I could be in together.  Plus I’m very thankful for the little booklet about small groups that Karen gave us in the special meeting she had for the ranch graduates.”

 “Same here,”  and Kim went on, “she said they gave out the same ones to the guys on the farm.  It says here in the booklet, the groups meet at least once a week and have time for singing, praise reports, teaching on some topic related to living for Jesus, and a conversational prayer time instead of prayer requests.  Some people take notes during the prayer time, so they can continue praying at home about those.  Often during the prayer time someone will ask the Lord a question or for guidance and another person will have a prophecy or a word of knowledge or wisdom that answers it.  After the prayer time, there's usually time for fellowship and refreshments.”

 Sara agreed, “Yes, and it goes on to say that the meeting typically lasts about two hours and is usually after supper on a week night in the home of one of the members.  People take turns being the host, and there are facilitators for each group.  If no home is available, the group meets in the lunchroom of the church annex building.  I remember seeing parts of this information in the new believer booklets we gave to people who accepted Jesus when we did our family ministry times.  I’m looking forward to attending our first small group meeting this coming week.”

 “So am I,” said Kim, “it should be interesting and different from the way we’ve done on the ranch.”

 Oscar and Vera Yardley and their foster girls, Emma, Nan, Stella, and Liz had just returned from a horseback ride on Mercy Valley Ranch where they live.  They were talking about the names of the horses they had ridden.

 Emma remarked, “It was fun today for each of us to find a Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse in a different color.  Since we’re all too big to ride Honey or even Rusty or Brownie and I’m the smallest one in our family, I chose Socks.  He’s a light brown horse, and is only 12.2 hands tall.  I’ve ridden him before and he’s a nice horse.”

 “Yeah,” agreed Nan, “he is nice and so is Boots, but he’s the same color as Socks, so I chose Princess today.  She’s about two inches taller and is very pretty with her shiny black coat.  She's also a nice horse just like all the horses are on this ranch.”

 Stella commented, “I like both of those horses also.  Liz and I both like Coffee and Tea, but not the kinds people drink.  I’m talking about the horses’ names.  Today we each chose our favorite of the two, like we usually do.  I get to ride the lighter coppery colored horse, called Tea.  After I brush him, his coat does look like a cup of the regular kind of tea.”

 Liz laughed, “I’ve never seen a cup of coffee, so I don’t know how close Coffee comes to looking like his namesake, but he is shiny and pretty and I always enjoy riding him.”

 Oscar smiled knowingly, “I admit I don’t know either, since we never drink coffee and usually only have herbal teas, which are not the color of our horse named ‘Tea.’  I chose Dark Cocoa and she is definitely the color of dark chocolate and just as rich looking, with her blond mane and tail.”

 “Yes she is!” Vera exclaimed.  “I got to choose Cocoa, my favorite of all the horses.  She looks like the hot chocolate milk we sometimes have on cold winter days, except for her pretty blond mane and tail.  And now I must confess that for many years I spelled both of their names wrong, thinking that c-o-c-o should be another way I could spell c-o-c-o-a.  But I just found out recently that c-o-c-o really means a coconut palm tree or its fruit, because I looked it up on the web.  Both words are pronounced the same way.  Oh well, I’m glad I didn’t have to write it down very often.  At least now if I do write it, I’ll spell it correctly.  I wanted all of you to know so you wouldn't make the same mistake.”

 “Thank you, Mom,” responded Stella, “for telling us and being so honest.”

 Nan stated,  “It would be an easy mistake to make.”

 Liz quoted a saying, “I remember reading in Romeo and Juliet, ‘A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.’  So the way you spelled the names didn’t change how pretty those horses are.”

 Everybody laughed with her.

 “Now I’ve heard two important reminders today!” Emma declared.  Spelling is important, but even if you do make a mistake, you can fix it by telling the truth.”

 One day Amelia found her brother, Ben, alone when she and her husband, Riley, were at the home of her parents, Ernest and Connie Clay, for supper.  She exclaimed, “Marriage sure is great!  I hope you’ll get to enjoy it for yourself soon.  Like God said in Genesis 2:18,… it is not good that the man should be alone.  I will make a helper fitting for him.”

 Ben stated, “I agree, and I’m very glad for you, my dear sister.  For me, every goal I fulfill means I’m getting closer, but I think I still have to be more certain of my career.  I have to know I’ll be able to support um, her, before I can court her.”

 “It sounds like you have someone in mind,” Amelia guessed.

 Ben admitted, “Well yes, but I can’t tell anyone until I’m sure I’ll be able to carry through.”

 “Oh!” exclaimed Amelia, “I sure would like to know, but I’m lousy about keeping secrets, so I understand.  I’ll pray for you instead.”

 Ben responded, “Thanks Amelia, you’re a great sister!”

 While they were seniors in high school, Candy and June, who were still living with their foster parents Ian and Yolanda Hopkins on Mercy Valley Ranch sometimes speculated about the boys on the farm.

 One time June mentioned, “I was just remembering back to the party for the ones who would be turning nineteen and would be leaving their homes to go make their own livings.  All four of those young men were very handsome, and so were their younger brothers.”

 “I agree,” said Candy, “but I don’t remember any of their names now.  I guess at the time of the party, I was only thinking about how fast the time would come for us to have our own party.  We’ll graduate from high school at the end of this year!”

 “Right, but I don’t want to think about it yet,” stated June.  “I’d rather daydream about those handsome young men.  From a practical viewpoint, the older ones might be a better choice, because they would have a whole year to get secure in a job and would be better able to support a wife.”

 Candy nodded, “Good point, June, and I agree they might be better and they were indeed handsome.  But I have no idea how we might be able to meet and get acquainted with any of them after we are nineteen, and they’ve already moved.  Plus we also need to remember it’s our responsibility to get good jobs to support ourselves while we wait to get married or of course if we decide to stay single.”

 “Well,” June conceded prolonging the word, “I’ll have to agree with you, because you’re right, and it would be a better use of my time to prepare myself for high school graduation and our own party and especially what we’ll be doing when we turn nineteen.  I’ll memorize the first part of Ezekiel 38:7a, Be prepared, and prepare yourself, and I’ll do what it says. Thanks for getting me back on track.”

 “You’re welcome,” and then Candy continued, “and remember, we just got some of those tiny books our church ordered, called “The Life Book,” and we need to pray about who we can give one to right away, since this is our last year in high school.”

 June agreed, “For sure, because they look like a really good way to get some of our friends and even just acquaintances to read enough of the Bible in a very interesting way so they can learn why they need Jesus to be their Savior.  The Gospel of John does a very good job of introducing people to Jesus.”

 “Indeed,” Candy went on, “and besides that, if they don’t want a book, but would rather have a PDF file to read on their computers or smart phones, they can download the book from the web site called thelifebook.com and read it on their computer or phone.  Either way should work well.”

 “Exactly,” said June nodding, “I’m looking forward to using those tiny books.  Please Jesus, help us give many of them to others who need you.”

 Candy concluded, “I agree, Jesus, and please help them read the tiny book all the way through and make the right decision to accept you as their Savior and follow you.”

Chapter 1

1 Peter 4:10, As every man has received the gift, even so minister it to one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

 Tomo and Ami Suehiro were looking at the large display board at the front of the sanctuary.  It had a list written in very large letters of the hymns and songs they would be singing during the church service at the Grace ‘n’ Faith Church building that served as the meeting place for twelve of the churches in Pine City each weekend.  There was another church just like it on the other side of town with services for twelve more churches.  Each of the churches had its own pastor and used the same church name, but with a number attached.

 Ami spoke quietly to her husband, “This week the screen is pulled down so there must be a video for us to watch sometime during the service.”

 Tomo nodded and responded quietly, “It’s sure to be something important, since it doesn’t happen very often.”

 “I agree,” she stated as she looked around.  “I like the way this sanctuary is decorated in the colors of nature and the big photomural of a lake with trees and snow capped mountains helps me relax and get ready to worship the great creator.”

 “It does the same for me,” he concurred.  “I also like the songs we will be singing today and I look forward to hearing the music that was prepared to go with it, done by the music group Ted Blake told us about years ago.”

 Ami smiled and nodded as she handed him a hymnal so he could find the first one and they would be ready to sing.

 But before the singing for this service, the pastor of Grace ‘n’ Faith Church #1 had videoed a short message to be shown in all twenty-four churches.  In it he commended and thanked all the members for the way they were faithfully serving the Lord and were using at least one extra idea from the first list of ideas for family or team ministries, that had been given to them a couple years ago.

 Then he explained, “At the end of your church service, there will be an additional list of new ideas for ministries that we’ve compiled from the ones you people sent to us from your small groups.  I know many of you are already very busy with one or more ideas you already added to your other ministries from the first list.  If that is the case for you, please don’t feel you are obligated to add any other new ones.  But if something more will fit into your lifestyle and it is what God desires for you to do, then he will give you the time and energy to do it for him.”

 He continued, “The new list also has some ideas repeated from the last list and they are highlighted.  They worked especially well, so some people might want to try those.  At times it might be more profitable to try one that someone else thought worked very well.  But at other times it might be best to try something brand new if that is how God is leading you.”

 Next he clarified, “The idea on the list called ‘Lifestyle Witnessing’ can be anything you could do naturally in the way you live your life.  It doesn’t take extra planning but just occurs as you live.  Some guidelines for this idea are to be real, listen well and understand, offer to help neighbors, have compassion, and accept people.  I know you’ll do your best as you serve God with his power and leave the results up to him.  May God richly bless all of you.”

 Then this church, which was #4, continued the service with songs and scriptures. Today the teaching time was shorter because of the video taking up part of the time.  It was about the songs and scriptures, so there were comments after each song.

 First they sang “I Belong to the King” and then they read John 14:1-4 aloud together.  Do not let your heart be troubled.  You believe in God, believe also in me.  In my Father’s house are many rooms.  If it were not so, I would have told you.  Since I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself, so that you also may be where I am.  You know where I am going and you know the way.

 Then Pastor Don Ross stated, “This is such a precious scripture for believers who know they do belong to the King.  He promises that we will spend eternity with him in the place he went to prepare.  And this is why part of the song reminded us that he loves his children, who will live forever with him in heaven, and that he gives his mercy and kindness to us always in all places.”

 The next song was “Savior, More Than Life to Me,” and it goes with Psalm 63:3,4a, Because your loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise you.  I will praise you while I live…

 The pastor mentioned, “I like the way the lyrics of this hymn speak of how important Jesus is to the believer who wrote it.  It was written by Fanny Crosby, who wrote so many meaningful hymns.  She wanted to stay close to Jesus, and asked him to lead her through the changes in her world.  She had great faith that Jesus would help her not turn away from him or lose her way.”

 Before they sang, “Fight the Good Fight,” Pastor Don encouraged, “Put the words ‘continue to’ before the words to the first verse of the song, and remember that Jesus is your strength.  We race with Jesus as our way and our goal, so keep trusting him.”

 When they finished singing the song, they read 1 Timothy 6:12.  Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you are called, and have professed a good profession before many witnesses.

 Last they sang “The Call for Reapers” and read Matthew 9:37b,38, The harvest is truly plentiful but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray that the Lord of the harvest will send forth laborers into his harvest.

 Then Pastor Don suggested, “Since the song says the fields are ripe everywhere, let’s make verse two of the song our prayer by changing ‘them’ to ‘us’ and ask Jesus to send us in the morning, at noon and in the evening.  Then just like in the song called ‘Bringing in the Sheaves,’ we will continue to have joy the way we do when others become believers.”

 So in closing, they sang verse two of “The Call for Reapers” as their prayer.  At the end of the services in all the churches, some teenagers handed the new lists to the people as they left to go home that day.

 One evening after that church service, Pastor Don was talking to his wife, Anita, as they watched their children, Timmy and Mary, playing hopscotch on the driveway with the neighbors’ kids.  “I wonder how many weddings will be a surprise to us in the next few years.  There have been several courtships in the past that we didn’t know about for one reason or another until the couple came and asked me if I would officiate at their wedding.”

 “It has been very interesting,” agreed Anita, “and it’s fun to think about it.  I also wonder what Oscar and Vera Yardley on the Mercy Valley Ranch might do next.  There were several ideas they might like on the new list we handed out.  I wouldn’t be surprised if they are contemplating one or more of them.”

 Don responded, “I agree.  They are such a caring and dedicated couple, and their first plan has worked out very well.  Father in Heaven, we ask you to guide all the people in all twenty-four of the Grace ‘n’ Faith churches as they pray about what to do next.”

 “Yes, Father, I agree with Don’s prayer,” Anita added.

 Then Don stated, “It’s so encouraging to visit people in our church and hear the good comments about the church services or small group meetings.”

 “Yes,” agreed Anita, “I was just remembering back to when Ted and Julie Blake moved here from another state because they had been searching for a church like ours.  They didn’t know at that time all the adventure, work, growth, and blessings Jesus had in store for them in the following years.”

 Don nodded, “Absolutely, for example, the job Julie got teaching third grade in the church school.  It has worked out well for everyone!  I’m glad Timmy got to be in her class last year, and Mary this year.”

 “So am I!”  Then Anita continued, “We were surprised when the Blakes moved to Mercy Valley Ranch and became foster parents to those sweet quadruplets.  But they have been able to help the four girls recover nicely from the death of their mother and then the abuse the one set of grandparents mistakenly did to them.”

 “Right,” concurred Don, “and the other ranch families have all done just as well, along with all the other families in our church with the projects they’ve been doing.”

 Anita remarked, “I’m glad, and this is a good note to end our talk on, since Timmy and Mary have just finished their game and our neighbors have called for their kids to come inside.  It’s time for us to go and fix supper.”

 On Mercy Valley Ranch Oscar shared, “Honey, I know we’re older than when we first changed this place from a dude ranch into a cluster of Caring Foster Homes for abused children.  But even so, I’ve been considering building some more houses on the ranch so we could reach even more of the most needy girls, since we had a special meeting and all the families agreed to replace the ones who graduate from the ranch with girls who are already fourteen.”

 “Yes,” Vera replied, “I noticed you praying the other night with your finger on that idea from the new church list.  I’ve been praying about the same one since all the families agreed to take ones who are already fourteen years old.  What have you decided?”

 “First, he replied, “I decided to talk it over with you and have both of us pray about the possibilities.  We’d have to look carefully at the funds for keeping this ranch in operation and see if there would be enough extra to do all the building.”

 Vera suggested, “Our financial advisor should be able to help us with that part.  Let’s pray about it together now.”

 Oscar nodded and began, “Father in Heaven, you know our hearts and what is best for your Kingdom.  Please show us your will in this matter and then help us carry through with it.”

 “Yes,” continued Vera, “Our hearts go out to those needy girls who have no hope and nobody to care about them.  If you want us to get some more of them off the streets and into Caring Foster Homes we would be willing to do it if we have enough funds.”

 Oscar went on, “If you desire for us to do this, please show us a green light by the answer the financial advisor gives to us.”

 “And, in addition,” Vera tacked on, “If we can do it please guide my brother about adding more houses to his farm also.”

 Oscar concluded, “We pray in agreement and in Jesus precious name as we wait for your answer.”  And they both said, “Amen.”

 But then Vera added, “Father, we also remember all the younger children who need caring homes and the ones in orphanages.  Please have families in Pine City take those children into their homes as foster or adopted children.”

 “Yes, Lord, I agree.  Amen again.”  Then Oscar stated,  “For us this would be another big undertaking, but we just need to remember we have a big God and he will help us, like part of 2 Chronicles 32:8 says, the LORD our God is with us, to help us…  So let’s go see our advisor tomorrow while the girls are in school and see what God will have us do now.”

 Vera smiled, “It sounds like a good plan to me, my dear husband. We already know how God helped us on the last part, so we can have faith for this new project also.

 “Exactly, Dearest,” agreed Oscar, “plus I was thinking that since it’s harder for the older ones to adjust and feel settled, it might be best to have just one of the two new ones come at a time and give them two or more weeks to feel more like they belong to the family, and the ones who are still there can also help the new one.”

 Vera nodded, “Yes, and the same thing goes for families in the new houses, except they won’t have any who are already there to be able to help.  They could be assigned just one at a time and let each one have two weeks before the next one would come.  And maybe some of the other girls on the ranch could help those families, especially with the first girl assigned to each.

 “Right,” and he continued, “in addition, it might be best for those families to have the two who are fifteen come first and then the two who are fourteen so the older ones could feel more like older sisters.”

 Vera nodded again, “I think you’re right.  Plus all four would be going to the same school and have similar interests.”

 “I agree,” said Oscar,  “and even if things are a little different and maybe harder for a while, I do think it would be worth it.”

 “I feel the same way!”  Then Vera suggested, “Let's talk to our vet and family nurse practitioner, Unice Logan, and see if she will agree to keep working here if we can get the other practical nurse to work more hours each day to keep Unice's load from getting too heavy until we can find an additional family nurse practitioner who can work with the new families and girls.”

 Oscar nodded, “Yes, this is very important.  Unice is so good in each of her professions that I sure don’t want to lose her.  Plus we will have extra horses so we’ll also need to find some way to help with her vet work load.  We can talk to her this morning.”

 Unice and the practical nurse were both glad to say yes, so Vera hugged Oscar and stated, “Let’s have a meeting with all the people who are here on the ranch during the daytime so we can find out what they think about this idea, since unity is so important, like Paul implored them in 1 Corinthians 1:10b to all speak the same thing and have no divisions, but be perfectly joined together in the same mind…”

 “OK,” agreed Oscar, “we can take turns calling to invite them to come to our living room after lunch today, and we can talk about it there like having a small group meeting.”

 All the people at the meeting thought it would be a great idea, and said they’d tell their spouses about it.  Then Oscar and Vera talked separately to the others who hadn’t been to the meeting, and found they all agreed also.

 After the meeting Oscar exclaimed, “It’s super to be a community of believers who are in unity!”

 “I think so too,” Vera nodded and then asked, “did you know that the word ‘unity’ is part of the word ‘community’?”

 Oscar replied, “Good point, Dearest.  Now that you mentioned it, I can hear it at the end of the longer word.  It’s perfect!”

 Julie Blake was the type of teacher who often took pictures of her students as they were doing projects, during class times, and especially near the end of each school year.  She put all the pictures in a scrap book and labeled each picture with the student’s first and last names.  She periodically reviewed the names and pictures of all the former students in her classrooms so she could greet them by name if she would see them when she was shopping in a store or walking in a park with her family.

 Often a former student from her third grade church school class might come up and say something like, “Hello, Mrs. Blake.  Wow, I didn’t know you had such a big family!”

 She’d answer, first saying. “Hi” and the student’s name, “Yes, this is my husband, Mr. Blake, and these are our girls,” and then she would introduce each one.  The girls would politely smile and listen to a conversation like the following.

 Mrs. Blake asked, “How are you doing now that you’re in middle school?”

 This student answered, “The subjects aren't too hard, and I enjoy most of them.  But it is even harder to make friends in middle school, because there are no recesses and people tend to sit with the same people all the time in the lunchroom.”

 “What have you tried so far?” she questioned.

 He replied, “I’ve been looking for somebody who’s sitting alone and then I go ask if I could eat my lunch there.  Sometimes the person is willing to enter a conversation.  Other times I can tell it’s better not to bother him.”

 “I would say,” Mrs. Blake commended, “that you’re doing the right things.  You have to be willing to move slowly and not be pushy.  Keep up the good work!  Stop by my classroom some day around five o’clock and keep me up to date on how it’s going for you.”

 After the student left, the girls in her family wondered and Violet asked, “Why didn’t he know about your big family, Mommy?”

 “Well,” Julie paused and thought, “I guess it’s because there’s so little time while I’m teaching, to share my personal information.  I have to hurry to finish all the things in the lesson plans for each day.”

 Iris commented, “That makes sense.  I don’t remember any of my teachers telling anything about their families either.”

 “Right,” agreed Ted, “it might be interesting to know more about your teacher, but a teacher's most important job is to teach you all the things you’ll need to know before you go to the next grade.”

 Lily acknowledged, “I see what you mean, Daddy, and I’m glad we all had such good teachers in the church school.”

 Rose tacked on, “Yes, they made it fun to learn.  I like going to school every school day.”

 Julie smiled, “I’m glad to hear about you liking school.  Learning is fun and it’s good for us too.  Besides that, it’s something you can continue doing all your life.  I enjoy learning new things.”

 “So do I,” Ted concluded.  “Plus it is good for us, as it says in Proverbs 9:9, give instruction to a wise man, and he will be wiser.  Teach a just man and he will increase in learning.”

 The ladies at the farm were singing some songs they knew by heart and quoting verses that went with them as they prepared some more of the farm vegetables for market.

 Anna chose the first one.  “Let’s sing ‘In My Heart There Rings a Melody,’ which goes with Colossians 3:16.  It says, Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

 They sang it and another of the ladies suggested, “I like ‘Jesus is All the World to Me.’ I’ll quote Philippians 1:21, For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

  After that song Sunny stated, “I like that good song.  Now let’s sing ‘The Longer I Serve Him,’ after I quote 1 Samuel 12:24.  It says, Only reverence the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heart, for consider how great things he has done for you.”

 Then a different lady inquired, “Could we sing the chorus, ‘What a Mighty God We Serve?’  It goes well with Psalm 50:1a, The Mighty God, even the LORD, has spoken…”

  At the end of that song a lady remarked, “We sound really good, even without music to accompany us.”  And then she requested “O, How He Loves You and Me” and quoted John 15:9, As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.  Continue in my love.”

  When they finished it, they sang “He’s Everything to Me,” which goes with 1 Peter 2:7a, Unto you who believe, Jesus is precious.

 After they finished singing one of the ladies commented, “When we do sing these good songs and say verses to go with them, it’s like we’re being taught or at least reminded about scriptures.”

 “Definitely,” agreed Anna, “plus it helps our work time to go better and it seems like we even get more accomplished when we sing.”

 “Right,” Sunny added, “and besides, I really enjoy singing.”

 Ted and Julie Blake were visiting with Nathan and Esther Mendoza while all their girls were jumping with individual ropes on the driveways of their houses which were next door to each other on Mercy Valley Ranch.

 Nathan commented, I’ll have to admit that I had a hard time agreeing to replace our girls when they graduate from the ranch with girls who are already fourteen years old.”

 Esther agreed, “It has worked so well to start with six-year-old girls and have many years with them in our family, just like you desired to do when this project got started.”

 “Yes, Honey,” he went on, “but I have to acknowledge that the Hopkins’s girls and the ones in the other family have turned out to be very well adjusted and mature believers.”

 “I think so too,” Esther added.  “At least we’ll have this group of girls to raise through those teenage years, so we’ll be ready for a new group of teenagers when they graduate.

 Julie tacked on, “Ted and I had the same feelings.  And besides, it will be so hard to let these girls go when the time comes.”

 “However,” Ted reflected, “both of our families have many years left to enjoy being a more regular family.  And I agree with the reasoning that more girls will be helped this new way.  Moreover we didn’t want to make disunity here on the ranch.”

 “Exactly!” Nathan declared.  “Neither did we, it just feels good to voice our opinions to you two and learn about your similar feelings.”

 “I agree,” Esther went on, “I talked to the farrier’s wife and they have all ten-year-old girls like we do.  She told me they felt the same way, but would rather be in agreement with the rest of the families here on the ranch.”

 “So,” Julie stated, “I'm glad we can all be believers in unity as we serve Jesus and spread his love to needy girls.”

 Ted started singing the chorus that goes with Psalm 133:1, Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!  And of course the rest joined in to sing with him.

 Then Julie quoted, “1 Corinthians 1:10 also goes well with this chorus.  I beseech you brothers by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”

 “Right,” added Esther, “and in Philippians 4:2 Paul begs two women to be of the same mind in the Lord.”

 “Those are good verses,” Ted agreed and then changed the subject.  “Our families that have all the same age girls will be like the ones who come here to live in the new houses.  We will need to be assigned two who are fifteen one at a time for two weeks and then two who are fourteen the same way.”

 “Right,” Nathan concurred, “and then for the following times we also will have the benefit of two older girls to help us with the two new ones who will be assigned to us.”

 “Precisely,” concluded Esther, “and it’s a privilege to be able to live here on this splendid ranch and be able to serve Jesus at the same time.”

 After getting a green light from their financial advisor, the Yardleys decided they were ready to add more houses for more families to care for and love foster girls on Mercy Valley Ranch.  Vera’s brother had told them he really couldn’t use any more workers on the farm, so he didn’t want to have any more houses built there.  So Oscar and Vera talked to Walt and Betty Evans about his construction company doing the work for them again.

 Walt answered, “I’m so sorry, but both of my crews are obligated for many months doing a large project.  However, I know of a young Christian contractor who’s just getting started in his own business.  He might be able to do it.”

 “What do you know about him?” asked Oscar.

 Walt answered, “His name is Ben Clay.  He and his family are believers and have been in the Grace ’n’ Faith Church for years.  They volunteered to go to the new church building when our churches started growing so fast.  When Amelia married Riley, she chose to come back to Church #4.  Then the rest of the family also switched back to keep family ties strong.”

 “Oh yes,” Vera remarked, “I remember them and it’s good to have them back.  They’re nice people.”

 “Yes they are,” continued Walt, “Ben worked with both Matt and me while he was getting his company set up and ready to start contracting.  His work is excellent and he never wastes any time.”

 “It sounds good,” commented Oscar.  “Do you think we could use our old floor plans for the large cabins on the ranch, so he doesn’t have to reinvent the wheel, so to speak?”

 “What a very good idea!” Walt declared.  “Here’s one of his cards.  You could call and tell him I suggested him as a possibility for your next project.  He can update the old plans and make the blueprints meet the new codes.  Tell him I’ll help with this if he needs it.”

 Oscar replied, “Thank you for the recommendation and offer to help.  We’ll call him tomorrow since it’s getting a little late today.”

 They called Ben the next day and set up an appointment for him to come to the ranch on Saturday.  Of course, when he arrived they invited him to come into the dining room for a cup of tea while they talked.

 Oscar began, “We want some more houses to be built on the ranch so we can increase the number of girls who can be helped by living here in Caring Foster Homes.  We’ll need to survey the area and plan how many we can fit there with the assurance that each of them will have a good view of the valley and mountains.”

 “Yes,” continued Vera, “we’ve always thought the views from each home should be good ones since just being able to look at them helps people relax and be renewed.”

 “I definitely agree,” Ben stated.  “I stopped my pickup and admired the view right after I came around the last corner.”

 Vera and Oscar looked at each other, smiled and nodded, thinking Ben might be just right for the job.

 Oscar explained, “These houses would be built on the hillside behind the existing houses.  Let’s go out there and see if we can get an idea of how many houses we might have room to build.”

 He and Ben went out to look while Vera stayed with their girls in the house.  When they came back in, Ben suggested, “I think it would be best to start at the right end of the row of houses near the big house.”

 “Exactly,” Oscar agreed, “then when it’s finished, it won’t be in the way of reaching the other building sites.”

 Vera added, “Plus, the people in the first house won’t have to listen to the traffic, and will be further from the construction noise for the next houses as they are being built.”

 Oscar continued, “From our observations we think we can add at least five houses, but the survey will help us be more sure.”

 Then they gave Ben a copy of the floor plan for the houses so he could make an estimate for one house.  The garages would be identical to the ones attached to the other houses, so they could use the same floor plan Walt had used for them. The Yardleys got two other bids to compare contractors and pray about which one would be the best to accept.

 They also had the area surveyed so they could plan more exactly.  They found out that way the hill was shaped there would be room for six houses spaced so the houses in front of them didn’t obstruct their views of the mountains and valley.  They considered building extra rooms on the Visitor’s Cabin but decided to leave it for visitors.

 Ben’s estimate was the most detailed, and the Yardleys had liked his attitude the best of the ones who made bids, so Ben’s third contract was to build the new houses on the ranch.  He was ecstatic!

 When the people on the farm and ranch plus the graduates who had recently moved heard about the plan to add more houses to the ranch, some of them began to think about the possibilities.

 Unice was glad she had figured out an easy way to make and attach brims to the helmets used for riding, so all the parents and girls could keep the sun off their faces and necks while they were working with and riding horses.  Otherwise she would be very worried about people developing skin cancer from being exposed to the sun so often.  She was also glad she could pass the information on to each of the new families.

 The evening after hearing about the plan, Jeff Spencer told his wife, Karen, “Honey, I think I’d like to get hired on with the company that’s going to build the new houses, because it’s such a great plan and besides I wouldn't have to drive to the city to work.”

 “Yes,” she quickly agreed, “it would be ideal for both of us, because you could have all your driving time at home.  We might even be able to find more opportunities for love making with some of that extra time.”

 Jeff nodded knowingly, “You’re so right my dear, therefore I really hope they will hire me.”

 When Sara came for a visit Candy told her, “I really have a desire to live on this ranch and raise foster girls.  Do you remember how both of us wanted to move to this ranch to help more girls?”

 “I do remember and that was even before we knew about the horses.”  Then Sara confided, “I have the same desire you do.  But first we would have to find men to marry who feel the same way we do about it.”

 “Oh yeah,” conceded Candy, “it sounds impossible to me.”

 Sara encouraged, “But, remember, Candy, Luke 1:37 says, For with God nothing shall be impossible.  If it’s his will for us, he will work out all the details.”

 “You’re right,” Candy responded, “so let’s pray about it together.”  So they did right then with the rest of the family joining them.

 Afterward, Kim and June said they’d have to think about it.  They didn’t feel sure about being able to be good parents.

 Yolanda suggested, “Would you four girls sing together, in three part harmony, the song Ted Blake wrote especially to encourage the ones who would be graduating from the ranch in the next few years.  First he had told you that song lyrics don’t always have to rhyme.  He based the song on parts of Philippians 1:6,9-11; 2:13; 4:4-9,11, and 13.  He used the title as the first line of the song.  I like the tune he wrote to accompany the song because it’s happy, bouncy, and is in three part harmony.”

 “Yes, Mom,” Sara responded, “we’ll be glad to sing it.  It I a very good song and it’s so encouraging.”

 After they could all sing it well, Ted had instructed, “Since most of the words to this song are all taken from the scriptures, it would be a good idea to memorize the words and sing it often, especially if you are feeling down or lonely.”

It was called,“Faithfully Serving Jesus In the Sunshine of His Love”

The lyrics are as follows:

We’re faithfully serving Jesus in the sunshine of his love,

confident that he who began his work in us, will complete it.

So our love will increase and we’ll be blameless and sincere,

filled with the fruits of righteousness for God’s praise and glory,

since it’s God who works in us, his good pleasure and his will,

We will rejoice in the LORD, pray with thanks, and won’t worry.

God’s surpassing peace keeps our hearts and our minds in Jesus.

We’ll think about what is true or honest or just or pure

or lovely or honorable or virtuous or praiseworthy.

We’ll do the things we learned from instruction in the scriptures,

like being content, and the God of peace shall be with us.

We know we can do all things through Jesus who strengthens us,

so we will continue serving him in the sunshine of his love.

 The next week when Evan, who lives on the farm, heard about the plan of building more houses on the ranch, he explained to his family, “Since you, my wonderful Dad and Mom, offered to pay for us to take classes at the trade school, I would like to take evening classes there while I’m a senior in high school, so I can become a construction worker.  I hope I can be hired by the company doing the work of building homes on the ranch.  Then I could work there after high school graduation while I’m waiting to turn nineteen and I could save money for rent and a car so I could continue working there.”

 Sam remarked, “Evan, I wish I had your confidence about what I want to do when I graduate from the farm.”

 William suggested, “Pray about it some more, Sam.  God will be sure to make his will clear to you in his timing.  Just be ready to listen and then do what he says.  Listen to Psalm 25:4,5, Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths.  Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation…”

 Sam nodded and smiled, then he and Evan and their parents, William and Anna Beckett, who had adopted them, spent some time together praying for God’s leading.

 Evan learned how to drive, got his license, and was able to use the Beckett family car to go to the evening classes.

 On Mercy Valley Farm, Greg and Oralie Iverson and their family had just finished practicing some songs with their guitars.  When the guitars were put away Greg asked, “How’s school going for you boys?  Max, please be first this time.”

 Max responded, “The work in fourth grade isn’t very hard since I learned so much in the church school.  I think I’m ahead of most of the public school students.  But being a missionary there is hard.”

 “Yes, I’m sure it is,” Oralie mentioned, “just like Mrs. Blake said it would be.  But she prepared all of you for it very well.”

 “Yes, I’m glad and thankful,” agreed Max, “plus Timmy is in my classroom and we are becoming a good team on the playground and in the lunchroom.  We have finally made a couple friends and pretty soon, I think they’ll be ready to listen to us.”

 Levi complimented him, “Good work, Max, you two are doing it the right way.  It just takes a lot of time and effort.  I’m doing the same thing in fifth grade, but this year I don’t have a partner in my classroom, so it makes it even harder.  But we do get to have recesses together and Jesus promised to help us all.”

 Kevin and Jack nodded and took turns telling how it was in middle school.  At least this year these two could partner at lunch time and were having some success already.

 Then Cory shared, “I really enjoy what I’m doing these two years in the middle school.  The accelerated classes are just right for me and I also have had some success making friends during lunch by talking to loaners.  I’ve also made a couple friends in my classes and pray for a chance to share the Good News with them.  Mom and Dad, how is your work going for you here on the farm?”

 “Thank you, boys,” Greg said first, “I like to hear about your progress.”  Then he answered, “Mom and I like our work here on the farm.  The harvest this year is very good so far.”

 “Absolutely,” Oralie stated, “it’s good to be able to work here on the farm now that all you boys are finished at the church school. Now before we go get ready for bed, I’ll read us a story from ‘Keys for Kids’ and then we can look up and read the scripture verses that go with it.  And we can close our time by singing the song that goes with Psalm 63:3,4, Because your loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise you.  Thus will I bless you while I live.  I will lift up my hands in your name.”

 Oscar and Vera were talking to their four girls after supper and cleanup.  After finding out about how school was going for each of them Oscar mentioned, “Your mom and I have told you about the plan to build more houses here on the ranch so there can be more families here raising foster girls.  And we asked you to think about the plan and be ready to tell us your thoughts about it.  So have you had enough time to think, and do you have some thoughts to share?”

 The girls all nodded, and Emma shared first.  “I think it’s a great plan.  I’m so thankful that I get to be here with loving parents who take such good care us and have taught us so much.  I like the plan to increase the number of girls who can also live here, because I know the new parents will do a good job too.”

 “I agree with you, Emma,” Liz continued, “and I think it will be a very good benefit to the new girls that they’ll also get to ride horses.  I’m glad you told us the plan includes getting enough horses with the comfortable gaits and right sizes for all the girls to ride as many times a week as each family decides to ride.”

 Nan went on, “Emma and Liz are both correct and I’ll add to Liz’s thoughts.  I know of many girls who wish they could ride a horse but never get to do it, so here is an opportunity for some more of them to have their wish fulfilled.”

 “Besides all the good things my ‘sisters’ have said,” Stella added, “this home is the only place where the four of us girls ever heard about Jesus and the Bible and the Good News of salvation.  I’m glad to know that forty new girls will get the same opportunity, and I pray they’ll all decide to believe in Jesus like we do.”

 Vera was smiling through her tears of joy as she stated, “Thank you, our precious girls, for sharing your thoughts.  I’m overwhelmed with joy because of all the generous things you said.  And I know you all will be willing to help the new girls in any way you can, and your lives will be a good example for them to follow.”

 Kim and Sara attended their first small group meeting in the evening.  It was still light outside as they rode the bus to a bus stop about a block away from the hosts’ house and walked the rest of the way.  When they arrived, they were greeted and welcomed by the host couple who then took them into the living room and introduced them to the few who had already arrived.  They would meet the rest when they came.

 When they were all there the facilitator explained, “Were going to add an introduction time to our meeting since one of our families of four has moved away and we have four new members here tonight.  All of you are welcome to take notes if you’d like.  Just like the first meeting of the year, please tell us your first and last name, where you work, and how long you've lived in or near Pine City.”

 When everyone finished, the facilitator thanked them and handed out an updated list of the small group’s members.  The introductions had taken up the usual praise time, so they sang some psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs as it says in Colossians 3:16.

 Before singing the first one, they looked up Psalm 48:1,2 and read it aloud.  Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.  Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth is mount Zion on the sides of the north, the city of the great king.

 The facilitator explained, “Our first praise song uses these exact words, so we really are singing a psalm.”  They sang the psalm to the music on the boom box using the words in their Bibles.

 The second song was “Come Thou Almighty King,” which goes with Psalm 95:3, For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.

 “The lyrics for this hymn start out with praise to the King,” the facilitator remarked.  “The next two verses are about Jesus, the Word, and the Holy Spirit.  The last verse praises the Three in One.”

 The third song they sang was “O For a Thousand Tongues,” and it goes with Psalm 35:28, And my tongue shall speak of your righteousness and of your praise all the day long.

 The facilitator said, “The lyrics for this hymn focus on Jesus as our redeemer and all the things he has done for believers.  The last stanza is a prayer for help to tell others about him.”

 Their last song was “Sometimes ‘Alleluia,’” and a verse that goes with it is 1 Peter 1:3, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his abundant mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…

 “This song is interesting,” commented the facilitator,  “because it starts with the chorus and then has four stanzas with the chorus sung at the end of each one.  The lyrics focus on praising the LORD and telling others about Jesus.  It also mentions the Trinity again.  The word Trinity is not in the Bible, but the concept is there.  Our teaching time will include looking up and talking about some verses that help explain the Trinity.”

 So they looked up and talked about the following verses.

 Genesis 1:26a, And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…

 2 Corinthians 13:14, The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.  Amen.

 Matthew 3:13-17, Jesus came from Galilee to Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.  But John forbade him, saying “I have need to be baptized by you, why do you come to me?”  Jesus answered, “Let it be so now, for this way we will fulfill all righteousness.  Then he let him.  When Jesus was baptized, and came up out of the water, the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him.  A voice came from heaven saying, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.”

 Matthew 28:19 Jesus said, Go therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in he name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

 After talking about the verses, the group had conversational prayer which focused on praying the scriptures or some of the lyrics from the songs they sang this time.

 While the others visited with each other during refreshment time, the facilitator met with the four new members and helped them form a four member ministry team.  By then it was time to go home.

 In another of the Pine City small groups the same evening, a couple gave the following praise report about a new idea they had tried.

 The man said, “After reading Proverbs 19:17a, He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, my wife and I started helping a needy older man with an invalid wife, who live next door to us.”

 “Yes,” continued his wife, “at first we just took a meal to them occasionally, but when we found out how alone they were with no relatives to help them, we started taking them daily food.”

 He went on, “On weekends, we might take our meal along and eat with them so we could visit.

 “After eating,” she went on to say, “We’d wash the dishes and clean up the kitchen.  Then while my husband was helping the older man do some house maintenance, I would dust the living room or do a load of laundry.  Both of them always told us how much they appreciated what we were doing.”

 The man continued, “One day the invalid wife asked, ‘why do you keep helping us when we can’t do anything to repay you?’  I smiled and then explained that Jesus had loved us so much and saved us from a life of sin.”

 “Yes,” his wife added, “and I explained how Jesus told us to love others as he loved us.  What we’re doing for you is one way we can show that we love and appreciate what he has done for us.”

 Her husband said, “Then we sang a song together as a duet to the couple called, ‘Do You Wonder Why I Love Him?’  It’s by John W. Peterson and it answers the question the title asks, by saying that all Jesus had done for us was the reason we love him, and therefore we desire to serve Jesus faithfully forever.”

 The wife exclaimed, “We were able to tell the Good News to the older couple and when they understood and had all their questions answered, they both accepted Jesus as their Savior!

 The man explained, “My wife and I will continue to go help them, and now we can tell them more about Jesus and how to live for him as new believers, since they can’t go join a small group.”

 “Yes,” his wife concluded, “and we praise and thank Jesus for the way he used us to bring this couple into his fold.”

 After getting home from their first small group meeting Sara exclaimed, “I sure was surprised to see Denji Suehiro at the small group meeting!”

 “So was I,” agreed Kim, “it was nice to see a familiar, smiling face among so many other people we had never met before.”

 Sara nodded, “It was also very caring of Denji and Gary to insist on bringing us back to our apartment instead of letting us walk back to the bus stop in the dark.”

 “Yes,” and Kim continued, “Gary Beckett seems like a very well mannered gentleman.  He was one of the young men who sang the song with us at the party on the ranch, so he didn’t seem like a total stranger at the group either.”

 “Right,” and Sara mentioned, “I’m glad he and Denji explained, while we all talked to the facilitator, how they ‘happened’ to be in the same small group as we are.  Denji had asked Pastor Don to arrange for him to be in a small group with me, and Gary had asked his dad to try to get him into a small group with you so he could get to know you better.”

 “Exactly,” and Kim added, “after they told us about that, I felt much safer about letting them bring us back to our apartment.  Now we know their intentions are honorable.  I don’t really like the guy where I work very well, so it will be good to get better acquainted with Gary and see where God leads us.

 “Absolutely,” stated Sara, “even though we are no longer with our parents, we can remember what they taught us and we’re under the umbrella of our church and small group.  It will be good to be in a four member ministry group with Denji and Gary.”

 Kim concurred, “I think so too, and since Denji has already been in several himself, he will be a good leader.”

 “All in all,” concluded Sara, “I think the two of us are off to a better start than either of us could have imagined.”

 “I agree and I’m very grateful.  Thank you Lord!” Kim exclaimed.

 Sara added, “I thank you also Lord, and I ask for your guidance as Kim and I continue living here on our own.  I pray as it says in Psalm 31:3, You are my rock and my fortress.  Therefore for your name’s sake lead me and guide me.”

 Kim finished with Hebrews 10:23, “Help us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, for he is faithful who promised.”

 On the weekend, Oscar and Vera and Ben started with prayer because they all knew Psalm 127:1a says, Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it.  The same weekend and other times they talked about many topics related the building project during the time when Ben was finishing the house he and his crew were building.  It gave them time to make plans before he would be ready to start building on the ranch.

 Oscar mentioned, “According to the survey, we can build six new houses on the hillside behind the older houses.  We’d like the new houses to be as much like the old ones as possible.  Walt said he would help you with updating the old plans.”

 “Yes, he’s been such a help to me,” Ben responded, “and by using your old plans we can just add any modifications necessary to meet the new codes.  When we’re done, I can draw up the blueprints and we can get them approved and you can buy a building permit.”

 “Right,” agreed Vera, “and we’d like to ask you and your crew to build another tack room and enough places to tie twelve horses at a time, so two families can prepare their horses at the same time at both tack rooms.”

 “It sounds like a good idea,” commented Ben.  “I’ll go sketch a floor plan of the existing one before I leave here today.”

 “Perfect,” added Oscar, “plus we would like to have you add a garage and a bedroom to the back of the little cabin lived in by our combination family nurse practitioner and vet.  But we want it to be a surprise for her until you start building it, so if you measure the back of the Visitor’s Cabin, you’ll know how big to make them.”

 Vera explained, “She will try to talk us out of building more for her if she finds out too soon, but we’d like to make her place be more comfortable for her, since she agreed to stay and continue working here for us.  She’s a precious jewel and we’d like to keep her.”

 Oscar stated, “We had thought about adding loafing sheds, but decided they’re not needed on this ranch the to keep the horses out of the wind, rain, and snow, because there are many evergreen trees near Mercy Stream to take care of that.”

 “I’m glad,” Ben remarked, “I don’t like to see horses out in the winter weather with no protection.  The trees probably offer shade in the summer also.”

 “Indeed they do,” Vera agreed, “along with the deciduous trees with their new leaves.  Our horses are important to us and to all the people on the ranch, so we like to take good care of them.”

 Ben nodded and continued, “I’m glad.  Now to change the subject, the other day when we went to check the hillside behind the cabins to estimate how many houses would fit there, I noticed an RV pad.  It doesn’t look like it has been in use for a while.  Is there any chance it still works, and if so, could I set up a travel trailer on it so I could live here close to where I’ll be working?’

 “Excellent idea!” Vera exclaimed.  “It would save you a lot of travel time.  But I wouldn't want you working overtime and getting worn out because of it.”

 Oscar offered, “Besides, you wouldn’t need to pay rent for it while you’re working here, just utilities.”

 “Perfect,” responded Ben, “then I'll start looking for a good used four-season travel trailer to live in while I’m building houses here on the ranch.  I’ll bring the blueprints as soon as they are finished, and we can go over them.  By then I should have a good idea of how long it will take us to finish up the house my crew and I are building.”

 A group of people were at a single man’s house, and had helped him with a project in his yard.

 Somebody said, “I’m hungry now that we’re finished with this project.  If we all have enough food left over from our lunches, we could eat a light meal before we go home.”

 When the man saw what they were doing, he opened the door of his refrigerator and took out cheese, lettuce and some other veggies.  He placed what he had on the table on the patio.

 Then he announced, “Come help yourselves, and you’re all welcome to pick things out of the garden and from the grape vines and wash them under the outside water faucet so you’ll have enough to eat.”

 He joined them and picked enough for himself to be able to eat with them.  Everyone enjoyed the good food and thanked the man.  The leader of the group had the people leave money so the man could replace the food from his refrigerator and garden.

 As they were leaving, the man exclaimed, “Thank you, everyone, for your help on this project, and for the money you gave me to replace what you ate!  Not many people have friends who are good enough to do this.  I’m so glad we all go to the same church and have learned how to live the way Jesus wants us to live.”

 In many different ways they told him they agreed, and that he was welcome and they were glad to be able to help.

 One of them concluded, “We’ve done like it says in Galatians 6:9,10, Let us not be weary in doing good, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not faint.  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

 Since Denji was still living at home with his parents, Afta and Hana Suehiro, he first asked if they would agree with his idea.  They did, so he called and invited Sara and Kim to ride with him and his family to the ranch and back on Sunday for a horseback ride with their foster parents and family.  They were thrilled and agreed.  His mother sat in the back seat with them, and Denji turned around to talk to them while his dad drove.

 Denji explained, “I invited you both today for several reasons.  First, I like your company and it’s fun to ride horses with you.  Second, I know your family likes to have you come and visit.  Third, I wanted to tell you, Kim, what Gary shared with me so you can decide if you want to get to know him better.”

 Both young ladies thanked him and he continued, “You're welcome.  I visited Gary on the farm where he lives and works and we also talked as we rode to and from the small group meeting.  He told me I could relay this information to both of you so he won’t seem like such a stranger.”

 “It was very thoughtful of him,” Kim commented.  “Please thank him for me.”  Sara added the same sentiment.

 Denji nodded and went on to explain, “Gary and three other boys were William and Anna Beckett’s foster boys on Mercy Valley Farm. William and Anna Beckett also adopted all four boys after about two years.  All four of them accepted Jesus during the first year they were on the farm and have been learning how to live for him with excellent teaching from church, their foster parents, and in the Bible Study Group taught by William.  For much of the past two years, Gary has had an individual study time daily for half an hour with his dad, William, after the others went to bed.”

 “I’m impressed!” Sara exclaimed.  “I think we know more about him now than he does about us.”

 Kim added, “For sure, and since you’ve known us and our family for a couple years, it’s alright with me if you tell him what you’ve learned about me.  Then Gary and I will be almost caught up with where you and Sara already are.”

 “Thank you for the good idea, Kim,” responded Denji, “it will help all of us to be more relaxed with each other.  He wanted you to have some time to think about this before we do some planning after our first group ministry time.”

 Kim and Sara both smiled and nodded.  By this time they were at the ranch where they all had a very enjoyable time.

 Tomo and Ami Suehiro, their daughter, Aneko, and her husband, Kosuke Makino, were in the home they all enjoyed sharing. It was time again for a visit with Yoshi and his wife, Sakura, and their baby boy, Naoki, who came for lunch on a Sunday.  Tomo and Ami’s foster girl, Jenny, was in her room finishing some on line school work after lunch and when she finished it, she came to join them as they were singing.

 Aneko mentioned, “We all sure enjoy living here in this family home.  It’s very nice that it’s also big enough to have you three come for lunch.  Naoki is getting bigger every time I see him.  I’m glad you don’t live very far from here and we get to visit often.”

 “Yes, my dear sister,” Yoshi stated, “since we have always gotten along so well, I’m glad we live close to our family and get to see each other often.  We also have extended family here in Pine City.”

 Tomo agreed, “Yes, and it’s extremely nice that they are all believers now, and that we all like to get together sometimes for special celebrations.  And like in Matthew 18:20 Jesus said, where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there with them.

 “Indeed,” added Ami, “I enjoy the smaller gatherings with just our immediate family so we can stay close knit.  Plus we can do like it says in Colossians 3:16, Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.  I like the way we can do this.”

 Sakura mentioned, “Yes, and these small gatherings are easier for us than for some families since brother and sister married sister and brother, even though it took longer than we thought it might, since Kosuke spent about two years in Japan.

 Kosuke exclaimed, “I’m so very thankful to God for working things out so I could come home after those two years, and then he gave me the desire of my heart, Aneko, as my beloved wife!”

 They looked at each other and smiled lovingly.  At this point Jenny came to join the group and Ami started singing “The Family of God.”  Everyone joined in the singing.  They went right into the song, “God is So Good.”  Then they sang “How Great is Our God” and finished up with “Great Are You Lord.”

 When they finished singing, Tomo realized,  “We’ve been singing some songs that go with Psalm 145:3, Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised and his greatness is unsearchable.  We sounded good singing together too.”

 Everyone smiled and nodded and then they all continued visiting.

 Oscar mentioned to Vera, “Honey, I’ve been reconsidering about the number of houses we should build.  The survey said there would be room for six, but if instead we would build five houses with two stories each like this one except minus the extra room, we could double the number of girls we’re helping now.”

 “Excellent idea, Dear,” Vera did a thumbs up.  “Plus if we make one of them large enough to have game rooms upstairs and downstairs on the end and a lawn for meetings and games, all the extra people would have as much room to do things as we do now, and we wouldn't be as crowded.”

 Oscar nodded, “You’re right, and also we would need thirty horses of the right sizes to take care of the increased number of riders.  I’ll talk to Nathan about ways we can accomplish this.

 “Good idea,” she agreed, “and the new tack room plan can be enlarged to service three families at a time instead of two.  We'll need to buy extra tack for the new horses also.”

 “Right, Honey,” then Oscar suggested, “All the families living here on the ranch have been so unified and supportive that I’d like to get an idea from each of them about a way to improve the inside of their home to make it more practical or better in some way.  Then we can have Ted do the desired work for each house during the daytime when most of them are at work.  Plus we can choose the best of the ideas to incorporate into the new houses.”

 “Brilliant!” Vera exclaimed.  “This way the families that are already living here will get an improvement to their homes if desired.  And it might help them to accept the construction noise better.”

 Two families desired sliding doors in some places so they could put furniture where swinging doors got in the way.  Three families asked for some extra counter space in the kitchen.  Some said they would like a rod installed in the laundry room to hang up clothes on hangers as they came out of the dryer.  The rest said they liked the house just the way it was.

 When they discussed their ideas with Ben he responded, “I like your ideas, and this is a good time to change our plans, because I just have a good start on the blueprints.  I can change the footings and foundations to ones that will support the extra weight of a two-story building.  It’s so important to get everything planned correctly before we start, so the plans can show us what to do as we build.  The upstairs floor plans will be identical to the ones below.  Do you still have plans for this big house so we can use them?”

 “Yes,” replied Oscar, “but we won’t need the extra rooms each one of them has.  I’ll go get them right now.”

 When he returned, he handed them to Ben who continued, “I will need to hire a company to prepare the hillside for the road, yards, sewer, water, natural gas, and electricity.  The big house will take more space and work to make a yard big enough for a lawn.  Will you want a sprinkler system installed?”

 “Indeed,” agreed Oscar, “it’s so much easier than dragging hoses around.  Since it’s uphill from the lake, it will probably be better to use community water for that lawn.”

 “I think so also,” added Vera.  “Besides, then all the girls could use that lawn if they want to play in the sprinklers on hot days.  The water from the lake for our lawn isn’t really clean enough.”

 Anna Beckett went from the farm to Pine City for her yearly physical.  She had been going to this doctor long enough to have a reason to care about her.  After Anna asked all her own questions about her health, the doctor inquired if she had any other questions.

 Anna said, “Yes, I’ve been wondering.  What do you believe about Jesus?”

 The doctor answered, “I’ve never thought very much about it.  I’m happy with the way I am and I feel no need to change.”

 Anna nodded, “But that won’t get you into heaven.”

 The doctor inquired, “Why did you ask?”

 “Because,” replied Anna, “I care about you and would like to know that I’ll see you in heaven someday.”

 The doctor responded, “Thank you for caring.”

 “You’re welcome,” and then Anna questioned, “Would you read this little pamphlet and think about it?  And if you have any questions about it, you can feel free to call me.”

 The doctor took the pamphlet and nodded.

 Anna left the office and prayed for the doctor to read the tract and for the Holy Spirit to lead her to Jesus for salvation.

 This same idea was used by other people in Pine City or on the Ranch or Farm for a physical therapist, chiropractor, exercise coach, or people hired for jobs around their homes, such as a plumber, electrician, handyman, and others.

 During a Bible Study Group teaching time on the farm, William used Acts 3,and 4.  He began the lesson by saying, “All of you boys have been on this farm long enough to know that when you try to be missionaries in the public schools you might have to face some threats and persecution.  Find John 16:1-4a and read it aloud with me.”  Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, so that you should not be unaware.  They shall put you out of the synagogues. Yes, the time comes that whoever kills you will think that he does a service to God.  They will do these things to you because they have not known the Father, nor me.  But I have told you these things, so that when the time shall come, you may remember that I told you of them.”

 William continued, “Jesus said this to his disciples just before he was arrested and crucified.  Today let’s study how the disciples responded to persecution in Acts 3 and 4.  To me, it’s like reading a thrilling adventure story and I know it really happened.  First read Acts 3 and through verse 16 in chapter 4 to yourselves and write a summary of it in your notebooks.”

 When they had finished he requested, Hugo, would you please read your summary to us?”

 “Yes,” Hugo replied, “Instead of giving money to the lame man, Peter told him, ‘In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.’  The lame man was healed immediately and praised God.  Then Peter explained to the people who saw the miracle that it was not his power, but Jesus name and faith in his name that made the man strong and able to walk.  Then he told the people to repent and be converted.  The leaders of the Jews were displeased and put Peter and John into prison until the next day.  When questioned they replied in verses 10b-12 of chapter 4, by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him does this man stand here before you whole…  Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.  The leaders could tell that Peter and John had been with Jesus, and decided to threaten them as it says in verses 17 and 18.”

 “Good job Hugo,” commended William and he had another boy read those two verses.  But that it spread no further among the people, let us strongly threaten them to not speak in Jesus' name.  And they called them in, and commanded then to not speak at all or teach in the name of Jesus.

 Then William had Jose read verses 19-21.  But Peter and John answered "Whether it is right in the sight of God to obey you more than God, you judge, for we cannot but speak the things we have seen and heard.  So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way they could punish them because of the people, for all men glorified God for what had been done.

 Another boy read verse 23b, Then the disciples went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.

 Pedro read verses 24, And when they heard that, they lifted up their voices to God with one accord, and said, Lord, you are God who made the heaven and earth and the sea and all that is in them. … …

 Luis finished the story by reading verses 29-31,… … And now, Lord, behold their threatening, and grant to your servants boldness to speak your word, and stretch forth your hand to heal, so that signs and wonders may be done by the holy name of Jesus.  When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together, was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

 Next William stated, “Thank you guys for your good reading with expression.  If you want to read another exciting account of some more persecution and how the apostles responded, read Acts 5:12-42 at home sometime.  I especially like how this one ended.  Have a good evening and I’ll see you next time.”

 Karen taught a similar lesson on the ranch.  A short time later both Karen and William had a short meeting for the students who were in high school now.  They explained that the Grace ‘n’ Faith Church had found out about of a tiny book called, “The Life Book,” which is put out by The Gideons International. They had used the web site thelifebook.com, and had obtained hundreds of the books to be given out by students in the public high schools.

 The books contain an introduction to the story of the Old Testament and then the whole Gospel of John and later a part that asks questions to point out the need for Jesus to be the Savior.  It’s all done in an interesting way that will keep the students reading.

 Karen and William told the students on the farm and ranch, who were in high school, they could give away as many of these books as they could and to pray for the Lord to use them to bring many others to belief in Jesus.  These students looked through the books and were impressed by them, so they were looking forward to giving them to their friends and anyone else who would take one and read it.  Other high school youth groups did likewise.

 Ben informed his parents after supper, “I’m so excited and grateful and a little anxious about my next contract. But I’m eager to get started as soon as my crew and I finish my second contract, which is the house we are presently working on, and It’s almost done.”

 His mom, Connie, asked, “Can you tell us about your next contract, or is it confidential?”

 He answered, “It’s not confidential, I just was waiting until I was sure they really did want me and my company, The Master’s Builders, to do the work for them.  It’s a huge opportunity and an even bigger responsibility.”

 His dad, Ernest stated, “It sounds impressive, and now I’m really curious!”

 So Ben told them, “Oscar and Vera Yardley want to add a garage and bedroom to the cabin where the vet and FNP lives, build an extra tack room, plus five more houses with two stories each added to their Mercy Valley Ranch so ten more families can help restore abused teenage girls.  One advantage about the tack rooms is that each one will have a rest room the men in my crew can use during work times, so I won’t have to rent one of those ugly, smelly portable johns.  They asked Walt Evans first, but he and his crews are tied up for months, so he recommended me to them.  They called me and two other companies to get bids and apparently liked mine the best because this will be my next contract.  The extra tack room is so more people can prepare horses to be ridden at the same time.”

 “Exceptionally impressive!” Connie exclaimed, “This should keep your company busy for several years!”

 “I’m sure you're right,” Ben replied. “We’re adapting the old floor plans for the existing big house, with garages like the ones on that two-story house.  We’ll put sound proofing between the floor of the upstairs houses and the ceiling of the downstairs houses so neither family will be bothered by the noise of the other. They’ll be built on the hillside behind the existing cabins.  Each one will have a good view of the spectacular mountains and beautiful valley.”

 Ernest declared, “Someday your mom and I will drive up there and see that ranch, which is becoming famous, but we’ll wait until you have a good start on the project.”

 “Plus here’s another amazing part of this plan,” Ben added.  “When the ranch was a dude ranch they must have let people come park an RV for a while.  The RV pad hasn’t been used in years, but it all still works.  So I’ve decided to buy a used four-season travel trailer which my pickup can tow up there.  Then I can live right there on the ranch instead of having to drive twenty minutes each way to and from work.  They won’t even charge me rent for its use, I’ll just pay for the utilities.”

 Connie emphasized, “Oh my!  I’m glad I’m sitting down for all this news.  I’m surprised, but very pleased for you, Ben.  We’ll miss you living here, but your idea really is the best thing for you to do.”

 “Congratulations, Son!” Ernest concurred, “we’re very pleased with all you have done since your high school graduation.  And remember Deuteronomy 31:8, The LORD goes before you.  He will be with you and not fail you, nor forsake you.  Fear not, neither be dismayed.  This is a promise you can rely on every day.”

 “Thank you both,” Ben responded.  “You’ve been very good encouragers, and I’ve enjoyed living here.  I’ll miss you also.  I asked the Yardleys if it’s OK for you to come visit me after work hours and they said it would be fine.

 “You’re very welcome,” Connie responded. “And we will look forward to visiting you there.  Remember, you have a nest egg you can use to help buy the trailer and all the household items you’ll need to put in it to make it home.”

 “Yes, I do remember now,” concluded Ben, “and I’m so grateful for the way the Lord and you have been taking such good care of me.  Besides, I plan to continue attending our small group as a family, so we will have that time together.”

 Ernest suggested, “Very good, then please plan to come here for supper that evening and we can use that time to keep up to date on the happenings in both of our lives.”

 “Thank you,” responded Ben, “I’ll look forward to it every week.  It will help me to not miss you as much.”

 During a visit with another family, one of the dads in Pine City said, “We already had started an After School Place…”

 One of the moms interrupted, “What is it and how did you start it?”

 He answered, “We picked up a booklet from the church that gives training on how to get started by going door to door asking parents if they would like to have their children go to a neighborhood home after school where they could get some exercise, have time to do homework, and also learn something about the Bible each day.  It would be a good idea to talk to the parents at that time about a weekly fee they could afford to pay so they and the children will feel more obligated to keep coming.  The booklet has many ideas of things to do with the children, and the church has some materials to loan out to families doing this project.”

 “Thank you,” the mom stated, “we’ll be sure to go get one of those booklets if we decide to try this idea.”

 “Great,” declared the man, “anyway, we tried an additional idea from the church list and here’s what’s happened so far.  Our son and daughter have been acting like an older brother and sister each school day, to the children in our After School Place since they’re the oldest ones in the group.”

 The mother continued, “Most of the children in our group have no older brothers or sisters.”

 The boy mentioned, “The boys really like it when I go outside with them and help them practice their ball skills in different games.”

 The girl added, “Yes, and the little girls enjoy it when I join them with my old dolls for a tea party.  It gives me a chance to teach them about proper manners.”

 Dad remarked, “Then when everyone needs a rest, all of us listen to a Nature Corner story and then discuss it and look up more information on the web.  We had first explained to the children that stories have true facts in them, but conversing with an animal, plant or body part is just a fun fantasy.  Many of the stories have at least one scripture verse about Jesus being the creator like Colossians 1:16, For by (Jesus) all things were created that are in heaven and earth, … All things were created by him and for him.”

 Mom tacked on, “Or I read a story to them out of the ‘Keys for Kids’ books we used with our son and daughter when they were that age and we look up and read the scripture verses.”

 The boy went on, “It really helps that sis and I are in middle school, because we get home an hour before the kids come to our house from elementary school.

 “Yes,” added sis, “I like it because it gives us some time alone with Mom, so we can tell her about our day and then plan some fun activities for our ‘younger brothers and sisters.’  It’s like we have a huge family.  I like doing this because it’s a ministry for our whole family, since Dad gets home from work in time to help.”

 Then Dad concluded, “We pray every day for them, that the Holy Spirit will draw each one of them to Jesus for salvation.  Many days we read a story to them that includes the Good News.”

 Denji and his parents were talking in the living room when they returned from a walk in the park.  Hana asked, “How did your day go at work, Denji?”

 Denji answered, “It was a very good day.  Even though I have a small physical body, I’m strong enough to carry my end of a load or lift as much as the rest of the workers do.  I enjoy my work a lot.”

 “Did you know,” his dad inquired, “there are very few people who can say they enjoy their work?  But if we include your mom and me and you, we know of three who do!”

 Denji replied, “No, I didn’t know, but now I feel greatly favored by my wonderful Lord.  So I can say and mean Colossians 3:17, And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father by him.  And furthermore, Ben told us about his next contract just before we left today!”

 “The way you said it makes me think it must be something extraordinary!” Hana exclaimed.  

 “Absolutely!” Denji nodded emphatically.  “In fact it will give me job security so I can make plans to be married sooner than I thought would be possible.”

 Afta inquired, “Well, are you going to tell us what it is or are we going to play twenty questions?”

 “It might be fun to play it,” responded Denji, “but I doubt you would ever get to the answer, so I’ll just tell you instead.  Ben’s next contract is to add a garage and bedroom to the cabin where the vet and FNP lives, build an extra tack room, plus five two-story houses on Mercy Valley Ranch so they can double the number of Caring Foster Homes for abused teenage girls who can be helped on the ranch!”

 “Wow!” Hana exclaimed.  “This is indeed impressive news!  There should be enough work there to keep his company busy for several years!  Besides, it’s such a worthy cause!”

 Afta declared, “Now I understand why you said it will give you job security.  I think Sara will be pleased to know about this too.”

 “I hope so,” admitted Denji.  “I'm looking forward to our first four member team ministry and time afterward to make plans for double dates with Gary and Kim.  But I think I’ll wait until later to tell her about my job security.  I don’t want to scare her away by saying something too soon.”

 “Would you like to pray about it as a family?” questioned Afta.

 Denji replied, “Yes please, I’ll start.  Father in heaven, first of all I thank you very much for my job and the security it will have now.  And I ask for you to guide everything I say and do concerning Sara.  If it is your will, I would like for her to be my wife.”

 Hana continued, “I agree with Denji and thank you that Sara is a sweet, godly, Christian young lady.  Keep all four of them pure and desiring to do only your perfect will.”

 “Exactly,” Afta went on, “we would all be very happy to have her be part of our family.  So we pray in agreement in the precious name of Jesus, Amen.”

 Hana concluded, “Let’s all find and read Philippians 4:6,7 aloud. Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

 “We just did what those verses said to do,” remarked Denji, “And I like the peace I’m, feeling.”

 Mindy mentioned to her parents, Vern and Lora Jones, during supper one evening, “I was able to test out of another one of the university classes that was a requirement.  Passing the test is as good as taking the class and it will save us time and money.”

 Vern smiled at her, “We’re pleased with your progress and being able to test out of some classes is great because it means you don’t have to be bored doing something you already know enough about.”  And then Vern gently reminded her, “But you don’t need to worry about saving time or money.  We like having you live at home, and going to the university on line is a lot cheaper than being on campus.  Besides, we have a special savings account for your university education and it’s been growing as long as you have.  There’s plenty of money in it.”

 Lora, Mindy’s new mom, quickly added, “I agree with all you just said, my dear husband.  And, Mindy, we know you’ll keep up the good work you've been doing.”

 “Thank you both!” Mindy exclaimed.  “I have the very best parents and home in the world, and I’d much rather be here than on campus!  I really like the class I’m taking about children’s literature.  It will help me to know about the best books to read to the children when I get into my own classroom. I’ll tell Fiona about testing out of that class when I get to her house tomorrow, so she’s up to date on my progress also.  She’s a good friend as well as being my tutor.”

 Lora commented, “We’re glad you still like to go to her house all the afternoons except Sundays, because you won’t get tired of being in this house.  I know she appreciates all you do to help her, especially now that she has twins on top of having two little boys.”

 “Without a doubt,” agreed Vern, “she tells me that fact every time I go there to pick you up after work.”

 “I know,” Mindy acknowledged, “I’ve heard her tell you, and she also thanks me each day.  I thank her right back, because I enjoy helping her, just like I used to enjoy helping Anita when she had her day care.  Another thing I’ve been thinking about doing is buying a light-weight simple autoharp and learning how to play it.  I can use some of the money Fiona pays me, even though I’ve told her I don’t want to be paid.”

 “I like your idea,” stated Lora, “maybe you can bring it on some of our RV travels and use it during the singing time when you’ve learned how to play it.

 Vern continued, “For sure, and it could also be good to use in your classroom for a time of singing.”

 “I agree, Dad, and Mom,” Mindy responded.  “I thought about both those ideas also, so would you both help me find one?”

 “Of course,” Vern answered, “We’ll look at the music stores here in Pine City so you can learn more about them and try them out there.”

 Kim, Sara, Gary and Denji went to a park in the city for their first ministry time.  The facilitator had given “I Can Do” booklets to each member to be read before their first ministry time.  They all understood the reasons for mixed singles to be in four member groups and Denji was glad he had experience in other groups so he could help the other three members.

 Denji remarked, “I especially like the verse that goes with chapter one in the booklet.  It’s Romans 10:15b, How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!  This is what we get to do together.

 “Exactly,” then Gary noted, “Today we’re using one of the idea possibilities, by coming to the park.  I think we’re probably more likely to find someone here than in a neighborhood or on a street in the business part of the city.”

 “I agree,” then Kim mentioned, “grocery stores can also work pretty well.  I like the recommendation to build rapport before offering to help someone.”

 “Yes,” and Sara continued, “the booklet stated, it’s especially important to do that before offering to help someone in a wheelchair.  Plus I like the summary of Ephesians 1:19,20, in the booklet that we can claim for God’s help.  God’s power for us who believe is like his mighty power, which he used when he raised Christ from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in heaven.”

 “Definitely,” and Denji went on, “I’m glad the booklet emphasizes being sure that Jesus receives all the glory for miracles or any answer to prayer, and to use the opportunity to share the Good News with all the people who got to see it.”

 Gary added, “For sure, and another good thing to remember is to not be pushy, because it could turn people away.”

 “Right,” Denji tacked on, “plus I like the suggestion for the ladies to walk ahead in the park, with the men following to be sure they are safe, and for both pairs to look like they are conversing, but they are really praying for the people they see and asking the Holy Spirit to guide everything they say and do.”

 So this day they walked in pairs with the ladies going first and they all prayed for people they saw in the park.  After about half an hour of praying but not finding any ministry opportunities, they found some benches to sit on while they would pray together and then talk.

 At the debriefing session about the ministry time, Gary mentioned, “Some of what we did today seems very much like what my family on the farm did when we went out to minister together.  I’m sure my parents had done ministry times together for years before they moved to the farm.”

 “The same goes for our parents on the ranch,” Kim added.  “I’m glad for all they taught us, so this didn’t seem so strange to us.”

 “Exactly,” and Sara tacked on, “plus, Denji, your help and transportation today is very much appreciated.”

 Kim and Gary nodded in agreement.

 Denji inclined his head and responded, “You’re all very welcome.  And I’m glad to learn that the three of you’ve already done this kind of ministry with your families, like I did also for a while with mine, so we all are really about in the same place with our experience.  So now we can talk about logistics for our future times together.”

 The ladies nodded their heads wondering what would be the best way to handle this topic.

 Gary suggested, “Proverbs 16:3 says to Commit your works to the LORD, and your thoughts shall be established.  So let’s pray silently first and do what it says.”

 The others nodded and all of them prayed silently for a short time.  Then Denji continued, “I know I’m the only member of this group who has a vehicle, and I want you all to know that I’m very happy to provide transportation for all our ministry times and any other time this group needs it.”

 Gary declared, “This is very gracious of you, and I’m very grateful, since I haven’t been working long enough to save the money I need for buying a car yet.”

 And Sara explained, “Kim and I had decided to just use the buses or walk in Pine City, so we’re very grateful also.”

 “Again, you’re all very welcome,” Denji repeated.  “And this brings us to the next topic.  Obviously Gary and I would like to get better acquainted with you, Sara and Kim, since we specifically asked to be in a small group with you.  So I must ask, “Sara, are you willing to go on double dates with me, and Kim, are you willing to go on double dates with Gary in this same four member grouping?”

 Sara answered, “Yes, Denji I will be happy to go on double dates with you and I thank you for being so straightforward about asking.”

 “I thank you also,” Kim replied, “and I think going on double dates with Gary is a very good way to get better acquainted.”

 Gary and Denji threw each other a look of approval, relief and anticipation thinking that since Denji and Sara would double date with Gary and Kim, it would be very convenient for them to pick both ladies up at their apartment.

 Denji went on to clarify, “Sara, a couple weeks ago when I went riding on the ranch, I asked your parents for permission to court you and they said, ‘Yes.’  They told me, since you have ‘graduated from the ranch,’ you are no longer under their jurisdiction, but they still care very much about you and want only the best for you, so they asked me to keep you pure and take good care of you.  I promised them I would do that.  They told me Gary had earlier asked permission to court you, Kim, and he had promised the same thing.  But he had also said he would have to get a car first.”

 Gary explained, “So Denji came to the farm and he graciously offered to come pick me up for the small group and dates.  I did finally talk him into letting me pay at least part of the gas.  Since I have no vehicle, I asked Denji if we could do one ministry time a week, with a date after it, plus another time of a date each week, to end just before the small group meeting.  This way Denji will only make two trips a week to the farm where I live and work.  Of course if God opens any opportunities for us to minister while we’re on the dates, I’m sure we’ll be glad to take them.”

 “Absolutely,” and next Denji questioned, “Sara and Kim, does two times a week seem about right to you?”

 Sara responded, “I think it will be good, especially if we can take time to talk over issues and see if we would be compatible, so you men wouldn’t have to go on spending a lot of money taking us on dates if we wouldn’t be compatible.”

 “Yes,” Kim agreed, “in fact the next time we meet, Sara and I can bring each of you a copy of some important issues our mother gave us while we were still at home.  All four of us can write our opinions about each one in our homes, so the couples can read and talk about them on one of the next dates.”

 Gary nodded, “William mentioned something about how important it is to agree about important issues in one of the lessons he taught us.  So your idea sounds like a good one.”

 “I agree,” and then Denji inquired, “would you ladies like to go with us to supper at the Serving Joyfully Restaurant before the small group meeting next week?”

 Sara answered, “Yes, it sounds delicious and delightful.”

 Kim nodded in agreement, and Gary told them what time they would pick them up.  They all decided that when all of them were in the vehicle the men would ride in front and the ladies in the back.

Chapter 2

Matthew 6:9b,10, Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.  Your kingdom come.  Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

 Nathan and Esther Mendoza were reminiscing during lunch time on the ranch while their foster girls, Lucia, Val, and the twins, Holly and Willow were at school.  Esther mentioned, “Honey, today I was thinking back about our honeymoon and how much I enjoyed it.  I especially liked the scenery we got to see near that city, and of course, our time in the honeymoon cottage here on this ranch was also special.”

 Nathan declared, “Absolutely, Darling, our honeymoon was delightful!” then he paused, remembering, “There was only one part we didn’t enjoy as much.”

 “You mean,” she asked, “our visit to that one horse ranch where they treated the horses like they must have seen done on some old movies.  They thought the only way to train a horse was to make the herd run until they were exhausted, and squeeze them into smaller and smaller pens by moving the fence closer and closer.”

 “Yes,” he agreed, “it was hard for me to see horses treated like that and then on top of that they broke their spirits by using the old bronco busting methods.  We didn’t even tell Oscar and Vera about that part of our honeymoon until later.

 “Precisely,” Esther concurred, “I guess it was so sad, we didn’t want to think about it.  But the good thing about the visit was that the ranch owner actually listened to your explanation and accepted your invitation to come to Mercy Valley Ranch and see how you were working with that poor abused little horse, Honey, to get her over her fears from the bad treatment she had before.”

 “Indeed,” said Nathan, “plus when he saw how our whole herd of horses came running to greet us when we went to their pasture, he was willing to learn all I could teach him about gentle ways to train horses.”

 Esther added, “I'm glad he has come here to visit since then and reported how well your ideas are working.  The horses on his ranch are treated much better now.”

 “You're right, Darling,” Nathan replied and added, “and I’ve been wondering if there might be some other abused horses you and I might be able to help, since you don’t have to go volunteer at the church school any longer since our girls are finished there.  You and I worked so well together with Honey, and we could do it again with other horses and still be able to do our other jobs.  Plus you’ll have more time since you no longer need to volunteer at school.”

 “Certainly,” she nodded, “maybe we should try one horse again the first time and you can train me more thoroughly so we might be able to do two at a time.  I have heard that many horses are often abused.  Maybe we could help some of them.”

 Nathan nodded, smiled, and went on, “Indeed, but first we’ll need to talk to Oscar to find out if he would agree.  Then we can make other plans.”

 “Good idea, Sweetheart,” responded Esther and then she tacked on, “Let’s be praying about your good ideas.”

 So they did right then and off and on again until they would decide it was time for Nathan to go talk to Oscar.

 The Hopkins’ plan for their new girls’ roommates worked very well for the new girls since their older ‘sisters,’ Candy and June, were such a good help to them as they got settled and learned to do their tasks.  Besides that, Candy and June were good examples of how Christian daughters should act.

 Ian and Yolanda had asked for girls who were twelve years old, as they had planned to earlier, but at the time they asked, there were only girls who were fourteen.  So they accepted this and Darla and Rita came to live on the ranch.  In the end it worked in very well with the new plan for Mercy Valley Ranch.

 Darla and Rita were especially grateful for the way Candy and June and helped them find their way around the high school, which was new to them.  They had to change schools when they came to the ranch.  They were also glad they didn’t have to ride the school bus, since their new foster parents dropped all four girls off at the school and picked them up again in the afternoon.

 After two months of living with this family, Rita commented, “I think its very nice that the four of us foster sisters can be friends.”

 “I agree,” stated Darla, “Candy and June don’t look down on us because we’re younger than they are, and I really appreciate all the ways they’ve helped us.”

 Candy explained, “June and I know what it’s like to be in a new foster family and we had foster sisters who helped us like we’re helping you.”

 “And,” continued June, “in a little over a year when Candy and I ‘graduate’ from the ranch and move to Pine City to earn our own livings, you’ll get to help the next foster girls who come to take our places.”

 “What a neat plan!” Rita exclaimed.  “This ranch is the nicest place I can imagine!”

 Darla went on, “And we get to live here for over five years!”

 Later Candy realized how good it had been for her to learn about fourteen-year-old girls.  They were different from what she remembered herself being. Of course she had matured a lot by being in this family!  When Sara and Kim came to visit from the city, Candy shared with Sara the things she was learning about the girls who were fourteen.

 Sara and Kim visited their family on the ranch every chance they got.  They were careful to set up times that would be good for the family and they always brought some food to share.

 On one visit Kim remarked, “I really like the small group they had for us to join in Pine City.  It’s extra nice that Sara and I get to be in the same one.”

 “I agree,” stated Sara, “and we get to be in a ministry team with Denji Suehiro, who is already a good friend, and Gary Beckett, who had been in a foster family on Mercy Valley Farm.”

 Candy commented, “I’ll bet it was nice to know at least one person in your new group.”

 “Right,” added June, “Denji is a very nice person and it’s extra nice that we are all believers who want to share the Good News like it says in Matthew 24:14, this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness to all nations, before the end comes.”

 “Yes he is,” agreed Candy, “I’m glad he and his parents still come to ride horses with our family.”

 Yolanda spoke for her husband and herself, “So are we.  They have added a whole new dimension to our lives here.”

 Ian went on, “Yes, and it’s still nice to have Vern, Lora, and Mindy Jones along with the Suehiro family come regularly for horseback rides.  I agree that it is ‘the more the merrier.’  We always enjoy our times together especially when Sara and Kim can be here to join with us.”

 Those two girls were very pleased to hear what he said.

 Karen’s former coworker called and told her about some verses from the last support meeting she had attended.

 “Hi, Karen,” she began, “I just wanted to share some scriptures with you that have been very uplifting to me.

 “Oh thanks,” Karen replied, “I’m sure I’ll enjoy them.”

 She continued, “This first one I personalized.  Ephesians 1:13,14, We trusted in Christ after we heard the word of truth, the gospel of our salvation.  We were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise after we believed.  He is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of his purchased possession to the praise of his glory.”

 “I like it also,” Karen told her, “in fact it’s one of my favorites.”

 “Good,” she went on, “the next two are almost alike.  2 Corinthians 1:22, God sealed us, and gave the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.  And then 2 Corinthians 5:5b, God has given to us the earnest of the Spirit.  Since the word, ‘earnest,’ is used in all three of those references, I looked up the word in two places.  One place said ‘down payment,’ and the other said ‘guarantee’.  They are related.

 Karen observed, “Yes, those are both good definitions, and they make the verses easier to understand.”

 “For sure,” she agreed, “and the last two verses are also similar to each other.  Titus 1:2 says, We have the hope of eternal life, which God who cannot lie, promised before the world began.  And 1 John 2:25 says, This is the promise that he (the Father) promised us, even eternal life.”

 “Yes they are similar,” Karen concurred. “All of those verses are very good ones.”

 “Yes they are,” she responded, “so I’m working on memorizing all of them so I can say them to myself when I get discouraged.”

 “Good for you!” Karen exclaimed.  “Keep up the good work.”

 Already it was time for Sara and Kim to have their first double date with Denji and Gary at the Serving Joyfully Restaurant.  After supper they would ride together to the small group meeting.

 As they were waiting, Kim admitted, “Sara, I’m nervous about going on a date.  Since I’ve never been on one, I don’t know how to act or what to talk about.”

 “Well,” encouraged Sara, “maybe it would help you to remember that Gary is probably just as nervous as you are because neither the ranch nor the farm allowed dating.  At least you and I are already friends with Denji from all the horseback rides and visits on the ranch, so I’m not quite as nervous as you are.”

 “I’ll try to remember about Gary being nervous too.  It should help, and I’m glad you don’t have to be as nervous.”  Then Kim prayed, “Jesus, please help all four of us on this date to only do and say what you want us to, and make us a blessing to each other.”

 “I agree, Jesus,” Sara concluded just as the intercom sounded, “we pray in your name.  Amen.”

 On the way down in the elevator Sara remarked, “Kim, we’re just going out to eat at a very good restaurant that we both like and it’s a good opportunity for the couples to get better acquainted with each other.  You’ll do fine.  Just be your sweet self.”

 Kim responded, “Thanks for your encouragement, compliment, and good advice, and now I’m not as nervous.”

 When they arrived at the restaurant Gary explained, “We made reservations for two separate tables so we will have more time for the couples to talk rather than as a group of four.”

 “This sounds like a very good plan,” Kim commented, “it will give us more time to get acquainted.”

 Their names were called and the hostess led them to their tables, gave them menus, and left to get water for them before taking their orders.  They decided what to order and were ready when she returned.

 And then Sara mentioned, “Denji, I really like this restaurant.  Our parents brought our family here to celebrate after Kim and I graduated from high school.”

 “How nice, and therefore I’m glad we chose this for our first date,” declared Denji and the two of them went on conversing during their time in the restaurant like the good friends they already were.

 After a sip of water Kim mentioned, “I was very impressed and thankful for what Denji shared with Sara and me about you as we rode to the ranch with him and his parents on Sunday.  Did he have a chance to tell you about me?”

 “Yes he did,” answered Gary, “and I feel like I know you much better already.  And besides, we both have the benefit of the field trips we took to the ranch or farm while we lived there, so we know a lot about where each other lived during most of our teenage years.”

 “You’re right,” Kim agreed, “plus I had about the same good teaching as you did from church, my parents, and my Bible Study Group teacher, Karen.  She shared with and used lesson plans from your dad, William.  It’s nice to know we have so much in common and that we’re both believers with similar training!”

 He nodded emphatically, but didn’t say anything right then since their salads had just arrived.  After the waitress left he responded, “Absolutely! It’s kinda of like I personalized 2 Timothy 2:15, we have studied to show ourselves approved to God, workmen who do not need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Then he gave God thanks for the food, and as they ate, they conversed about many topics throughout the meal.  Kim was able to relax and enjoy their time together.

 As they had suggested, Kim and Sara gave each of the men a copy of the issues they had mentioned in the park.  They decided to just write their opinions instead of typing them, since only Denji had access to a computer.  But they would get copies made of what they had written so each person could keep a copy.  Then they would read, talk about, and clarify their opinions during the date they would have right after their next four member ministry team.

 Beth Davis, principal of the Grace ‘n’ Faith Church School was talking with Pam Green who taught third grade there.  Pam asked, “Beth, do you still like being single, or do you sometimes wish you could get married?

 “I like being single,” stated Beth, “it’s the only way I can be sure of being able to continue working at this school as principal.  Besides, I’ve never met a man I was interested in even getting to know better.”

 “I know what you mean!” Pam declared.  “If you remember the dream I told you I had, then you know I feel the same way.”

 Beth responded, “I sure do remember it, and it’s a good reminder for me to stay the way I am.”

 Pam admitted, “Sometimes I get the feeling other people look down on singles, but I try not to let it bother me.  So it’s encouraging to talk to you and find out you think like I do about it.”

 “I agree,” said Beth, “and when I remember 1 Corinthians 7:32b where Paul said, he who is unmarried, cares for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord, then I like being single, so I can focus on things that will please my Lord.  And besides verse 28b mentions that married people will have trouble in this life.  I’d rather not have that trouble.  I also like the group you and Ruth started for singles.  I enjoy coming when I have the time, so I hope you’ll keep up the good work.”

 Pam responded, “I’m glad, and we like it when you come.  Well, I better leave now so you can finish your work and go home.”

 “Have a good evening,” Beth replied, “my work here is almost done.  I’ll see you tomorrow.  I enjoyed our visit.”

 All of the girls on the ranch have annual physical examinations done by Unice Logan, the family nurse practitioner, who lives on the ranch and is also the veterinarian for all the horses.

 While Sara was a senior in high school her mom, Yolanda, went with her for her regular physical and this time Sara asked, “Miss Logan, would you check me to see if I will be able to have babies?”

 When they got home, Sara explained to her dad, Ian, “At my physical exam, Miss Logan said I would probably not be able to conceive because of what my birth dad did to me.

 “Oh, Sara, I’m sorry to hear that,” stated Ian.

 “Thank you, Dad,” she responded.

 Sara remembered about the checkup after she moved to the city and Denji started courting her, so she brought up the topic again when she was visiting at her parents’ home and asked her dad, “I was wondering if you would tell Denji's dad in private so he could tell Denji later at home.  Then Denji could decide whether he wants to continue courting me.  I feel too shy and embarrassed to tell him myself.”

 “I understand, Sara,” he answered, “and I’ll be glad to do it for you and let you know what I learn.”

 “I appreciate you so much, Dad,” Sara stated.  “I just realized that this could be a good thing for Denji and me to know if we would desire to be foster parents here on this ranch.”

 Ian remarked, “Yes, and if Denji might say no, then you still know it in case you find someone else who does.  We have no way of knowing ahead of time.  In the mean time remember Jeremiah 29:11, For I know the thoughts I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil to give you an expected end.”

 “You’re exactly right, Dad,” she responded, “thank you for reminding me.  I shouldn’t get my hopes up too soon.”

 Ian talked to Afta right away and he told Denji, who replied, “It won’t be a problem for me.  How do you and Mom feel about me and my wife not having any children?”

 “We talked about that the other day,” Hana informed him, “and we decided that we don’t need any grandchildren.”

 “And we don’t need to hope for a male one to carry on the Suehiro name.  Yoshi and Sakura already have one boy so they already took care of it,” agreed Afta.

 Denji smiled, “Very good, then I would still like to continue courting Sara.”

 Afta quickly informed Ian who called and he told Sara.  She was thankful and relieved and even let herself hope a little, because he was such a nice young man.  But then she prayed again for God’s will to be done, not hers.

 William and Anna Beckett, who are foster parents at the Mercy Valley Truck Farm, had been assigned two foster boys after Gary and Carlos, who had turned nineteen and had moved.  After two weeks it was clear that their two new foster boys, who were eleven years old, were very unhappy about something.  So they talked to each one separately and found out they didn’t like living on a farm.  Each one requested to be moved to a foster home back in the city.  So social services took care of it.

 Then William realized they had a big decision to make and this was a good opportunity to do it.

 Later, they prayed together and then talked.  William began, “Father in Heaven, I ask you to do as Psalm 32:8 says, ‘I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go.  I will guide you with my eye,’ because if you guide us, then we will do the best thing.”

 “Yes, Father,” Anna went on, “and thank you that even though, a man’s heart devises his way, it is the LORD who directs our steps, as I personalized Proverbs 16:9.  We pray in Jesus name.”

 Then they both said, “Amen,” and William asked, “How is the work here on the farm going for you, Dear?”

 “I’ll have to admit,” Anna answered, “it is getting harder for me every year, but I don’t like to complain, Honey.”

 “Would you feel better,” he inquired, “if I also admitted the same thing for me?  In fact it is the same for me, so I think we can admit it and decide to shorten our time here on the farm.”

 “How?” Anna asked, because she really didn’t have any idea how it could work.

 William responded, “We could ask social services to find two boys who are seniors in high school and in need of a home for about the same amount of time as Evan and Sam.  This way Evan and Sam could help with them and then all four of them could graduate from the farm at near the same time.  However, they would only have that shortened time for us to teach them about Jesus and pray for him to save them and restore them.”

 “Wow,” she exclaimed, “I can see you’ve been thinking and planning about this for a while!”

 “Yes I have,” he agreed, “and since we both realize that we can’t do as good a job with our work here, we need to make this change.  Then maybe we could move to the ranch and care for girls instead of boys.  We wouldn’t have extra jobs on the ranch, so we’d have more energy to be foster parents.  You could be a homemaker and mother again.  And as a bonus we’d get to ride those wonderful horses more often.”

 Anna inquired, “Would we have enough money to live on the ranch since there are no jobs for us there?”

 “I think so,” he replied, “we’ve saved all the extra money from our wages that was not needed for rent and food since we moved to the farm.  The stipend the government pays has met most of the boys’ needs.  And if we need any more we could dip into the money from the sale of our house in Pine City.  We invested it and it’s been earning good interest since then.  We wouldn’t need you to work on the ranch, but I could do accounting jobs for companies over the web from a home office in our bedroom.”

 “I like your idea my love!” Anna exclaimed.  “I have enjoyed these- boys, and I’m sure I would enjoy girls also, just like I enjoyed our own Ruth and Esther.”

 “Same here,” he said and then stated, “I wonder what our daughter, Ruth, and son, Jason, will think.”

 Anna pondered, “Good question.  We can ask them.  Jason has been good with these boys.”

 “Yes he has,” then William proposed, “Maybe the boys can continue to see him and his family in his own house once in a while.”

 “Certainly,” and Anna suggested, “also we would also need to ask our son-in-law, Nathan, and daughter, Esther, if they have had enough time to settle into their marriage and would like their parents to be living so close to them.”

 William concluded, “Of course, plus we’ll need to talk to Oscar and Vera and see if it would be satisfactory with them for us to move to the ranch and whether they think there might be a place we could live.  It is all pretty complicated and uncertain.”

 So William and Anna went for a horseback ride with Oscar and Vera.  Afterward they asked them about their idea.

 Vera exclaimed, “We would be very happy for you to move to the ranch so we could visit and ride together more often!”

 “Absolutely!” Oscar declared, “since you are the first ones to ask, we’ll start with you at the top of the list for the next available opening and let you know as soon as someone moves away.  All the houses here have the same furnishings.”

 Vera explained, “When this was a dude ranch we liked to have all the cabins furnished the same.  It made it much easier to make reservations with just a picture of the inside of one cabin.  Would this be a problem for you?”

 William answered, “No, we can leave our furniture in the house at the farm.  Gary hopes to get married, and if he does, they can move in there when we move from the farm to this ranch.  He told us he desires to move from the farm where he is presently working and raise abused boys on the Mercy Valley Farm.”

 The same day, they visited with Nathan and Esther, who said they’d be thrilled to have them come live closer so they could visit more often.

 Ruth and Jason were also in favor of their parents’ plan, so they had a family meeting with Sam and Evan to explain the changes to them.  Then they called Gary and Carlos separately to explain it to them, so all the adopted boys were excited about being able to visit their adoptive parents on the ranch where they would also get to continue riding horses, and have a chance to see Jason and his family and his sister, Ruth, at times.

 For this week’s ministry team Denji, Sara, Gary, and Kim each brought a trash bag so they could pick up trash as they walked along the paths in the park praying for the people they saw and looking for opportunities to minister.  The ladies led the way and the men followed.

 Pretty soon Sara and Kim started singing the hymn, “Heavenly Sunlight,” as a duet, and kept singing even as they reached down to pick up pieces of trash.  One stanza in the song tells of Jesus being the light as it says in John 1:4, In him was life and the life was the light of men.  Another stanza tells of walking in the sunlight of Jesus love, singing his praises.

 A lady who was walking just ahead of them on the path slowed down in order to hear them better.  When the song ended, she stopped, turned around and commented, “Your voices blend beautifully together and the words of the song sound so hopeful.  Does it really work that way?”

 “Indeed it does!” Sara exclaimed.  “There’s a nice bench over there in the shade of that tree.  Would you like to sit there with us so we can explain it to you?”

 Kim sat on one side of the lady and Sara on the other as they took turns reading verses out of the New Testament to her, explaining them, and answering her questions.  Meanwhile Gary and Denji sat on a different bench in the shade and prayed for them and the lady.

 Kim read John 1:1-4, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and The Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God and all things were made by him and without him was not anything made, that was made.  In him was life and the life was the light of men.  Kim explained, “These verses are talking about Jesus, God’s Son, who was born the first Christmas, so he could be God and man at the same time.  He did this so he could live a perfect life without ever sinning.  This is the only way he could give his life to pay the penalty for all the sins men have committed.  Then God raised him from the dead and he lives in Heaven.”

 The lady asked, “You mean Christmas is a real happening in history, not just a fairy tale like Santa Clause is?”

 “Exactly!” Sara stated, “The Bible tells how it happened in Matthew 1:18-25, and Luke 1:26-35 and 2:1-20.  She handed the new testament to the lady who read those verses silently.  Then Sara explained, “People need Jesus to save them from their sins because sin separates us from God.”

 Kim continued, “In John 1:11,12 it says, Jesus came to his own but his own did not receive him, but as many as did receive him and believe in his name, he gave power to become the children of God.

These verses mean that people who will believe in who Jesus is and what he did can be God’s children.  Jesus helps us live our lives for him now on earth, and gives us the hope of living in Heaven with him for eternity.”

 “I would like to be God’s child,” the lady said, “but I don’t know how to pray.  Would you help me?”

 Kim replied, “I’d be glad to!  You can talk to God just like you talk to us.  I’ll lead you in a prayer that you can repeat after me.  God in heaven, I admit that I’m a sinner …  I know I can do nothing to save myself. …  I confess my sins to you.  Silently list the ones you can think of right now. …  Please forgive me. …  Thank you that Jesus was the perfect sacrifice, …  because he paid for my sins by dying on the cross, …  and being raised from the dead. …  I believe in you, Jesus, and ask you to be my Savior. …  Please help me live the way you want me to live. … Thank you, Jesus.”

 At the end of the prayer, the lady smiled and exclaimed, “What a wonderful peace and joy I feel now, to be all clean and filled with hope!  I’d like to hear you sing the song about Heavenly Sunlight again if you would please.”

 Sara and Kim were glad to sing it again and then gave the lady a little booklet put out by the Grace ‘n’ Faith Church explaining what the lady had done and what to do next.  It also explained that now she was a part of God's family, with the full assurance that since she believed in God's Son, she would have eternal life, starting now and lasting through eternity.  Nothing and nobody could take her out of Jesus' hands.  Her life on this earth would be different now and there are many things she would need to learn.  The best place to learn these things would be in something called a "new believers small group.

 There were a lot of verses printed out in the booklet and it was a good review of what Sara and Kim had told her plus the advantages of joining a new believers small group where she could get her questions answered and learn more about Jesus and the Bible.  They showed her the card in the booklet that she could fill out and invited her to meet them at church, sit with them, and give the card to the pastor at the end of the service.  The lady said she’d be there and went happily on her way, and the group of four rejoiced together about her salvation.

 For their date afterward, the four of them found two benches in the shade where they could see but not hear each other.  This way they could talk about the opinions they had written about the issues.  They read all of them and talked about ones they needed to have clarified.  When they finished each couple agreed they would indeed be compatible and they were very pleased.  Being able to read the opinions of the other person and then ask questions was a very quick way to learn about each other.

 When they had finished, Sara got very courageous and asked, “Denji, are you sure that my inability to conceive is not a problem for you?”

 “I’m very sure,” he answered, “and I certainly don’t want you to worry about it, Sara.”

 “Thank you, Denji.  I won’t worry.”  Then she made herself continue to inquire, “I just realized I should have added this to the list of issues but I’ll ask it now.  Is there any chance you might consider being a foster dad to four girls who are 14 and older on Mercy Valley Ranch?  Take time to think about it and even answer another day if you need to have more time.”

 Denji responded, “I can answer this question right now.  Yes, I would consider it, but I would have to know that my wife would desire the same thing.  It wouldn't work any other way.”

 “Absolutely!” Sara exclaimed, “I have a very strong desire to do it and I feel like the Lord gave me this desire.  But I would need to find a husband who has the same desire.  So now you know what I would like to do.  I hope you know me well enough to know I am NOT trying to get you to propose.  It’s too early in the dating process for a proposal, but I don’t want us to waste our time and the money you spend on dating if you could not have the same desire.”

 “I’m impressed, Sara,” Denji responded, “I understand how you feel and appreciate your honesty.  I see you’ve thought through this issue and for you it would be a show stopper.  I’d like to talk with my parents and pray about it before I finish answering you.  May I call you later this evening?”

 Sara replied, “Yes, you have my cell phone number.  Please call, even if you aren’t ready with an answer.  You could just tell me how much more time you might need.  I do not mean to rush you, so take your time.”

 Her heart was racing and she hoped she wouldn't regret what she had already said, but this was a very important issue for her.  She prayed silently again for God to do his will in this matter.

 Sara prayed some more off and on all afternoon as she made herself do the housework she needed to do, helped fix supper and clean up the kitchen after supper.  Then she started her evening devotions.  She was startled when her cell phone rang and stayed in her room to answer it.

 After greetings Denji shared, “My parents and I talked and prayed this afternoon.  I wanted to make sure this plan would have their blessing before I answered you.  They gave their blessing and even told me of their desire to also move to the ranch and care for four girls there, when enough houses are built.  So now I’m all for it also.  How do you feel about having my parents also living on the ranch?”

 “I feel like cheering and saying ‘hurrah!” about you and your parents both!” Sara exclaimed.  “I think it would be ideal.  How do you feel about my foster parents also being on the ranch?”

 Denji replied, “I do say ‘hurrah and hooray’ about it!  So when it is the proper time for a proposal we know this won’t be a show stopper.  I do think we need to give Gary and Kim a chance to catch up with us though.  They need us to continue double dating with them until they know God’s will for them.”

 “I agree,” said Sara “and I’m so pleased and happy about your answer.  Thank you for calling to tell me.  God bless you.”

 Denji responded, “You’re very welcome.  God bless you too!”

 Sara was so happy about his answer that she got down on her knees and thanked God right then in her room.

 One Friday the school bus driver sent a note with Liz to Mr. and Mrs. Yardley assuring Liz that she was not in trouble.  Liz gave the note to her dad who read it aloud so all could hear.  “Could I please come and talk with you?  I want to know why the students from your ranch are so well behaved on the school bus.”

 Vera went on, looking over his shoulder, “She gave us her phone number and some times when she would be available.  So let’s pick one that works well for us also and call her right after supper, so she has time to get home and have supper also.”

 She came on Saturday after they were finished cleaning up from lunch.  She started by saying, “Mr. and Mrs Yardley, I’ll have to admit that I was very worried when I first heard about your plans to change this dude ranch into homes for abused girls including ones who had been in gangs.  The same went for the farm down the valley.

 They nodded and she went on, “But now after all these years of driving this bus route, I can see that these kids are even better behaved than many from regular families.  Many of the girls trade off every day so each has a chance to sit by the window and enjoy the scenery,  They all even sing nice songs, in harmony no less.”

 Oscar and Vera were smiling now and she continued, “When I allow them to change seats to make friends with others, they are still great.  Then when the church school kids joined the riders, they were great too and they sang such cute songs since they were younger.  I don’t know why I waited so long to come here and talk to you, but I want to know, what do they have, that others and I don’t have?”

 Vera responded, “We’re so glad you came to talk with us and it’s very good to hear about the good behavior of the farm and ranch students on the bus.  I’ll be honest and tell you that at first they behaved because they had to promise to follow the rules, do their chores, go to school and also go to church with their parents.”

 “But,” continued Oscar, “you know how following rules can get old in a hurry and rebellion can take over.  That doesn’t happen with most of these kids because most of them listened carefully to their parents and a special teacher who taught them about the Bible.  The Bible tells the Good News about God loving the world so much that he gave his only begotten Son, Jesus, who came to earth the first Christmas, grew up and lived a perfect life.  He taught others how to live, and then willingly gave his own life to pay the penalty for all the sins people commit, if they’ll believe in him and ask him to forgive them and be their Savior.”

 The bus driver remarked, “I have heard some conversations containing some of those words when a ranch or farm kid has gotten permission to sit with a different one to make friends, but I couldn’t listen very well, and pay attention to my driving and other things that might go on in the bus.  But how does that make such a difference in their lives?”

 Vera asked, “Would you like to hear the answer from our girls?  They could tell you just as well as we can.”

 “You mean they know?” she questioned.  When Oscar and Vera nodded she replied, “Yes I’d like to hear their answer.”

 So Oscar called the girls and briefly explained what they had already said to the bus driver and what she wanted to know.

 Stella explained, ““When people realize their own problem with sin and that it can keep them from going to heaven when they die, they are motivated to pray, confessing their sins and asking God to forgive them.”

 “I agree,” and Nan continued, “Then they believe in Jesus and love him because of what he did for them.  They also know he now lives in them by his Spirit and will help them to live the way he taught while he was here on this earth.”

 Liz admitted, “I was relieved when you told me I was not in trouble when you handed me the note for my parents, because I try with Jesus help to live a life that pleases him, since he has done so much for me.”  And then she explained how Jesus had healed her hand and wrist and helped her to forgive her birth dad for what he had done to her.

 Then Emma went on, “All four of us girls came from families where we were abused, but the Yardleys became our new parents and have been so merciful because they also love Jesus and serve him.  May we all sing a song that tells the story about Jesus in such a beautiful way.”

 “Yes, please do,” answered the bus driver.

 So the girls and their parents sang together in four part harmony the song, “One Day!”  The lyrics included all they had already told the bus driver plus added details about Jesus’ birth, life, death, resurrection, that he is in heaven now, and he will come again to take us home to be with him to heaven.

 When they finished the bus driver requested with tears in her eyes, “I want what you all have.  Would you please help me pray?”

 So Vera led her in a prayer like Kim had used with the lady she and Sara had ministered to in the park.  When the bus driver opened her eyes, she smiled and declared, “Now I feel the peace I’ve heard you singing about on the bus.  This is wonderful!  Thank you all for telling me about this and helping me to have it also.”

 They all said she was very welcome and rejoiced with her.  Next, Stella went to the bookcase and came back and handed her a booklet, explaining, “This booklet will review what we told you and give you some ideas of what to do next.  If you have any questions when you read it please call and Mom can answer them.”

 Then Liz invited her and her family to come meet them at church and sit with them and told her the time and address.  The lady said they would be there.  So Nan and Emma showed her the card and encouraged her to fill it out if she’d like to join a small group and learn some more.

 She and her family did come to church and the rest of them also accepted Jesus at the service.  Pastor Don had included a gospel teaching time since the four girls had given him a note about the family.  The Yardley family all rejoiced about the new believers, and Oscar and Vera were especially pleased because it was a result of changing their dude ranch into homes for abused girls.  Plus they were even more certain now that the plan to add more homes was the right thing for them to do also.

 Vern was out mowing the lawn one weekend and Mindy asked, “Mom, do you remember the year I was attending the first year of high school at the public school?”

 Lora answered, “Yes I remember it very well, and I’m so glad you were willing to tell us about the mean girls making fun of you because of your lack of feminine physical development.”

 “I just wanted to thank you again,” Mindy stated, “for going with me to ask your doctor about it.  She is a very nice doctor and I’ve enjoyed going to see her every year since then for regular checkups. The last time we went she reminded me that we can’t know for sure if I will ever develop that way.”

 Lora responded, “First I want to say you’re very welcome and I enjoy going with you every year also.  And now I’d like to ask, does it bother you that you can’t know?”

 “Well,” Mindy hesitated, “I guess it did for a while, because I don’t think any man would want me for a wife with this problem.  But I prayed about it and asked for God’s will to be done.”

 Lora remarked, “I think you did the best thing anyone could do with any problem.  God always knows what’s best for each of us and he has the power to make it happen also, like it mentions in Ephesians 1:19, the exceeding greatness of his power to us who believe.”

 Mindy continued, “Yes he does, so I told him I’m willing to stay single and be a teacher instead of being married.”

 “I agree with you,” replied Lora, “if you are also willing to be a teacher and be married to a good man who really does want you in spite of your problem.  It might not be a problem then.”

 Mindy shook her head, “But I never even considered there could be a man like that.  It seems impossible, but I better add to my prayer, Father in Heaven, I am also willing to be a teacher and be married to a good man who would really want me in spite of my problem.”

 Lora added, “I agree Father, and so we leave all of this in your more capable hands as we go on from here.  We pray in Jesus name.  Amen.”

 Mindy added her Amen and changed the subject, “I’m thankful for the autoharp.  It’s fun to learn how to play it.  I found a hymnal just like our church hymnal with the chords above the treble clef and it has a spiral binding.  It was at the Christian book store when Fiona and I went there with all the children yesterday, so I bought it.  I’ll run and get it so you can see it.

 “This is wonderful,” declared Lora, “it will lay flat and stay open so you can use both hands for the autoharp.”

 “Exactly,” Mindy responded, “and the chords written there will tell me which button to push and when, because they’re right above the words they go with, in the song.”

 Lora commented, “I can see that you’ve already learned a lot about the autoharp.”

 “For sure,” Mindy nodded and went on, “the book that came with it has some good lessons in it also.  Of course it’s a lot different from the lessons you and I did on the web some time ago to learn how to read notes so it would help us when we sang hymns from the hymnal.”

 “I’m sure they are,” Lora acknowledged, “and I’m so glad we learned about the way the notes on the staffs go up or down can help us know how much the next note is higher or lower than the one we are on by the number of lines and spaces between them.  It really does help me when we’re singing.”

 Mindy agreed, “The same applies for me, plus it has also helped me to learn how to sing the alto harmony part for the hymns.  I enjoy singing next to you and hearing how we make a duet.”

 “Indeed,” and Lora nodded.  “I like listening to us also, and since I’m in the middle I get to hear your dad singing the tenor part, so we make a good trio.  So an added benefit for our learning is that we can do this also for our RV ministry trip meetings during the singing times.”

 “Exactly!” Mindy exclaimed.  “Our family is the best!”

 The Iverson family were at the ranch in the summer for a Saturday horseback ride.  The boys had all agreed to try taller horses this time.  When they arrived Max commented, “I’ve already been riding Rusty or Brownie since I’m too big to ride Honey any longer.  But I guess today I could try Boots.”

 “OK, then, Max,” stated Levi, “I’ll ride Socks today.  This way we will both be on the same size horses, but about six inches higher than when we ride Rusty or Brownie.”

 Jack asked, “Kevin would you like to ride Coffee and I’ll ride Tea today?  They’re taller than Boots and Socks.”

 “Sure,” answered Kevin, “we’ll be up about six inches higher than when we ride Boots or Socks.”

 Cory continued, “Then I’ll ride Dark Cocoa and be five inches higher than when I ride Princess.”

 “Good choices, boys,” applauded Greg, “then Mom and I will ride Blaze and Star and we’ll be about six inches higher than when we ride Coffee and Tea.”

 Oralie encouraged, “This will be a good exercise for all of us because it will stretch our abilities and we’ll feel good about trying something new to us.  Plus we’ll get acquainted with different horses.”

 All the horses came to greet them and each rider had to concentrate on finding and choosing the horse he had talked about riding earlier.                They discovered it was difficult to not go to the ones they usually rode.

 Cory observed, “You’re right, Mom, this will be good for us because we’ve gotten into a rut by riding the same horse every time.”

 Everything went well as they prepared the taller horses for the ride and mounted them.  They took a few moments to get used to being up higher than usual and then started the ride at a walk in the outside arena to warm up the horses.  When they felt used to the different horses, they left the arena, rode along the stream, crossed it and went back down the other side.

 Kevin noticed, “My feet were well above the water as we crossed Mercy Stream on the taller horses.”

 “Ditto,” said Levi and Max together.

 “Same here,” agreed Jack, “it’s a good benefit since we’ve gotten taller and our feet almost get wet when we ride the smaller horses.”

 Oralie remarked, “I like the feeling of being up higher on this taller horse now that I’m used to it.”

 “I agree,” and then Greg cheered, “Good for all of us then.  We can continue riding the taller horses and enjoy them like we did the others.  And this reminds me of the song, ‘As For Me and My House,’ and the scripture verse, Joshua 24:15b, as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD, because we all agree on what horses to ride and we all desire to serve the LORD.”

 So they sang the song as they rode the horses at a walk back to the tack room to unsaddle and groom them before returning them to the pasture.

 Roy and Sherry Foster and their identical twin girls, Joy and Hope, were talking about a new way they could do a family ministry in Pine City.  They weren’t doing RV travel ministry any longer now for various reasons like the following.  Joy and Hope were finished with third grade in the church school and they were being missionaries in the public school.  They had found out their school work might take up much of their vacation time.  Their mother needed to get a job after volunteering in the church school, and the job wouldn't include vacations for traveling.  Plus the twins were getting too big to sleep together in the dinette area of the RV van they had rented from the Suehiros from time to time. Therefore the family wanted a ministry they could do together on the weekends.

 While were listening to some music, Joy and Hope were smiling and clapping along with the music.  Sherry put the music on pause and stated, “This song sounds just right for us!”

 “For sure,” Roy agreed, “the title is ‘I’ve Been With Jesus.’  If we can learn to sing it with harmony, we wouldn’t need to carry a boom box with us for the accompaniment.”

 Hope nodded, “And I really like the words in this song and how happy it sounds.  It should get some people wondering and asking questions that we can answer and then tell them the Good News.”

 “I agree,” Joy remarked, “and the tune sounds like it would be very easy to learn and sing in harmony.”

 “You’re both right,” and Sherry continued, “someone might really ask us why we’re singing and want to know why being with Jesus made us happy.”

 Roy concurred, “Right, and I especially like the line that tells them to stop and listen.  I hope they will stop, listen, and think and then ask questions so we can answer them.”

 The family had fun learning and practicing the song until they could sing it very well.  They used many of the scripture verses they already had memorized to tell the Good News and answer many of the questions people asked.  Some of the verses they used were the following.

Acts 16:31, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved.

John 3:36a, He who believes on Jesus, the Son, has everlasting life.

Acts 4:12, Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven among men by which we can be saved.

Romans 10:9, If you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved.

They used this plan with good results as they went to various parks in Pine City.

 Oscar asked Nathan to come see him so they could talk about some plans for the ranch.  He began, “You know more houses are going to be built on the ranch for girls who are fourteen or fifteen when they are assigned.  Plus, girls who are fourteen will replace the girls who will graduate from the ranch.  In addition, the younger girls on Mercy Valley Ranch have grown larger, and aren’t needing the smaller horses.  So we need to talk about the best way to meet the needs of all the girls on the ranch with horses that don’t trot, but aren’t too tall or too small.

 “Yes,” responded Nathan, “Esther and I were conversing about those very things just the other day.”

 “So let’s pray first,” and Oscar prayed, “Father in Heaven, you know the best ways to meet all these needs, so please guide us as we talk about it.  We pray in Jesus name.  Amen.”

 Nathan added his amen and stated, “The buckskin horses aren’t being ridden very much except when you and I make that effort, but we’d both rather ride the Morgans.”

 “Right,” Oscar agreed, “so we should probably sell the buckskins and Dappled to a working cattle ranch where they can be used as they were trained and are meant to work.  Also, since Spots is the oldest horse on the ranch, he should be sold to a good home where he wouldn’t have to work as much as he does here.  Maybe we can get another pinto to replace him.

 Nathan concurred, “Yes, and maybe we could keep the Morgans for us and others to ride now and then and for teaching the girls and boys how to post the trot during the time they are still on the farm or ranch after they graduate from high school.  Besides the Morgans work very well together pulling the drag in the pasture while Esther and I ride them.  Esther stays on the inside of each turn and I post the trot while the other one trots around the outside of each turn.”

 “Yes,” and Oscar added, “and maybe we could replace the ones we sell with smaller Tennessee Walking Horses and Kentucky Mountain Horses that have been abused, but rehabilitated.

 “Definitely,” and Nathan went on, “I can start restoring abused 14 to 15 hand horses, one or two at a time.  Esther said she can help me after I train her some more, since she doesn’t need to volunteer at the school now that the girls are out of third grade.  And our girls can help with gentle talking and handling of the new horses.

 Oscar remarked, “It sounds like a good idea to me, and when the smallest horses can no longer be used here, they could be sold to families who will be taught first how to take good care of them.”

 “Certainly,” Nathan stressed, “and they can also be replaced with medium sized, abused horses that my family and I will gentle and rehabilitate.”

 Oscar nodded, “Yes, it worked so well when you rehabilitated Honey.  She’s been a very good horse for the little girls, but most of them will soon be too big for her.  We’ll need to find a very special home for such a special little horse!

 “For sure!” Nathan exclaimed.  “I wish we could think of a way to keep her, but she wouldn’t get much use here and I think she’d rather be ridden.  And as a matter of fact there are times when our girls and the quadruplets have been choosing taller horses.”

 Oscar stated, “I don’t blame them.  I do think we should keep Boots and Socks, the two horses that are 12.2 hands tall, because they would be useful for the new girls who are fourteen and might be afraid of the taller horses.  The new ones will be arriving every year or so as the older ones turn nineteen and go out to make their own livings.

 “Indeed,” agreed Nathan, “and Boots and Socks will still be a good size for some of the smaller teenagers we still have here on the ranch.

 “I agree,” and Oscar calculated, “So if we sell eight of our twenty-one horses and you rehabilitate seventeen others, we’ll have thirty horses here on the ranch that can all be ridden at the same time.  Our pastures are good enough and big enough to provide for the extra horses.  We just won’t have as much hay to sell to others, but we don’t need the income.”

 “Right!” Nathan exclaimed, “what a fast calculation and right in your head too!  Many people could only figure it out with a calculator.  

 This gave them both a good laugh, before Oscar suggested, “I think Vera should be the one to name all the new horses, because she’s so good at it and I know she enjoys doing it.”

 “Absolutely!” Nathan declared and then continued, “Later, we’ll have to figure out a new schedule to include the new herd size of thirty and the ten extra families.  Five families will be able to ride at the same time this way.  In addition, no horse would have to be left out if two people would ride the Morgans.

 “Precisely,” Oscar noted, “and since the contracting company will build a larger tack room and put up places to tie eighteen horses for brushing and saddling, all five families can be working on the horses at the same time instead of having to wait for the others to get out of the way.

 “Perfect,” declared Nathan, “I guess some families will have to eat a meal early before riding, or wait until after their ride to eat, but they can work that out on their own.”

 “Exactly,” Oscar concurred, “and they’ll also need to work out times for Karen's classes.”

 “Indeed,” and then Nathan realized, “The horses won’t get much of a rest on weekends except while they get to eat and drink and rest for an hour at noon, and then as they are being readied for the next rides.”

 “Undeniably,” Oscar admitted, “but it won’t hurt them, because they are strong, capable horses, and they like being with people.  But we will need to find a way to help our vet, Unice, with the extra horses.”

 “Very true,” Nathan nodded. “I can ask Esther if she would have time to check some of the more simple things on the horses as we’re working with the new ones and maybe when we and our girls ride some of the others.  I’ll let you know what she says.  Ted can help me keep the platform well maintained for short people who want to ride taller horses, or for older people to mount and dismount more easily so they can continue to ride as they get older.  Those people will use the first tack room near the platform.”

 “Positively,” Oscar declared smiling, “I like this idea a lot, since Vera and I will be two of those older people who will desire to keep riding as long as we can!”

 “Great!” Then Nathan suggested, “We’ll also need to find ways to help our farrier so he doesn’t get overworked.”

 “Correct,” agreed Oscar, “I’ll go talk to him today and see what we can work out.  I could raise his wages to include the nine extra horses, and maybe he could get some of his other clients to bring their horses here for their hoof care instead of him having to travel to them.”

 “Exactly,” Nathan stated, “it would save him a lot of time.  We could set up a corral near the place where he works and I could bring a horse or two for him to work on when they need it.”

 “By all means,” and Oscar went on, “and that would also work for the ones his other clients would bring here.  In fact we could have Ted help us build a room with a covered area connected to it to give him a place for his tools and a shaded area in which to work on the horses’ feet.”

 Nathan concluded, “Sure, it would be easy to build, and it would be sure to make his work go better for him.  It all sounds like we have good plans.  I’ll start looking for abused horses, and Esther and I will begin rehabilitating them as soon as possible.  But we’ll start with just one first, so Esther will feel better trained.”

 “Excellent! Oscar declared.  “I’m glad we had this talk.  Everything will work out, even if it takes some time to get it all done.”

 They quoted together, “Psalm 121:2 My help comes from the LORD who made heaven and earth.”
 When he got home Nathan informed Esther, “Oscar and I had a long talk about the trotting horses and the little horses on the ranch.  We agreed that it would be good to keep the Morgans, but sell the other trotters, and to sell Princess and the smallest horses, but keep Boots and Socks for small teenagers and especially for the new girls who might be afraid of the taller horses at first.  He also mentioned that we should sell Spots because he’s the oldest horse on the ranch and should go to a family who won’t work him as hard.”

 “Wonderful!” Esther exclaimed, “I’m glad there’s a plan in progress to meet the needs of the girls and the horses.  But I’m sure a lot of people will hate to see Honey sold!  She’s so sweet.”

 “I agree, Darling,” said Nathan, “but we couldn’t think of a way to keep her and be able to use her.  She wouldn’t like not being ridden, and it wouldn't be good for her either.”

 Esther admitted, “I know, and everyone will just have to grow up and accept the changes they might not like.”

 “I agree,” and Nathan continued, “I also told Oscar I’d ask you if you would have time to help Unice as the herd size increases from twenty-one to thirty horses.”

 “Sure,” she answered, “we can figure out a way to make it work and it can be included in the wages we’re already earning since we don’t need any extra money.  When the time comes, I’ll talk to Unice and see if she will teach me how to do the easy things and report to her about them, so it will save her some time.”

 This week for their dates before the small group Denji, Sara, Gary, and Kim ate supper at their own homes and then went to a craft store to buy a kite kit for each couple so they could work on them after their next ministry time in the park.  They had fun looking at all the options in separate isles and each couple chose one they both liked.

 Gary remarked, “I never knew there were so many sizes, shapes, and colors to choose from.

 “Neither did I,” Kim agreed.  “I’ve never made or flown a kite before, but I think it will be fun.  Which shape do you like?”

 Gary answered, “This bird shape is nice and it says it’s a beginner’s kit, which might be good for us.  Which colors do you like for a kite?”

 “I think,” she replied, “yellow or red would be easy to see against the sky and I like the bird shape also.  The package says we need to have permanent markers to decorate the kite.”

 Over in the next isle Denji mentioned, “My parents helped me fly a kite once when I was very young.  Have you had experience?”

 Sara explained, “No, I’ve never flown a kite before, let alone made one, so maybe a beginner’s kit would work best.”

 “I agree,” said Denji nodding, “This diamond shaped one looks pretty easy and we can decorate it with permanent markers.”

 “Good idea,” Sara agreed, “let’s go choose some colors we both like.”

 Then they found a place in the store where they could read and check the contents to see if everything was included or if they needed to buy anything else to go with the kit.  They found the needed items and went to pay for their purchases.  The ladies were able to convince the men that they would like to pay for these things since it had been their idea this time.

 At the small group meeting during praise time, Sara and Kim took turns praising God for the lady who had accepted Jesus in the park and how it had happened.  She did meet Kim and Sara at the church that weekend and would be in a new believers small group soon, where she could get her questions answered and learn about how to live for Jesus.

 The singing and teaching time in the small group was enjoyable and uplifting.  One of the songs they sang was, “My Father Planned It All.”  Some of the lyrics tell of singing in the sunshine or shade and how much it helps to know that our lives are planned by our Father as we live here on earth and look forward to the day we will be in Heaven with him.  One scripture verse that goes with this song is Psalm 37:23, The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and he delights in his way.

 Then during the prayer time, the four of them prayed for ongoing help and guidance as they continued their four member ministry team.  Refreshments were delicious and it was nice to have time to get acquainted with a few of the group members, who were all nice and were glad to welcome these four people to their group.

 The O’Connor, Anderson, Evans, and Clay families were having a big dinner at the Anderson house. It was the only house big enough to hold all of them.  Besides, this way they didn’t have to pack up and move four of the young ones, because they were already home. It was like a pot luck with each family providing three or four dishes so no family had to do all the work.

 After they all finished eating and the dishes were cleaned up, each person brought the chair used for eating and met in the dining and living area of the great room to visit.  Every adult had been asked to be ready to give an update on his or her life including the title of a hymn or song and/or a scripture verse, beginning with the oldest and going to the youngest.

 So Walt Evans was first.  “My construction company is very busy building homes in a new subdivision and it looks like we might be there for several years.  Apart from my job, I enjoy the Andersons, who are my ‘adopted son, daughter, and grandchildren,’ every chance I get.  Parts of Psalm 23 go very well with my abundant life. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want… He leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake… my cup runs over.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

 Betty Evans was next.  “I feel the same about the Andersons, and I thank God for his help in my After School Project.  I still have the original ten children coming plus two others every afternoon after school.  They enjoy many activities and listen to Bible stories.  Some of them have accepted Jesus and they are good role models for the rest.  A song that has helped me a lot is ‘Not to Us O LORD.’  I sing it when I’m getting ready for the group.  It goes with Psalm 115:1, Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for your mercy and for your truth's sake.”

 Patrick O’Connor stated, “I can say that I’m getting used to the empty nest since both our children, Fiona and Riley, are now married.  My job at The Garden Shop is very good, and I’m blessed with four grandchildren in one family and another in the second family.  A good verse for me is Proverbs 17:6a, Children's children are the crown of old men.”

 Glenda O’Connor chuckled, “My life is the same as my husband’s except for his job and I change the scripture to women.  Plus I say the same as Betty did about my After School project.  It’s very good to have a ministry like this every day.  I like Psalm 103:17.  The mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon those who fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children.”

 Ernest Clay remarked, “It’s interesting to see how we older adults are similar in so many ways.  I like my work at The Garden Shop and now it looks like I will need to get used to an empty nest also.  Ben will tell you why.  I like having Amelia bring our very first grandchild, Mark, with her when she comes to work.  This way we get to enjoy them both.  I’m glad she can still work with us at The Garden Shop.  One song I like is “Sweeter as the Years Go By.”

 Connie Clay nodded all the way through what Ernest said and then observed, “My life is very much like my husband’s and we both feel very blessed.  Every verse and the chorus of “Still Sweeter Every Day” is my praise to Jesus and the testimony of my life.”  She read the lyrics to them, which say how wonderful Jesus is and he is better than any of the beauty of creation.  He helps when burdens and sorrows come and even in heaven he will be sweeter than he ever was before.

 Matt Anderson stated, “I’m glad I get to work near my ‘adopted’ dad building homes in the new subdivision.  I often run over to the house his crew is building and eat my lunch with him.  I like having him and Betty and Fiona’s parents, the O’Connors, come to visit at our home often.  My wife, Fiona, and my children, Johnny, Patrick, Grace, and Faith, give me much joy.  Proverbs 18:22 says, Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of the LORD, and Psalm 127:3a says, children are a heritage of the LORD.

 Fiona Anderson reflected, “My life has been full of love, learning, and joy in the home of my parents with my brother, my first job with the Clays, then two years of helping Great Aunt Cara.  It was a bonus to be able to go back to work with the Clays when I returned.  And these years with my wonderful husband, Matt, and our four precious children continue to fill my life with love, learning, and joy.  A scripture verse I like to personalize is 1 Thessalonians 3:9, “I can render many thanks to God for all of you, for all the joy I have because of you before our God.”  She motioned with her hand to include everyone.

 Riley O’Connor continued, “I agree with my sister, Fiona, about our home and parents who brought us up to know and honor God.  I’m thankful for them, a good job with an outstanding company, and for my wonderful wife, Amelia, and our first precious child, Mark.  I pray we can raise our children to go God’s way also, as it says in Ephesians 6:4b bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”

 Amelia O’Connor explained, “My brother, Ben, told me to go next after my husband even though Ben is older than I am. I’m thankful for godly parents who raised Ben and me the right way also, and for my good job in their Garden Shop, and for my superb husband, Riley, and for our sweet son, Mark, who’s growing just like he should.  I like 2 Timothy 3:14,15, But continue in the things you have learned and have been assured of, knowing of whom you have learned them, and that from a child you have known the holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.  Plus I pray the same prayer Riley prayed.”

 Ben Clay concluded, “I’m so thankful I can be here today with all these married couples and tell you all that I do think I’m getting closer to being able to find a wife for myself since it looks like my company, The Master’s Builders, will continue to do well.  I’m glad for my parents and sister and for our training, for their encouragement as I reach for my goals, and for the education at the trade school and with Matt and Walt while I was on the job, and for Walt’s good recommendation which I’m sure helped me get my contract for the building project at Mercy Valley Ranch.  I’ll be living in a four-season travel trailer on the ranch while my crew and I work there building an addition onto a small cabin, five two-story houses, which will make room for ten more families caring for foster children, and another tack room.  That’s why my parents will have an empty nest.  I’ll miss them also and I’m grateful for all the extra time I got to live at home with them.  My verse is Psalm 127:1a, Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it.”

 Nathan and Esther had started right away looking for an abused horse they could rehabilitate for the ranch.  As they looked they remembered Proverbs 12:10, A righteous man regards the life of his beast, but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel. They researched the types of abuse, horses might have and ways to gain back their trust and retrain them to be useful again.

 Then they made phone calls to the equine rescue and the humane societies to see if they had an abused horse up for adoption.  They finally found one and had to travel with the horse trailer to another city to bring the horse back to the ranch.

 The first abused horse they obtained was named Pepper because of his coloring, but Esther later thought it should have been because of his bucking.  The people who had him before didn’t tell the humane society much about him.  When Nathan and Esther finally got him settled down enough to put a saddle on him, he would buck and buck every day until they could catch him and take it off.

 Finally they had Unice, the ranch vet, come check him out.  She found a place on his back where there was a nerve that hurt the horse when any pressure was on it.

 “The poor horse!” Unice exclaimed.  “No wonder he bucks and tries to get the saddle off his back.  I don’t know of any way to fix a problem like this.”

 Nathan suggested, “Maybe a rodeo could use him.  At least the saddle and rider wouldn’t be on for very long at a time, and he could still be useful.”

 “Well,” Esther contemplated, “I feel sorry for him.  It wouldn't be a very nice life for him, but I don’t know anyone who would just like to keep, feed, and care for him without being able to ride him.”

 Unice nodded, “I agree, and if the rodeo people would understand his problem and keep the saddle off until just before the rider got on, it would sure give the audience a show, but maybe it would be considered cruelty to animals.  I don’t know what they do to make their other horses continue to buck like they do.  It might be just as bad.”

 “Well,” Nathan hesitated, “I'll see what I can find out.  And from now on, we’d like to have you come along with us to check any future abused horses so we don’t end up with another problem we can’t fix.”

 Unice responded, “Of course!  I’ll be glad to accompany you.  The other lady on the ranch can take over the health care jobs while I’m gone.”

 Nathan and Esther made arrangements to take the horse back to the humane society and brought back another in its place after Unice had checked it over for any physical problems.

 Ben shopped on line for a four-season travel trailer about twenty-five feet long with no slide outs, containing one private bedroom,  a dinette area, a couch with room for a desk, and a good-sized bathroom.  He needed it to be light enough for his pickup to tow it up to the ranch, and later to a piece of property with a view of the mountains where he could build a house.  He would save money to eventually build a house.  And because he was planning to get married, he wanted the trailer to be big enough for two people to live in comfortably in the meantime.

 From time to time he would have his parents look at an entry he found on the web, and they would talk about its pros and cons.  One day they found one that met all his requirements.

 It was being sold by its owner and was right in Pine City.  So the three of them went to look at it, wondering why the price was so low.

 When they got there the owner explained, “This front corner by the bedroom was run into at a campground, and I don’t know how to fix it.  Besides, my wife and I have decided to quit traveling.  Everything else on, and in the trailer is in good shape and everything is working.”

 Ernest quietly told Ben, “I can help you fix the damage.”

 After looking at the outside Ben asked, “May we see the inside of the trailer now?”

 “Of course,” answered the owner, “it’s unlocked and the steps are already down.”

 He went inside with them and explained how things worked and answered all their questions.  Then he stated, “Since we’re no longer going to travel, we’re selling it with all the linens, cooking pans and utensils, silverware, and other travel equipment, at no extra cost.  We bought it new and have only used it two years.”

 Then he opened all the cupboards and showed them the equipment which appeared to be in great shape.

 He continued, “This drawer contains all the owners manuals for the trailer and its appliances.  Like I said, everything works well.”

 Then he demonstrated how the air conditioner and furnace and range top and oven worked, flushed the toilet, ran hot water in the shower, opened the refrigerator and explained how to set the temperature.

 “Will you take a personal check,” asked Ben, “or would you rather have cash?”

 The owner replied, “I’ve seen you people at church the past few months, so I’ll trust you for the check, and I’ll even knock off another hundred dollars since it has no slide out and you didn’t even complain about that fact.”

 Ben explained, “You don’t need to do that, sir.  One of my requirements is for the trailer to not have a slide out, so I can’t accept that hundred dollars.”

 “Thanks for being so honest,” he responded and then suggested, “Then if you don’t know how to dump the holding tanks or hook up the trailer to your pickup, I’ll be glad to teach you.”

 “Perfect!” Ben exclaimed, “it’s exactly what I need to learn!  Thank you very much.  So I’ll write you a check and you can transfer the title to me and I’ll go buy a new license plate to put on it.  Would you teach me when I come back with the plate?”

 “Gladly,” answered the owner, “the office won’t be open until Monday, so can I expect you that evening?”

 “Yes,” replied Ben, “I’ll plan to be here then.”

 Everything went as planned and Ben was able to tow the trailer to the ranch and get it leveled and set up there.  He was very pleased with it and looked forward to living in it.  Later he would pack the clothes and anything else he would need so he would be ready to move when it was time to start building on the ranch.

 Denji, Sara, Gary and Kim left the new kite kits in the vehicle while they walked and prayed during the time for their ministry team in a different park than last time.  This park had fewer trees and no electric wires close by to interfere with flying the kites.

 As they were walking, looking, and praying, they noticed some picnic tables where they could work on their kites later.

 The men walked behind the ladies as usual.  Soon they saw some young boys trying to go across the horizontal ladder in the fitness course, so they went to watch and ask if they wanted some help.  But first they had checked with the parents to see if it would be okay with them.  After about fifteen minutes with the men’s help, the boys got better at it, but now they were tired so they stopped.

 There was no opportunity to talk, so the team continued on around the park and then retrieved the kite kits out of the vehicle.  They took them to two separate tables they had noticed earlier and Denji took out the directions.

 Denji remarked, “My dad taught me it’s always best to read all the directions first and then follow them in order.”

 “My parents taught me the same thing,” Sara stated, “it saves a lot of time in the long run.”  It was nice to be in agreement even about something as simple as making a kite.

 At the other table Gary and Kim were coloring the kite pieces with the permanent markers.  Then as the pieces dried they read the directions for putting it together.

 Kim mentioned, “If we do this in the order described here it doesn’t look too hard.”

 “Right,” agreed Gary, “these directions are well written.  I notice it does say to color it last, but it seemed easier to do it first.”

 “I agree,” Kim replied, “we’ll see how it goes doing it this way.”

 Later Gary observed, “now that it’s together, I see that for this project it worked well to color the pieces first.”

 “I’m glad,” Kim declared, “and it looks very nice.  There’s a nice breeze blowing now so we can see how well it will fly.”

 By now Denji and Sara had theirs finished also, so the four of them went to the middle of the park and flew their new kites.  They did fly well and they enjoyed taking turns.

 When they were sufficiently tired, they pulled in the kites and rested on a couple benches where they could talk.

 Gary finally had decided he better talk seriously to Kim about his problem, plans, and desires.  So he shared, “Kim, I should have told you this when we talked about issues, but I was embarrassed.  My doctor told me at my last physical that I would not be able to father a child naturally, but that I could adopt or be a foster dad.  How do you feel about this?”

 “I appreciate your honesty,” Kim responded.  “Actually, I feel relieved, because I’d rather not go through the pain and risks involved with childbirth.  Adoption or being a foster mom are better possibilities in my opinion.”

 Gary continued, “Thank you, Kim.  Now I need to explain to you a desire I’ve had for several years.  William and Anna Beckett were such good foster parents to us four boys that I have wanted to do the same thing with my life.  But I need to find a wife who will desire this also.  So I’ll ask you an important question.  Would you consider being a foster mom to four boys on The Mercy Valley Farm?

 Kim answered, “I will consider it, but I have to admit that I worry about being able to be a good mom.  My birth mother was not a good model, but my foster mother is a great one.  In addition, I know nothing about boys, especially teenagers.”

 Gary suggested, “I could teach you what I learned from living with three other teenage boys, and from my very good foster parents on the farm, plus there are other mothers on the farm who will be glad to answer any questions you might have.”

 “Those are good ideas,” responded Kim, “so I’ll pray for God to remove my worries and make me into a good mom.”  

 “Thank you, Kim,” said Gary sincerely, “and I’ll pray the same thing for you.  And we will remember Mark 10:27b, with God, all things are possible, as we pray.  It looks like Denji and Sara are getting ready to leave.  Shall we go join them?”

 Kim nodded and thanked him for his prayers as they rose to leave.  She was thinking that he was so sincere and knew what he wanted to do.  He was also easy to talk to, and both of those were good traits.

 Karen Spencer, the Bible teacher for the girls on the Mercy Valley Ranch, and William Beckett, who taught the boys on Mercy Valley Farm, decided it was time for another lesson out of Proverbs.  Karen began, “Let’s take another look at some Proverbs today and maybe find some other verses to go with them.  Our topic today is to obey your father and mother.  Of course this means the ones here on the ranch.  Also remember that King Solomon who wrote most of Proverbs was speaking to his son much of the time.  Find Proverbs 6:20-23 and read it with me.”

 My son, keep your father’s commandment, and do not forsake the law of your mother.  Bind them always on your heart, and tie them

around your neck.  When you go they shall lead you.  When you sleep, they shall keep you, and when you wake they shall talk with you.

 Christi asked, “Does it mean to actually tie them around your neck?  I think doing it would be embarrassing.”

 “I agree,” Karen answered, “there’s no need to give mean people a reason to make fun of you.  I think it is like a figure of speech that means to remember and think about them.”

 Emma suggested, “Then they won’t really talk with you either.  You would just think about them?”

 Karen nodded in agreement, and they went on to read the next verses aloud together.  Proverbs 7:1-3, My son, keep my words and lay up my commandments with you.  Keep my commandments and live, and my law as the apple of your eye.  Bind them on your fingers, write them on the tablet of your heart.

 Liz mentioned, “I heard somewhere that ‘the apple of the eye’ is the pupil, but the phrase has come to mean something cherished.”

 “Right,” Hanna agreed, “also we won’t literally bind God’s laws on our fingers, but we will keep them in our minds and obey them.”

 Everyone nodded, and Karen asked a girl to read Proverbs 4:10, Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of your life shall be many.

 Stella commented, “This verse has a nice promise, but it’s conditional.  The person has to listen and do first.”

 “Exactly,” said Karen and asked another girl to read Proverbs 5:1,2, My son, attend to my wisdom, and bow your ear to my understanding, so you may regard discretion, and your lips may have knowledge.

 Ellie remarked, “This is another verse where you have to do one thing to have the other one happen.”

 Next a different girl read Ephesians 6:1-3, Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise, that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.

 Nan remembered, “That’s one of the Ten Commandments and it also has a good conditional promise.  I noticed two of the verses talk about living longer.”

 “Good comments, girls,” Karen commended, “now please find Psalm 19.  Lets close by reading verses 7-11.  As we read, notice how well they go with the verses we read in Proverbs.”

 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul, the testimony of the LORD is sure, making the simple wise.  The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart.  The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.  The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever, the judgments of the LORD are true and altogether righteous.  They are to be desired more than gold, even much fine gold.  They are sweeter than honey and the honeycomb.  Moreover your servant is warned by them and there is great reward in keeping them.

 Lisa expressed what many were thinking, “The verses we just finished are a good summary and addition to the ones in Proverbs, and they’re talking about the LORD’s commands and words, not just the father who told those things to his son.”

 They all nodded emphatically and thanked Karen for the good lesson.

 The second horse Nathan and Esther brought home to the ranch looked to be very thin from malnutrition and neglect.  But Unice assured them it seemed to be his only problem.  The fee they had paid for the first horse was transferred to the second one after Unice had explained Pepper’s problem when they returned him.

 Esther had helped Nathan relocate the portable paddock to a fresh place in a pasture away from the other horses before they went to pick up the new horse.  This would be a time of quarantine away from the other horses so disease wouldn’t be spread if it existed.  Plus it made a special diet easier to add to the pasture grass.  Unice would check the horse every day during this time.

 Oscar and Vera came to the paddock see the new arrival.  Vera remarked, “He will be just right to take the place of Dappled, when he gets sold to a cattle ranch.  I like his darker gray color and when he recovers from malnutrition, his dark gray dappled coat with black legs, mane, and tail will look so much better.  I’d like to name him, Dapplie.”

 “I like that name,” Oscar commented, “it seems to fit him well.  These papers they gave you say he is a Tennessee Walking Horse, but is not registered, he is about five years old, and stands about 14.2 hands tall.”

 Esther continued, “Yes, Dapplie is a good name for him.  It will be great to see him improve with the love, care, and good food we can give him.”

 “Exactly,” agreed Nathan, “this will be a rewarding project with visible results.”

 Oscar mentioned, “I've decided we don't need registered horses now that we aren’t a dude ranch any longer.  This will be a less expensive way to replace the horses we sell and get the extra ones we need for the additional girls and their foster parents.”

 “Indeed,” added Vera, “and it’s only important that they have good, comfortable gaits, be trainable, gentle, and be the right sizes between 14 and 15 hands tall.”

 “Precisely,” Esther nodded, “I was able to ride him before we signed the papers, and we know his gaits are good.”

 Nathan went on, “When he gets strong again from this good diet, we can begin with the gentling and training.”

 At least Dapplie wasn’t afraid of people like Honey had been at first.  He welcomed their attention and enjoyed being carefully groomed.  They took turns being with the horse alone as well as working together.  After a week or two, their girls joined them in the paddock to help him get used to other people.

 Esther took notes as Nathan trained Dapplie to be gentle and not afraid of things like leaves or material flapping in the breeze, and to stand still while being groomed and to lift his feet to be checked.  After three weeks of the good diet he looked great.  Unice said he was in good shape.  So they put him in the pasture with the other horses and he followed them as they went to greet people when they came to the pasture.  Esther or Nathan continued his training every time they rode horses with their girls.

Chapter 3

Luke 4:8b, You shall worship the LORD your God,

and him only shall you serve.

 During the summer, a church mom was staying at home while her husband worked, so she could care for two abused teenage foster girls during the day.  He helped when he got home from work.  She did home schooling for the girls because they had both had behavioral problems in their schools.

 A non-believing neighbor with an infant in a stroller came to the door one day to ask if they wanted to join her for a walk, so the three of them went with her.

 The second time after they had walked with her she invited, “Would you like to come in my house and have some coffee, tea, or soda pop?”

 “Thank you,” said the mom, “it sounds delicious.”

 They all enjoyed visiting while they drank the beverages.

 The next time, the mom invited the neighbor into her home.  They continued to visit this way back and forth for many weeks.

 In a few more weeks the teenage girls accepted Jesus as their Savior.  Then they and their mom witnessed to the neighbor.  When she believed they asked other moms with infants to join their group. These moms also learned about Jesus and accepted him as their Savior.  They all started attending the church with the first woman and her family and all the ladies got together once a week for a small group meeting where they encouraged each other.

 During one of the meetings they sang the hymn, “Oh, He’s a Wonderful Savior,” and read the verses that go so well with it, Philippians 2:7,8, Jesus made himself of no reputation, but took on himself the form of a servant, and was made like men, … and he humbled himself and became obedient to death, even the death of the cross.

 They talked about what the verses meant and then about ways they could live their lives so their husbands would see the positive changes Jesus was making in their lives and want to have him in their lives also.  Before long the husbands of those ladies also became believers and the families were attending church and small group meetings for new believers.

 This week Denji, Sara, Gary and Kim’s date was a delicious supper at Ami’s Japanese Restaurant in the garden area.

 Sara got to meet some of Denji’s extended family.  Aneko came to greet and meet all of them and welcome them to the restaurant.  She left them with menus and water.  Later she came back with Jenny, the foster girl in the family, who helped bring the tea and took their orders.

 The two couples were sitting at two separate tables so Gary and Kim had lots of time to talk.  Gary mentioned, “I was talking to my dad, William, on the phone and asked him if the farm was changing to age fourteen for replacement children like the ranch is doing.  He said that they weren’t, so maybe we could take care of younger boys and we could get used to being parents before they would be teenagers.”

 “I think,” replied Kim, “this would help me to not worry as much.  We aren’t very much older than the ones who would be fourteen and fifteen, and they might not respect such young ‘parents’ very much.”

 Gary nodded, “You made a good point, Kim.  I agree and I think boys, especially need to be able to respect their parents.  So let’s pray separately and together about what ages would be best for us to request when we would be ready.”

 “Very good,” Kim responded and their meals were delivered.  They met Yoshi, Aneko’s brother, when he delivered their meals.  Then Yoshi told them about Aneko’s husband, Kosuke, and how Aneko was helping her parents with their foster daughter.

 When he left, Kim asked,  “What’s the work like on the farm?”

 Gary answered, “The men’s work is hard, but I really enjoy all of it.  Farming is very rewarding work.  We take fields that have rested through the winter, plow them with tractors to break up the soil and mix in compost and other natural fertilizer and plow some more.  The boys on the ranch help pick up rocks and put them in a front loader. When the field is ready, we make it have the right grade and mark it with rows for the irrigation water to run in and then we plant the crops.  It takes a lot of work for each field.  I’m always amazed and thankful when the new green plants come up and start growing!  Then we have to keep the weeds out and for some fields we need to thin some of the plants.  Harvest comes at different times for each crop.  Plus each crop has sequenced sections planted at intervals so it doesn’t ripen all at once.  It includes a lot of joyful work also because this is the reward for all the other work.”

 “Thank you, Gary,” said Kim, “when we went to the farm on alternate weekends I got to see some of the progress, but I never knew it was so involved.  I can tell you really do enjoy the work.  I wonder if there would be a job for me to do on the farm, and if so, what would it be like?”

 Gary responded, “My mom, whose name is Anna, would be able to explain it to you much better than I could, because I was always busy outside while they worked inside to prepare the harvest for delivery to the markets and stores.  If you’d like to sometime, we could visit them on the farm and she can tell you all about it.”

 “I would like to visit,” Kim agreed, “if we can figure out a time that is good for them and when Denji and Sara could drop you and me off there while they go to the ranch.”

 Gary nodded.  “Let’s plan on doing this soon.  We can talk to Denji and Sara about it after the small group meeting and I’ll find a good time for my parents.”

 Just then Yoshi brought their dessert of cookies and explained, “My mom and dad, Ami and Tomo, changed the name of their fortune cookies to Scripture cookies.  You’ll see why when you look inside.  Thank you for coming to our restaurant and we hope you’ll come again sometime soon.”

 The couples thanked him, opened and read their scriptures, and enjoyed the cookies.  The scriptures in these cookies were all chosen to encourage believers.  Then they went to their small group which was as good as it usually was.

 As they were driving the ladies to their home, Gary asked Denji about the plan to take Kim to visit his parents, and Denji said they’d work it out as soon as Gary got a time that was good for his parents for visit.

 When Sara and Kim got inside their apartment, Kim told Sara the things Gary had said about being able to ask for younger boys on the farm instead of teenagers.  She concluded, “I’m beginning to feel better about it.”

 Maria and Tony Valdez still thoroughly enjoyed being married as they faithfully continued to serve God in their lives together especially by ministering to children in the park.

 Tony mentioned one day, “I was trying to think of some songs and Scripture verses we could use with some of the stories we read to the children.”

 “Maybe,” suggested Maria, “we could look on the web and get some help that way.”

 Tony agreed, “I think so too, if you’ll help me since you’re so much better on the computer than I am.”

 “I’ll be very glad to help,” Maria responded.  “I’ll bring some of the big books and flannel stories.  Then I can type in a topic and the word scripture or lyrics and see what comes up.”

 First they found “He’s Got the Whole World In His Hands” to go with verses in Genesis 1 and their book about God creating the world.

Other songs and scriptures they found for other stories were:

 “One Door and Only One”  John 14:6, “Jesus said, I am the way, the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except by me.”

 “Stop, and Let Me Tell You,” 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

 “Jesus Loves Me”  John 3:16, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.

 “Jesus Loves Even ME”  1 John 4:19, “We love him because he first loved us.”

 “The Good Shepherd,” In John 10:11 Jesus said “I am the good shepherd, the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.”

 “Wow!” Tony exclaimed, “we found quite a few already!  It will give us a good start to see if hearing the music will bring some children over to our booth in the park and the scriptures are all good ones.”

 During their next four member team ministry time in the park, Gary and Denji had the opportunity to tell the Good News to an older man who was sitting on a bench looking very despondent.  First they alerted the ladies, “We’re going to go back to that bench and talk to the man sitting there,” said Gary.

 Kim replied, “Very good, we’ll sit on this bench near there and pray for you as you minister to him.”

 As soon as they were settled, Gary and Denji built rapport with the man by listening to his problem.  Then they shared how Jesus could help him with the problem.  One verse they used was Psalm 37:5, Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass. Besides that help, Jesus would assist him the rest of his life, and give him eternal life.  All the while they were talking with the man, Kim and Sara were praying for them to have the best words, and that the man would accept Jesus.

 The man did ask Jesus to be his Savior and promised to meet the men at church on the weekend.  After he left, the four member team had a wonderful time rejoicing and praising God.

 Next, Denji and Sara dropped Gary and Kim off at the farm where Kim got all her questions answered and learned how the women worked on the farm.

 Anna confided, “Kim, the work here is interesting and actually fun, but I’m getting too old to be able to do a good job anymore.  My feet get tired and hurt by the end of the day.  But since you are young and in good physical condition from your years on the ranch, it should be no problem for you.”

 “Thank you, Anna,” responded Kim, “it does sound like a job I could enjoy even more than my work at the Discount Mart, if God does lead Gary and me to this farm.”

 Denji and Sara had a great time with her family at the ranch on a horseback ride and then planning a picnic supper for a date that would follow a ministry time.

 Sara explained, “We would like to have a double date here sometime this fall before it gets too cold.

 Denji continued, “It would be fun to hike to Lavender Falls and eat a picnic supper there.  My parents would accompany us and Gary said his mom would like to go also.”

 “Perfect planning!” Ian exclaimed.  “I appreciate the way you four are keeping your dates accountable to the LORD.”

 After reading about an idea on the second church list, many people used or learned the skills they needed in order to have chat rooms on the web.  Home bound people who were already doing it, continued having chat rooms.  They stated that they would like to answer questions anybody had, about why it is important to believe in Jesus.

 Hoping to generate some questions, they would quote a verse or two from the Bible like Romans 14:12,  Every one of us shall give account of himself to God.  And John 8:24b, Jesus said if you do not believe that I am he (the Son of God), you shall die in your sins.

 Then they would check the site a few times a day to see if somebody had asked a question.  If so, they would be quick to answer it and pray for the person, or carry on a conversation if the person was available right then.

 There were many days with no questions, but there enough other days to convince the people it was worth the effort.  Sometimes it took weeks of chatting before someone was ready to accept Jesus as their Savior, but then they could have joy like the angels of God do when a sinner repents, like it says in Luke 15:10.

 William and Anna’s plan to have two senior boys assigned to their care worked out very well.

 William explained, “We heard about the Hopkins family’s idea of having the ones who were already there, be roommates for the new ones so they could help them adjust and be good examples for them.”

 Evan and Sam graciously agreed to do it, even though they really didn’t want to stop being roommates.

 Evan volunteered, “I’ll move my things into the other room so we can be ready when the new boys arrive at their new foster home.”

 Those two boys were grateful for a peaceful, loving home where they were encouraged to finish high school and learn about farming.  Both of them had come very close to running away from their homes and dropping out of school.  So this Caring Foster Home kept them off the streets and out of gangs.

 Evan and Sam were glad to teach them about home and farm chores, and they all worked well together on school homework.  At least the new boys were already attending the ‘right’ high school, so they didn’t have to get used to a new one.  The new boys joined William’s Bible Study Group that had all seniors in it.  At home with William, Anna, Sam and Evan, the new boys learned a lot of important Bible knowledge.  They also saw many good examples of believers who were living their lives to please Jesus.

 The new boys started asking questions and received good answers.  Nobody pushed them about making a decision, but they were all praying extra hard for them, like it says in 1 Timothy 2:1, I exhort therefore, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men…  This went on for several months and then they both accepted Jesus.  After that, William spent extra time with them teaching them how to live for Jesus.  One scripture he used was the way he personalized 2 Corinthians 5:15, Jesus died so we should not continue to live for ourselves, but for him who died for us and rose again.

 On the farm Felix and Sunny Lucero and their four foster boys, Jose, Hugo, Pedro and Luis, were visiting in the living room after supper one evening.  Jose mentioned, “Since Hugo and I started high school this year, I’m very thankful for all the help we got from you, Pedro and Luis, since you are both in your second year there.”

 “Same here,” said Hugo.  “It was really nice to have you show us around the school the last afternoon in December, when Dad and Mom picked us up at the middle school, so we could meet you there.”

 Jose continued, “The floor plan you drew, Pedro and Luis, was just what I needed so I wouldn’t forget the tour over the two week vacation.  It helped me not to be so nervous about going to a school as big as that high school is.”

 Hugo added, “I liked it also, and now since we’ve been there so many months, December seems a long time ago.  But I was wondering if there might be other boys from the farm who will be going into high school next year who don’t have older brothers in the high school.  Maybe we could arrange to have their parents bring them some afternoon in December and we could show them around and give them the map.”

 “What a good idea!” Felix exclaimed.  “When it gets closer to December, I’ll contact those families to see if they'd be interested.”

 Sunny concurred, “I like your idea also, and it goes very will with

1 Corinthians 15:58, Therefore my beloved brothers, be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, because you know your labor is not in vain in the Lord.  I wonder if we could find some other verses on this topic by using the center references and the concordances in our Bibles for our family devotions right now.”

 “Sure,” Pedro nodded as he stood up.  “Let’s all go get our Bibles and notebooks right now.”

 The rest of them followed his suggestion and returned with theirs from their study desks.  Seated again, Luis was the first one to find a verse.  “I think 1 Corinthians 3:8b and 9a go pretty well with 15:58,… every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor.  For we are laborers together with God.”

 “Yes they do,” Pedro agreed and added, “and I like Ephesians 2:10.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God has said that we should walk in them.  So we could consider that doing those good works is the work of the Lord.”

 Hugo nodded and went on, “I like your verse, and Hebrews 6:10 says, For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which you have done in his name, in that you have ministered to the saints…  Since those boys are believers, then they are saints and we would be ministering or serving them by helping them get used to the big high school building.”

 “Exactly,” Jose tacked on, “and we can be available to answer questions when the new school year starts also.  Plus we need to do all our work heartily, as to the Lord and not as to men, knowing that we shall receive the reward … since we serve the Lord Jesus, as I personalized Colossians 3:23,24.”

 Felix commended them, “Great job guys!  All the verses go very well together and fit with the topic of our earlier conversation.  And here’s one to join them all together. 1 Corinthians 16:14, Let all your things be done with love.”

 Sunny smiled at them.  “I agree, this was a very good time of family devotions.  It’s such a blessing to be able to talk about God’s Word as a family of believers.”

 The company Ben had hired did a good job of putting in a road, making level places for the houses, digging ditches for water lines, natural gas, and sewer pipes.  They also had excavated the trenches to put the forms in for the footings.  The foundations forms would go on top of the footings.  They had done this for all the houses including the garage and bedroom addition on the vet’s cabin on the ranch, using the blueprints Ben had supplied.

 Unice had been gone to town shopping with Vera while the trenches were dug behind her cabin.  Now she couldn’t tell Oscar and Vera not to continue with their plan, so she thanked them instead, and decided to look forward to having more room in her home.

 By now the other house Ben had been building was finished, the new blueprints for the five two-story houses had been approved, and the building permits had been obtained.  So Ben moved his belongings to the travel trailer on the ranch.

 Then Ben and his crew of The Master’s Builders got started on the first new two-story house on Mercy Valley Ranch the second week in August.  Everyone was so excited.  They got used to the idea of having construction noise for however many years this project would take.

 Jeff and Karen continued to live at the ranch in their same house. One evening after supper, Jeff went to visit Ben in his travel trailer.  “Ben, I talked to Matt and Walt about transferring to your crew because then I would be very close to my job.  I’d like to work for you, Ben and since I live on the ranch, it would be so handy for me.  Besides I like the idea of having more homes for girls on this ranch.”

 “I’d love to have you work with me!” Ben exclaimed.  “You don’t need a resume or recommendation.  I saw your good work while I was working on Matt’s crew!”

 “Thank you, Ben,” responded Jeff, “for the compliment and for wanting me to work with you.  I like your emphasis on that word.”

 “You’re welcome, Jeff,” and Ben went on, “in fact this will be perfect.  I’m thinking of hiring another crew to speed up the building of the houses.  I’d like you to be the foreman for one crew, since I’m sure you already know how, because of all you experience.  Walt trained me how to be a foreman during the time I worked for him, so I can train Denji to be foreman for the other crew.  Then I could go back and forth between the two crews to follow progress, give guidance, and pitch in to help as needed.”

 “What a great idea!” Jeff declared, “and it should make the progress go much faster.”

 Ben agreed, “Right, and I think since all the trenches are dug, one crew could work on the footings and foundations for the other houses, starting first on the garage and bedroom addition for the smallest cabin on the lower level of houses, while the other crew gets the footings and foundation done and frames up the lower story of the first house.  We might be able to get it closed in before the first snow flies.  It would be great if we could get the concrete for all the footings and foundations poured and cured for all the other houses before it starts freezing at night.

 “Excellent plan,” stated Jeff, “because then the trenches can be utilized before the weather makes the dirt fall back into them.”

 “Exactly,” and Ben observed, “I’m going to like having you work with me, Jeff.  I’ll be glad to have you experience and background.  Be sure to let me know if you have any more ideas for this project.  When can you begin working here?”

 Jeff answered, “I only need to give them a one week notice so they can hire somebody to take my place.”

 “Perfect, then I’ll expect you to start here in a week,” said Ben.

 When Jeff and Matt parted on Jeff’s last day at work, they made plans to visit by phone and continue their friendship.  They carried through with their plans at least a couple times each month.

 For their next date, the couples again ate supper in their own homes and then went to a park for a leisurely couple’s walk beside Mercy River.  This gave the couples some more time to just visit and enjoy the beauty of this park and river.

 Gary mentioned, “I really like the parks in town with part of the Mercy River in them because it makes me think of Mercy Stream in Mercy Valley and all the other streams that come together to make this river.  I know there must be dozens of others to make it grow this big.”

 “Definitely,” Kim agreed, “and Mercy Valley is a wonderful place.  I’m grateful that I was privileged to spend most of my teen years there, because of it’s beauty, being able to be outdoors, ride horses and for all the things I learned there, especially about Jesus.”

 “For sure,” Gary nodded, “it’s scary to think of where I would have ended up without my outstanding foster/adoptive family.  They taught me so much.  And of course I learned about farming and decided I wanted to do that kind of work as my career.”

 Gary and Kim continued talking about how Jesus had saved and restored them in their foster homes and the things they had learned while living on the farm and ranch.  They found out they had much in common and began liking each other even more.

 In the mean time, Denji was speculating, “I wonder how the horses we ride on the ranch would respond if we asked them to cross Mercy River.  It’s so much wider and deeper than Mercy Stream.”

 “Oh my!” Sara exclaimed, “I’m afraid they would probably obey their riders, plunge right in, and swim to the other side as they wondered why their riders didn’t use good horse sense and go a block further down to that good bridge instead!”

 Denji laughed and shared, “Ah, Sara, you’re so fun to be with.  I really enjoy your sense of humor!”

 “Thank you, Denji,” she responded, “I like spending time with you also.  We have fun times together.”

 They all continued walking and conversing until it was time for them to go to their small group where the men praised God for the salvation of the man in the park during their last ministry time.  They all enjoyed listening to the praises of the other members.

 Then the facilitator had them look up Psalm 147:1, Praise the LORD for it is good to sing praises to our God, for it is pleasant and praise is proper.  After reading the verse aloud, they sang “The Praise is Yours,” to go with the scripture.  The lyrics stress that God sent his Son to save us, that God is good, and he alone is worthy of all praise.

 Next they looked up and read Ephesians 1:13,14, you trusted in Christ after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the down payment of our inheritance until the redemption of our bodies, to the praise of his glory.

 The facilitator commented, “These verses go very well with the next song we’ll sing, ‘I’ve Been Sealed.’  The lyrics tell about being born again with nothing to fear, and nobody can take the joy away.  The Holy Spirit is God’s guarantee, who sealed us after we heard and believed the word of truth.”

 Last they read 1 Thessalonians 1:9b,10, You chose to serve the living and true God and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, who delivered us from the wrath to come.  Then they sang the chorus, “What a Mighty God We Serve.”  The lyrics for this chorus start with the title and speak of angels bowing before God and how heaven and earth adore God.

 After reading the scriptures and singing, the people talked about them some more and then included them in the conversational prayer time. Refreshments were good and visiting time was interesting.

 When they arrived at the apartment, Sara emphasized, “Thank you very much for picking us up at our apartment and for the nice time in the park and for bringing us back here after the good small group meeting.  We feel like you are taking very good care of us.”

 Denji responded, “It is definitely our pleasure!”

 Tony and Maria still liked going to the Mercy Valley Ranch every week to see their friends and ride horses with their families.  One week they would spend time with the Blakes so Maria could have time to visit with her special friend, Julie, who had been her roommate in the other city they had lived in while they attended the university.  The next week they would be with the Mendoza family because Esther was a friend Maria had made in Pine City and Esther now lived on the ranch.

 Tony and Ted had become friends after they had met in a city park in Pine City where Maria and Julie were walking so they could visit while they exercised.  Also, Tony had become friends with Nathan from the times they had come to the ranch to be with their family.  They all realized how important it is to take time to nurture friendships, because it says in Proverbs 17:17a, A friend loves at all times,…  So it was time well spent and it was enjoyable for all the adults and for the girls in each family.

 Besides the pleasant horseback rides every week, Maria made sure she got to talk with each of the girls in whichever family they were visiting.  She wanted to keep up with their progress at school and the things they were doing on the ranch.  She was always amazed at how fast time went and how much the girls were learning and growing.  The families enjoyed their visits also.

 Tony liked working with Ted on various handyman projects that Ted would save for the weekend Tony would be there.  Tony was eager to learn all he could about fixing things on houses in case he could use the knowledge on the house he and Maria had bought.  On the other weekend, Tony would help Nathan with whatever he was doing.  And Nathan always appreciated his help.

 After they returned home from the ranch one day, their cat, Calico, came to greet them, obviously wanting some attention.  Tony picked her up saying, “I’m enjoying Calico.  It’s fun having a cat for a pet again.”

 “I’m glad,” responded Maria, “I enjoy her also.  When did you have a cat for a pet?

 Tony replied, “It was when I was growing up.  We always had at least one cat, and sometimes two of them.  Cats are much easier to take care of than dogs are.”

 Maria nodded.  “I agree about dogs.  I much prefer cats.”

 “It’s good that we both prefer cats.”  then Tony added, “I just never got around to getting a cat when I moved to Pine City.”

  For many months during the times Mindy was at the Anderson’s house helping Fiona with Johnny, Patrick, and the twins, Grace and Faith, she had talked with Fiona for a short time each day.  One day she asked, “Fiona do you remember when you first told me about some of the things you had learned from your aunt?”

 “Yes I do,” answered Fiona, “and I’m glad you’ve taken her advice to just do what you have time for and not worry as much.”

 “So am I,” Mindy agreed, “because I don’t have as much stress now.  I would like us to take some time every day so I can use the notebook I bought and put here on this shelf to write all the wisdom you can remember that you had gleaned while you cared for your great aunt.”

 When Fiona ran out of things she could remember, she got out the journal she had written while she was with her great aunt.  She scanned parts of it daily and told Mindy the things she found.  After that Mindy's notebook was almost full, so Mindy requested, “Fiona would you read through these and put stars by the most important ideas in this notebook and also numbers for the order they should be presented in a book of helpful ideas?”

 “Sure, Mindy,” replied Fiona, “I can work on doing it after the children are in bed and Matt is busy with a project in the workshop area of the garage.”

 In about a week, Fiona handed the notebook back to Mindy, “You took very good notes while I was talking.  I couldn’t even think of anything to add.”

 “Thank you, Fiona,” responded Mindy, “this has been a very interesting project.”

 At home Mindy made chapters with titles by grouping topics together with the most important ideas coming first in each group.  She typed it all into her word processor and proofread it many times.  Then she asked Fiona to proofread it also.  Afterward she made a table of contents for the book and even a glossary to explain some of the Irish terms.  It was a very impressive looking book with the full color cover Mindy made for it using one of the scenery pictures she had taken on RV trips with her parents.

 The title on the book’s cover was “A Legacy of Wisdom from Great Aunt Cara.”  Mindy couldn’t think of a way to make the title any shorter and still have it say what she wanted it to say.  The introduction stated that Fiona Anderson had learned these ideas from her Great Aunt Cara, and then had told them to Mindy Jones, who had compiled them into this book.

 Later Mindy found out how to publish the book as a free ebook, and also how to buy printed copies from a print on demand company.  She bought one printed copy each for Fiona, for Fiona’s parents, for her own parents, Vern and Lora, and one for herself when it was finished.

 When Mindy gave her a copy Fiona exclaimed, “Mindy this is beautifully done!  I’m very impressed and thank you so much for this gift!  It will be a keepsake and source of many good memories of the time I spent with my great aunt.”

 “You’re very welcome, Fiona,” responded Mindy, “and my copy will be a well used resource for me during many years as I learn to put her wisdom into practice.  So I thank you also!”

 Tomo and Ami Suehiro and their foster girl, Jenny went with the Jones family on an RV ministry trip in their motor homes to Canyonlands and Arches National Parks during the school vacation time for Labor Day.  In February they had talked together about their favorite places to go in the fall, and since they both liked this area, they had gotten reservations in separate areas of the campground of Arches National Park seven months in advance of their trip.  The campground there always fills up quickly in the spring and the fall since the weather is best at those times for the Moab, Utah area.  Therefore it’s a good idea to get reservations well in advance.  They wanted separate areas for each campsite, so their ministry times would have better coverage of the campground.

 As they visited one evening during the trip in the Jones’ RV, after their separate ministry times, Tomo mentioned, “I like the way these trips work out.  The booklet about travel evangelism has so many good ideas and we get to use them here in this park very well.  For instance, it’s interesting to go during the day to various viewing areas and find Japanese people to converse with in our native language.”

 “It certainly is,” agreed Ami, “I like being able to use our Japanese Bibles to show them answers to some of their questions.  I’m amazed at how open many of them are to talk about spiritual matters.”

 Lora went on, “Yes, and we even find that most English-speaking tourists are more open here than people are in Pine City.”

 Mindy added, “Yes, It’s fun to mention God’s creation and wait to see if someone will agree or would rather talk about evolution.”

 “Right,” said Vern, “and then the idea of having ministry meetings here in the national park campground works very well and it’s totally different than being at viewpoints or hiking.”

 “Exactly!” Tomo declared. “Most of the time the people who come to the meetings speak English, and many times the people are already believers and are happy to have fellowship with us.  Other times they are seekers and welcome the chance to get some of their questions answered.  And most of the time they know of good churches they can attend when they return home.  But I’m glad the church will provide a pastor to go start one if they don’t.”

 Ami stated, “Indeed, and I like it either way.  I think RV ministry trips are such a great idea for people who like to travel.”

 “Absolutely!” Vern declared.  “Our family was very grateful when we found this idea on the first list we got from church.  After reading the booklet, we were able to turn our enjoyment of traveling into a ministry for Jesus that we can do together as a family.”

 “Also,” added Mindy, “I like getting to teach some of the people how to sing using the hymnal if they’ve never done it before.”

 Tomo declared, “We think it’s fun to do that also.  And we got the RV ministry idea from the same list you did before we even started to travel.  We sure have enjoyed it.”

 “I’m glad,” and then Vern continued, “We found a new way to teach people how to use a hymnal.  Please go get your large poster, Mindy.”

 She came back quickly and held it up so Tomo and Ami could see it was an enlargement of a hymn out of a hymnal.  Mindy explained, “I used the hymn, ‘One Day,’ because it doesn’t have a copyright so we won’t get in trouble.  The song tells the story of Jesus and what he did so it gets a message across while they listen.  It goes well with Romans 5:8, God showed his love for us this way: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  I only drew in the lines of the music staffs to show where the words go, since I’m not good at drawing notes.  But I wrote all the stanzas of the song.”

 “Then,” continued Lora, “I hold the poster while Mindy and I sing all five verses of the hymn as a duet, and Vern points to the beginning of each line to show the people where we’re singing.  By the time we finish they have a good idea of how it works.”

 “After that,” concluded Vern, “we have them look up the same hymn in the hymnal and sing it with us.  This time Mindy continues to sing with us as she accompanies us on the autoharp, but it would work just as well by using the SD card in a boom box.”

 “What a great idea and a perfect song!” Ami exclaimed.  “I’ll have Aneko help me make a poster like that when we get home and we’ll use it with the boom box for people who don’t know how to use a hymnal on our next RV ministry trips.”

 One of the evenings during this ministry trip, the two families went on the sunset boat tour near Moab, Utah, on the Colorado River.  During the ride, a man named Frank helped a lady get her comb out of the tight place it had fallen after she combed her hair.  While he was getting it out, he was singing the song, “He is the Lord,” which includes names for Jesus like he is the King, and Mighty Prince of Peace.

 Somebody asked him, “Who is all those things?”

 Frank answered, “Jesus, the Christ or Messiah.  Both of those terms mean the Anointed One.  He is all of those things, and many, many more.”

 He went on to share the Good News with all the ones listening, and the Suehiro and Jones families prayed that the listeners would be drawn to Jesus for salvation.

 Frank did a very good job of explaining and answering questions, and many of the listeners did accept Jesus on that boat tour.  Many of them said it was the best part of the whole ride even though the scenery was spectacular!

 When they all returned home, Tomo and Ami thanked Afta and Hana for substituting for them in the Tea Room of their restaurant while they were gone.

 For one of their dates, Denji, Sara, Gary, and Kim decided to use some pamphlets Denji had gotten from the Pine City Visitor Center so they could learn about some local history and visit some historical spots.  The pamphlets had a map of the old downtown area.  Denji parked in a place near the middle of the map so they could make a loop and end up back at the vehicle when they finished, and then they would go to the small group meeting.

 They walked as couples with some space between them so they could talk as they went.  They would stop at each place and read what the pamphlet said and then make comments about the place.  The city had done a good job of restoring and maintaining these historical stores and civic buildings like the post office, library, town hall, and other government buildings.

 There were even some large historic homes for them to look at from the street and read about the important people who had lived there.  Some of them had very fancy, expensive architecture.  There was also a small farm house that was much older, but it had been restored.  It was in the exact place where it had been built before the area had become a town and then a city.

 Each of the four young people learned a lot about Pine City.  Three of them had been born there, but Denji was from another state.  At the small group meeting the songs and teaching were about how the believer’s citizenship is in heaven and that while we’re living on this earth we’re pilgrims and strangers.  It was an interesting contrast to the date the four young people had just finished.

 The first hymn they sang was “Sweet By and By.”  The lyrics are about a land believers wait for by faith that is much better than earth is.  The next one was “When We All Get to Heaven.”  It’s another hymn about how wonderful it will be in the place Jesus is preparing for those who believe in him.  The last hymn they sang was “Face to Face.”  The lyrics are about a longing to see our Savior, Jesus, in all his glory for all eternity.

 After the singing time, the facilitator had the group members read Hebrews 11:1-3 aloud together.  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  By it the elders obtained a good report.  Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

 He explained, “Verses 4-8 tell of things Abel, Enoch, Noah, and Abraham did by faith.”

 Next he asked one of the group members to read Hebrews 11:9,10, By faith Abraham stayed in the land of promise, as in a strange country, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise.  For he looked for a city … whose builder and maker is God.

 Then the facilitator commented, “As I remember in Genesis, God told Abraham to leave his home and probably some of his relatives to go to a land God would show to him.  Then when he finally got there, he never owned a home there but lived in tents as he moved from place to place.”

 Someone else remarked, “I don’t think I could have enough faith to do what he did.”

 The facilitator nodded, “It would be very difficult, just like the rest of the things talked about in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews.  Please read Hebrews 11:13 aloud with me.”  These heroes of faith all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

 Then Gary mentioned, “I think Hebrews 11:16 tells one reason they had such faith.  It says, But they desire a better country, that is a heavenly one.  Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

 “I agree,” and then the facilitator suggested, “Let’s use our concordances and see if we can find some more scriptures to read and comment on for this topic.”

 One member quickly found and read Hebrews 13:14, “For here we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come.  This scripture includes all believers, and goes well with the hymn we sang called ‘Sweet By and By.’  It’s a wonderful hope for us.”

 “It sure is,” and then Sara read Philippians 3:20,21, “For our citizenship is in heaven, from where we also look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will change our bodies that they may be fashioned like his glorious body, according to the power by which he is able to subdue all things to himself.  And when we see him face to face, we will be like him as it says in 1 John 3:2b.”

 Nodding, Kim followed with 2 Peter 3:13,14,…  “according to God’s promise we look for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.  Therefore, beloved, seeing that you look for such things, be diligent that you may be found by him in peace, without spot and blameless.  Our blessed hope gives us a good reason to live the way he desires for us to live while we’re still on earth.”

 Another group member found and read 1 Peter 2:11, Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrim, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul…  This verse goes well with the verses Kim just read.”

 Denji was last with 1 Peter 1:3-5, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his abundant mercy has made us be born again to a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance, incorruptible, undefiled, and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.  These verses tell more about our blessed hope.”

 During the conversational prayer the members praised God for his power and greatness, thanked him for the blessed hope and for the place Jesus is preparing for believers, and asked for help to live blameless lives for him here on earth.

 The twins, Joy and Hope Foster, are in fourth grade in the public school.  At home after supper, Joy remarked, “My partner, Lily, and I had a short conversation on the playground today with a couple girls who finally have agreed to be friends with us and they asked us some questions.  We had just enough time to answer them before the bell rang.  Maybe they’ll come talk some more tomorrow.”

 Their dad, Roy, stated, “I sure hope so and we’ll all pray that they will.”

 “For sure,” declared Hope, “and you can pray for my partner Rose and me as we eat lunch again with a new girl in our class.  She was very pleased that we chose to even talk to her.  So many times she has just been ignored when she goes to a new school, since they have to move a lot of times each year, because of her dad’s job.”

 Their mom, Sherry, commented, “We sure will pray for you.  I feel sorry for her.  It must be a hard life.  If she can accept Jesus before she has to move again, he can be her best friend and go with her.”

 The twins nodded and then Joy suggested, “Hope, let’s go practice with our New Testaments some more so we’ll be ready when they are.”

 “Good idea, Joy,” replied Hope, “it has been a while since we practiced.  We want to be able to do this smoothly and with good expression.”

 The next day Joy and Lily got to answer more questions and show the girls the illustration of Jesus being the bridge to God in their New Testaments.  By the end of the week, they understood and accepted Jesus.

 The new girl in the other class looked extra sad as she said, “We have to move again next week.”

 Hope replied, “I’m sorry and I wish you didn’t have to move.  Rose and I would like to show you something and you can ask questions about it if you have any.”

 Hope and Rose took turns explaining the bridge diagram and then answering her questions.  The girl accepted Jesus that day.

 “I’m so glad you accepted Jesus,” exclaimed Hope, “because now he can be your best friend and go with you to all your new schools!”

 The girl responded, “Good, then I won’t have to feel so lonely.”

 “For sure,” and then Rose asked, “Do you have a computer or cell phone and an email address?  If you do, then the three of us could be pen pals, or really email pals since we wouldn’t use pens.”

 “Yes I do, and I like your idea, Rose,” the girl replied.  “I’ll write my email address twice and give it to each of you next recess, and each of you two can give me yours.”

 The next recess they exchanged addresses and Hope gave the girl one of the little booklets for new believers.  She and Rose explained it to her and encouraged her to read it and share it with her parents.

 The rest of the week they met at recesses and lunch to answer questions about the booklet they had given her and to make plans about how to continue being friends by email.  They also taught her songs about Jesus as a friend like “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” Friendship with Jesus,” and “The Best Friend is Jesus.”

 Don mentioned, “Anita, I’m so glad about the announcement at our last small group meeting for pastors about a baptismal service for the people who have been saved recently.”

 “So am I,” stated Anita, “Now you can teach the new believers small group about water baptism at the next meeting so they’ll be ready by the week after.”

 Don nodded. “For sure, and I like watching how God adds to his church.  I also like hearing the testimonies of the new believers at the baptismal service.”

 So at the next new believers meeting he began his teaching, “When believers are baptized, it is in obedience to Jesus who said in Matthew 28:19 for his disciples to baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Colossians 2:12 says that we are buried with Jesus in baptism, and are also risen with him through faith in God who raised Jesus from the dead.  And 3:1 states: Since you are risen with Christ, seek those things, which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God.  This is one good scripture that tells us how we are to live now that we believe in Jesus.

 “Romans 6:11 says, Likewise consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.  This does not mean we'll never sin again though, because that won't happen until we get to heaven.  But when we do sin, we do as 1 John 1:9 says, If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

 Then he explained,  "Here is the reason why water baptism is so important.  Water baptism is a representation of being buried with Jesus when we go all the way down under the water, and of being raised with him when we come up out of the water.  It is also a public testimony to the people we know, that we’ve decided to believe in, follow, and obey Jesus for the rest of our lives.  Besides that, it is something we can look back on.  When we remember what it means, it can help us to live our lives for Jesus.”

 Next he showed them a video clip of a man and then a woman being baptized so the group would understand how it was done.  He instructed them to take a shower before the service, wear light-weight, dark colored clothing, and bring a towel, and dry clothes to put on after being baptized.  All this information and more was included in the little booklet he had given then the week before.

 Since they were meeting at the church that evening, they got to see the nice men’s and women’s dressing rooms and showers, the steps into and out of the baptismal reservoir which would have warm water in it, and then got to have all their questions answered in the smaller men’s or women’s groups.

 On the evening of the service, the people arrived early and were well prepared.  They sat with the person or people who had introduced them to Jesus, because those people wanted to encourage and rejoice with them.  Many brought one or more unbelieving friends with them to the service, since they were told there would be a teaching time including the Good News near the end of the service.

 The service began with two songs.  The first one was “He Ransomed Me” which goes with Hebrews 9:28a and 10:10b, Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many, …  and we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.  The second song was “Sunlight,” which goes well with John 8:12b where Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.  He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

 When it was time for one lady to give her testimony, she was full of joy.  She stated, “Two young ladies sang a song about heavenly sunlight and I got to hear it.  They were so nice, they explained the Good News to me and I asked Jesus to forgive my sins and be my Savior.  Later I found the song we sang tonight, “Sunlight” in the hymnal and it is my testimony! We all sang it tonight!”

 Sara and Kim were beaming smiles at her as they rejoiced again about her salvation.

 Next was an older man, who was smiling as he came down into the water.  He spoke up clearly, “Two young men interrupted their walk in the park to talk to an old man who was very despondent.  By the time they finished, I was filled with the joy of knowing my sins were forgiven and that Jesus would help me with all my other problems.  Now I want to live the rest of my life for him.”

 Denji and Gary gave him big smiles and thumbs up to encourage him.

 The two new senior boys gave short histories of their lives and how they changed for the better when they went to live on the farm with William and Anna Beckett and their other two boys.  They mentioned they were praying for God to guide them into his service.  The Beckett family was thrilled.

 Next were the two foster girls who lived in the city.  They gave testimonies similar to those boys.  The mothers of infants and their husbands each had their own grateful story and so did other new believers from the ministries of other people in the churches.

 One of the pastors gave a teaching at the end of the service which told all the unbelievers how they could have the same kind of joy and peace these others testified about.  Therefore many people prayed the prayer with him to accept Jesus, and went to get the little booklet with the card in it to give the pastor of the church they would attend the coming weekend.  Of course the other believers in the sanctuary were filled with rejoicing and thanksgiving about the newest believers who had accepted Jesus at this service.

 When the second crew was finished with the footings and foundations for the new houses on Mercy Valley Ranch, they built the garage and bedroom on Unice’s cabin.  The last things they put in were the doors leading into the kitchen from the garage and from the kitchen, dining, living area into the bedroom.

 Unice was so pleased and grateful for the extra space that having a bedroom gave her in what had been like a studio apartment.  Now it was more like a home and she could ask women from the ranch to come inside and visit once in a while.  Plus it would be so nice to have a garage for her car with an entrance into the cabin from the garage.  She would especially appreciate it when the weather was inclement.

 For many of the years she had worked on this ranch, Unice was unsure and concerned about whether Oscar and Vera really liked the way she was doing her job here.  But when they told her the reason they had the room and garage added to her cabin was to express their appreciation and entice her to stay and continue working for them, she was convinced and relieved.

 So she went and invited, “Oscar and Vera, please come look at my home now that I have moved the furniture around and gotten things settled.”

 After they had seen the completed project Vera exclaimed, “Hooray, I’m glad you like it!  Now you finally have a roomier home that is more like the rest of the ones here on the ranch.  We wanted you to know and to always remember that we both are very pleased with the way you do both of your jobs.  I’ve heard many comments from the people living on the ranch about how kind and caring and knowledgeable you are.

 Unice responded, “Thank you for the compliments and thank you both very much for taking such good care of me.  This is a wonderful surprise you gave me.”

 Next Unice called her foster parents, “Dad and Mom, the Visitor’s Cabin is empty so you could come for a visit if you have time.  I sure would enjoy seeing you again soon!”

 Her dad replied, “We’d like to see you also, and it just so happens that we are again between foster children, so we could arrive there this coming weekend and stay through the next one, if you can get reservations for us that soon.”

 “Super, Dad,” she responded, “please stay on the line and I’ll use my cell phone to call Vera right now to see if it will work.”  Unice quickly made the reservation with Vera and continued, “It’s all set, Dad.  I’ll look forward to seeing you both this coming Saturday.”

 They arrived mid-morning on Saturday with plenty of food to feed them and Unice all week in the Visitor's Cabin because they remembered how small her little cabin was, since part of it was her doctor’s office.

 After hugs and greetings, she took them inside her cabin and explained, “I've done some rearranging and have moved things around and there is more living space in my cabin.  We’ll even have room to sit in here and visit this time.  Also, look at my doctor’s office and you’ll be able to see where I get to spend some of my discretionary time typing on my autobiography.  I feel much more organized than I was the last time you visited here.”

 “This really is so much better!” Mom declared.  “Both rooms are less crowded and you cabin part is much more homelike.  I like the way you’ve fixed both parts.”

 “So do I,” added her dad, “you always did know how to make do or make things better.”

 “Thanks, Dad,” and then Unice admitted, “but now I’ll show you the real reason there’s so much more room in here.”

 She led the way to the bedroom door and opened it so they could go in and look while she explained the surprise Oscar and Vera had the building contractor do for her cabin.  Then she showed them the garage.

 Her mom exclaimed, “This is perfect!  I’m so glad we got to come here and see this for ourselves.”

 “Plus,” her dad continued, “I was glad to hear that Oscar and Vera made a way to lessen your work load, which is going to increase with each new two-story house that is finished and filled with two more families of six people each.”

 Unice concurred, “Indeed, they are such nice people to work for.  They’re really more like friends than bosses.”

 “How wonderful for you,” her mom stated, “I’m so happy for you, and I’m relieved to know you have more room in your cabin and that you aren’t going to be overworked.

 “I will admit,” her dad said, “that I was worried about you when you told me about their plans for the ranch.  But it sounds like it will all work out very well, and I’m glad.  So now I’m eager for our visits and as many horseback rides as we have time for while we’re here.”

 After the baptismal service, the next small group for the new believers focused on teaching them about the Holy Spirit and his part in their new lives and the church.  It included the basics of the Trinity which means we have one God in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

 Then they looked up and read various scriptures and listened to the facilitator explain them.  First they read John 14:15-17, If you love me, keep my commandments, and I will ask the Father and he shall give you another Comforter, to be with you forever, the Spirit of truth.  The world cannot receive him … but you know him because he dwells with you and shall be in you.  And, verse 26 says, The Comforter, who is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father shall send in my name, shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance that I have said to you.  Jesus said all this to his disciples shortly before he died on the cross for them and all the people in the world.  This is another reason it is good to read the Bible, so the Holy Spirit can remind you what it says.”

 Acts chapter 2 tells how the Father sent the Holy Spirit.  You can read that chapter at home.”

 Next he said, "Jesus, by his Spirit, does his will and works through believers, who are filled with the Holy Spirit, and who are willing to serve Jesus in his church, which is called the body of Christ possibly because since Jesus is in heaven, he works through believers in the church to do his work on the earth.  Believers all over the world are what Paul calls the body of Christ.  In 1 Corinthians 12:12,13a it says, for as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.  For by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles.  All believers are doing Jesus work all over the world because he is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance as it says in 2 Peter 3:9b.  But it's up to each person to repent and believe.  It is a wonderful privilege and responsibility to serve Jesus!"

 Then he had them find and read aloud 1 Corinthians 12:27,28,31.  Now you are the Body of Christ, and members in particular. And God has placed some in the church, first, apostles, second, prophets, third, teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.  Desire earnestly the best gifts…

  He stressed, “All the gifts listed in these scriptures plus others listed elsewhere are useless, unless they are done with love, God's kind of love, described in 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8a.  Love is patient, love is kind; it does not envy or boast and is not proud.  It does not behave rudely, is not selfish, is not easily angered, and does not think evil.  It rejoices in the truth, not in iniquity.  It bears and believes and hopes and endures all things, and it never fails.”

 Then they had time to ask questions and get them answered, and each family or single went home with a booklet which contained a review of all that information plus more scriptures to read and explanations to help them understand them.  During the next small group they could ask more questions so they would be sure to understand this important part of their lives as believers.

 Denji, Sara, Gary and Kim had many other dates, ministry times, and small group meetings during the next several weeks while Denji and Sara allowed time for Gary and Kim to catch up emotionally and in their relationship to where they were.  They all learned enough about each other to be very comfortable spending time together.  The ladies were pleased that the gentlemen had passed all the tests on Fiona’s check list, and the gentlemen were truly pleased with everything about the ladies.

 Gary liked conversing with Denji while he was riding back to the farm, after they spent time with the ladies.  They shared how their relationships were growing and some of the things they liked about the dates they had been on together.

 After those weeks had passed, one evening Sara and Kim were waiting for Denji and Gary to pick them up with their picnic supper to use after their ministry time as a team, when they would go on a date.

 Sara mentioned, “Kim, I get the feeling it won’t be very long before we both hear proposals.  How do you feel about it?”

 Kim admitted, “I really love Gary a lot, but I’ll remind you that for a while I was worried about his desire to raise four teenage foster boys on the farm.  I know nothing about teenage boys, so I was fearful for a while.”

 “Right,” Sara remembered, “I had mentioned to you that Gary does, and he can teach you about them, and I can teach Denji about teenage girls so we can live on the ranch and raise four of them.”

 “You're right of course,” Kim conceded, “and Gary did tell me he could teach me, plus I told you he said the farm isn’t changing to fourteen as a replacement age, so we can choose younger ages to begin with, since we’re still so young and the teenage boys might not respect such young parents.  Besides, I know God will help us also, like it says in Psalm 124:8, Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.  So I don’t worry about it.  In fact now I’m looking forward to his proposal.”

 “I’m glad,” replied Sara, “and I think you two are right about the boys.  But I don’t think the teenage girls will be a problem for us in that way.”

 Kim agreed, “Right, because you’ve always been more mature acting than I was, and Denji is also, plus he is a year older than we are.  I think you’ll do just fine with the teenage girls.”

 Just then, the intercom sounded and the girls carried the picnic supper they had prepared and placed in a cooler to keep it cold and went down in the elevator to go with the men to a park for their ministry time and then ride with them to Mercy Valley Ranch.  This week there were no opportunities to talk to people, but they did pray for them as they walked around in the park.

 At the ranch, they hiked with Denji’s parents, Afta and Hana, and with Gary’s mom, Anna, to Lavender Falls.  It was wonderful and full of good memories from past years for all of them.

 Anna remarked, “This hike to Lavender Falls is one of my favorite hikes even though I’ve done it often and know what to expect, I still look forward to all we see along the way.  And best of all is the falls, which is spectacular at any time of the year.”

 “Yes,” agreed Kim, “today the fall wildflowers are still blooming and add their beauty along the trail.”

 “Definitely,” Sara added, “we got to learn a lot about wildflowers of all three seasons when Vera’s girls taught us how to make a pressed wildflower scrapbook one year.”

 Denji remarked, “It sounds interesting.  I hope I’ll get to see it someday.”

 “I’ll be glad to show it to you,” Sara responded.

 “Same here, Kim,” Gary added, “it does sound interesting.”

 Kim replied, “Certainly, we’ll bring them to show you during the next date we have on the ranch.”

 They all relished seeing the falls when they reached them and the picnic supper was extra delicious in the fresh air and company.  The girls received many compliments.  They had become good cooks with all of Yolanda’s teaching.

 Then the two couples found places where they could talk, and the parents made themselves “scarce.”

 Denji told Sara about his job security and proposed to her there beside the delightful falls.  Of course Sara was glad to say “Yes!”  After he slipped an engagement ring on her finger, they stood up for their first hug and kiss.  They would save the others for their wedding and afterward.  It was very romantic and Denji’s dad had captured it all on a video for their later memories.  

 Since Denji and Gary had planned this together, Gary’s mom also got a video of Gary proposing to Kim and her answer, so they could enjoy their memory for years afterward.  Kim was so glad that she could say “Yes!”

 One day a member of the Grace ‘n’ Faith church was looking out her window to the street.  She heard and saw a motorbike and it was going very fast toward the cul-de-sac at the end of the block.

 “Oh no!” she stated, “I don’t want to see a wreck!”  however she stayed and watched anyway.

 The rider did well most of the way around the cul-de-sac until he hit some sand on the road and the motorbike slid right out from under him.  The rider fell clear of the bike and lay still.

 The woman called 911, reported the wreck and address, and then put on the orange vest she used for jogging, grabbed a blanket, and her cellphone and ran to see if she could help.  The rider lifted his head to look for his bike, and put it down again with a moan.

 She knelt beside him talking soothingly, “Please just lie still.  Don’t try to move.  I’ll cover you with this blanket and stay here with you until the ambulance arrives.  Would you like me to call someone in your family and tell them about this?”

 “No!” he exclaimed, “I don’t want to worry them.  I should be okay in a few minutes and I’ll go see how badly wrecked the bike is.”

 She responded, “Just relax for now.  It doesn’t look too bad from what I can see.  While we wait here, maybe you could tell me what you believe about Jesus.”

 He replied, “That’s a strange topic.  I’ve never even thought about him.  My parents go to church but I don’t go with them.”

 “Do you know,” she asked, “Jesus saw this whole wreck, just like I did?  He wants you to know he loves you and died to pay the penalty for all your sins.  Then he rose again and lives in heaven where he

knows everything about everybody.  He knows you need to believe in him and ask him to forgive your sins so he can be your Savior and take you to heaven when you die.”

 “Do you think I’m going to die from this wreck?” he asked.

 She answered, “I honestly don’t know, but I do know you hit the ground very hard and could have internal injuries.  Even if you don’t die from this wreck, you will die some day, like the Bible verse in Hebrews 9:27 says, it is appointed unto men to die, and after this is the judgment.  You need to believe in Jesus before you die, because you won’t have another chance after you’re dead.”

 “That’s scary!” he declared.

 She soothed him again, “I didn’t mean to scare you, and you don’t need to stay scared, just confess your sins to Jesus and ask him to forgive you.  Tell him you believe in him and want him to be your Savior so you can live for him if you recover from this wreck, or if you would for some reason die, you know you will go to heaven, like it says in Romans 6:23, For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

 “All right,” he agreed, “I’ll do it right now.”  And he did.  Then he smiled a peaceful smile in spite of his pain and thanked her for caring enough to come help him.  She told him he was very welcome.

 Just then the ambulance came, and the paramedics took control.  After answering all their questions, the lady took the blanket and went back to her house, praying for the young man and rejoicing that he had accepted Jesus.  She left a note for her husband explaining that she had gone to the hospital to check on the young man who had been injured in a motorbike wreck on their street.

 At the hospital she met his parents and found out he was going to be OK, aside from some road rash and a broken arm.  They thanked her for helping and staying with him, and especially for leading him to Jesus for salvation.  They had been praying for him for years.  The lady was glad she had been able to help.

 Lora commented after supper, “I thought our small group last night was extra special.  The songs were some of my favorites.”

 “Same here,” said Vern, “and I always like to hear the scriptures that go with the songs.”

 “So do I,” Mindy added, “and I’m glad the three of us get to attend the small groups as a family.  Plus I like the way the teaching time goes so well with the songs and Bible verses.”

 Vern agreed, “Yes, and I like the way the teaching commended us for already doing what the songs and verses contained.  The facilitator reminded us to use these as an encouragement to keep up the good work.”

 Looking at her notebook, Lora nodded emphatically and stated, “The first song was ‘O Master, Let Me Walk With Thee,’ and the verse for it is 1 John 2:6, He who says he abides in Jesus, ought to walk as he walked.  The hymn had some good ideas of how to walk in our service, with words of love, patiently, and with strong faith.”

 “Right,” Mindy added, “I really liked the first part of the fourth verse because it was about sending hope as a light to brighten the future.”

 “Yes we all need that hope,” continued Vern, “the next hymn was ‘Lord, Speak to Me,’ and it goes with 2 Timothy 2:1b,2, … be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.  And the things you have heard…, tell also to faithful men who shall be able to teach others also.  The words of the hymn were like a sermon and prayer at the same time.  All four verses were very meaningful.”

 Lora looked it up and agreed, “Absolutely, Dear, I think the song writer wrote it like a prayer but it also teaches us to use Jesus’ manner of speaking and seek the lost, teach what he teaches us, be full of Jesus and overflow with kind and loving words.  The last verse asks him to use us now and until we see his precious face.”

 “Absolutely, it’s a very good song,” then Mindy went on, “the third song was ‘Come all Christians, Be Committed,’ which goes with Romans 12:11b, … be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.  As we were singing all those good stanzas, I noticed that the end of the first one would go well with Romans 12:2, Don’t be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so you may prove what is the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God.”

 “Yes it does,” and Vern concluded, “The last song was ‘Make Me a Blessing,’ and it is one of my very favorite hymns to pray.  It has so many good ways we can be a blessing by carrying sunshine into the darkness, helping those who are sorrowing, telling the Good News, helping those in need, and proving that we trust Jesus by the way we live.  The song goes with Proverbs 11:11a, By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted.  If everyone would live this way, Pine City would be changed for the better for sure.”

 “Positively, and I like the way we can talk about church and small groups,” Mindy added, “we always have good things to say and never criticize like some people do.  My parents are the best!”

 Her dad and mom said back to her, “And you're the best too!”

 The three families, Ross, Foster, and Iverson continued meeting at the park as often as they could find time and weather good enough to be outside.  This time they had planned a picnic lunch on a Sunday where each family brought four of their favorite picnic foods to share with the other families.  Since the Iverson family was so much larger than the other two, they brought large amounts of food so their growing boys would have enough to eat.

 Greg Iverson called, “Boys, come to the back of the vehicle and you can help carry food and other things to the big table over there.”

 “Yum!” Jack exclaimed, “this one might not reach the table.  It smells so good I just might eat it all before I get there.”

 The others just laughed with him since they knew he was just joking, but the pan he carried did smell delicious.

 Kevin was next, “This large bowl of fresh green salad is so pretty with the vegetables we get to use sometimes from the farm that aren’t good enough to be sent to the markets.”

 “It sure is and I’ll follow you, Kevin,” said Levi, “with this assortment of salad dressings, although the greens are so fresh and crisp they don’t really need dressing.”

 Cory stated, “I’d like to sit down right here and eat a piece or two of this hot roasted chicken before I carry the rest to the table, but of course I wouldn’t do a thing like that!”

 Max observed, “I get to carry the paper plates, cups, and plastic silverware.  It’s not even heavy, and you don’t have to worry about me eating it before it gets to the table.”

 Oralie laughed with them as she and Greg carried the rest of the food to the big table.

 So after they got it all set up on the big table, Pastor Don gave thanks and they all enjoyed the pot luck picnic.

 All the families had planned very well, and there was plenty for all.  And because all those who desired to, went back for seconds and thirds, there wasn’t any food left to spoil in the sun, after the salad dressings were put back in the cooler.  Therefore the parents could visit while the children played together and there was no worry about left over food spoiling.

 This time when the families met at the park, the kids talked about how much they had grown and how many ball skills they had learned since the last time they had gotten to be together.

 Toward the end of their first talking time, Joy emphasized, “Cory, I want to thank you again for all the ball skills you taught to Hope and me!”

 “Same here,” added Hope, “and for the skills you taught your brothers, because they came during many of the recesses at the church school and taught us and the quadruplets some of them.”

 Cory’s brothers added their thanks to Cory also.  Then they all used some of the ball skills as they played.  Later when they needed a rest they talked about what they were doing in school.

 Denji, Sara, Gary and Kim continued to do their four member ministry team, date, and attend their small group, where they announced their engagements.  Then they explained they couldn’t make wedding plans yet, because Gary was still saving money to buy a used vehicle, and they needed time to plan where they would live until they would be able to move to Mercy Valley Farm and Ranch where they would raise foster children.  They were on the waiting lists for a house to live in for both places

 There were lots of congratulations and then the conversational prayer time at that small group meeting contained many blessings and scriptures for the two happy couples.  Sara and Kim took notes so they could review them later and feel blessed all over again.  Those scriptures included the following.

 Philippians 4:19,… my God shall supply all you needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

 James 1:17, Every good and perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

 Numbers 6:24-26, The LORD bless you and keep you.  The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you.  The LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

 3 John 1:2, Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your souls prosper.

 2 Corinthians 9:8, And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.

 And Philippians 2:13, For it is God who works in you both to will and to do his good pleasure.

 For many of their dates after their engagements, the two couples went to the ranch to ride horses with the Hopkins family.  It was one of their favorite activities, and it gave Gary time to get to know Kim’s parents and the rest of her family.

 One nice weekend they taught Denji how to launch the boat and how to row, so they had a nice time on Wild Mint Lake before it got too cold to go rowing.

 Kim declared, “I especially like the fact that you're so strong, Gary, and I don’t even have to help with the rowing.  I can just enjoy the ride.  Besides, you are really good at launching the boat and getting in without getting your feet wet.”

 Gary admitted, “It took me several weeks of practicing before I could do it with dry feet, but thank you for the compliments.”

 In the other boat, Sara applauded, “Denji, you are a very fast learner and you’re doing a great job of making the boat go where you want it to go.”

 “Thank you, Sara,” Denji responded, “you three are good teachers and I’m glad these boats have flat bottoms and are hard to tip over.  This way I don’t have to worry about dumping us into the lake.”

 Sara laughed, “I’m glad about that fact too.  It wouldn’t be very fun to get wet and the lake isn’t very clean either.”

 “No,” agreed Denji.  “It’s nice for rowing, but I wouldn't like to go swimming in it.”

 “The same applies for me,” stated Sara.  “The lake is also good for irrigating the horse pastures and the lawn at the Yardley’s house.  However, I heard they’ll use community water for the lawn at the house that we will get to live in on this ranch.”

 “What a good idea!” Denji exclaimed.  “This way the girls can play in the sprinklers if they want to, without worrying about whether the water is clean enough.”

 Fiona was always grateful for the assistance from her mom, Glenda, and her “adopted” mom, Betty, when either of them had time to come to her home.  And of course Mindy came every weekday afternoon and one morning of the weekend and they had established a great routine.  But when Fiona was alone, she had also become very proficient in homemaking and in the care of all four children no matter what stage of development they were in at the time.

 Right now Johnny was always busy, running everywhere he went, playing with toys on the floor, or climbing up on the couch.  Patrick had a hard time keeping up with him since his legs weren’t as long and his balance wasn’t as good.  The twins were just starting to learn how to walk.  So when they were all awake, Fiona was busy every minute keeping track of each of them.

 Even when she was tired from all the work involved, she smiled and kept going, doing these tasks for her family as if it were for the Lord, like it says in Colossians 3:23, … whatever you do, do it heartily as to the Lord, and not unto men…  She knew that being a wife, homemaker, and mother were God’s will for her right now.  This knowledge made the hard parts easier, and the fun parts, a joy.

 Very early on a Saturday morning in the fall, the Yardleys and their four girls were in the special blind Nathan had built for watching the wildlife that came before the sun was up to get drinks from Wild Mint Lake and Mercy Stream.  Of course they all stayed quiet until the animals left just before the sun came up.  Then they went outside and found places to sit so they could talk.

 Vera mentioned, “We got to see more animals than we usually do this time.  I really enjoyed the fox family today.  The kits are almost full grown now but they’re still playful.”

 “Yes,” agreed Oscar, “I’m glad they stayed by the lake for what seemed like a long time today.”

 Liz commented, “I agree and I liked to see the raccoon family catching and eating their breakfast.  They don’t even look where they are feeling under the water, but they all caught something quickly.  I remember, Dad, that you told us they wash it to feel more about what it is than to make it clean.”

 “Yeah,” Emma remarked, “and I liked to see how much the doe’s twin fawns have grown.  Their spots are almost gone now.”

 Stella stated, “And, Dad, I’m really glad you had Nathan build this special building so we can come watch the animals once in a while without it bothering them.”

 “Same here,” said Emma, “we get to learn so many neat things firsthand here on this ranch.  It’s always so much better than just books or videos.

 “Exactly,” Nan went on, “we’re getting a better education from all the things we do here on the ranch than we get in the public school, even though all four of us are in middle school.

 Liz added, “And it will continue to be better even when Stella and I get into high school next year.  Although I know we do need to learn what they are teaching there also, so I’m glad you encourage us to do our best and get good grades.”

 “Right,” Nan continued, “but here on the ranch, we get to learn things they don’t teach in schools, like about the wildflowers, trees, animals, horses, and now we’re all learning how to use the sewing machine so we can start making some of our own clothes.”

 “Definitely,” Stella concurred, “plus, I’m thankful for all the things we’re learning about cooking and housekeeping.  Mom, you are such a good teacher and you make it fun and interesting to learn.”

 Vera smiled with the joy of motherhood, “Thank you, Stella for the compliment and I’m so glad to hear all the good comments from you

other girls.  Dad and I really like having all of you in our family.

 “Absolutely,” Oscar exclaimed, “all of you girls have learned so much since you came to live with us here on the ranch!  And the best thing is that all of you know and love Jesus!

Chapter 4

Ephesians 5:15,16a, Be very careful how you live, not as unwise,

but as wise, making the most of every opportunity…

 There were two couples in the group that prepared the music for the church services who liked to join forces and sing as a quartet for their ministry times.  They had music to accompany them on a small boombox, so they practiced together and memorized the scriptures that went with the songs so they could sing for people in the parks.

 For many nice weekends of this spring, summer, and fall, they sang, “Only Jesus Can Satisfy Your Soul.” as their first song.  A summary of this song is that people search the world to fill their inner longings, but the world can’t fill them.  Being rich or famous or having a busy life won’t do it.  Only Jesus can change, heal, and give love and peace and eternal life with him.  Then they quoted the following verses.

 In Ezekiel 11:19 God said, “I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them.  I will take the stony heart out and give them a heart of flesh.”

 1 John 5:11 says, This is the record, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

 The other song they sang was, “Jesus Is Still the Answer.”  This song talks about people trying to prove that God doesn't exist, but the singers testify that Jesus is real because he saved and forgave them.  People might look everywhere else, but only Jesus is the answer.

 After singing that song they quoted the following verses.

 Romans 5:9, being justified by his (Jesus) blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

 Acts 16:31, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved, and your house.

 Acts 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

 In John 10:9a, Jesus said, I am the door.  By me if any man enter in, he shall be saved…

 Psalm 86:5, For you, Lord, are good and ready to forgive, with plenty of mercy to all who call on you.

 When they finished the verses they asked the people who had been listening if there were any questions about the Good News, answered all of them, and then invited the people to accept Jesus as their Savior.  Many of them did, praise the LORD!

 Nathan and Esther and their girls were looking at a new pair of horses.  Nathan and Esther had just brought them to the ranch from the local humane society, while the girls were at school that day.  Everyone spoke quietly.

 “Oh!  They’re so pretty!” Holly exclaimed.  “And they look like identical twins just like Willow and I do.”

 “They sure do,” agreed Willow.  “I like their reddish brown color, and their coats are so shiny.”

 Val observed, “If you look closely at their faces, a good way to tell them apart is that one has a narrow blaze and the other horse has a blaze that is wider.  That horse also has a white boot.”

 “But they look like they are so scared and nervous,” observed Lucia.  “I feel sorry for them over there by the fence of the portable paddock, as far away from us as they can get.”

 Esther noticed, “Oscar and Vera said almost the same things you girls just did, but Vera added that one horse is a little lighter color.”

 “What did she name them?” asked all the girls at once.

 Nathan smiled at them.  “She named them for the colors of a couple spices.  The one with the narrow blaze is Chile Powder, and the one with the wider blaze and one white boot is Paprika.”

 “They are both 14 hands tall,” added Esther, “and Vera didn’t have to think very long to come up with names for them.  I like the way she picks names for the horses on the ranch and they seem to fit each horse so well.”

 “Yep,” agreed Willow, “and these will be easy names to remember. I look forward to riding these horses when they’re ready.”

 “So do I,” stated Holly, “and I’ll be glad when they aren’t scared and nervous any longer.”

 Esther nodded, “It will probably take several weeks, since they had some pretty rough treatment by other people.”

 “What breed are they?” Val asked.  “And do they have good comfortable gaits or do they trot?”

 Nathan answered, “They are Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horses, so we assume they don’t trot, but we didn’t try to ride them since they are so scared of people.  We need to gain their trust and retrain them.  These two will take us longer than Dapplie did.”

 “Well,” Lucia declared, “it will be worth all your time and effort to give these two pretty horses a kind, loving home.  I’m glad my dad and mom know how to do it.”

 During the months before their high school graduation William and Anna’s new pair of foster boys had been listening to what Sam and Evan had said their plans would be for when they would turn nineteen.  So they had begun to think seriously about what they would do.  Their conversation with William and their decision follows.

 One of them said, “I’ve heard about a lot of people joining the army after high school, but I’d rather do something to serve Jesus since he has done so much for me.”

 William stated, “I'm glad you feel that way.  We all owe a lot to Jesus for what he has done for us.”

 The other one added, “I feel the same way, but what could we do?  We don’t have any special skills.”

 William explained, “There’s a man in Church #4 who studied in a seminary for four years to become a chaplain in the armed services.  He joined the army and was a chaplain.”

 “But, we have no money to attend a seminary,” declared the first one, “so we can’t do that.”

 “No you can't,” agreed William, “but while he was there he developed a plan which he put into effect here in Pine City.  He got the army to agree with his plan which is to let young men, who desire to stay single and serve Jesus, join the army and go to the Grace ‘n’ Faith school of evangelism for two years where he can teach them everything he learned in four years at a seminary within two years and they receive a certificate that the army accepts for them to be chaplains.”

 The second one exclaimed, “I really like the sound of that plan, since I have no desire to get married!  But who pays for it?”

 “The army does,” answered William, “actually you do, by joining the army and working for them.  You would stay in the barracks at the army base near Pine City and do whatever daytime jobs they have for you and then you would attend the ‘free’ classes at the church in the evening.  In reality, the classes are paid for by donations of people who attend the church.”

 “It sounds too good to be true,” sighed the first one.

 William reassured him, “But it really is true.  His first class has completed their first year and will graduate next December.”

 They looked at each other and nodded.  “Let’s do it then!”

 So they decided to join the army when they could, and attend Kosuke’s classes to become chaplains in the army.  They had made friends with the two boys in the other family who would also be graduating from the farm.  They liked the idea also, so all four of them would join the Army and take Kosuke’s classes to become chaplains.  From that point on they, with Sam and Evan, studied the Bible more in depth with William during their senior year and while waiting to turn nineteen at the farm.

 They could stay on the farm until they were nineteen and social services would let them legally join the army.  After high school they all attended the classes at the church until their nineteenth birthdays when they would go to live in the barracks.

 In the fall a young man driving a van turned it and entered a small subdivision.  A man in one of the houses heard a motor running that didn’t sound like it was working right, so he went outside to look for it and investigate.  As he was closing the door of his house, the motor was turned off and the driver got out of the van.  They met on the sidewalk near the house.

 The driver said, “I’m looking for a place where I could rake the leaves and make a little spending money.”

 “Well,” said the man, “If you look around this subdivision, you’ll notice it doesn’t have any deciduous trees, because the people living here don’t want to be bothered with leaves every fall.”

 “Oh, I see,” responded the disappointed driver.  “Do you know of some places in this city that do have deciduous trees?”

 The man answered, “Yes I do, but before I tell you where they are, I also have a small job you could do in exchange for me fixing the motor in your van.  You see, I’m a mechanic and I could hear that something is wrong with it.”

 “Fantastic!” exclaimed the driver.  “Just tell me what to do and I’ll get started with the job you have.”

 The man took him into the backyard and showed him the weeds and tools he had just taken out there to remove them.

 The driver commented, “This is a job I can do, but I know nothing about fixing motors.  Here’s the key to the van.”  Then he put on his gloves, picked up a tool, and started after those weeds.

 The man was impressed and went to work on the motor of the van.

 They both finished at about the same time.  The backyard had never looked so good and the van’s motor ran like a new one.

 “Come on in,” said the man, “we can get washed up and my wife has some refreshments for us.  Then I can show you some places where you can find some leaves to rake.”

 The driver replied, “Thank you.  It sounds good.”

 As they were drinking apple juice and eating ginger cookies the man remarked, “I saw a Bible on the passenger side of the van.  Are you a believer?”

 “A what?” asked the driver.  “I don’t know what you mean.”

 The man clarified, “I meant, do you believe what the Bible says?”

 “I don’t know,” was the answer.  “I’ve never read the Bible.  The man at the last place where I raked leaves had no money, so he paid me with a Bible.”

 “Terrific!” declared the man, “he gave you a real treasure!”

 The driver was skeptical, “Why?  Is it an antique that I could sell and get a lot of money for it?”

 “No,” answered the man, “it’s a treasure because it contains the wisdom of God and can show you the way to have eternal life in Heaven and how to live here on earth until then.”

 “Well,” contemplated the driver, “those are good sounding things, but I’ll have to admit that I’m more interested in making money right now.”

 “I understand,” acknowledged the man.  “Here’s a map of the city and I’ll mark some areas on it for you.  In addition I’ll give you a little book about the Bible so you’ll know where to look for those good sounding things in it.  My phone number is on the last page of this book, so if you have any questions, feel free to call and ask me.”

 The driver responded, “Thank you.  I’ll do it after I go rake some leaves and earn enough money to buy my supper.”

 The man put his hand on the driver’s arm and admitted, “I didn’t know you were in that type of need.  My wife and I would like you to come back here for supper and maybe we could help you find a permanent job.”

 “Thank you very much,” he replied, “I can tell you people really care and are different from so many others.  I’ll see you at suppertime.  Thanks again.”

 One evening when tasks and homework were finished, Jeff and Karen received a phone call.  Their girls got to listen to it, since Jeff had turned on the speaker for Karen to join him.

 “Hi, Jeff and Karen, this is Clara, and I just called to thank you again and give you an update on how our lives and ministry are going.”

 “Hi, Clara,” responded Jeff, “We’re always so happy to hear from you.  We’re glad you called.”

 “And I’m glad you’re glad,” replied Clara, “I like talking to the two of you two even though it isn’t very often.  My husband and I were reminiscing last night about our time in Pine City and about the astonishing way God worked through the church and used both of you to help the two of us to get married while we were living there in separate apartments.  It was so much better than having to wait until we moved to this city, got jobs, and could afford a wedding on our own.  The two of you planned a beautiful wedding for us and then even took pictures of it to give to us so we can have those pleasant memories whenever we look at them.  So I just wanted to call and thank you again for all you did!”

 Karen declared, “You’re entirely welcome and remember it was our pleasure to be able to do it for you.  You make a very good couple and it’s perfect that you get to work together in ministry for Jesus.”

 “Positively,” said Clara, “because it would have been very lonely and not very safe to try and minister alone here in this city.  I told you last time about the church they planted here.  It’s working very well and is growing steadily.  We have had several baptismal services at private home swimming pools and we can still meet for services in the largest family’s home.”

 Jeff mentioned, “That sounds like great progress, and we’ll pray for God to continue to help your new church.”

 Then Karen told Clara about the happenings in Pine City and on Mercy Valley Ranch and Farm.

 “Amazing!” Clara exclaimed. “I think it’s a wonderful idea to add more houses on Mercy Valley Ranch so forty more abused girls can be reached for Jesus and be restored.  Then as each of them goes out to make her own living and do ministries, another girl can take her place on the ranch.  I’m glad there are so many people willing to work for Jesus.”

 They closed the phone call with praise and a conversational prayer time.

 After the phone call, Jeff and Karen got to explain to their girls about the way the Grace ‘n’ Faith Church had helped Clara and her husband with their schooling and living expenses and more about how Jeff and Karen had gotten to help with Clara’s wedding.  Their girls thought it sounded like an unbelievable love story in a romance novel.

 Later in the fall, Tomo and Ami took their foster girl, Jenny, for a long trip in the RV to see some of the places they had traveled to, and also added some places that would be new to them.  She could also help them during the ministry times.  Several months ahead of time they had made reservations in the campgrounds of the national and state parks they planned to visit, so they had a full schedule to keep.

 To begin with, they spent three nights in the Arches National Park Campground.  They especially enjoyed the scenic drive all the way through the park to get to it.  The first night they arrived too late for a meeting since they got a late start for the long drive from Pine City.

 The next day they hiked to Landscape Arch and then on the way back, they hiked to Tunnel and Pine Tree Arches.  As they were hiking back to the RV van, Ami took off running, while the other two watched, wondering why.  They heard her shout, “Runaway hikers ramp!”  So they joined her, running to, and up a natural sandy ramp between two rock fins, where they all collapsed on the sand and had a good long laugh.  Then they drove to see North and South Windows, Turret Arch, and Double Arch from the road, but they didn’t hike up to them.  

 They got back early enough to have a late afternoon meeting, which had a good number of people attending.  Their first song was “One Day” and they used the large poster Aneko had helped them to make, so they could teach the people how to use the hymnal.  Then they sang “Softly and Tenderly,” which goes with Matthew 11:28-30, where Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and humble in heart, and you shall find rest for your soul, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

 They explained the Good News and answered many questions. Afterwards they sent a pamphlet with each family or individual so the people could read and have time to think it over before the next meeting.

 The next day they got an early start carried their lunches and extra water so they could hike slowly, resting whenever they needed to, along the trail to Delicate Arch.  Aneko and Kosuke had told them how they had enjoyed it and had encouraged them to go slowly and carefully.

 Ami commented, “Aneko and Kosuke were right, you can’t see the arch while you are hiking, so it’s a good thing we saw some pictures of it so we know it deserves our time and effort.”

 “Right,” replied Tomo, “and of course we can believe them when they told us it is worth the long steep hike.”

 Jenny added, “I’m glad they have those markers called cairns to show us the way, or we’d never get there.”

 As they rounded the last corner there were lots of oohs and aahs and Ami exclaimed, “They were right!  This arch is awesome and it was definitely worth the long hike!”

 They found a place to sit and eat their lunches while they looked at, and through the arch to the La Sal Mountains in the distance.  The hike back down was easier, but they were very careful not to get going too fast or fall down.  After that hike they still had time and energy to take the short hike to Sand Dune Arch.

 Many of the same people returned for the second meeting which started with the hymn “Jesus I Come,” and the scripture in Isaiah 53:6, All we like sheep have gone astray.  We have turned every one to his own way, and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

 After singing two other hymns that the people chose, Tomo and Ami’s foster girl, Jenny, told the people her story of how she had been abused, had run away from home and dropped out of school.  But the Suehiros had found out about her and had the social services office assign her to their home.

 Then she went on, “They took such good care of me and I went with them to church and I’m being tutored by their grown daughter so I can finish high school on the computer.  They also taught me many things about the Bible and I listened at their church to the same Good News as you have heard here yesterday and today.

 “I believed it and asked Jesus to forgive me for all my sins and be my Savior.  He has healed all my past hurts and helped me forgive my parents for what they did.  All my siblings who were still home when I left, have been put into Caring Foster Homes also where they also are learning about Jesus.  Do you have any questions?”

 She answered questions and was able to lead several people in a prayer to accept Jesus.  Then she rejoiced with them, gave them the little booklet for new believers and encouraged them, “Be sure to find a good church and small group you can attend when they return to your homes.  It needs to be one that believes like the last part of the little booklet explains.”  They said they would.  And she continued, “If you can’t find one, please call us using the phone number on the back of the booklet and we will do whatever we can to help you.”

 Their next stop was at Capitol Reef National Park.  They arrived in time to drive on the scenic road and then get set up for a meeting, which was similar to the first one at Arches.

 The next day they hiked to Hickman Bridge.  Tomo commented, “This hike seems steeper than it did the last time we came here.”

 “I agree,” said Ami, “but it probably seems that way because we are getting older and some things get harder to do.”

 Jenny added, “It does have some steep parts, but since we use the treadmill regularly, it’s not too tiring and this sure is a gorgeous place.”

 “It certainly is!” Ami exclaimed.  “This national park has more color and variety in its formations than many of the others we’ve seen.”

 At the meeting that evening, they sang three more songs and Jenny gave her testimony again.  Several more people accepted Jesus!  The meetings for the rest of the trip went very much like these and the ones in Arches Park.  

 They reached Kodachrome Basin State Park in time to see the interesting scenery and hike to Shakespeare Arch.  After the campsite meeting Ami mentioned, “This is the first time we’ve seen this park.  I like all the spires here.  They are so different from any other place we’ve visited.”

 “Indeed they are,” agreed Tomo, “the Panorama Trail was a great way to see and get photographs of them.”

 Jenny continued, “It sure was.  I liked Shakespeare Arch and the trail to it.  Also, I’m looking forward to stargazing here before we go to bed.”

 Their next stop was Zion National Park where they spent a couple days showing Jenny the things they had seen on their other trip there.  They had good campsite meetings there also.  After that they went to Snow Canyon State Park near St. George, Utah to see for themselves the things their friends, the Jones family, had told them about in that park.  The campsite meetings in their nice campground were good ones also.

 At the far end of their trip the drove on into Nevada to see Valley of Fire State Park because the Jones family had told them how beautiful and varied the scenery was.  It was even better to see it in real life than to just hear about it.  They were glad to know what things to look for and the best way to access them.  It had another nice campground where they had more good meetings.”

 They took the interstate most of the way home, except for a side trip to see the Big Rock Candy Mountain in Utah.  They turned south of I 70 at exit 23, and took Highway 89 to get there.  There were interesting formations along the highway before they reached it.  The mountain looks like a huge piece of marbled dark and light caramel candy and has a resort where some travelers can stay.

 Since there are some more colorful formations along the highway as it goes south, they drove south for another half hour before turning around to enjoy God’s creativity and variety going both ways.  They took many pictures along the way.  Then they drove the rest of the way back home to Pine City.

 Jenny had kept a daily journal which she shared with her foster parents when they got home and thanked them profusely for taking her with them to see some of God’s amazing creation.  She was especially glad for the opportunities to help with the campsite ministry times.

 After their own suppers, Denji, Sara, Gary and Kim went for a date to the Pine City History Museum so they could all learn more about the city.  It gave them a chance to walk, read, and talk before going to their small group.

 Gary remarked, “This is a good followup for our date where we went on a walking tour of the city and saw many historical buildings.  I never learned much about Pine City as I was growing up here and when I went to live at the farm, we didn’t go to the city very often, except for school, church and shopping.”

 “It’s the same for me,” Kim shared, “and I was just as glad, because the part I had lived in had no good memories.  But we’re learning a lot today about the city’s history, and it’s interesting.”

 Gary agreed, “Yes, and it might be a good place to bring our four boys when they get old enough to appreciate the museum and the learning experience.”

 “I like your idea,” stated Kim, “and the interesting facts can help to replace the bad memories they might have.”

 “Yes,” stated Gary, “we can help fill their minds with good things they can think about instead, like it says in my personalized version of Philippians 4:8, Gary you need to,… think about things that are true, or honest, or just, or pure, or lovely, or of good report or have virtue, or are worthy of praise.”

 Kim commented, “I like the way you made the verse into an order for yourself to follow. It’s a good way to be reminded.”

 Walking and talking some distance behind them, Sara mentioned, “Denji this is a good place to learn a lot of fascinating things about this city where I was born.  When I was growing up, I didn’t like this city and was very glad we got to move to the ranch.  But my foster parents did a good job of helping me delete the bad memories.”

 “I’m glad for you, Sara,” he responded.  “My parents and I like Pine City so much better than the other city we lived in, and for me it has fond memories because this is where Jesus restored my sight when Uncle Tomo and Aunt Ami prayed for me.  Then they explained the Good News, and my parents and I asked Jesus to be our Savior.”

 Sara replied, “Those are indeed good memories.  I’m so glad we both know and love Jesus and want to serve him, and that we both have had good teachings from our parents, church and small groups.”

 “Yes,” Denji commented, “I think small groups are an extremely good idea.  There’s no time in or after the church services to get to know anyone, but being in a small group makes up for the lack of time.  I’ve learned a lot from the ones I’ve been in since my salvation.”

 “Excellent,” said Sara, “and I like the fact that Jesus said in Matthew 18:20, for where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there in the midst of them.  Oh my, I just looked at my watch and we have just enough time get to our small group on time if we leave right now.”

 Mary was talking to Timmy and her parents, Don and Anita Ross, about third grade in Mrs. Blake’s classroom at the church school.  She began, “Timmy, now I understand the things you said last year about third grade.  It has been full of interesting things to learn, some of them harder than others.  But she’s so good at teaching us that even the hard ones don’t seem as hard.”

 “I agree.”  Timmy smiled at his little sister, who wasn’t so little any longer.  “I’m glad we both got to be in her classroom because she is a very good teacher.”

 “So am I,” Mary continued, “and my favorite times of the day are when she reads stories to us and when we get to have Kippy time with the cute koala puppet, who taught us how to listen and ask questions without interrupting.  I also like singing all those neat songs about the Bible and creation and how great our God is.  On Fridays we have small group time to share something we learned from our individual Bible study time.”

 “I liked all those times also,” he agreed.  “The most helpful thing she taught us is how to be missionaries in the public school and for the rest of our lives.  Everything she says is very true, and if you do things the way she teaches, it works, even though it’s not easy.”

 Mary nodded looking very serious.  “I’m listening very carefully and am trying to remember all she says, because I know how important this job is for us.  There are very few believers in the public schools, and the students need to hear about Jesus.”

 Don commended them both, “I’m so glad you both got to go to the Grace ‘n’ Faith Church School and learn these important things.  Timmy is doing well this year, and I know you will also next year, Mary.”

 “I’m glad too,” added Anita, “plus it’s good that I got to volunteer in both of your classrooms.  I’ve learned a lot of interesting things, especially about God’s creation.

 Just before Thanksgiving Karen had the girls bring their thankful notebooks to class again so they could read a verse about a promise that was precious to them.  She started her lesson with the song titled Psalm 136:1 which says, O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever.  Then she read from her notebook, Deuteronomy 7:9, Know therefore that the LORD your God, is God, the faithful God, who keeps covenant (or promise) and mercy with those who love him and keep his commandments…

 Then she commented, “This verse is precious to me because God said it so many years ago to the people of Israel before they went into the promised land, and I’m thankful that he is still the same today. Who would like to be next?”

 Stella volunteered, “I'm thankful for the same thing.  Joshua 21:45 is precious to me because it proves God keeps his promises.  I paraphrased it. Not one of the good things the LORD had spoken (or promised) to the house of Israel failed, they all came to pass.”

 “I like that verse also,” one of the girls said, “I also like Hebrews 10:23, Let us hold fast to the profession of our faith without wavering, because he who promised is faithful.  For this one we have to do our part for the promise to work.”

 “Right, it seems like some promises are conditional,” the girl beside her added, “I think 2 Corinthians 7:1 tells us how to act.  My paraphrase goes like this.  Therefore since we have these promises, …  we should cleanse ourselves from all wickedness … and make our holiness perfect in the fear of God.”

 Nan was next.  “That’s a good verse, and I like Psalms 85:8a, I will hear what God the LORD will speak, for his will speak peace to his people.  This one doesn’t have the word promise, but it infers that it is a promise.”

 “Yes,” another girl nodded and shared, “1 Corinthians 10:13 doesn’t use the word promise either but I think it is one.  I’ll read my paraphrase of it.  Our temptations are like others have, and God is faithful to not let us be tempted more than we can handle but will make a way to escape so we can bear it.

 A different girl went on, “I’m glad to know that verse and I like 2 Peter 1:4a.  … we are given especially great and precious promises so we can be partakers of the divine nature… “

 “I agree,” then Liz explained, “This next verse was hard to understand, but when I finally did, it became precious to me.  Romans 4:16, It is of faith by grace, so the promise might be sure to all of (Abraham’s) seed, not only that which is of the law, but also to that which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.

 “Yes, and my verses might help explain Liz’s verse,” then Emma read, “Galatians 3:13,14, 29, Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us, for it is written, cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree, so that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ, and we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.  And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

 “Your verses are good, Emma,” and then Lisa added, “These verses might also go with yours, Liz.  Hebrews 6:13-15, For when God had made a promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he swore by himself, saying surely blessing I will bless you and multiplying I will multiply you.  And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.”

 “I think so too,” said Hanna, “and these next verses explain how we Gentiles became heirs.  Ephesians 3:4b,6, the mystery of Christ is that by the gospel, the Gentiles would be fellow heirs, and belong to the same body, and be partakers of his promise in Christ.”

 “Yes,” Ellie continued, “and my verse maybe tells why the Lord did your verse Hanna.  2 Peter 3:9, The Lord is not slack concerning his promise … but is long suffering to us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

 “Very good,” and Christi added, “my verses go along with those verses also.  Acts 13:32,33a, Paul said, We declare to you glad tidings, … the promise which was made to the fathers, God fulfilled to their children by raising Jesus from the dead…”

 Karen concluded, “Thank you girls for sharing your verses.  I’m amazed at the way some of them went together so well.  Have a happy Thanksgiving and I’ll see you next time.”

 William did a similar lesson on the farm.

 A family in church #4 had a very big group of people for their Thanksgiving celebration.  They had made arrangements to use the church school’s lunchroom so there was plenty of room for everyone.  Each family paid its share to have the dinner catered, so it was much easier for all of them.

 Included in this group, was a young man who had been in a terrible accident two years before, which had resulted in him being a quadriplegic.  The doctors had all told the family there would be no way he could ever recover, so they had learned ways to care for him at home.  But it was very hard for all of them.  Somehow they managed to bring him and all the things they needed for his care to the reunion because they felt a need to see and spend some time with the family.

 Toward the end of the meal, the host couple were talking to the young man and his parents.  They told them about some of the miracles Jesus had done while he was on earth and that he still works that way today.

 Then they asked if they could lay their hands on him and pray for Jesus to heal him.  The parents nervously agreed and watched as the couple explained to their son what they were going to do.  Then they were totally surprised when the host couple prayed and then told him to get up and walk, and he did!

 Everyone else in the room was astonished as well and they were all very willing to listen to the Good News, ask questions if they had any, and then pray the prayer to ask Jesus to be their Savior.  It was the best Thanksgiving any of them had ever had!

 The families all attended church together and Pastor Don said he would send a couple who was ready to graduate, to their city right away.  So that couple graduated early and was commissioned to go as pastors for the ones who had been saved in that city and to start a new church for all of them.

 The pretty reddish brown horses, Chile Powder and Paprika had gotten over their fear.  They had been gentled and trained by Nathan and Esther.  Now they were being ridden by some of the other adults on the ranch to get them ready for the young people.

 The next two horses Nathan and Esther obtained were Tennessee Walking Horses about three years old.  One of them wouldn’t let people anywhere near it and stayed as far away from the other horses as he could.  They had bought them from a family who had only wanted them for looks, and just let them stay wild in a pasture near the house.  But now they had to move and couldn’t take them with them to the new place.  Of course they couldn’t find anyone who wanted to buy untrained horses and they were thrilled when they heard about the ranch being willing to buy abused horses, so they sold them for a good low price.  Although they didn’t think they had actually abused the horses, they did realize that they certainly hadn’t done them any good either.

 When Oscar and Vera saw them they were pleased with their looks.  Oscar declared, “They’ll be perfect to take the place of the tall, trotting buckskins we want to sell to a working cattle ranch.”