Dear Ranch Friends,
Here we are in the third month of 2015 and Spring is on its way!
Before I share news for 2015, I want to take a moment to sum up what was accomplished in 2014.
In 2014 we:
- moved to our current location and started the ministry of the ranch
- received our non-profit status from the IRS after 17 months of waiting!
- dedicated the ranch and ministry to the Lord
- provided over 40 sessions with six different families
- held four ranch work days
- have had 50 + volunteers give of their time to the ranch
- held two volunteer training classes
- held our 1st Fundraiser and Auction
- received $11,000 worth of in-kind donations and services
- received over $10,000 in cash donations
- fed and cared for our three horses Danny, Honey and Lucy
- moved 3,452,674 pounds of manure 🙂
- added an additional board member, Linda Gunther.
I want to share feedback from a couple of our participants.
– One participant told me he changed his mind about suicide after coming to the ranch and working with Danny.
– from another family, “There have been days that we just show up feeling like we have been in a war zone and being able to spend a short period of time around her, the horses and that beautiful ranch has been such a relief some days. God has a strong calling on Suzy’s life to do a very special needed service for those that are hurting or just need to get away from the intense daily life can be extremely overwhelming.”
Certainly this is God’s doing and His hand upon us as we continue to move forward. I want to thank each of you who have had a part in contributing, volunteering, praying and telling others about Eagle’s Nest Ranch. I am grateful and humbled to look back and see all the Lord did through us.
Many changes coming our way for 2015
- Our new website is under construction!!! I am so excited and look forward to unveiling it in the next couple of weeks so stay tuned.
- We are in prayer as we seek the Lord in looking for a new location. From the beginning, I knew that our current location was a “start-up” place for the ranch as all along it has been the Clarks plan to sell their property and retire to Oklahoma. They have been gracious to the ranch and have allowed the ministry to be born here, and I will be forever grateful for that. They have decided to retire later this year and move in the summer. The property will be put on the market soon. Please do pray for them as they pack and begin making this big transition in their lives. Pray too for myself and the board as we seek the Lord for a new “nest” for the ranch.
- I have been praying and asking the Lord for several months to be able to be “full-time” at the ranch. Through all the ranch start up I have continued my job of 13 years in social work helping kinship families as well as military families. To say the least it has been a challenge to start a non-profit and begin operations all while working a full-time job and commuting an hour or more each way. My desire is and has been to be free to work the ministry of the ranch on a full time basis. The Lord hears our prayers and He also asks us to believe Him when He brings a change. I had a very unexpected change when I learned I was going to be laid off. Our programming changed at work and one of the main contracts I was director of went away. My last day of full time work was February 27. They asked me to stay on part time through March 20th. I will receive a little bit of severance and some vacation pay to hold me over. The Lord is asking me to walk through this open door and to believe He will provide. By focusing all my attention on the ranch, we can offer more sessions to families and train volunteers to do so as well. Please do pray that our funding base grows so that through the ranch I can be supported and provide more sessions and grow the ministry.
Here are the Upcoming Events at the Ranch
- Saturday, March 21 – Volunteer Training Class from 9 am – 12 pm. Cost is $25
- Saturday, April 4 – Ranch Work Day from 8 am – 12 pm.
- Saturday, May 2 – Used Tack Sale from 9 am – 2 pm
Lastly like I would like to ask you to consider partnering with Eagle’s Nest Ranch in using horses to help people soar above adversity. The Healing Horses for the Armed Forces Program offers sessions to service members and their family members. The ministry of the ranch is making an impact on those who are hurting or struggling in life and I ask that you pray and ask the Lord if He would have you be a part of the ministry by contributing financially or in other ways.
You can make an ongoing monthly gift or a one time gift through this PayPal link.
You can also send a check to Eagle’s Nest Ranch, P.O. Box 1677, Parker, CO 80138
Please keep in prayer for me and the ranch.
Thank you for reading all the way down to here 🙂
The Lord’s blessings,
Suzy
