Ponderosa - Our Last Days

VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF CONTINUE TO IMPROVE FACILITY

At the left are two of our 4 dorms, Cagle and Cherry.  Cherry was completely remodeled with new carpet, paint, bathrooms, and bunk beds made by volunteers.

Cherry is a place where our friend Don Browning used to stay when coming to Ponderosa for family reunions.

Several large groups of volunteers from churches in Texas and Oklahoma completed much needed projects.  Two of the ladies are taping windows to prepare for painting while another group pours concrete for a new porch on Columbine.



Russ, what do you not understand by the phrase:  "Tow-away zone"?

WILDLIFE

Our most frequent wildlife guests this year was this woodpecker, who obviously thought he was a hummingbird; and Nancy's flock of turkeys grew to 13 (8 shown here) once word got around she was throwing out field corn twice a day!

 

We don't make a habit of posting pictures of "scat", but this shows proof of nighttime visitors crossing the road to the ranch houses.

 

FUN, FOOD AND FELLOWSHIP 

 

 

The ladies of Ponderosa found time for an afternoon of good eats and great fellowship at Wisdom's Tea House in Monument.

 

GUEST ACTIVITIES 

 

One of the groups that come each year is RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Association).  Above they are doing different group activities and below they are going through the chow line.

 

  

GOOD FRIENDS, OLD AND NEW

 

 

Nancy made two new friends from the RYLA group. 

  

These are 2 of our kitchen help cut-ups.  At left is July and Hannah is on the right.  Hannah is the one we visited at Oklahoma Baptist University last year on our way to Branson.  They are sisters, and their brothers - Hosea and Micah - also work at Ponderosa.

What a surprise it was when one night at supper one of the guests thought she knew us from somewhere.  Sure enough, she ended up being someone we knew, along with her mother, dad and 3 brothers, who attended Greenway Baptist Church about 40 years ago.  Mom Linda came for a visit from Virginia and we had dinner with her and daughter Jeslin at the Black Eyed Pea in Castle Rock.   Also, one Sunday at church I thought I recognized the director of the preschool division.  Many of our blog friends will recognize Heather (Goss) Gardner (right), formerly of Phoenix.  She and her twins graciously took time during a very busy Sunday morning to pose for the picture!


We were so happy that our friends Joe and Frances McLeroy were able to stop by camp for a short visit. 

UNUSUAL MINISTRY

 

On Round-up Sunday at Black Forest Baptist Church, there was a new greeter when we arrived for church!   Horsegate Ministry is led by Larry Killan, a member of the church.  Their ministry is to "share Christ thru the horse."  Their vision statement is "take any horse, any time, any place to share the story of Christ."  There are many horse farms in Colorado - this man uses his love for the Lord and horses to teach children and adults how to share their testimony by using their horse!