When we sold our insurance business my intent was to start volunteering with Habitat for Humanity. I had been involved in small projects and since I enjoy building I thought it would be a good fit. I was unaware at the time that God had a different path I would follow. I knew of a local youth ministry, Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch, and I found myself on a tour and applying for a volunteer position. I love horses and kids, so I was not surprised when my interest was redirected. Since 2011 I have been a volunteer and for a time, a part time employee at Crystal Peaks. God was gracious and allowed me to participate in a build trip to Guatemala with Habitat in 2012. Somewhat like having your cake and eating it too. In early 2011 I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Surgery followed to check my lymph glands to find out if the cancer had spread. Fortunately it had not. My urologist chose radiation as the treatment and that was completed in November 2011. During my recent annual checkup there was no sign of any cancer or other problem from treatment. I am thankful for how God has seen me through this health crisis and allowed me to enjoy these years engaged in ways which bring me much joy and satisfaction. Being involved in activities where you can see God at work in lives and situations is exciting! 

The photo on the blog post this month was taken at Crystal Peaks April 27, 2016.  A cross had been placed at the highest point on the ranch some months earlier. Troy and Kim Meeder are the founders of Crystal Peaks, and Kim had expressed a desire to have a pathway built to provide a way up to the cross to pray. Randy Whitman was also a volunteer at the ranch during this time. He and Kim had discussed the project and talked about building a stairway up to the cross. Randy was instrumental in getting construction started. It involved cutting away the hillside and securing the timbers which would form the stair pads. There were about eleven volunteers and staff who worked on the project. I was fortunate to be one of the group. It was a figure it out as you go type of job. Ideas came from several of those participating. Everyone worked together and it was very enjoyable to be involved. There was a sense of purpose for what was being accomplished. We worked until after dark a couple of evenings, pushing to complete the walkway.  It was completed the the morning of April 27, just in time for the Information Clinic which was to get under way later that day. I hurriedly took several pictures as we picked up the tools and cleaned up the area to make it ready to use.  After returning home, I opened my phone to look at the pictures. I could not believe my eyes when I saw the photo of the stairway to the cross, with a cloud in the shape of a heart perfectly centered on the cross! I get emotional still when I look at the image. I titled the photo “The Heart of the Father”.

We cannot know how or if God will use anything we set our hand to. Certainly I had hope this project would be used by God in the ministry. What I am hearing from Kim of how God is touching people as they come and climb the stairway to the Cross, is beyond anything I could have imagined! There is a young woman who came, experiencing medical issues in both knees. She was scheduled for double knee replacement, and needed assistance to make her way up to the Cross. While there praying, Jesus touched and healed her! She no longer needs surgery! Another woman who needed a walker to get around, came and was also healed! The wife, daughter and a family friend of  a man with advanced pancreatic cancer came asking for prayer. The staff and family prayed for healing. Recently the report came, most of his tumors are gone and those remaining are shrinking rapidly! The doctor has no explanation! Also the doctor was unaware the cancer had spread to his bones and tests revealed that cancer is dead! God is truly amazing! I am Blessed by the privilege of helping build the stairway, and now by hearing how God is using it to touch people’s lives!

You can visit cpyr.org for more information about the ministry at Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch.