Lakes Ranch teen horsecamp Dec 17th-22nd 2009.

Hi Dear Prayer partners .

A while back I was asked to be camp Mum for the December teen horsecamp at lakes Ranch, to which I said" No" , " too close to Christmas" but then I was alsked to be camp mum of the January 10th camp, to which I really knew I couldn't go to, so I thought and prayed about it and the Lord told me " You should go to the December camp." I was asked to be a guide for the treks as well.
So I went and took Rachael Jenks with me. She was asked as well to help with the horses.
After our last camp with the" Horses4theLord" it was only 10 days and we would be back, so I left Venus and Freedom there.
So when I went back with Rachael, it was me and her in the truck and I brough lady and Snoopy with me.
We got the unit in the barn, a nice " motel" type accommodation with 2 bedrooms. It pretty much has everything we need and it has a very comfortable bed.

As soon as we drove up the driveway there my other 2 horses heard the truck sound and came running to the gate.
I let my other 2 horses out and mingle with them., and there were 2 other camp horses there too.
They all got on well so that was good.

We arrived on the Thursday so a day before camp started. The girls would arive the next day at 4 pm, but one girl arrived in the morning, with her own horse, so we hang out with her that day and walked over to Lake Rotokawau with the horses and had a swim there.. Left Venus jumping and Rachael riding her.

Scott led the camp, who lives at Lakes Ranch with hhis family and has been leading these camps for  a while now.
The highlights for me was being the camp mum of 12 teenage girls ages between 12 and 16.
The gospel being shared by Jasmin who shared how God loves each and everyone of us and how He desires a personal relationship with him. Jasmin shared at evening time after dinner.
Many girls lives has been touch including mine. I always get moved when I see how God sent his only Son to the earth to save us, because we can't save ourselves. Many try to fill their empty lives with all sorts of things, but only Jesus can fill the longing of our hearts.
This is the message throughout the camp, that God loves us so deeply, that he woyld have sent his only Son to the earth, even if you were the only one on earth needing salvation.
Many redidicated their lives back to God , others made a step of salvation, ( 2 of them I think)

The other highlight was the overnight stay at lake Rotoiti. My truck was used because it had my own accommodation it it. And it was used as transport to take the gear of the girls while we all rode to the spot at lake Rotoiti.
Remko drove my truck to the place, we rode their with our horses. Remko has his truck licence so that was handy.
Scott and Guido made a shelter from the truck with tarpolen and the girls slept there while me and Rachael slept in the truck and Scott, Michael and Ble slept in the horse compartment.

But first we went by kayaks and dingy to the lke hot pools. ( only reached by boat).

We did it in 3 lots and once there we got our BBQ dinner there.
Nice hot swims in different pools with different temperatures. When too hot, you walk to the end of the jetty and jump in the cold lake!!!! This is very refreshing. At first I thought it was ridiculous, but Rachael convinced me to do this, she ven dared me to do it! When I did it was great specially when coming out of the water.
Then you go back in the hot pool etc, so I did this 3 times, hot pool getting really hot, then jump in the cold lake and so on.

Anyway we went back and it was about 11.30 before I was in bed maybe 12. I didn't sleep till about 1 am or 1.30 am.  The day before we had ridden our horses over plus did a lot of swimming with the horses, so no wonder I was exhausted!
The next day already waking at 6.30 and everyone getting up and about by 7 am. We got BBQ bacon and eggs but no coffee, yes it came later in a thermosflask, but no sugar.
I had woken up with a massive headache and didn't feel very well bu the time we were meant to ride out.
I decided it was safer for me to drive the truck back to camp and Bele rode Snoopy for this day.
It was a combination of hayfever and exhaustion I think, so when I was in bed at the camp in lakes Ranch I didn't get up again untill 2 pm, this is when the group came back too.

I was glad to have had this rest.  The horses are also glad to be back in their stables at the camp of Lakes ranch.
That's Snoopy left.

LAKES RANCH WEEKEND DECEMBER 4TH-6TH

 Hi supporters and prayer partners for this ministry.

Our second LakesRanch camp with " Horses4the Lord ministries"
We had 30 people turn up for this camp.
80% are non christians but that's good.
Rob Holding, our new pastor to be, had agreed to be our guest speaker.
So he came and his 2 youngest children.
The first meeting was after breakfast in the morning.
Rob spoke on" What we believe" and that was a good message, plain and simple. The gospel in a nutshell.
The we went riding for 5 hours with a good rest at the lake with a BBQ lunch that the camp had organized.
Some of us also swam our horses in the lake.

When we arrived on Friday night, in the rain, I was mumering and complaining to the Lord, saying, surely we won't be riding in the rain?
In fact, my attitude about the weather had not been good from the whole week. The forecast was for rain all Saturday.
When the Lord finally got through to me with his voice, I repented and said sorry for my bad attitude.
I got a peace and calm in me that I can't explain.
When we all started to fetch our horses it was cloudy but dry.
When we rode out it was dry.
In fact the weather became warm and sunny and by the time we arrived at the Lake it was warm enough to swim in the lake with the horses.
See, the Lord knows, and He loves to answer our prayers. He also looks on our attitude and wants to correct us when not right, in my case my worry and fear about the weather. When I gave it to the Lord, the weather changed to fine.

Rob rode my horse Venus, our 16.3 hh clydie cross and she is very strong and capable.
Brian rode Lady, as usual and I rode Snoopy.
We rode through pine forests and along the lake, through the lake, to a small island and found hot water under some sand on a beach there.

One lady got nearly swiped off her horse... it was quite funny, and no accidents happend.
Rob prayed for a safe trip before the trek.

We also rode along the thermal pools and saw steam in the distance. We went through some forest zig zagging along trying to avoid being hit by the trees.
But all good riding experience and sarah was our trek leader giving us good advice.

before we rode off to the day trek we had a brief lesson in the indoor arena. That helps us get to know the horse before we ride. A quick morning tea in the indoor arena before we ride off is also a bonus.
After breakfast Rob Holding spoke on what we believe . Then he sang a song. He has a good voice and I am sure it was appreciated.

At night after tea Rob spoke again but 3 UK ladies walked out just before he spoke, which was quite rude, and made me wonder " what are they so afraid of to hear?" If they believed we just believe in fables, then there is nothing to be afraid of and they would just stay and listnen....??? hmmm, makes you wonder aye?
Me swimming with my pony Snoopy in lake Rotoiti.