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.