Carpenter Connection

Miracle Mountain Ranch 2013 Edition 1

Dear friends and family:

It seems like so much has happened since our November newsletter. We pray you all had a blessed Christmas and have found success in a few of your New Years Resolutions. Our church is challenging everyone to grow 2% closer to Christ per week and be 100% closer to Christ by year-end. What a challenge!!! What decisions are we making daily that will have eternal impact? Are we zealous of good works and are we allowing Christ to purify us unto Himself?

Mexico
A group of approximately 48 people will be traveling from the Ranch to Rio Chico, Mexico on March 23, 2013 through April 7, 2013. Mark and Katie both have the privilege of going on this trip. While there, they will be ministering to the Pima Indians, both through construction work and childrens day camps. This will be the fourth year that the Ranch has been directly involved with this ministry. The ministry is constructing a new church in the Indian village and we have assisted in constructing sidewalks and a bridge in the past. This year we hope to build a steel and stone fence. Please mark the dates to be praying for safety and the Holy Spirits direction for the team.

Who gave himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Titus 4:14

APPRENTICES AND RETREATS: Our apprentice guys are growing and have had opportunities to be involved in many of the retreats since Christmas break. In January, the Ranch hosted a week-long program called S.A.L.T. (Servant Attitude Leadership Training). Those who attended were able to fully engage in the apprentice program. Their week consisted of chores at 6:30am, breakfast, class/teaching until lunch, work projects, pm chores, supper, wrap-up sessions, singing, and activities. Moral purity, servanthood to God, evangelism, and a Christian worldview, were some of the topics taught. What an incredible time for all involved! The apprentices are studying perseverance/endurance this month. Long winter days, projects, work time, retreats, sickness, and lack of sleep, all help to remind them to look to God

for their strength when they have none. This was more evident than ever, as during one of our Senior Winter camps, a young lady came to the saving knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Praise God!! UPCOMING SUMMER CAMP: Summer Camp registration is stronger than last year at this time, with over 300 Ranchers registered. We are praying for a continued growth of 10%, which has occurred over the last 3 years. We are praying for approximately $75,000.00 in our Scholarship Fund as strained financial times continue to keep some families from making summer camp a priority for their finances. Please be praying for the hearts of these young people to be drawn to a deeper walk with their Savior and also for salvation for those not yet understanding their need. OPERATIONS: What a blessing the new shop has been! We have had many volunteers assist in putting the finishing touches on the interior of the shop area and the office. We have been able to have multiple work projects going on at the same time. The larger shop has given us the ability to use the projects were working on for training the apprentices because we are not forced to get each project in and out. Pray for us as we are developing the Operations Major. Currently, the students only have the option of Horse or Programming Major and we are excited to, hopefully, offer an Operations Major this coming fall. If any of you are looking for a volunteer opportunity this spring, we are remodeling a bunkhouse, roofing the porches of and putting siding on the central restrooms, and miscellaneous other maintenance projects. Contact me, if interested. Thank you all for your continued prayer and financial support. We could not serve here without all of you. You are all a blessing and we pray God will continue to bless each of you. Please feel free to come and visit our home or the Ranch. We would love to show you around and enjoy fellowship with you. In His Service, Mark, Shari, Alissa, Katie, Josh, Lindsey and James Brian PRAISE AND PRAYER REQUESTS: Praise for healthy student body and staff as over half were down with sickness Prayer for summer camp attendance Praise for Katies braces being fully covered Prayer for wisdom in pursuing possible gas lease for Ranch Praise for attendance and salvation at winter retreats Prayer for finances for Katie to go to Mexico

Contact Information: 3351 Eldred Hill Road Spring Creek, PA 16436 (814) 665-6084 marksharicarpenter@yahoo.com All gifts are tax deductible and can be made out to MMR, designated for us, on a separate piece of paper, and sent to the Ranch at 101 Rodeo Drive, Spring Creek, PA 16436. Gifts can also be made on-line through the Ranchs website at mmrm.org. If you would like to start receiving our newsletter via e-mail, just send a request to our e-mail address.