Here we go with round two, the start of our second year at Echo Ranch Bible Camp.
In the past six months at home, I’ve spent much of my time anticipating my return to
Engineers, architects, estimators, city planners and fund raisers have been involved with making plans, making changes, making more plans, making more changes. . .you get the picture! God bless them for their continued efforts and behind-the-scenes contributions that have to happen before anything can start.
Work teams from literally all across the lower 48 have scheduled their vacations, purchased airline tickets and are planning their trips to ERBC to help with year one of this four year project. I will arrive on Monday, April 24th, one day after my first work team gets there, so we will hit the ground running. I’ll be looking forward to Yvonne and Kate joining me the 3rd of June when school is out.
As we’ve attempted to feel our way through this first year, we realize the importance of staying connected with you, our supporters. Our daughter, Megan, has drug us -
kicking and screaming - into the age of computers, power points, and websites, so I can now post pictures and periodic updates on our progress. Email seems so impersonal – but, the reality of that is – it’s practical! So continue to look for the “typical quarterly missionary newsletter,” but it’s our goal right now to offer more frequent communication. Through our email, I can post reminders to visit the website for pictures and details of construction that would otherwise get lengthy and tedious with email.
As you pray for us, please let us know of needs and happenings in your life, so that we can pray for you as well!
Please pray for:
· Finishing jobs here in a timely manner
· Healing for the rib I cracked a week ago
· That needed support would continue to come in
· Logistical issues such as: permits, building supplies and products
· Work teams with necessary skills
· The challenge of transitioning mentally and emotionally from
· Katie’s enthusiasm for missions to continue
Ever grateful for you,
Terry, Yvonne and Kate
A few weeks ago, I drove out into the valley with two loggers from
to get to Echo Ranch to volunteer their time cutting down some big trees
for us. To give you an idea as to the size of these trees, once Bill had the
tree lying on the ground, he and Jeff will then walk down the trunk,
limbing and cutting the tree into logs that we will later mill into lumber.
They will end up with five or six logs, 16-20’ long, from each tree. The
top 30 or 40’ will be cut into firewood to heat the sixteen cabins through
the next season. When we had finished cutting for the day, we loaded
gear and empty gas cans and headed for supper. As I slid the Dodge Ram
Charger back into the familiar ruts, in places pushing nearly a foot and a
half of muddy water ahead of us in a slow-moving wave, the three of us
talked about recent rains and the changing season. The blossoms of the
fireweed plant now resemble a sea of white fuzz and the enormous lush
green ferns are now brown and shriveling.
on a golden shimmer and yellow alder leaves are falling on us as we
literally slide from summer into fall. The calendar may show autumn to
be just around the corner, but we’ve clearly been in the fall mode for
several weeks. In fact I woke up to 38 degrees just the other morning.
I guess all of this to say, I can’t believe I’m coming to the end of
my first season here at Echo Ranch! Kate and Yvonne have been back
in
and sewing lessons, while Yvonne is trying to reinstate the Fenimore’s
as members of our home community. It’s even more difficult to live
with one foot in
I know the next several years will be even that much harder. The idea
of living apart from Yvonne, Kate and you, my friends and family, for
an extra 3 months each summer is not a thing I look forward to. I do
take comfort in knowing that this is where and what God wants us to
do for now.
We had a great summer! Being part of an extended family
serving the people of
experiences, far too many to elaborate on now. We hope we will be
able to spend time with you and share experiences that will allow you
a glimpse of the ministries that take place at Echo Ranch. Lives are
being changed and people are making decisions that have eternal con-
sequences. Though it wasn’t until summer camp ended and the retreat
season was well underway that I began to understand the total impact
that Echo Ranch has, not only with hundreds of summer campers, but
within the town of
the
school groups, civic organizations and city-sponsored youth programs
has won the respect of those who have experienced Echo Ranch for
themselves. Many, that I had the time to talk with, expressed how special the camp is.
Nowhere else in
forests and water come together with canoes, horses and kayaks in a wilderness setting.
We are blessed to be a part of such an incredible place where not only God’s creation is
evident everywhere you look, but His Gospel is being proclaimed.
In a few hours, I’ll be stepping off the plane and stepping back into my life in
the Lower 48. As I will be working to supplement our support, I would ask that you
would still keep Echo Ranch and the Fenimore’s in your thoughts and prayers. I’m
already making plans for my April departure and already looking forward to Yvonne
and Kate’s return in June, July and August. Of course, there is much that needs to be
done before I go back.
· Pray for us as we work to finalize plans and specs for the new lodge
that is scheduled to begin in the spring.
· Pray for me as I help to recruit and organize the work teams that will
be needed for the next few years.
· Pray that my time this fall and winter will be productive as I step back
into my construction business.
· Pray for Yvonne as she looks for employment during the school year
after being out of the job market for 22 years.
· Pray that the Fenimore’s will not only survive, but “thrive” through
the challenges that this commitment brings.
It’s only through your commitment to us that we can even begin to do what we
do. Your prayers and financial support make this ministry possible. We look forward to
seeing you soon! THANK YOU AGAIN for all you do for us and the ministry of
Echo Ranch Bible Camp!
Grateful for all of you,
Terry, for Yvonne and Kate
The rumor you have heard is true. The Fenimore’s have lost
their minds. We ARE moving to
though. Half of our year will still be spent in
is an attempt to bring everyone up to date concerning what in the world
we are doing!
Most of you know, for the last five years I have been taking
construction teams to Echo Ranch Bible Camp. Our projects have
ranged from concrete to roofing with everything in-between. Our most
recent team built four cabins. The interesting thing about that is that
they were built primarily from lumber logged and milled at the site.
As the camp expands and continues to grow, so do their
physical needs. In 2006, they will begin construction on the Lodge.
The primary function of the lodge will be dining facilities. The building
will also include a health station, administrative offices, conference
rooms and apartments, along with much needed storage.
As a family, we feel that God has gifted us with certain abilities
useful in this next phase of Echo Ranch. Our involvement will extend
from construction skills and project management, to Yvonne’s strengths
in clerical, musical, and kitchen/housekeeping areas. Katie is looking
forward to using her knowledge and love of horses as she works with
the wranglers and plugs into various jobs.
In preparation for this undertaking, Yvonne and I spent two
weeks in
a 113-year old mission organization with missionaries in 29 countries.
Most recently, we spent eight days in
staff, working on the 2005 schedule and vital team-building skills.
Just as we are a part of the team in
consider being a part of our team here in the “Lower 48”? We know our
efforts will only succeed with support from partners who have the same
vision for ministering to the people of
We have enclosed a response card. Would you please prayer-
fully consider how God would have you be a part of this vital ministry?
Since we are responsible to raise our own support, you can understand
how important it is to have people, not only willing to pray, but also
financially support us as we, over the next half-dozen years, work to
complete Echo Ranch’s largest undertaking to date.
We look forward to sharing photos and stories as preparation
and work begins. Thanks so much for taking the time to read our letter.
Sincerely,
Terry, Yvonne and Katie
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