ABBA MINISTRIES

Rancho Gets a Facelift – March, 2009

The first RV pulled in on Thursday. By Saturday four RVs had filled all the spaces of our ‘Mini RV Park,’ each RV housing a retired couple. All are volunteers with Mobile Missionary Assistance Program (MMAP).Their work didn’t officially begin until Monday, but already that Saturday, two of the men were busy prepping for their primary project: painting our fences. But first these fences had to be stripped of their peeling paint. The power washer was kept busy for many days, even when it rained. “I’m going to get wet anyway.” There’s more to this three-week make-over story. 



Stripping the Fence Stripping the Fence


Guests to Rancho de la Paz will now be greeted by two new signs created by master carver, Rick Wiebe. The first can be seen from the main road, the second at the front gate.



Sign for the Road Sign for the Road














Sign at Gate Sign at Gate



The men did a number of other projects as well, including:


Repairing the Gazebo Repairing the Gazebo




Repairing a Wall Repairing a Wall



Not to be outdone, the ladies had their own projects besides working along side their husbands. The ladies painted the entire main living area of the middle house.


Painted Den Painted Den


They dug out around each fruit tree, then filled the hole with llama beans. (For the uninitiated – llama beans are the droppings of llamas. It makes great fertilizer. It’s odorless and doesn’t attract flies!)



Llama Beans for Trees Llama Beans for Trees


Jackie baked for three days, filling the freezer with breads and rolls of cookie dough for the enjoyment of our guests.



Breads for Our Guests Breads for Our Guests


We miss their singing of the old-time songs during their early morning devotional times in our living room. We miss their jovial banter, and their talk of our loving Lord. Yet the work done during those three weeks in February will be an ongoing blessing as we host missionaries and ministers who give of themselves in God’s work around the world.



MMAP Volunteers MMAP Volunteers


Thank you to: Kerry and Judy Cameron (from Oregon), Rick and Helen Wiebe (from BC, Canada), Bob and Anita Emerson (Californians), and Bill and Judy Johnson (from Oregon).