Blazing Hope Ranch October Newsletter

He works justice for those who are pressed down by the world, providing food for those who are hungry. He frees those who are imprisoned; He makes the blind see. He lifts up those whose backs are bent in labor; He cherishes those who do what is right. (Psalm 146:7-8)

October

Scary things can happen in the month of October! But God watches over us. I was emptying some small water troughs and pulling them through a wooden fence, only half paying attention. When one of them got stuck, I had to look - and therefore I was able to see and avoid the Black Widow spider lying in wait not a foot from my arm! Praise God that He caused me to pay attention in that moment.

This month, I pray that God watch over you and protect you from danger.

Now grab a cup of coffee and find out what we've been up to!

We held our annual Hootenanny for Hope on Thursday, October 7th, raising just over $16,885 toward our goal of $35,000 (the cost of supporting one survivor for a year on the ranch). I love the Knox County Jug Stompers, who provided the music. But Karis Freezell, the artist behind Art 2 Free Hearts, was the highlight of the evening. She painted this lovely horse during the event, and then her painting was auctioned off for $1000! (the ranch gets to keep everything above $100). If you have a moment, read about Karis and her own inspiring story to overcome the birth defects that cause constant tremors in her hands. A portion of all of her proceeds helps the ranch.

Click here to see photos of the painting in progress along with other pictures from the event.

Family Corner

My oldest daughter, who is now 12, told me she needed to make sure our newsletter readers knew something important: How hard it is for her and her brother and sister to share me and her dad with the residents and the ranch! My heart broke a little with that - of course, the biggest way our kids help IS by sharing us with the ranch. I praise God that he has given me children willing to share David and me to do the work that we feel called to.

This October marks David's and my 20th wedding anniversary. Please pray that we may find respite and re-c0nnection on an upcoming weekend getaway.

My Feet Are Getting a Break.

Praise God for the generous gift of this side-by-side cart! With it, I'm able to zip around the ranch far faster than my feet could carry me. It also means I'm able to do a bit more, since my reach is now farther.

Horse Spotlight: Chase

Chase is one of our four horses that residents can work with. Here is Chase's story:

Chase is the smallest of our horses, standing at just a few feet tall. But don't let his small size deceive you - as they say, great

things come in small packages! He earned his name from a resident by running away when he first got to the ranch, and we had to "chase" him down. Like all of our horses, Chase is a rescue. Because his previous owners had neglected him, he found it hard to trust us at first. But as he's grown more comfortable with us, we have come to love him all the more. He's a horse that stands out: He is both the hairiest and the smallest of the animals. But his differences don't bother him - a lesson that our residents can take to heart.

Did you know that the family and friends of sex trafficking victims are the most effective access point for help?

Help us in our mission!

Would you be willing to give up one or more coffees each month to support us? Join our "Freedom Wranglers" by clicking on the Donate button to support the important work we do to restore wholeness to female survivors of human trafficking, and to weaken the sex trade through the power of Christ. Your monthly donation of as little as $10 per month can help a resident begin a new life.

Donate

Would you consider praying for our mission? This month we ask for prayer to provide sustenance for our horses. They have been losing weight because of the quality of the grass, and we have had to spend extra on feed until the new higher-quality grass can be planted and grown.

Prayer Pardn'rs

Also, please pray that we might receive a grant to build a pole barn with enough space for an indoor riding arena, tack room, a couple of stalls and some classrooms. This would allow residents to work with the horses year-round, regardless of weather.

Do you have a friend (or friends) who would also be willing to pray for us? If so, please forward this email to them or post this email on your social media account.

Finally, let us know what you think (and please feel free to unsubscribe using the link below if you don't want future newsletters). We'll look forward to hearing from you!

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