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NEW KID ON THE RANCH

Following is an interview between Todd and a seventeen year old girl Sarai (not her real name) who came to live at Broken Arrow in July.
 

Question: Sarai how long have you been on the ranch?
A: 5 months on Dec. 13th.
Q: How is it that you know the specific date?
A: Because it was the day after my birthday and I've been counting the days ever since. Ha,Ha.
Q: What were you hoping to gain from your experience at the ranch?
A: Better communication with my parents ,to learn how to be more responsible and make wise choices.
Q: What was your first impression when you saw the ranch.
A: Where the ?*!# am I.
G: How has you experience been living with seven others ranging in age from 2 -43?
A: Difficult but very useful and helpful. ...I am learning that no matter where you are you need to learn how to deal with the people around you.
G: How is ranch life different than city life?
A: You have to plan ahead to schedule things, you can't just walk where you want to go, there's no junk food in the palm of your hands, everyone knows everyone, they back each other up, but it can be tough to fit in. It's great to find fun activities to do outdoors instead of having fun handed to me.
G: Do you enjoy the animals?
A: Yes, I've gained a love and interest for the horses that I never had before...I also love the dogs and even growing to like cats.
G: What are some of your accomplishments since coming to Broken Arrow?
A: I passed my learner's license, my average in school has gone up at least 10%, I enjoy getting up each morning, I've stayed substance free for five months now and look forward to keeping it that way.
G: Have you visited your family since coming?
A: Yes, my family has come down to Broken Arrow twice also I've seen them in Calgary and Saskatoon. I am challenging myself to go home at Christmas for a family visit. I 'am excited to see our new house and all my family.
G: What are some of the blessings and challenges of living on the ranch?
A: One negative is that I no longer have the freedom to just take off and go where I want to whenever I want to. Sharing is another "What's Yours is Your's and What's Mine is Your's
and YES privacy...........on the ranch, in the church and in this tiny community. "EVERYONE' KNOWS EVERYTHING!".......PLUS I think they're all related.
G: Have you felt loved at Broken Arrow
A: YES, I have the people here are very loving and I'm also learning how to love myself more while I'm here.
G: Has your experience here been helping you in your walk with the lord?
A: My experience with the CHOICES program in Calgary was a huge boost to my faith. Life here , friends and church family have all been helping me continue to grow closer to God and use the tools we've learned together from Choices. When I first came I didn't want to be here, but now I'm so glad my parents had me come, I'm blessed with this opportunity and i'm so grateful.
 

 

AUGUST 2011

Open House Report  by Pam Mytroen

On August 7th we hosted an Open House Weekend at the Broken Arrow Youth Ranch. It started off on Saturday with a Golf Event at the Willow Bunch Golf Club. Sixteen people participated and after nine holes of golf we were treated to a great meal at the clubhouse, followed by prizes and fellowship. A good time was had by all! On Sunday we began our day with an outdoor service at the Ranch where our former Ministry Coordinator and Founder Rick Aupperle delivered the message. The current board members said farewell to Rick and prayed for him as to where God is calling him. At this time Rick will be staying in the area and will be a resource to us as we work through this transition.

Following the service a BBQ lunch was served complete with burgers, pies and lots of salads. The afternoon consisted of visiting, shopping at our Garage Sale, baseball for the kids and GOSPEL ELVIS. Mr. Leeland Johnson from Calgary entertained the crowd for almost 2 hours with familiar tunes like “The Wonder of You”, “The Impossible Dream”, “Ain’t Nothing but a Hound Dog” and many more. With several people from the surrounding community it was a witness as well as entertainment.
 

We capped off our day with a bon-fire, hotdogs, and more fellowship. Approximately 150 people came to the event and everyone mentioned how much they thoroughly enjoyed themselves. They enjoyed seeing all that God has done on the ranch since the Grand Opening in July of 2008.
 

We are so thankful for God’s faithfulness to us at the ranch. We could not have gone this far without the many people who have prayed for the ranch, and without those who attended and helped host this event. Our board Chairman Bob Conroy reminded us on the weekend that this ministry is to help the children and their families and we would not exist without the support of many generous people. Words cannot express how thankful we are for your prayers, encouragement, and support. We also give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way!

May God Bless You.
Sincerely,
The Staff of Broken Arrow Youth Ranch
 

 

WHAT’S NEW FOR SEPTEMBER

Greetings to all of you from the Broken Arrow Ranch. Since Rick's retirement from the ministry, we (Lara and Todd Moroz) have taken on the task of sending out update letters to you. We have been told that many of you would like to know more about what's going on in the lives of the children we minister to. We have also been reminded that we must be sensitive to issues surrounding confidentiality. Therefore we have decided to refer to the children by biblical names to protect their identity.
All of the children have had a very action-packed summer: There's been some work, and an awful lot of play! The children have helped us with various things such as fencing, landscaping & watering trees as we prepared for the big open house event August 6th-7th (pictures), and picking produce from the garden. Their favourite chore has been feeding the orphaned calves we've received this year. They've had to witness the reality of death as we've lost some, but they've also had a hand in seeing the calves grow from being bottle-fed to eating grain and hay.
David and Daniel participated in speed swimming again this year with the Assiniboia team. They travelled to meets at Assiniboia, Oxbow, Weyburn and Estevan finishing off the year at the provincial finals in Humbolt. They also got to go on trips to Moose Jaw and Kenosee Lake with grandparents. A highlight for Daniel this summer, was using those swimming skills to help save another boy at Brightsand Lake this summer. We were all very proud of Daniel when the boy's father came to say, "Thank you." The boys also enjoyed a week at bible camp this year: David at Dallas Valley Camp and Daniel at Glad Tidings.
The "Sons of Thunder" continue to keep us all hopping. Though John is older, it looks like James might beat him at the potty training game. Truth be known, with both of them, there are more misses than hits These boys absolutely love ranch life especially the wide open spaces and tractors. We want to ask for your prayers for James and John as the two year agreement for them to be at the ranch is coming to a close at the end of this month. We are uncertain of their future and are praying for God's perfect will to be done in their lives. Our hearts are also heavy with the thought of them possibly leaving so we ask that you keep us all in your prayers.
Esther also had a busy summer working at our regional park, also at a food booth and helping at the ranch. Her goal was to purchase a car so she would have transportation when she turns 16 in a few months. She had been making payments to our ranch managers, Rick & Maureen Pituley, on their 1998 Buick, She was so excited last week when she gave them her final payment. A highlight to end her summer was taking a trip with her grandmother and cousin to Cape Breton.
Samson completed grade nine with as and then headed home to spend some time with family and attend camp. We were very sad at the end of summer to discover that he wasn't returning to Broken Arrow. We continue to pray for Samson and ask that you would keep him and his family in your prayers as well.
Even though there are now six children currently living at the ranch, along with Samson,there are 3 others who were also part of this ministry. They are never far from our thoughts and prayers. Though it is sometimes difficult to keep track of where some have ended up, we love to hear from them or hear about how they are doing. Lot, Ham and Joseph have all been away from us for at least a year, some still in Saskatchewan, one in another province. Well, one day Lara had some appointments in Moose Jaw, while she was walking down the sidewalk, Joseph spotted her from across the street and ran over to give her a big hug. Those are the moments that really make our day!
As we said, there are currently 6 children living at the ranch. In August we received a welcome addition to our ranks Sarai a grade 11 student, is here to try to complete her grade 12 and to begin a fresh new start. Life in isolation on a ranch is a huge adjustment for someone used to the city life but she is fitting in well. For any child it is hard to be uprooted from friends, family and familiar surroundings. We believe that it is even harder for teenagers so we ask that you please keep Sarai and her family in your prayers.
The big event of our summer was the open house on August 6th and 7th. Approximately 150 people attended the event at different times throughout the day. All who came had a wonderful time and it blessed us to be able to spend the day with them. As we said that day we feel so privileged to be able to play a part in this ministry. As we look around to what God has done it is nothing short of miraculous. Though we live on the ranch we know that this ministry is shared by so many. None of this could happen without all of you and we thank God for you from the bottom of our hearts as we get to witness Him at work in the lives of these children and their families.
Our chairman, Bob Conroy, spoke the day of our open house and challenged the people to look around and see the houses, the equipment, the livestock, and all that has been done over the last few years and he said all of it has been paid for through the generosity of so many. Yet he also shared that in spite of all these blessings we as a ministry are still facing a shortfall. Bob shared that as a ministry our commitment is to first pay the bills and take care of the needs of the children and then the salaries are paid. Consequently, we are behind in paying our salaries. We have received generous donations of machinery and feed for the cattle yet when it comes to monthly donations of $10, $20 or $50 we are significantly short of the money needed for the day to day operations of the ranch. We simply want to make you aware of this need so you can, first of all, pray and then possibly approach a friend or two who might want to become partners in this ministry.
As Rick Aupperle reminded us when this ministry began, unless the Lord builds the house, they that labour, labour in vain. (Ps 127:1) We know that it has been God building this ministry through all of you and we are confident that He who began this good work will carry iron.
Again thank you for your prayers, support and your encouragement.

May God bless each one of you.
In Christ,
Todd and Lara Moroz Ranch Parents
 

 

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