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HIGH ENERGY Just before our regular season began in June of 1999, the Ranch was charmed by a contingent of 19 high school boys from Cincinnati and their five adult teachers. Many of the boys had never been very far west of Ohio, had never seen mountains, nor "touched a horse," as one said. Not only did they find the Ranch "awesome," the Ranch staff found the boys and their teachers just delightful. At the end of their one week retreat/vacation, each of the boys wrote a letter to the Board about their experience. We excerpt some of their letters here: "This week was the best week of my life" . . . (repeated by many) "I learned many things at the ranch--how to ride horses, survive without television, and appreciate everyone and everything at home" . . . "The scenery is breathtaking, and the peaceful, serene setting lets you relax and think". . "I've become closer to God and my friends" "I feel I've learned more here in a week than I've learned all my life" . . . "The first day was a wake-up call into my life and how I needed to make God a bigger part of it" . . . "I think the oneness of the staff has rubbed off on us, everyone got along and worked together" . . . "I've never had a full week of food so good ever in my life" . . . "I think I've found parts of myself and God in all the nature". . . "When we climbed to the top of Little Whiskey I saw the most beautiful picture of mountains and nature that I have ever seen" . . . "I am grateful to this Ranch for helping me find a side of myself I didn't know before" . . . "I feel I am kind of a part of the lucky few who will experience what I've experienced this week. I want to just write forever about this place but you (the Board) are probably well aware of what this place is like, what it can do to a person inside" . . . "I have never seen anything more beautiful" . . . "I became closer to God here and this will remain with me forever" "I strongly recommend that you continue having teenage retreats". "Thanks for keeping this Ranch alive and thanks for putting these wonderful memories in my life" . . . "The scenery blew me away and at my first glance I could see the power of God in the mountains" . . . "Thank you for letting me stay at the most beautiful place I've ever seen, otherwise known as Ring Lake Ranch."
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Ring Lake Ranch is always blessed with Seminar Leaders who come with many talents. At times talents appear that we'd never imagine in a million years! To accompany the fanciful story of a dragon, many of us know and tend to fear--a dragon with the name of "What Might Be"--participants at the Reimer seminar were enchanted with the fire-eating performance of Larry Reimer. |
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CAN HISTORY REPEAT ITSELF? Many times, through quite a few years of its existence, Ring Lake Ranch functioned totally with a volunteer staff. We're wondering if there could be anyone like that still out there? We're accepting applications for the summer of 2000 from anyone who might be willing to give the Ranch a month or two of your time, energy and love.
SPRING OPENING After a winter of braving the elements on the outside, and collecting dust on the inside, Ranch buildings ask for some real attention. Often glitches arise and need to be addressed before our first guests arrive. Sometimes furniture needs repair or refinishing or replacing. We become aware then of how wonderful it would be to have a few handymen/women to help us get started. If there would be six or so folks who would work for food and lodging, we would be happy to hear from you. We anticipate such work would be done in mid-May for approximately one week.
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