Peniel Ranch News

NOTE: For more details on the above retreats check our website: www.penielranch.org

   Other retreats we host or are willing to host are: church & fellowship groups, home-school, single parent, foster, and adoptive families, special needs and other group retreats.  We have seen some of these retreats bring great unity to their group in past years.

  Please pray for the Payne’s daughter, Ruth, who is serving in Monrovia, Africa on the Africa Mercy Ship as a lab technician.  If you are interested, you can read her letters on our above website.

   Other big news!  David, Chris, and their family are flying off to Fiji May 1^st!  They will be helping long-time missionary friends; Corey and Wendy Mears move their existing school to another building and also possibly help in the development of a potential orphanage.  They are planning to stay for at least a month.  Please pray much for them in this endeavor.  If you are interested in helping financially make gifts payable to Faith Frontier Ministries, designated to David and Chris DeLano.  Their letters will also be posted on our website.  Having our own members serving on the mission field has been a long time dream.  God is faithful and we are grateful. 

   We thank each one of you for your faithful prayers, encouragement, and gifts to this ministry.  Please continue to pray that we will be faithful in serving our Saviour in all areas of this work.

Gratefully in Christ,

NOTE: For more details on the above retreats check our website: www.penielranch.org

   Other retreats we host or are willing to host are: church & fellowship groups, home-school, single parent, foster, and adoptive families, special needs and other group retreats.  We have seen some of these retreats bring great unity to their group this past year.

   Also, for any of the retreats we have, if you or a family member volunteer retreat help, kitchen, etc., you may come free of charge. 

   We thank each one of you for your faithful prayers, encouragement, and gifts to this ministry.  Please continue to pray that we will be faithful in serving our Saviour in all areas of this work.

  Gratefully in Christ,   Dennis DeLano Family, David Delano Family, Verle Payne Family, & Steve Newton

April, 2007

Warm greetings from Peniel Ranch,

 & “The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him”

       (Nahum 1:7).   The Lord knows His own and knows those who are trusting in Him.  How wonderful to  

       know that we need have no fears but can trust the Lord for today, tomorrow, in the good times and in the  

       troublous times.  We must keep seeking Him, i.e. “setting our “affection on things above, not on things

       on the earth” (Colossians 3:2).

     Spring has arrived at Peniel Ranch and we are enjoying blooming flowers, green grass, budding trees, singing birds and all the many new-life things that arrive at this time of year.  The beautiful weather has brought guests from many areas around us.  Toward the end of March a church group from Oroville came to spend a day at the Ranch and try out their fishing skills.  Even though fishing wasn’t the best, they stated that they had a wonderful time.  A family from Idaho came for several days during their spring break.  Also the Resurrection weekend brought seven families for our first 2007 Fellowship Retreat.  We had a great weekend with uplifting Bible study and sharing times, family free times, group hikes, crafts, games, good home-cooked meals and much more.  A new game donated to the Ranch called Corn Hole was brought out that weekend and greatly enjoyed.  On a Monday evening a youth group from Electric City came for a time of fun games and dinner, ending the time with devotions and s’mores around a fireside.  April 26^th a group of children with their leaders came to the Ranch from Keller Headstart school for their annual spring field trip.  The children had fun feeding the donkeys, holding chickens, petting goats and visiting the fish farm.

     Our annual Ladies’ Spring Retreat was a time of blessing and challenge as we studied portions of First Peter with examples of Old Testament women such as Sarah, Ruth, & Esther.  The Lord blessed our time with lovely weather, great fellowship, and new friendships.

     The interior of the multi-purpose building is now waiting for paint in all areas except the north kitchen walls which need stucco.  We thank the Lord for the continued progress and for the gifts and supplies that have been given toward this project.  Please continue to pray for safety for the workers, and wisdom for various decisions that need to be made. 

Note: If you desire to serve in any capacity this spring or summer, there are lots of work opportunities here.

Peniel Ranch 2007 Retreat Schedule:

   Fish-O-Rama: A Fun-Style Educational Retreat: June 7-10

   Fellowship Weeklong Camp: July 8-14

   Labor Day Weekend Retreat: Aug 31-Sep 3  (Note: Including Multi-Purpose Building Open House!)

   Fellowship Retreat: Sep 14-16

   Fall Retreat with Les Garrett, excellent Bible teacher and song writer from Australia: Oct 12-14

We host other retreats as well: for home-school, single parent, foster, and adoptive families, special needs and other group retreats.  If you are interested in scheduling your own retreat feel free to contact us. 

     We are grateful to each one who is helping and has helped this work to continue and prosper.  We thank Taz Hockenbury who was helping for several months earlier in the year.  We enjoyed having him and he is greatly missed.

   We also thank each one of you for your faithful prayers, encouragement, and gifts to this ministry.  Please continue to pray that we will be faithful in serving our Saviour in all areas of this work.

Gratefully in Christ,

Dennis DeLano Family, David Delano Family, Verle Payne Family, & Jake Guttromson

Feburary 2007

Warm greetings from Peniel Ranch,

 & “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,” (Ephesians 3:20).  With a Heavenly Father who goes way beyond what we can think of asking or even think of thinking, we do indeed have every reason for a bright 2007 and continuing future as we rely on the inward power from Him!  We, of course, must be willing to obey Him and desire His perfect will in our lives.  He supplies the grace to do that, too!

  Our New Year began with a retreat for friends from the Omak-Okanogan area.  We had a great time seeing the New Year arrive with good fellowship, hymn sings, prayer sessions, fun times, and lots of good food.

  We can report a great winter with several snowstorms supplying lots of fun for snow lovers.  The little hills around the Ranch often sang with happy, children’s voices as they sailed down the slippery slopes.

  We hosted two retreats in early February for a church group in Omak.  They were able to spend much time in the Word and in fellowship and even had a young member receive Christ as her Saviour!  They enjoyed our facilities and are looking forward to having retreats again this fall.

  The multi-purpose building interior has been progressing with nearly all the sheetrock up.  The Lord brought a young man our way who did most of the taping in one day!  He has agreed to return as time permits. 

  If you desire to serve in any capacity this spring or summer, there are lots of work opportunities at Peniel Ranch.

Peniel Ranch 2007 Retreat Schedule:

   Fellowship Retreat: April 6-8

   Ladies Spring Retreat: April 27-29

   Memorial Weekend Retreat: May25-28

   Fish-O-Rama: A Fun-Style Educational Retreat: June 7-10

   Fellowship Weeklong Camp: July 8-14

   Labor Day Weekend Retreat: Aug 31-Sep 3

   Fellowship Retreat: Sep 14-16

  NOTE: For specifics and updates on the above retreats check our website: www.penielranch.org

We host other retreats as well: for home-school, single parent, foster, and adoptive families, special needs and other group retreats.  If you are interested in scheduling your own retreat feel free to contact us. 

We thank all of you who helped make our 2006 such a special year by your presence at the Ranch, your encouragement, gifts, and prayers.  Please keep praying for us as we seek to serve the Lord and obey His will.  Pray for each Rancher that we will be a blessing and help to those who come our way this year.  Pray for good attitudes, good health, and strength for the work.  Also pray that our retreats will be meaningful and helpful in the lives of each person that attends.  Also pray for our Ranch young people.  We are grateful for Jake Guttromson who joined our Ranch team in the fall.  He, Jeremy, and LeVal have been a real asset to the Ranch work and ministry.  They have been an encouragement to other young people who have visited the Ranch.

Gratefully in Christ, Dennis DeLano Family, David Delano Family, Verle Payne Family, & Jake Guttromson   

October 2006
Warm greetings from Peniel Ranch,

 & “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.  Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21).

   We have had a great, full, busy summer and can only thank the Lord for the bountiful blessings that exceeded our highest expectations!  We give Him all the glory!

   Highlights were the July family camp with the Darden's who provided special music, plus Bill also blessed and challenged us with messages on “Who is your leader? And also a message on a roadmap for life, i.e. the clear directions God has given us in His Word.  Bill used a meaningful analogy with practical road signs.

Their family singing and their wholesome testimony was not only a blessing but inspiring as well.

Our Labor Day weekend retreat was another highlight with a church family from Omak attending, Special Olympics from Seattle area, and several who attended in other years.  The theme for the weekend was “Come Unto Me” from Matthew 11:28.

   A fellowship retreat in September involving families from a 250-mile radius, Montana, Idaho, Canada, and of course Washington, was a first that we trust will become an annual event.  It was probably the first family retreat we’ve had that had more children than adults in attendance!  It was a blessing to see families desiring to raise children that will love, serve, and honor the Lord.  Our theme for the weekend was “Raising a godly seed that love and serve God and others, and who give themselves wholly to God for His eternal purpose in Christ Jesus that they might be blessed and many might be saved.”  There were meaningful sessions of sharing, good special music and even a skit by prospective missionaries to Spain.  A presentation on Deuteronomy chapter 6 was ideal for encouraging families in their God-given responsibilities.  Several sessions for the children focused on obedience with examples from the elephant and children of the Bible.  We must not forget to mention the fun times at the river, such as making rafts with balloons and duct tape!

   In August a group of Seattle area singles had a retreat here and plan to have another one, the end of October.   

   This fall three area churches and a home school group from Seattle area used our facilities for retreats.   The opportunity to get to know more people is always a blessing.   The home school group came to use our facilities, tour various places in our area and also had a session on Geology with Dennis.

   @ The building projects are moving forward and we are so thankful to those who came to help this summer and fall.  Before he left for home, Bobby Stewart with the help of Jeremy and LeVal finished the stucco on the bunkhouse and multi-purpose building and then put the color coating on both buildings.  It looks great and what a blessing to have that phase done!  Several men from Omak helped put up sheetrock in the upper room of the multi-purpose meeting room and it has already been used for group sessions!  More recently men from Republic helped start the sheetrock installation in the dining area, and since then our fellows have nearly finished it.  We are so appreciative of the help, encouragement, and great ideas that have come our way! 

 &“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might;” This verse in Ecclesiastes 9:10 is a great verse to encourage our children to see things that they can do to help out at home without having to be told and then do it with exuberance!  What a gift some people have to be able to walk into a place and see work that needs to be done and then step forth with a willingness to do it!

   We have had such people at the Ranch this summer and how grateful we are for all their hard work!  The stucco bunkhouse and the multi-purpose building are ready for color stucco.  Thanks to our hard young workers of this summer!   Friends and relatives from Pennsylvania worked hard to get the three Ranch suites in the first unit completed for guests.  Our first guests who stayed in them were with a busload of MDS (Mennonite Disaster Service) workers who spent two days at the Ranch.  They were the perfect example of people who find work and do it with their might.  Some of them picked, pitted, and bagged approximately 250 quarts of cherries for our freezers, including some for pies and cobblers, and some for fresh eating.  Some of the men cleaned out the second Ranch suite unit in preparation for remodeling and also put siding on the first unit.  Others put decorative river rock in front of the deck of the log bunkhouse wonderfully changing its appearance.  Some of the ladies washed windows, did sewing projects, helped in the kitchen, and some weeded garden.  We are all overwhelmingly grateful!

   Other guests we enjoyed were Nathan and Mary Saxe and their four children. They are former missionaries to Spain who are now preparing to return. They are in their early deputation stage. Our Ranch children had a great time playing with the Saxe children and also enjoyed a backyard Bible club with Nathan as teacher.

   We have been blessed again with a visit from the singing Darden family.  They stayed at the Ranch while they went out to sing in area churches. While here Bill Darden also had Bible studies in the yard for the children.   Our Ranch children were delighted as they were hoping for a summer Bible club.  The Lord provided two willing teachers.

   The Darden's also had a concert here at the Ranch including our Ranch children and some of our young people as well.  Our young people learned quickly with such a good teacher!  We invited local friends and had a wonderful time of blessing and fellowship!    

   @ The building reports continue to be encouraging: the electrical work in the multi-purpose building has passed inspection and will soon be hooked up.  As stated above the outside is now ready for color stucco along with the stucco bunkhouse. 

   The outside of the first Ranch suite unit needs trim and will soon be ready for paint and decks.

Ø      Please pray for continued wisdom in building projects, safety for the various workers, for needed building materials, and other Ranch/Ministry needs.

Ø      Please continue to pray for wisdom, good health, strength, and cheerful, helpful attitudes for each Rancher.

Ø      Also that all those who attend our retreats will be blessed and encouraged.

Peniel Ranch Retreats: (Open to all those interested)                                                                       

            Family Weekend Camp: July 28-30 (Also open to singles) Still time to sign up!

                Labor Day Weekend Retreat: Sept. 1-4

   Gratefully in Christ,

   Dennis DeLano Family, David Delano Family and Verle Payne Family

 &“For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ”  (Colossians 2:5).  What an encouragement the Colossians believers must have been to Paul who wrote that he was cheerfully beholding their order and the steadfastness of their faith.  The word “order” has a Greek meaning of a “regular arrangement or succession of rank.”  Years ago a radio preacher stated that the word “order” as used in this verse gives the picture of Christians standing together shoulder to shoulder; in other words encouraging one another, helping one another and being there for one another as a rank of soldiers would.   If a group of soldiers were marching in rank they would not think of leaving one of their comrades behind if he could no longer keep up, but the two on either side of him would take his arms and help him along.  What a good example the Colossian believers must have been to the world around them!   We Christians have the same God to help us stand together as good soldiers of Jesus Christ and to remain steadfast in the faith no matter what!

   We had a wonderful Memorial weekend retreat with several new families attending and also folks who have come faithfully over the years.   It was a weekend of good times searching the Word of God with the theme of “The Best Memorials.”   What meaningful memorials we have in the Word of God stating what the Savior has done for us and keeps on doing: forgiving, providing, sustaining, the list goes on and on.  While the adults had their Bible classes the children had their Bible learning times, too.   They learned much about the character quality of attentiveness and about the six days of creation.

   The times between the Bible study sessions included special family times, organized game times, bike rides, hiking, and of course the good home cooked food and lively chatter at meal times. It was a great weekend and we thank all of you who were here for helping to make it a great success!

@ The building reports are encouraging: the multi-purpose building is ready for the electrical inspector and the three Ranch suites have the tile and hardwood floor laid, and the bathroom vanities installed!

   We are grateful to have Robert Stewart from Pennsylvania here for the summer helping with the building projects and other needs as they arise.  We are happy to have LeVal here again too.  He did most of the hardwood floors in the suites.  We are grateful for Jeremy and Aaron who are also still here helping in many areas.  It is so refreshing to see young energy hard at work!  

Ø      Please continue to pray for these young men, that their time here will be very profitable for them and for the ministry.

Ø      Please pray for wisdom in the many decisions, safety for the various workers, and continued provision for building projects and other Ranch/Ministry needs.

 Ø    Also good attendance, wisdom, and direction for the upcoming retreats.

Peniel Ranch Retreats: (Open to all those interested)                                                                       

            Family Weekend Camp: July 28-30 (Also open to singles) note the date change.

            Watch for other future retreat dates.

We have a local church youth retreat coming up in the near future but there are open dates if you would like to schedule a retreat for later in the summer.

   Gratefully in Christ,

   Dennis DeLano Family, David Delano Family and Verle Payne Family