8-9-2004

Dear Friends,

Well, I'm back..... It took me a week to recover from the vacation that was supposed to help me recover....... *sad chuckle*  But I'm back now.

And I am running off battery bank power for the first time up here at the ranch, instead of off the generator, a HUGE step forward in having electricity 24/7 up here.

So much to talk about.... I am not going to cover even half of what is happening....

My family reunion back East was pretty good. It was good to see everyone together once again. We went up to Washington DC and saw the tourist sights one day while there, and that was interesting.

Several things struck me. One was the scale of the city renovation going on right now. There was construction everywhere. And lots of security too, but that didn't surprise me. What did surprise me was the general state of unkemptness about some of the sights. The Washington mall full of weeds and unmowed. The reflection pool at the Capital building was surrounded in weeds growing in the cracks in the concrete. And these weren't just little weeds. These were weeds that had been there awhile. And it hit me about what an appropriate description or picture of the state of our nation it was. Full of weeds in all the cracks. Not taken care of.

Let's see. At both the capital building and the white house, I could sense the prayers of the people for their leaders. That was comforting, to literally see and feel the covering of God's people for some of our leaders, at least the ones that acknowledge God anyway. I also could almost literally feel some of the spiritual battles being waged in the city. That was bizarre, and yet, should not have surprised me.

There were lots of other thoughts and impressions that hit me about DC too, but too many to include here. Ask me if you are interested.

We went fishing and camping and other things also while there, and that was enjoyable. My dad spent time each evening, just talking about those things in life that are important, things he wanted to pass on to his children, things he wanted us to know, and ways in which God wanted us to live. It was very special time, and I am still pondering some of the things that were said. My mom and dad and planning to come up to visit me hopeful sometime this fall, and I am looking forward to that.

But when I returned from DC, I was quite literally, off-balance. It has taken me a full week to get my momentum on this project back, to work through some of the issues of loneliness that the family time brought up for me, and to get focused again.

As for the ministry here.... Lots of thoughts there too.

I am getting nervous.  Here it is August already, and I am NOT ready for winter in any way, shape, or form yet. I have tons of firewood to cut/split/stack, two wood stoves to install, the electrical system to finish, propane to buy and the propane system to check out, stuff to clean up, plumbing to fix, pipes to bury (so won't freeze), the conference center foundation to stabilize, and rooms to set up for several singles that are still planning on moving up here this fall to winter here with me and help get stuff cleaned up and set up. Lots of critical paperwork too. And somehow, I still have to earn enough money in there to pay rent and bills, AND finish up several projects I had previously committed to that are entirely unrelated to the ranch. And out of the several hundred people and churches that supposably read this newsletter, not one single offer of help from any work party, youth group, official church group, or anything beyond several close friends and individuals (that I can count on 2 hands twice) that are already committed to the project in a staff capacity, or have just wanted to help, or have supported me with either donations or financial gifts just to make ends meet so I can keep living/working here.  It's almost discouraging. Can I say that? No one outside of this same group has really even shone an interest either, in making use of the cabin I have set up and set aside as a prayer/retreat cottage for people in ministry. I shouldn't have been surprised because it's so early in the game, but somehow I was. Go figure. *sad chuckle*. God's timing. That is what I keep having to go back to. God's timing. And His timing is always perfect.

So I repeat myself. I have facilities here to house small youth groups, work retreats, and ministry people that either want to help, or just need some time away to seek God's face.

Something else kinda sad. Reid and Jessica have had to step away from focusing on the project for awhile, just to make ends meet there in Boise. This was quite simply,  discouraging for both them and myself. The churches they had contacted about support/meetings/deputation, were less than supportive, and they are really back to square one financially in many ways. Which means that all the IRS paperwork and non-profit exemption stuff, also got put on hold. But bills must be paid. *unhappy shrug*. So their involvement on a larger scale with the project (and thus the lifehouse also) is somewhat on hold until they can stabilize their own finances, which I can't fault the wisdom of, it's just sad to me.

On the brighter side, God IS still using us to minister and reach out to people. People are continuing to grow in God. The groups (yes, plural) continue to grow. Needs are being ministered to. And Satan is definitely trying to destroy us. Different ones of us have just been hit with crazy stuff. It's almost ludicrous, some of it, just how intense it is getting. We just have to let it go to God and just laugh sometimes.

One family responded to last month's email newsletter and found Reid and Jessica another cleaning job, and myself a short term handyman job. That was cool, and appreciated. Cash flow is good to have....

Several people, good friends all three, came up here on Saturday last week, and spent the day deep-cleaning the kitchen and several of the rooms here. They were such a blessing to me. So I know God hasn't forgotten me here. I take comfort in that, and am thankful.

Someone also flat out donated to us a 1978 single wide mobile home that I would love to get up here to the ranch and a snow roof put over, just to house, even if only temporarily, some of the people that have committed to moving up here this fall. I am SO short on housing, that it is kinda scary. And there are still those other studio houses/cabins down in Boise that we could get moved up here for about $4500 apiece, if anyone wants a fund raising project to take on. Time is short, and I am getting nervous, but I think I said that already...... *sad chuckle*

Oh, this is kinda funny....  Something large and rodent like moved into the kitchen here last week. I had tried to find him, but no luck until I finally put out a live trap for it. And sure enough, I caught something. It is unlike any rodent I have ever seen anyplace but here. I guess the locals call them rock rabbits. But think large hamster size (6 or 7 inches long), with furry tail as long as the body, almost a rabbit face, huge round ears (like Mickey mouse) and big dark eyes. Very cute little face. So I have him in an old aquarium that I have set up like a hamster cage. Vanya wanted to name it one thing, and I wanted to name it something different, so our little rock rabbit is yet un-named. It is definitely NOT a rat because its face and ear shape are different and the tail is furry, but nonetheless, he didn't belong in my kitchen! *chuckle*.

But I better wrap this up before my battery bank runs low on power.

But thankyou so much, all of you that have supported me and us in either prayer, financially, or in spending time helping make this project a reality. It isn't about me, it's about obeying God. And I am content in that knowledge, that I am where I am supposed to be.

Tim Benedict
208-392-6723
tbenedict@bigskytel.net