2-6-2005

Dear Friends,

 

How are things for each of you?

 

Things have been bumpy here, but they have been moving again.  After last month's "Faith newsletter", things have started moving again. I have had several unexpected gifts and work come in over the last 2 weeks that have kept me afloat and reaffirmed to me that I am still on the right track. God is good.

 

I have also shone the ranch to several more people that have given me good feedback and expressed at least a tentative commitment to help out with things as needed.

 

And "Thorn Creek Conference Center and Youth Ranch" is now a registered business name in Idaho! The paperwork filing process has begun! What a relief to finally have that underway!

 

And apparently, there is now another group of people asking the owners about buying this place instead of me. That thought is a little scary.....

 

So here's the deal. I have until May 31 of this spring, as per verbal agreement with the owners from last year, and written into the contract (yet to be signed), to raise a down-payment of $100,000 dollars, or the full amount of $450,000, in order to buy the place, or everything is back up in the air. I have 2 grant writers that have expressed a willingness to help out chase down grants, but I don't know if we can humanly raise that much that fast.... Anyone got any ideas? If nothing else..... PRAY.

 

I have been asked several times, by several people, about am I sure that this is the right place and property? I am completely sure. Too many specific answers to prayer (even recently) and confirmations for it not to be.

 

So I have just been working on looking at all the things that need to be done here before the Summer retreat season starts in . And then breaking them down into monthly goals (first step in setting up a 5 and 10 year plan)....

 

And man oh man do I have my work cut out for me....... This walk of faith continues.....  This thing is all or nothing...

 

Remember, all I want to accomplish this year is get the retreat center up and functional.

 

Anyway, here's the list (below). Anyone want to help? :-)  Even if you do nothing more than lift this list up to God and ask Him to work out the details, ask Him to let me know each day what to work on, and for Him to keep my bills paid while I work here myself, that's enough for me.

 

I am so glad God is on the throne.....

 

In Him,

 

-Tim

Tim Benedict
Thorn Creek Conference Center
21 Yellowpine Lane
Boise, ID 83716
208-392-6723
tbenedict@bigskytel.net

 

 

February, 2005

  1. Conference Center foundation posts braced better
  2. Electric switching installed for electricity
  3. Second Deep cycle battery bank installed
  4. Conference Center building Electricity to
  5. Lodge shelves reinforced
  6. Clear out recreation room, lay down carpet, install wood stove
  7. Septic plans
  8. Site plan, Long range plan
  9. Contracts signed, 501C3 filed, Boise county paperwork filed
  10. Washers, junk moved from floorless cabin
  11. Food in storage sorted
  12. Big power inverter fixed
  13. Hydrogen generator set up

 March, 2005

  1. Frame in ends of trailer cabins and fix windows
  2. Water/septic/electricity to trailer cabins
  3. Trailer cabins furnished, foundations laid
  4. Log cabin siding on trailer cabins
  5. Connect trailer cabin to house, add exterior door to recreation room
  6. Fix plumbing in lodge (2 bathroom/1 kitchen sinks, 1 tub/shower, clogged pipes)
  7. Hook up all light fixtures, fans, finish bathroom(s) and trim-work in lodge
  8. Spring water fixed and piped into lodge and conference center for potable use
  9. Sediment and UV filter added to community water supply for all buildings
  10. Hydro electric generator re-piped, set up again
  11. Field in valley cleared out for Life Flight access

 April, 2005

1.              Conference Center foundation dug out, rebuilt

2.              Shop cleared out, cleaned up, basketball hoops installed.

3.              Conference Center bedrooms cleared out and finished

4.              Conference Center wood stove fixed

5.              Conference Center kitchen/plumbing fixed

6.              Diesel tanks dug up and moved or ????

May, 2005

1.        Fix plumbing in prayer cottage

2.        Prayer cottage windows fixed

3.        New roof structure, walls chinked, door and windows, forest service cabin

4.        Back entrance road fixed

5.        Front bridge filled in around where starting to wash out.

6.        Stable/corral fence reinforced, tires moved

7.        Tack room emptied, roof fixed

8.        Garage cleaned up

9.        Stream under garage rerouted and foundation shored up

10.    Ropes course installed

11.    Move fire pit/amphitheatre

12.    Bunk house roof fixed

13.    Bunk house electricity

14.    Pool repaired and plumbing fixed

15.    Metal storage sheds put up

16.    Little cabin foundation, insulation, electricity

17.    Floor and foundation put into second log cabin

18.    Pole barn shed for vehicles in valley

19.    General cleanup and prep

20.    Metal roofing and log cabin siding on all buildings