January 2007
"The Lord is good to all, and His mercies are over all His works. All Thy works shall give thanks to Thee, O Lord, and Thy godly ones shall bless Thee." Psalm 145:9-10
2006 Was a year in which God blessed Refuge Ministries greatly through the generous giving and sacrifice of many faithful partners like you. Here are just some of the things we were able to accomplish in the last year. We give thanks to God and every one of our faithful supporters and prayer partners for helping us to do so much with so little for one more year.
In Mexico we were able to pay off the piece of property we purchased outside of Chihuahua. We have since moved the small children to the farm and they are quite happy there with more play space and animals to look after. The two small boys enjoy collecting the eggs each morning and seeing how many eggs the chickens have produced. Just recently we were able to connect the electricity and gas heat at the farm to make it more comfortable for the little ones through the cold winter months.
During the summer we had a great work team from Rockford, IL come down and help us build the walls and paint the buildings on the farm. They also left an offering to help us connect the electricity and purchase two new washing machines. They were also a great blessing to the children.
During their visit we were able to minister to a group of Tarahuamara people who live close to the farm. There is now an ongoing outreach there with regular services being done by one of the leaders of the mother church in Chihuahua City. When our children saw the plight of these people they started praying for food and things to give to the Tarahuamara people. God answered their prayers so they were able to give and the work was born.
In September we had a great golf outing in Wisconsin in spite of threatening rain and clouds. God blessed us by holding off the rain until everyone was off the course and a great time was had by all.
In December God sent a visitor to bless the children and the home just before Christmas. As the weather was turning cold at night we really needed heat in the dormitory on the farm. Clayton Sherlock, from Second Christian Church in Atchison, Kansas, felt led to collect funds and needed items and come to visit the Children’s Home. With the offering he brought we were able to purchase two gas heaters which have now been installed at the farm.
We were donated a large propane tank and Clayton filled it for us so that the children could be nice and warm at night. The temp has since dropped below freezing several times and one of our water pipes froze and broke because of the cold. Before we installed the gas heaters the only source of heat at the farm was a fire place which did not evenly heat the dormitory. It was hot in front of the fireplace but cold in the rest of the dormitory.
Clayton was a great blessing, not only helping us with the finances but working to help us cut wood and playing with the children.
He also gave to help us purchase a hot water heater for the farm. They have been heating water on the stove for Saturday night baths before church on Sunday morning. Following are some excerpts from Clayton’s Christmas letter and his thoughts on the visit.
"For several years I have supported Refuge Ministries. Pastor Ron Gartner founded this ministry as an evangelical mercy ministry to take the gospel to the poor all over the world. One of the ministries that RM founded and upholds is a Children’s Home in Chihuahua Mexico. This year I was able to go and visit the children. I spent a week with the children playing with them and working on their behalf. It was a privilege and a humbling honor. I would like to share with you the most memorable moment of my journey to Mexico because I think it is the most important message we can hear at Christmas.
While with the children Karina, a young girl tried to communicate with me. She wanted me to close my eyes and hold out my hand. I don’t speak much Spanish but finally I understood. I held out my hand and closed my eyes and she gave me a wonderful gift. It was a simple child’s toy. It had been well used and was missing a hand. It could not have been a more special gift had it been gold. It provides a great moment of pause for all of us who claim the name of Christ as our own.
When I look back on the gift that Karina gave me I am left asking myself and others who claim the name of Christ the following question:
"If one, who having so little, could give so great a gift&ldots;
What then shall we do?"
We are so blessed that our children will give when they have so little and very little hope of getting more. If only we could all learn this lesson and look for opportunities to give more. What shall we do in 2007?
Thank you for your prayers and support. Ron & Bernadette Gartner
25th Anniversary Year
Ron and Bernadette Gartner
Your Evangelists to the world.
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About Refuge Ministries and the Gartners
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Africa - Philippines - Mexico
Click Here for Ron & Bernadette's 2005 report from their trip to Africa.
