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Carpenter Connection

Miracle Mountain Ranch 2013 Edition 3 Dear friends and family: With Thanksgiving approaching, we have more to be thankful for than ever. We have had many volunteers assisting in cleanup and reconstruction. Marks brother, Jeff, survived a 5th heart attack in August and received a transplant November 10th and was discharged on the 20th. A new heart, a new lease on life: What a vivid picture of our new life in Christ! Jeff asked the one doctor if he would have to ask Jesus into his heart after the transplant; to which the surgeon replied, I do not believe youd have to. John 14:1-7 talks about us being dead in our trespasses and sins, but Christs death on the cross imparts to us a new life. The death of one man gives life to another. Are we willing to die to ourselves that we might live for Christ? In preparation for the Servant Leadership class that Mark teaches in December and January, the theme of dying to ourselves is paramount to being a servant leader. The picture of us esteeming others above ourselves realizing it is only by Gods grace that we are worthy of serving Him.

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
John 14:1

APPRENTICES: This year we have been blessed with two 1st year students; Matthew Stine and Caleb Wood. With Mark helping out at Jeffs shop, Tim Rega has been grading the apprentice projects and helping with other advisor responsibilities. We have also enjoyed having Andrew Smith join us for advisor dinners. He works in the media department. This week, Matt and Caleb presented a Message from the Mount. This is a short devotional that they illustrate a Biblical principal using a horse that they have been training. They both did extremely well sharing life lessons that they have been challenged with while training their horses. Each of these boys has a sincere desire to serve the Lord and hope to minister at a nearby cowboy church. We are anticipating great things for them as they endeavor to be leaders in their class of 38 students. FAMILY: Our life has changed somewhat as Mark has been trying to catch things up for his brother at his Meadville business and continue to manage the Operations Department here at the Ranch. Through this, we have learned to be more purposeful with our family time.

OPERATIONS: The Operation Department has been in quite a whirlwind. We have been busy with the demolition of the old barns, site work and construction of the new Livery Shed, and continued work on the central restrooms. We hope to have horses utilizing their new home by early December. This new barn is 40x316 and will store hay and provide cover for approximately 45 horses. Lord willing, we will break ground for the new Critter Corral in the spring. There are plans being made for some really neat features to Critter Corral that will make it extremely kid friendly. Thank you all for your continued prayer and financial support. We could not serve here without all of you. You are all a blessing and we pray God will continue to bless each of you. Please feel free to come and visit our home or the Ranch. We would love to show you around and enjoy fellowship with you. In His Service, Mark, Shari, Alissa, Josh, Katie, Lindsey and James Brian PRAISE AND PRAYER REQUESTS: Praise for full apprentice year and retreat season Prayer for apprentices to surrender to Gods will for their lives Praise that Jeff got a heart transplant!!!!!!!!! Prayer for continued barn reconstruction Praise for unprecedented donations and insurance settlement for reconstruction Contact Information: 3351 Eldred Hill Road Spring Creek, PA 16436 (814) 665-6084 marksharicarpenter@yahoo.com All gifts are tax deductible and can be made out to MMR, designated for us, on a separate piece of paper, and sent to the Ranch at 101 Rodeo Drive, Spring Creek, PA 16436. Gifts can also be made on-line through the Ranchs website at mmrm.org. If you would like to start receiving our newsletter via e-mail, just send a request to our e-mail address.

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