Sunday, December 3, 2017

2017 - 'Tis the Season



'Tis the Season


Our Redemptive Art:

Las Aguas Verdes or “the green waters” is the on-line store for the students of Ranch Oasis for Youth’s trade school - Taller CDP (Conocimiento, Desarollo y Prosperidad).

Taller CDP or “Workshop of Knowledge, Growth and Prosperity” focuses on teaching the students skills in creating and selling artisan crafts that have a “redemptive” theme.

“For the most part, we use materials that have no purpose or are ready to be disposed of,” says the school’s director, Marillyn Beard. “We take those discarded magazines, pairs of jeans or t-shirts and make art! The student’s work is symbolic to the “spiritual change” that is happening in their lives. Not only are they learning skills, such as perseverance and a strong work ethic, but they are realizing hope and wholeness in God’s plan for their lives.”

We know you will enjoy the student’s work and be blessed to learn that 100% of the proceeds return to Taller CDP and the artists. Each student earns a minimum of 60% of the sale and the balance is used for supplies and expenses for the school! Therefore, sustaining the school and honoring the students with new/fair financial resources!
Start Shopping / Blessing

The Ruth Collection

Our first 2017-2018 Winter collection! We've decided to focus on the Biblical character of Ruth and name each piece of jewelry a quality that reflects her life & testimony. We hope this special collection will encourage and empower you to be like Ruth. Please take the time to read through each item's description as each will weave into one another to tell Ruth's story.

Christmas Trees

Each themed Christmas Tree ornament is handcrafted from paper beads.  Our ornaments are stunning on a Christmas tree or creatively displayed on a shelf or wall. Each of the beautifully & uniquely finished ornaments come with a photograph of the artisan/student and will arrive inside a stamped gift bag with a green ribbon. Excellent for gifting!

Thursday, November 23, 2017

2017 - Mil Gracias!!!


The Beards: Bendecidos!
"A Thousand Thanks"

We give thanks this holiday for the many lives that God has allowed us to touch via our labor of love, Rancho Oasis, established 2010. 

Thank you, support team, for your constant prayer, service, gifts and words of encouragement! We share an equal weight in this work for the Kingdom!!!

Take some time to reflect & give thanks for the individuals that invested in YOU and the importance of reaching the next generation for Christ...

One of my favorite podcasts shared some valuable lessons during an interview with Christian researcher & speaker George Barna. Barna’s comments encouraged me with our own philosophy of ministry here at Rancho Oasis.

Excerpts from Warren Smith's interview with George Barna.
 (Aired May 11th, 2017 on the podcast “Listening In.”)


U-12 Boys Soccer Team

 “[Reading the Bible] is necessary, but it’s not everything that you need to do [to have a Biblical world view]. Because when Jesus was working with his apostles he wasn’t constantly quizzing them, “What do you believe?” He was saying, “Well, whatta ya gonna do?” And ya know his measure, he’s quoted in John as saying when you will be my disciples if you bear fruit….


… And so it’s really the fruit that determines whether or not we’re serious about this quest to be Christ-like. And so that’s why in this particular study unlike all previous ones we’ve incorporated behaviors into the measuring process. And that I believe is why simply reading the Bible may not be enough to get you there. Somebody might have to help you translate those beliefs into behavior.

Children & Youth Bible Studies


“Well let me even go back a step and talk about how does a world view develop because what we’ve learned over the many years that I’ve been doing this kind of research is that a person’s world view develops essentially between about 18 months of age and age of 13

It’s really in those first thirteen years of life that a person’s world view develops. During the teen years we found that once you have that world view pretty well set in stone you refine it a bit and then when you reach your 20’s and beyond you become an evangelist for your own world view.  You think that you’ve got it right and so you want others to embrace your world view….

Trade School Bible Devotionals & Life Talks

…So what that says to me about the developmental process is we may have it upside down in our churches we put almost all of our theological development and behavioral development resources into trying to impact adults and what we know from the research is you are who you are going to be by the age of 13 or 14, somewhere in there in that range….

Hosting Short-term Missions teams & our Intern Program

So we ought to be putting most of our resources into trying to reach children. Now having said I’ll say that it is not impossible for an adult to have their world view refined or even radically changed the Holy Spirit can change anybody’s life in an instant and then you can be on a different growth trajectory. So that’s a great thing. But what has to happen there. It’s not just about information. More than that it is about seeing how that information gets applied.


Raising our own third-culture kids!
  
An intelligent heart acquires knowledge,
    and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
 -Proverbs 18:15 (ESV)


By wisdom a house is built,

    and by understanding it is established;
by knowledge the rooms are filled
    with all precious and pleasant riches.
 -Proverbs 24:3 & 4 (ESV)

Many blessings to you, your families and your Christian communities!

Les Queremos Mucho!

Saturday, September 2, 2017

2017 - "HELP! We're Hosting a Short-term Missions Team!!!"

Bloomingdale Church Missions Team & the Beards
July 2017

A recent highlight for us at Rancho Oasis was hosting the first ever team from Bloomingdale Church, my original home church. 

Over three decades ago, I, Jon, started attending the church with my family before entering junior high and accepted Christ as my Savior before my senior year of high school!

Rather than share my perspective on the trip, one of the short-term team members gave me permission to share his first time experience. 

Enjoy & be blessed!


Short-termer John Wilkes with Mathias.
“Jon, Thank you for the opportunity to tell you my story of this great experience…

Our trip began a few months before we actually set foot on Honduran soil. Seven of us from Bloomingdale Church in suburban Chicago gathered together on a regular basis to learn how a successful trip is achieved. Some of us already had mission trip experience and others none; I was in the “none” category. We learned about the Honduran culture and each other during these meetings. So many subjects spin off of these two main topics and the missions guide book, “Help! We're Going on a Short-term Trip”, was used to help keep things on track. Regardless of prior missions experience, this group had never traveled together before. We came together well and by the time we departed I felt very much accepted and the group had become a team. When we loaded the bus from the church parking lot I remember feeling so relieved to finally be going and the fear I had months before when I committed to actually do the trip was gone.

Almuerzo @ Las Tejitas! Que Rico!
Once we arrived at the airport in Tegucigalpa we were met by Jon Beard. Jon greeted us and after a couple of quick currency exchange transactions we swiftly navigated to our transportation. Once in the rental, we stopped at a local restaurant where Jon had pre-arranged a great meal to welcome us to Honduras. Following lunch, we were underway to the retreat center; which would be our home base during the trip. Once at the retreat center we met Irma and her daughter Marcela who are the proprietors. This property is so beautiful with many succulent plants and quiet places of refuge for prayer and reflection. “I could live there,” I thought, and then when we ate our first meal there and I knew I was right...I could actually live there! We had two meals a day there: breakfast and dinner. The accommodations were very clean and inviting. Hot or very warm showers and all that stuff but the hospitality and clearly the blood, sweat and years of effort to cultivate this place was the real allure.


The retreat center, La Posada del Pescador.

I would wake up around 0500 and spend time alone with the Lord in one of the many places available to do so. When everyone was up and about we would meet for group prayer for the day and the Ranch then have an awesome breakfast. (Did I mention the great chow?) We would then load up in the van and head to the ranch which I is about 40 minutes up the mountain. Many times this drive was through the cloud as in we were actually driving into a cloud. Each day we would depart the ranch around 1730- 1800 and head back to the retreat center for dinner, group discussion/ prayer and turn into bed around 2000-2100.

RO4Y Prayer & Property Tour
The first full day in country we visited the Ranch. Right away I was inspired by the property. On the slope of a mountain and the vast view of the valley that in the distance holds the capitol city of Tegucigalpa. Jon introduced his children and we took a tour of the whole property together. We made a full perimeter hike with a Google Earth map that Jon laminated. I really liked this, reminded me of my military days, and it helped set the location in my mind geographically. We continued around until we visited all of the ministries and support operations for the ranch;
- The ministry building
- The staff building (under construction)
- The soccer field
- The horse training ring
- The barn and chicken coop
- The work shop (If I HAD to pick a favorite...)
- The Beard home

Along the way we prayed for each ministry. Once we completed the prayer hike, we went into the house and were able to meet Marillyn, Jon’s wife, who was working away with preparing lunch for this big group of people. It was a fine meal and gathering, yes indeed.

Practicing "Canciones" de VBS!!!
After lunch we discussed all of the week’s projects and bible studies, skits and songs, crafts and children's activities scheduled for the rest of the trip. I will say that the level of communication and group interaction was great. This tool is used well and helps keep things running smoothly. Jon Beard and our group leader, Stuart Guild, did a great job with communication.


We spent each of the first few days tackling the list of facility maintenance and system upgrades to keep the Ranch in bounds and moving forward. Painting, door and hardware repair, septic system installations which are actually a bio-digester system for the staff housing. There was some demanding manual labor involved and I will admit to wishing I had not enjoyed those last couple of milk shakes before I left the States... but all was good. We came together well as a unit during these days of labor for Jesus and the Ranch, the actions of faith in place of the words about faith were in full motion.


Installing Staff Housing "Bio-digestor", a human waste composting septic system.

Back filing dirt over sand & gravel leech field.

Yah! Projected completed!

Karen Julisa preps her VBS craft!
The last few days we were able to meet one of the main reasons for the Ranch: the youth!  The vans, the Ranch 15-passenger van and the rental van, would bring in the children. One group in the morning and one in the afternoon. I will say that my often grumpy fifty-two year old self was choking back some emotion on more than one occasion.

I learned that children are children everywhere. When we sang the songs and the skits were performed, the faces were cheerful and laughter was present. The kids truly love the Ranch. When the lessons turned to activities (either crafts or games) the facial expressions and laughter were those of truly excited and happy kids. These children brought me back to when times were simpler and interaction was itself an activity to anticipate with excitement. I did not see any smart phones interfering with their fun… except mine... but, hey, I was documenting! The last couple of days there were so many kids and I believe the last day had close to sixty.


Final photo with afternoon VBS kids!


John shares from the Word & his testimony.
A highlight of the trip for me was giving my testimony, as well as leading a bible study with the staff. I do not speak Spanish, so translation was needed, a first for me. All went well and I believe there was at least one person there who needed to hear my story and how Jesus has always loved me even when I could not love myself. How He surrounded me with so many good people that I could not possibly deny it and how He watched over me while being such a self-righteous fool.


John teaches the afternoon "readers" VBS group!

El Picachu
Our trip was so busy and full of interesting days that I look back on all of it and see how much can be done when good people do something together. We did all of this and still went to church in the capitol city on Sunday. We also did some tourist stuff, like: we visited a couple nearby "pueblos" and picked up souvenirs, we visited a park that had a giant statue of Jesus looking over the capitol city and I visited a couple of hardware stores and bought materials for the Ranch (This is the equivalent of a shopping trip to the mall of America for some people) but to me it was awesome!


My perspective was changed one day when I was asked by Jon if I would like to go with him to drop off the kids at their homes. We made our way up and down the very rough terrain roads. Up to this point, I had just been playing activities like soccer and group races with these kids. I see their spirit and laughing faces and genuine enthusiasm for life through all of these things. Now, outside the Ranch, we pull up to a small structure made of miscellaneous materials and not big enough for two motorcycles. Jon calls out for three kids that we are here and they hop out and walk down the trail to this place, their home. My heart sank and I know this is a fine place for people to live who don't mind figuring out how to cultivate and manage the meager resources available.
However, I saw young lives with not much more to hope for, but the RO4Y mission offers them as a way to real hope! Their other options are hard to comprehend, especially for a person who has so much at their disposal, like myself.
The contrast of the joy at RO4Y and the reality of their daily struggle hit home for me this moment and I will never forget the seriousness of Gods calling on the Beard family in Honduras.

The reflections I have from the trip are clear as a bell and also not so clear.
It is very clear to me that scripture speaks very loudly on a mission trip,
particularly Matthew 9:37-38:

[Jesus] said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”
NLT


"La Cosecha"

Las Cinco Barbas worship band
I also see the massive work load on Jon and Marillyn with five children. This alone is an enormous responsibility and work. There is only one who can make it possible for a man and a woman to have the courage, determination and love to take on a family of seven AND a mountainside of children: Jesus!  The strength that come from a faith in Him is clearly evident when looking back on their mission. Their desire to help is cultivated when looking forward toward their vision God has given them. The task is worthy and I highly recommend putting faith into action with a trip to Honduras and see what the Beard clan has in store for you. I personally can’t wait to go back."


Mil gracias, John!

It is awesome to see that God continues to use short-term missions experiences to not only "lengthen our reach" into the community & build up the Ranch's infrastructure, but to touch the lives and hearts of the short-term missionaries; ultimately, strengthening their faith and emboldening them to continue to serve Christ in their own "backyard" mission field. 

Thank you, Jesus!



If you, you're family and/or a small team are interested in visiting & serving at the Ranch, please don't hesitate to contact us to began discussing dates, cost and projects!

We look forward to seeing whom God brings to Honduras in 2017 & 2018!!!



Please continue to PRAY for Rancho Oasis & the Beard fammily!

Wednesday, July 19, 2017

2017 - Fleshing Out the Vision: Being a Refuge and a Place of Healing & Hope


Nazareth displays her "God's best creation" craft!

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9 (ESV)

Weariness can easily become a way-of-life on the mission field... click this tag line for more explanation. We long to arrive into that season of reaping, but there is so much preparation for the harvest. Pressures mount to give up and yet we fight on, doing good for God's glory.

This is our 7th year in Honduras.
During this time many have come and gone
to Rancho Oasis. 

We are forever grateful for allowing God to use this ministry to touch so many lives…

Here are a few lives that have been touched over the last few months & years of ministry:

Monica and Marillyn share a final embrace.
After nearly four years of studying with us in the trade school, Monica informed us that she would be leaving to pursue a job opportunity in the capital.

Initially heartbroken to say good-bye to one of our most faithful and talented students, it was very rewarding to reflect upon the tremendous growth in this single-mom's life.

When she first came to the trade school, by invitation of her sister, she was outspoken, sassy and pretty difficult to love. However, over time she became one of Marillyn's student leaders and one of the most creative student-artists!

 Not only did her talent increase, but the weekly Bible studies grew Monica's character as she began to pursue her future and family under God's guidance. She thanked us specifically for teaching her what her Biblical responsibility was as a single-mom.

We are so thankful that Monica showed the maturity to let us know of her exit from the school. She was a model worker and we'll miss her deeply.


PRAY for the trade school as we have undergone many changes in 2017:
-Marillyn is managing the school by herself (Jon does some administration).
-3 of the 6 student leaders have moved on to permanent jobs (Though we never had a goal to create a permanent jobs for these students, there is still an adjustment to the changes.)
-4 of the 5 new students have left the school without explanation
-PRAISE for special sales requests like wedding gifts and non-profit/fair-trade collaborations. (Please let us know if you or a friend have an interest in bulk whole-sale orders.)
-PRAY for sales opportunities to help support these students

Darlin works on a "bulk" order of earrings for the Ragini Project.
I was recently teasing our one-and-only male student, Henry, when Darlin made me laugh pretty hard.

I teased Henry that I knew he enjoyed coming to class every Tuesday because he got to work alongside so many talented and beautiful women. 

Suddenly, out of the blue, quite and shy Darlin burst out, "I'll accept that!"

It has taken several years to build that level of comfort among these youth. 

PRAISE God for His presence & peace in the trade school!


Jon with Lesly & her newborn, Eric Josue.

Life can take many twists and turns for a young person in rural Honduras. 

We've known Lesly from the very beginning of our work in Ojojona in 2010.

What a unique opportunity we've had to be a light for Lesly in so many different ways over the years:

We've ministered to her in the youth group and were instrumental in sending her to a youth camp where she came to know Christ. She took a turn for the worse when her grandmother passed, but was prayed out of a deep depression by a close friend she developed from one of our short term missions teams. She has been involved with the trade school for years and most recently employed as a cook for our family. 

Now her newest and greatest adventure has begun: Motherhood!

PRAY for Lesly as she is still in the first year of her marriage and first weeks as a mom.


Oscar works with Elder, a fatherless at-risk-youth from Ojojona
One of the greatest privileges we have at Rancho Oasis is to watch the Word of God shape lives in the next generation.

Not just the lives of the ones receiving the messages,
but those giving the teaching, too!

Not only does Oscar continues to serve faithfully as our primary farm-hand, watching over our myriad selection of animals and the upkeep of RO4Y's 17 acre property, but as the head coach of both the men's and boy's soccer teams and a co-teacher on our Friday kids Bible study.

PRAY for Oscar to mature in his walk with the Lord
as a spiritual leader in his own home and at the Ranch.


Miguel, one of the many fatherless & directionless kids in town.
Miguel, in the green shirt, has been one of the newest additions to our Friday Bible study.

Like most kids they are drawn by the mini-soccer field on sight (pictured below) or the trampoline, but Miguel is uniquely attentive to the Bible studies...
most of the time!


One particular Friday, I called Miguel out for unruly behavior. He was pretty ticked and refused to apologize to another kid for something he did. He wouldn't talk to me for the rest of the study, nor greet me when I saw him over the next few days in Ojojona.

Nevertheless, he came the following Friday to Bible study! He admitted his error and all was restored. A little Christ-centered tough love won him out!

I love that we can practice what we preach at the Ranch and kids keep coming back because they know it is a place of healing and hope! I can't tell you the number of kids who have received some "tough love", walk away for a time, but always return! Always!

PRAY for the youth in all of our activities to have a spiritual awakening and an awareness for their need for Jesus in their daily life.

PRAISE that the Friday Bible Studies (AM & PM) have maintained their increased attendance.

A full house Friday Bible study!


"Best Disciplined Team" Trophy 2 years in a row!
(a.k.a. - the least amount of fouls)
Nelson Omar, better known as "Machi", is another example of the longevity of our witness in the community.

Machi joined our boy's team years ago,
but was soon kicked off the team for being a bad/negative influence.

Now he plays for the men's team and has even captained the team!
He also works full-time at the Ranch alongside Oscar as our farm-hand!

Our men's team has now completed two tournaments in Ojojona, but is struggling to keep our focus on discipleship. Low to non-existent attendance for practice and limited opportunity at games has been a growing concern.

Soccer is arguably the strongest religion in Honduras, next to Catholicism, and is one of our greatest evangelistic tools.

PRAY for wisdom on getting the team back on track!

The well attended championship game came down to PK's!
(No worries, we weren't playing.)


Another blessing of the ministry at Rancho Oasis is to partner with churches in the United States who have caught on to the vision of providing a place of refuge, healing and hope to the hurting youth in our community.

Our most recent collaboration was with Calvary Chapel Santee:

CC Santee Youth Team's Fun Day: Picnic in Ojojona
This was the second team sent down by CC Santee since 2016,
but the first team consisting of youth group members and their adult leaders.

                        KP Duty                            Painting the Ministry House

Co-leading Trade School Devos                  VBS Bastketball fun!

Short-term teams are always a boost in the morale at the Ranch,
but the teams also experience the blessing of serving Jesus
and the unity that this brings to the group.

PRAISE that the Ranch can also be a place of refuge for our visitors, too!

Mil gracias, CC Santee!!!


Checking Naomi & Tabitha into immigration before their month in the US of A.
Generously sponsored by friends and family!

Don’t be fooled!
The Beards will NOT be making their yearly furlough to the States in 2017.

Mathias was really looking forward to his first extended stay in the States.

Sorry. But it is hard not to share our disappointment.

 Though not a “vacation” per say, furloughs introduce a necessary change in routine… a breath of fresh air in the challenges of daily life in a third-world country. Okay. I’ll stop before I get too romantic! There are some undesirable things about furloughs, too! (Multiple beds, strange foreign food, long car rides, etc.)

In an effort to be responsible and do the right thing, we decided to not visit the West coast this year. Reality is money is tight and flying a family of 7 doesn’t come cheap.

We’ll miss those rekindled relationships with churches and opportunities to share about what God is doing at the Ranch. Along with those special family moments that only come on road trips. The decision comes with much difficulty.

So, what can you do? 

PRAY for us & the ministry of RO4Y! 

Consider becoming a monthly supporter to Rancho Oasis and/or give a one time gift to help with these needs:

-Paying back the balance on an interest free loan for the 17 acre property purchased in September of 2013

-Saving to purchase a 4x4 pick-up.
(Our 15 passenger van is doing ALL the work right now and we haven't been able to sell the Durango!)

- Paying off our first electric bill… it is pretty hefty after a 16 month waiting period!

-Completing the staff housing project 

Adding colorant powder to concrete exterior stucco finish


-Not to mention our monthly expenses as a ministry, including staff salaries, and a family.

-Purchasing a solid pair of horses well trained & ready to serve at the Ranch.

(Click here to make a donation.)

Studying through Colossians with the crew.

Thanks again for your prayers, financial gifts
and words of encouragement!


"...But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." 1 Corinthians 15:57-58 (ESV)