Barn Fire!!!

This morning as I walked to breakfast, I was told that the horse barn burned to the ground last night. Around 4:30 am Mio Rhein, the wrangler, woke up to find that the barn was burning out of control. He thinks the barn was probably burning for about an hour before he woke. Some of the staff were awakened to help deal with the fire. The wind spread the fire to the loading dock where campers get on and off the horses. Nobody was injured in the fire and it was contained to the barn and dock.

The barn held all of the Echo Ranch Bible Camp horse tack. This includes saddles, bits, bridles and anything needed to ride a horse. The four camp pigs and the two barn cats were also lost in the fire. Mio was storing most of his tools in the barn a long with their four wheeler and three of their families bikes. The barn was burned completely to the ground. A few chared posts still stand, but the barn and the loading dock are totally destroyed.

This weekend Echo Ranch had middle schoolers from Juneau City Youth Council (JCYC). The campers were very concerned about the horse program. The horses are a highlight for children in Southeast Alaska. Echo Ranch is one of the only places were kids can come and ride a horse in the non-farming settlements of Southeast Alaska.

This fire produces some unexpected needs for the Echo Ranch 2006 Season. Quality horse tack is needed to run the Horse Program and Horse Camp. The Rhein family also needs items to replace what was lost in the fire. Mio and Mishele both have a great attitude and said, "Well, I guess God thought we had too much. Now we have the opportunity to see how the Lord will provide." Please lift up these needs to the Lord. Mio and Mishele and their four kids: Chance (8), Kegan (6), Claire (5) & Collette (5) would also appreciate your prayers as they deal with this unexpected loss.