Kara Baratta joined the MMR staff team in 2008, following her graduation from School of Discipleship (’06 – ’08). She currently serves as the Equine Program Director. Kara has her Bachelor’s degree in Youth Ministry.
Looking Back
It has been far too long since my last newsletter! So many things have happened. We have since completed the 2011 Summer Camp season, graduated last year’s Apprentice class and welcomed the new group in! Here are just a few of the highlights of the last several months.
One of the big things that I went through was my accident in February, but I will share more about that later. Summer camp was a huge success. We had over 1000 kids here and many of them accepted Christ as their personal savior! For the first time in 30 years, we had to open one of our old bunkhouses! Praise God for the work He did this summer and continues to do each year.
On August 20th, I watched as 23 students graduated from the Apprenticeship Program. Emily Stancer was my apprentice and she is going home to work as a Physical Therapist Assistant. Many went home to jobs, some went to other ministries and 4 stayed here for a second year. In between graduation and orientation weekend, I had the opportunity to take several of the Ranch horses to local shows. During those weeks I also made it home for the Great New York State Fair!!!
My Apprentices
This year Shyla Bridges and I are paired up as advisors and we have Justine Lackey from Erie, PA and Bekah King from Washington State. I have enjoyed getting to know these two ladies and am excited for the year ahead with them. They will have very busy schedules, many school projects, papers and plenty of ministry opportunities.
Right Now
In September we found 5 leaks under my house. Those leaks caused the floor in many places to give out. They started renovations in my bedroom and kitchen and will continue working their way through rest of the house over the next several weeks. My roommates and I took the opportunity to put fresh paint and change a few things. I am very excited about the renovations! The first picture is right after they ripped up the floor and the second was taken on Nov 9th.
My Accident
I have told this story so many times I don’t remember who has heard it and who hasn’t. So here is what happened.
On February 28th, I was helping some of my students put their horses away after a lesson and was buckling a leg strap on a horse blanket when I was kicked on the right side of my head. I don’t remember getting kicked at all. When I came to, I was on my stomach. It was about 10 minutes before I could understand what happened. Thankfully, I was surrounded by people who were able to call 911 right away and I was taken to the hospital by ambulance.
After what seemed like hours, they got the results back from the CAT scan and they told me I had 4 fractures in my face. Thursday I was to meet with an oral surgeon about surgery. I had never had surgery before and that was the last thing I wanted to go through. My parents came out for that appointment and I joked with them about the lengths that I had to go just for them to come visit me! J
Anyway, on Thursday, my prayer life was pretty active. I really didn’t want to hear from the surgeon that I needed surgery. But, sure enough that was exactly what he told me. If you have ever worked with a surgeon, you know they will to tell you EXACTLY what they will do. At that time, I didn’t really want to hear about what he was going to do. J
My surgery was scheduled for Monday night at 5pm. During the next 4 days, God brought me face to face with where my relationship with Him was really at. I didn’t know how much I idolized having control. My surgery, the fact that I would be going under anesthesia and that I would not just be able to come to and “get out” if things went wrong, showed me how much I didn’t trust God with my life. I became so fearful; I didn’t know what to do with myself. When my mom came back right before my surgery, she gave me the stone that had “TRUST” engraved in it. I held onto that going into surgery and for most of my recovery. I prayed fervently on the way to the hospital for God to give me peace and to forgive me for trying to control so much of my life. Everything is His and I never had control. The surgery went very well and I was out of the hospital by the next evening.
The recovery has been long, but exactly what I needed. I still have numbness in my face but I am grateful for the daily reminder that God is in control!
Looking ahead
In the coming months I will continue to teach riding lessons for the new apprentices. I would appreciate prayer as I teach but also as I get to know them and as I continue to grow in my relationship with my Savior. Over the summer, I spent a good deal of my time reading in Philippians and one of the verses that has stuck with me is Phil 2:13. “For it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to desire and work out His good purpose.” God is the one, the only one who gives me the desire to do His will and to live it out! Without Him, I would most likely be living for myself, seeking things that do not have lasting value.
I own a horse named Fendi, whom I will be looking to sell soon. God blessed me with an investor so that I could own him and he has been one of the best horses I could have ever asked for! The money from the sale of him will pay back my investor and the rest will go towards purchasing a vehicle. Until then, I will continue his training and enjoy him.
A new hobby/interest of mine is Graphics Design and Photography. Just this last week, I helped launch the new Miracle Mountain Ranch Website. We still have a lot of work to do and I am learning so much in the process. I hope to continue helping with that here at the Ranch. There is so much I need to learn but I really enjoy it!
Prayer Requests & Praises
Praises:
- For the amazing work God did this summer
- My new apprentices: Justine & Bekah
- Continued healing of the nerves in my face
- 2011 Apprentices’ graduation
- For my prayer and financial supporters
- New renovations to my house!!!
Prayer Requests:
- That I keep a fresh perspective of who God is
- My relationship with my girls, Justine & Bekah will continue to grow
- Sale of my horse, Fendi
- Vehicle
- Saving for a new computer
- Washer & Dryer, Refrigerator
- Upcoming trips for the Holiday season
- Continued/New financial support.
