Roger and Cathy Piger joined the MMR staff team in 2008. Roger serves as the Director of Maintenance. Cathy oversees landscaping and assits in other areas of the ministry.
We are over half way through our school of discipleship year. And things are moving right along. The students are still working on character and virtue projects and attending classes. During February there are different opportunities to leave the ranch and receive teaching from outside sources. A Christian Camps and Conferences Association conference was available to the programing majors and staff, while the horse majors were able to go to an equestrian event. Roger, Cathy and Nicole, Patty May, and four second year students were privileged to attend Faith Biblical Counseling Training Conference in Layette, IN earlier in the month.
It was a time of being filled with God’s Word, being challenged to be desperate for Him and his help, and being equipped to disciple others. It is always good to be reminded how blessed we are to have a God who was willing to go to Calvary in our place. All of us are hoping to be a part of it next year, and would encourage anyone who has the opportunity to attend in the future. You can check it out at http://www.faithlafayette.org/conferences/all/biblical_counseling_training_conference/ It is just amazing. We all enjoyed getting away and meeting other Christians with a heart for discipleship.
It is the time of year that we are gathering volunteer applications and making plans for summer. Some have already come in for working during summer camp this year. Roger organizes all the young men’s volunteer positions and Cathy handles the young ladies interested in landscaping. Adult and Youth applications can be found at http://mmrm.org/about/important-forms/ We enjoy volunteers anytime of the year not just during camp.
The ranch is currently finishing up a building called Operations Headquarters which will house the operations office, a small classroom, vehicle and farm equipment repairs, maintenance, supplies and the many tools needed for jobs around the ranch. We need to complete some of the interior partition walls, install the air compressor and air lines, water lines to the kitchenette and restroom, and finish the office and class room areas. Then we will be ready to move all of the equipment and supplies that are spread out around the ranch in a number of separate buildings into one central location. This will allow us to be better organized and equipped to serve the ministry here.
We are also getting started on the long overdue central restrooms project. Roger is in charge of demolition of the old central restroom. J This could be the most fun he has all year. The restroom project is quite involved which encompasses much more than building new restrooms. It will also include a new expanded nurse’s station, and activity center and four additional guest housing units. It will require a lot of resources, both physically and financially. Before you know it summer will be here and we must have the restroom part of the project completed by then. If you are interested in helping in any way, please contact the ranch office or Roger directly.
Cathy:
Cathy, with Nicole’s help, is coaching our churches 3rd -6th grade AWANA games teams this year. It is always an exciting event to participate in. That will keep her busy in the month of March. She is looking forward to getting outdoors, and starting on spring landscaping in our yard and around the ranch.
Roger:
Certainly enjoys plowing snow when necessary but he has been very thankful for the mild winter that we have been experiencing. It has been great to work on a lot of outdoor projects and spend time with people rather than spending hours on the tractor plowing. God has also given him a new hunger for studying the Bible and reading good books. He really enjoys preaching and teaching. One of the books he is reading right now is Preaching with Purspose by Jay E. Adams, which he hopes will help him to be a more equipped and effective preacher/teacher of the Scriptures. He would appreciate your prayers as he will be teaching a class on Anger Transformation in mid March and then is also heading to Charlottseville, Virginia to speak at a youth retreat the end of the month. Pray that God will be glorified through both opportunities.
Nicole:
Attended track one of Faith Biblical Counseling and learned a lot about how to effectively use the Bible as the only source for truth. She is continuing her cosmetology education and is earning her teacher’s hours. She has taught a few of the classes for the girls in level one, and is looking forward to teaching more.
Rebecca:
Has begun point ballet, and is being challenged to get stronger. She also had the opportunity to spend a week at MMRs S.A.L.T. (Servant Attitude Leadership Training) for a week, earlier this month and was challenged to mature in her relationship with the Lord. She went on a field trip to Perry County to visit former apprentices Josh and Courtney McLaren, and went with them to the horse expo in Harrisburg this past weekend. As parents, it is a blessing to have people in our kid’s lives that can encourage them as they grow.
