FROM THE WOODLANDS TO THE PLAINS: 5 Years in Colorado

Five years ago today we left the deep woods of New Hampshire and began our journey out west to Colorado.  As I reflect back on our journey,  I remember that it was a hard one.  It was very difficult to say good-bye to everyone and everything that was loved and familiar.  It was even more difficult because we were heading to a place that was totally unfamiliar and to a place where we knew no one.  

Fast forward from August 27, 2013 to August 27, 2018.  Today we are quite settled in Colorado and completely appreciating the beauty of our surroundings.  We have a vast view of the Rocky Mountains and skies that are painted with beautiful sunrises and sunsets.  The peacefulness of Soaring Wings Ministries is quite striking to just about everyone who comes here.  We have a small, cozy house on the prairie and we quite regularly see antelope grazing from our porch or window.  If we travel down the road a short distance we can often see buffalo peacefully grazing on the prairie grasslands. We are often treated to the comical site of a jack rabbit loping across the road.  The jack rabbits are fast so we don't get to see them very long but their huge feet and huge ears always make us laugh.  When we left New Hampshire 5 years ago I never imagined that we would live in such a beautiful, tranquil area.

Not only has he given us a beautiful home for Soaring Wings Ministries but He has blessed us with so many, many wonderful new friends.  These friends have welcomed us into their lives.  They have encouraged us, supported us and believed in our work here at Soaring Wings Ministries.  That these friends would accept us and our work so openly is a huge deal because most of them have lived here in Colorado all their lives and they have lovingly made us part of their lives.  We've also made new friends from all over the United States, not just Colorado.   When we lived in New Hampshire, I never imagined that we'd have good friends from Albuquerque, New Mexico.  We are so blessed to have such wonderful, supportive, encouraging friends from all over the west!!!

We have also been blessed by so many visits from friends and family back east.  Each time one of them comes for a visit our spirits are lifted.  We laugh about all the differences between Colorado and New England......frozen lobsters versus fresh lobsters right off the boat,  all the ice cream that New Englanders eat year round, Dunkin Donuts coffee versus Starbucks.  It is as if our visitors bring a little bit of New England to Colorado with them each time one of them comes to visit.  They also leave us with encouragement to keep going and to complete the work that God has given us to do. 

I think one of the biggest blessings that we have received over the past 5 years is that we are all walking closer with our Lord.  When everything and everyone is new you quickly learn to depend completely on God for everything!  I could tell you story, after story, after story of how God has answered our prayers.  There have been so many times when all we could do was to leave our needs and requests at the feet of Jesus as they were beyond our means and capability and then after praying to trust in Him to answer our prayers according to His will.  When we first arrived to Colorado and needed a home for Soaring Wings Ministries that we could afford....God provided.  When we needed an architect to provide building plans free of charge....God provided.  When we needed a team to put up the framework for the addition....God provided.  When we needed volunteers to help with the building of the addition....God provided.  When we needed the roof to be installed before winter.......God provided.  When we needed protection for the unfinished addition throughout an entire winter......God provided.  When our funds were depleted during our busy summer months and we needed more funds to continue......God provided.  When we needed a plumber......God provided.  When we needed an electrician.....God provided.  When we needed to borrow a backhoe......God provided.  When we needed help installing wallboard.....God provided.  When we needed funds to purchase the siding......God provided.  

Over and over and over again God has proven himself faithful.  I can tell you without a doubt that we serve a living, loving , faithful, powerful God. Do not ever question whether God exists.....He DOES!   Do not ever wonder if God hears your prayers.....HE DOES!  Do not ever think that God doesn't care.....HE DOES!  And if God calls you to something bigger, beyond your capabilities, as He called us to Soaring Wings Ministries do not doubt that He will guide you each step of the way.....HE WILL!

In closing, I want to share this Bible verse with you.  It is from Lamentations  3:22-23 "The Lord's loving kindnesses indeed never ceases. For His compassions never fail.  They are new every morning.  Great is your faithfulness".  We absolutely know God's word to be true.  We have tested it with our very lives and know that indeed God is faithful.

His servant on the plains,
Anita Rennells
​Wellington, Colorado

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