Redeemed

Yesterday during work one of the girls I support and myself decided to go for a hike.  It was during this hike that I thought I should tell you all a little bit of where I live and how the Lord has redeemed the land. 

Washington Family Ranch is a Young Life camp, nestled in a deep canyon about 18 miles from the town of Antelope OR.  Young Life is a ministry for kids in middle and high school.  Kids come to camp every summer to hear the gospel of Jesus.

The Land when the Rajneesh occupied it.  I think the tents where
some of the homeless stayed.

But this land has not always been used for good.   The camp is about 64,000 acres.  In 1980, a guy named Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh used the land to build a small commune with about 7000 followers.  The Bhagwan had an advocated a more open attitude towards sexuality, a stance which earned him the sobriquet of "sex guru" in the Indian.   While here at the ranch he and his followers tried to take over the town of Antelope.  Within a year of being at the ranch, conflict between the local ranchers and the Rajneesh became apparent.  The Rajneesh wanted to use the land to build there own little town, when they originally told the county that they wanted to use it for agricultural. 
In 1982, the Rajneesh wanted to take over the town of Antelope and bought some lots in the city limits.  The town of Antelope, itself, voted to discorporate itself, to prevent itself being taken over.^[ By this time, there were enough Rajneeshee residents to defeat the measure. In May 1982, the residents of the Rancho Rajneesh commune voted to incorporate the separate city of Rajneeshpuram on the ranch.  A part from the control of Antelope and the land-use question, there were other disputes.^[ The commune leadership took an aggressive stance on many issues and initiated litigation against various groups and individuals.   (Wikipedia.)

The main goal was to take over the county of Wasco.  In 1984, a couple of the leaders went to Portland to try to kill a Oregon Politician.  The also went up to The Dallas in hope of poisoning 100 of people, so they could not vote in the upcoming election.   Eventually, the Bhagwan was arrested for immigration, trying to flee the United States. 


The Oregonian (The Portland newspaper) did an article of the ranch.  In 1995, the ranch was owned by a multi-millionaire, Dennis Washington.  He was looking for the ranch to be used as a to help "wayward" teens.  After some hesitation, from locals in Antelope, and some others involved, Young Life opened the camp in 1999.  This year over 7000 heard the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

A friend of mine took this picture of her son!  Great view of the Camp

I tell you this story because, yesterday we walked up a canyon where the Bhagwan built some A-frames.  I been told that these buildings is where they homeless people lived.  They would bus in homeless people from all over the country and make them work hard labor.  As we climb one of the hills full of A-frames, we decided to go look over a peak.  Just over the peak, we saw the camp.  The Dining hall.  This beautiful building!!!  Not built so workers who are stuck in the middle of nowhere, with no place to go, can go eat.  But a building that kids can come, gather around a table for a meal with there friends, and laugh with out a care in the world.

The big building is the Dining Hall.  This is so kids can come to
hear about the one and only true God, Jesus!!!

What one man used for evil, God has redeemed for good.  The Bhagwan thought he was god, and wanted his followers to worship him.  They even had a worship center (our sport center), where they worshipped him.  But the Lord is the one to be worshiped.  Jesus said, "You must worship the Lord your God, and serve him only."  Luke  4:8   He said this to the devil after he tempted Jesus in the wilderness. 



This is the pool at the middle school camp.
Kids come and hear the Good News of Jesus!



I write this blog because yesterday hike reminded me of how God has redeemed this camp.  The Holy Spirit is so evident here!  Thousand of kids have there lives changed because of the gospel of Jesus Christ in this place. 
Psalms 34: 18 "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those who spirits are crushed."

For me, Jesus has used this place to change my life!!  I came a very broken, sad, young lady with a crushed spirit.  He has redeemed my soul.  I can know say that I am the happiest have I been in my life.  I love who God has created me to be.  And I am excited to see what He has for me in the future!

The Joy of the Lord is my Strength!!!
I am so thankful God called me out to
this ranch!
Stay tuned because next blog maybe about calling me out!!!