TWO BY TWO!!!!

Howdy!!!

Gayla was out the other day checking the rain gauge and calculating the amount of rain that we have had over the last days, weeks, and months. We had an incredible amount of rain this year, breaking records that were set many years ago! In fact one day I looked out in the back fields and noticed that all the horses, cows, and other animals were walking around "Two By Two"!!!
We are just starting to see the end of the rainy season and are looking forward to the next number of months where we will have nothing but sunny days!!

This is the fire pit area in our back yard.

The sun is starting to break through!!!

We are excited about the coming year, we already have a number of groups coming down to visit and work at the Ranch! Our first group will arrive at the beginning of January. At the same time Gayla's sister Debbie and her Husband Don will be staying with us and helping out with the team. Afterwards they will stay around for a few weeks, visiting and helping out around the Ranch. Don hopes to attend a Missionaries Conference in Managua, Nicaragua, towards the end of the month.

I (Doug) will be going back to Vancouver from the 12th to the 20th of January and be spending time with family there, and taking care of some business items.

We have a group of engineers, architects, and builders, coming to the Ranch in February to set out the plans for the property, buildings, and future development projects. This is a big step for us, and will help set the foundation for the overall vision and mission of the Ranch. We hope to begin with the building sometime in the new year!

Many of you who have been here have asked about the animals and how they are doing, so here is the latest scoop!!!

We have the three guard dogs Gera, Tora, and Rocky, who are all doing well and have passed obedience training with flying colors!!!

Gera is on the left, Tora in the middle and Rocky on the right.

What do you think is this my best side?

This is Tora, she is getting bigger by the day!

Joey and Blackie our two feline friends still scout out the yard and surrounding area, keeping critters away, and catching the occasional lizard for lunch!

As far as the horses, we now have; Pals Princess,Ole Buddy Ole Pal, The Dutches, Miss Smokey, Zach's Horse(Zachster), Alexander's Horse (Allie), Suzie Q, Miss Muffet, Mr. Wilson, and Canela. The Dutches and Miss Muffet are expecting and have about another three months until their time!

Many of the people who come here to the Ranch love to ride the horses, they can spend the morning or afternoon wandering around the Ranch, seeing the wildlife,and enjoying Gods creation!

Come on down and we will take you out too!!

This is "Pokey", he is one of the many sloths we have here on the Ranch property.

Bob says to come down and you will have a howling good time!

Gayla out in the back field, on her horse "Ole Buddy Ole Pal" . He goes by Pal!

This is Doug with his favorite horse, Pals Princess.

We still have Harry and Bistec the two original Brahmas, Bettsie the big brown cow had her calf about a month ago, his name is Rambo, he will grow up to be a big bull as you might have guessed. We also added another eight Brahmas to the herd in this last month. They will go to market with Bistec and Harry in the next year!

This is Bettsie and Rambo

These are the new kids on the block!

Jose brought his oxen over to help up transport fence posts into the upper fields. You can not get there with a four by four or quad, but these fellows make it look like easy work!! We are in the process of repairing all of the fences on the Ranch, it is a big job!!

Most recently we had Lou Ritchie and Phil Hogan, the two directors of the Ranch, come down and spend a few days with us. We had a great time together and accomplished a lot in regards to planning for the future and setting out this years goals. We hope to see them back in February when we have our team of engineers, architects, and builders here.

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Thanks for looking in on us!!!

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Have a very Blessed Christmas, and a Happy and Prosperous New Year!!!

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Doug n Gayla!

HERE'S THE LATEST!!!!!!

Hey There!!!

Here we are again!!

It is Monday afternoon, the 11th of August. We just said goodbye to our last summer team for the year, they were a great group of young adults from Tampa Florida. They were here for eight days, working on the Ranch and in the local area. They took a number of days to see the sights and enjoy some of the local adventure as well.

Here are some of the memories!!

Putting the sealer on the new shed that was built this last year! After this the two ladies put on another coat of sealer and two coats of paint! The shed looks fantastic!!

Here is Matt closing in the top part of the new washroom walls! The team spent a couple days working on various projects here at the Ranch, and they accomplished alot!!

Sealing up the new cement on the brand new washroom facility. If you get that stuff on your teeth you won't have to brush for a week!!!

Love those boots!!!

Putting on the finishing touches!

A job well done!! The hard working team!

Nothing like a soaking in the local hot springs to help relax and take care of those aching muscles.

After everybody dried off we had a great meal together in the dining room.


Katie and Seth chill'n!!

Part of the team high in the trees at the Canopy Tour.

Let's go Ausie style!!

Blending in with the local flora.

Don't get too close to the edge!! It's a long way down!! One of the highest platforms at "The Canopy Tour"

Suspension bridge up in the Volcano, near the hot mud pits and springs.

Yep that's a Toucan!! These guys are wild, (the birds), they come in to get the goodies from the tourists and then fly away. They love bananas!!

After playing in the mud pits!!

Everybody is getting geared up and ready to ride!!

Let's make sure the cinch is tight, we wouldn't want Katie to get an upside-down-view of the Ranch!!







This is Heather on Miss Smokey.








Matt and Dutchess!

Sarah and Matt on Pal and Dutchess

Tessa is ready to ride!!

Have to remember to feed the little ones before the ride. Two hours is a long time for them.








Last minute preparations!!

Let's Ride!!!!

Gayla and Louie


Out on the trail!

So that's the latest!!
We will be in touch, don't you forget to e-mail or call!

Doug n Gayla

HOW TIME FLIES!!!

Wow !!

Well we can't believe how time flies!

We have been here in Costa Rica for fourteen months!!

We are enjoying our work here, and the lifestyle that comes with it. Below are some photos taken over the last year. We have enjoyed so many people and expieriences over the last year, it is hard to share even a fraction of them in this letter. Below are a few photos, with some notes about each of them, enjoy!!

Allie sits under a tree and grabs a few zzzz's before heading back out to play with the others!

When I grow up I want to be a wild bucking bronco!!

Burning the old sugar cane and dry grass in the fields so we can get ready to put in a new crop.

I lost my mommy, so Uncle Doug is giving me breakfast, not quite the same, but it's better than nothing!!

It's "Hair Cut and Bath day" at the Ranch. Gayla is putting the final touches on Princess before moving on to Zachster.

Sisters are the best!! This is Joey and Blackie, just hanging out in the back yard waiting for the camp fire to begin.

Today everybody has to have their vaccinations!
This is the new corral that we built over on our little farm.

Hi my name is Danny II, I didn't realize I could see you out there, come on down and visit with us!

This is Bob, he is a Congo, he lives here on the Ranch with all of his friends. Many times in the morning you can hear him howling and making a terrible ruckas as he passes by.

What's that you ask? That is a Kinkajou!

They are a nocturnal animal that live mostly in the trees, their diet consists mainly of fruit. It was a rare occasion to get a photo of one in the day time! Gayla and I were out walking in the back field and this little guy took off accross the field and went up the tree ahead of us. They can run like a cat, climb, go through the trees like a monkey using their tail, and they have the face of a small bear. They have the nick name "Honey Bear"

This is Pinto!! He's kind of an up close and personal type!

We have had many people come down in the last year and visit the Ranch. Many come with groups that are here to help and work in the community, in the local churches, here on the Ranch, and even over on the islands in Lake Nicaragua, which are only about four hours away!! We greatly enjoy our visitors! When they leave to go back home we are always left with a sad feeling, but look forward to the next time when they will come back to stay with us again.


Lunch time at the Corral!! Hanging out and enjoying the afternoon!

Many local groups come to use the Ranch for the day, others stay for the weekend. This group was from the University in Liberia, a city about an hour or so away from the Ranch. There was a total of thirty eight young people with this group, they came for the long weekend and camped out!

It seems like we are always eating!! It's great!!!!

This group from Florida is taking a hike around the property here at the Ranch. As you can see this was at the end of the dry season, the fields were scorched and brown.

A local church youth group from Guayabo held a weekend retreat at the Corral. Instructions are being given for a game they are about to play.

Hanging out, talking, and making friendships is a large part of life here. These ladies are in the kitchen at the Corral.

We recently hosted a team of doctors and nurses from Florida, they came down to minister and work with the people in areas along the northern border of Costa Rica, close to Nicaragua. This area is more impoverished than many of the areas that you may find in Costa Rica. The team worked very hard treating more than three hundred and fifty people over a five day period. They then took a much deserved day off, before heading back home to resume with their work and lives there. They were here for a total of eight days; two days of travelling, five of work, and one day off at the beach. What a difference they made in the lives of so many people in this short period of time!!

Medical team from Christ Fellowship Church in Palm Beach Florida.

In the front row second from the right, is a local doctor, Pamela Soto, she traveled with the team and was our Costa Rican representative .

This is the waiting room we set up in Las Pavas, a community close to the border of Nicaragua.

The doctors and nurses set up at one of the local churches in the community. A temporary pharmacy was set up as well as treatment rooms and waiting areas.

Doctor Jared doing his thing!! Many children and families were given a few months supply of vitamins and parisite treatment medicines.

These people from a nearby island in Lake Nicaragua were transported by boat accross the lake which takes just over an hour, then another hour up river, and then transported to the clinic in Las Pavas in this truck, about a thirty minute ride on gravel roads. There were over fifty people in the back of the truck, no one was heard complaining!! What a great group of people!!

Here we are at Las Pavas setting up the clinic, and getting ready for the people who would soon be there.

On Saturday August 2nd we have another group of people coming from the USA! They will be working here on the Ranch, as well as enjoying some of the sights and adventures here in the local area.

If you are thinking of putting together a mission trip of any kind, adventure trip, or just need to get away for a while, don't hesitate to contact us. We will help to facilitate your trip. and work with you to put it all together.

Take care for now, be sure to drop us a line, don't put it off, because you know "How Time Flies!!"

Doug n Gayla