Our journal of what we pray is our sojourn of life along the narrow way, even the old paths, submitting to the Bible as a light unto both.

Fall Ranchfest 2011

Twice a year, the community, along with visitors sometimes, gather together to work as a group in service to our teacher, Mr. Bunker; it’s also a time where people who follow the ministry or otherwise come down and visit and meet the folks here and work with us — something we call Ranchfest. We just finished up one last week, and I thought we’d share once again a few of the goings-on around the Ranch during that time.

We usually have a kick-off breakfast during the weekend Ranchfest starts:

Ranchfest Kickoff Breakfast

And then it’s off to work during the week! Here we are gathering in the morning for coffee and a breakfast dish in preparation of the day’s events:

Ranchfest Gathering in the Morning to Start the Work Day

The men this Ranchfest were continuing to help build the Bunker family’s new cottage, putting in windows, doors and putting up siding:

Ranchfest Men Working on the North Side of the Bunker Cottage
Ranchfest Men Working on the South Side of the Bunker Cottage During

We also typically meet as a group for lunch break for delicious lunches provided by the ladies, and here we are gathered at the Community Center:

Ranchfest Lunch Break Around the Table

The group has generally been moving toward wearing more Amish-style clothing. Here is a picture of the progress for the ladies:

Ranchfest Ladies in Their New Amish Clothing

And so, while the men worked on the cottage, the women were helping out in sewing new outfits for the Bunker family. In the end, there were several pairs of Amish broadfall pants and dresses, and other items, completed or at least started:

Ranchfest Ladies Working on Sewing Projects for the Bunker Family

Even the young ones were helping and learning the “ropes,” so to speak:

Ranchfest Jennifer Sewing
Ranchfest Sarah Sewing

Here’s poor Amish girl Ella being forced to wear a headcovering and bear under the burdens of living agrarian life, probably disciplined often, and socially undeveloped, as she learns sewing, a duty which she’ll probably have to laboriously toil under to clothe her family one day. She looks like she’s really sad about the prospects:

Ranchfest Ella Working with the Ladies Sewing

Oh, wait…

Ranchfest Ella Happy to be Working with the Ladies Sewing

All in all, it was a wondering, even joyous, time of fellowship and community here at the Ranch. We are thankful to the Lord for the teacher He has granted us, and for the opportunity to do a little something back for him and his family; and we pray He glorified Himself through this, in the heavenly realms and here on earth, and in demonstration of what we pray is God-granted love for Him and for each other. We’re also grateful to God for granting the provisions He has to the Bunkers for allowing their homestead to be furthered, we pray for Christ’s glory and the benefit of His Church.

— David

4 Comments

  1. Anonymous

    So nice to see the ladies/girls working together. Brings back fond memories. Nice looking dresses/headcoverings!

    Thanks for sharing.

    Beth

  2. Anonymous

    I was looking at the comback of aprons in this day and age and read a post that described them as 'a garment of service, to the family and to others.' I really love tying this meaning to the apron as a symbol.

  3. Dariush Francis FRUG-KOBYLARZ

    Beautiful culture The AMISH PEOPLE

    • David & Susan Sifford

      Hi Dariush,

      While we weren’t actually Amish, I believe they have some things correct in the world, in the way they live. Our doctrine was different, but we took the way they dress as an example of plain and modest dress and adopted it for ourselves.

      Thanks for saying hello!

      — David

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