Victoria Plantz ,  Leigh Meska ,  Jessica Arndt,  Loel Gorden , Jacob Nustad , Shawn Nisbit  , Brent Dornfeld ,Kim Stoner , Jacob Dornfeld , David Rosendahl ,Gayle  Arndt.   FRONT ROW:  Shelley Smith  ,  Nancy Dornfeld,  Janet Nustad , Doug Rosendahl
 
 

  We traveled through four states (Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, and Arkansas) and the
beautiful Ozarks Mountains. We went through large cities and small communities like
Booger Hallow, Arkansas, population 7 and 1 hound dog. After traveling 800+ miles, we
arrived at the heifer ranch only ten minutes late (pretty good for a seventeen hour trip).

    When we arrived we met Nick, our facilitator, a volunteer from Michigan. He explained
to us how Heifer Project International was started by a man named Dan West who had a
vision to help feed poor families in third world countries. His idea was to give a family a
cow.

    The Heifer Ranch is a beautiful 1200 acre ranch located in the Ouachita Mountains of
Central Arkansas near Perryville, Arkansas, with its main offices in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Formerly a production center for animals to be placed with program partners, the ranch
now is an educational center that offers a large range of experiences. At the ranch they
grow in their gardens many different plants, some of which are flowers, vegetables and
herbs. They also raise many different animals, such as water buffalos, camels, horses, pigs,
chickens, rabbits, goats and the white and black cat (Gayle's friend). A paid staff and 40
volunteers help run the ranch which is open to groups from around the world.

   Our first night was spent at the Global Village, which gave us an opportunity to
experience the realities of life for most of our world neighbors. We toured the Global
Village and saw homes that people from Africa, Appalachia, Guatemala, the Burrio (the
slums), Thailand and the Nomads would likely live in. It was explained to us how people
from each area would live and care for their land and animals.

  We were then divided, by random lottery, into four small 'family' units. Each family was
given resources such as food, firewood, water and directed to their homes. Since resources
aren't divided equally, they had to trade with each other to meet their basic needs, prepare
their evening meals and settle in for the night. The adults were now two year olds that the
families had to care for. (Some two year olds were rather naughty, just ask Janet.) Each
family had an expectant mother ( a water balloon under their shirts), whose entire
pregnancy thankfully lasted only 2 1/2 hours. After all mothers safely delivered their babies
they then had to care for the baby and obtain the milk their babies needed. Brent was
lucky enough to have gotten a job but was injured at work and lost the use of his left hand.

  Our different families were from-
Thailand- Doug and David Rosendahl, and Jacob Dornfeld
Africa- Janet and Jacob Nustad, and Shawn Nisbit
Guatemala- Loel Gordon, Jessica Arndt, Leigh Meska
The Burrios ( the slums )- Nancy Dornfeld, Gayle Arndt, Brent Dornfeld, Victoria Plantz,
Shelley Smith and Kim Stoner
The family from Guatemala was lucky enough to sleep in beds, but the other families
slept  on wood, cement, brick and dirt floors. Along with experiencing what life is like for
people in these areas of the world, we also learned something about ourselves. Brent was
great at starting the fire (skills learned as a boy scout) even without the use of his left hand,
and he and Shelley did a great job cooking our rice. Also, David, Shawn and Jacob N. are
very good cooks, even though they were not given a lot to work with. Without the modern
day distractions, we all learned something new about each other.

    At 7AM the next morning we were rewarded with a delicious breakfast at the conference
center. All our meals were eaten there and all were very good.
Nick then lead us in a discussion about our experiences in the Global Village. We also
discussed what it must be like for families who have to live in such conditions everyday of
their lives. We talked about world hunger and poverty. A large world map was used so we
could clearly see how the world's population and its resources are distributed.
Nick then introduced us to Ellen and together they led us in activities designed to teach
us skills critical to personal, group and community development. The focus was on learning
to work together to solve problems. Trust, communication, and team work, as well as
encouraging us to care for each other, were all necessary to successfully complete these
activities

   In our next activity we met Brooke, Joan and Jay, who showed us how yogurt and cheese
are made from goat's milk. We learned how families in 3rd world countries first supply the
needs of their family with the milk from the goat. Any milk that is not used by the family
can be made into yogurt or cheese for their family or can be sold and the money used to
buy basic family needs or pay for the children's education. The making of the yogurt and
cheese is a simple process needing no special equipment and can be done in their homes.
The women and children are usually the caretakers of the animals, so goats are an excellent
choice of milk animal.

  Our second night at the ranch was spent in the Heifer Hilton. The Heifer Hilton is an
open air bunk barn with beds ( mattresses on wood platforms ) and  canvas curtains,
but no outside walls or screens. The barn has a wall down the center of it with one side for
the 'bulls' and the other side for the 'heifers'. Farm animals were all around us and
sometimes under us and throughout the night they made sure we never forgot that they
were there (especially the donkeys). The best feature at the Heifer Hilton, and the one we
all enjoyed the most, was the" showers, which felt great after our night in the Global
Village!

  After a good night sleep and a hearty breakfast we were ready for our last challenge at
the ranch. The High Challenge was an activity where one is hooked onto ropes and wires
and walked across logs and wires and leaped to platforms, and climbed across rope nets, all of
which were 25 feet above the ground. The end of the course was sailing through a valley
on a zip line at a high rate of speed. Along with the kids that completed the course, we also
had three brave chaperones. Nancy, Janet and Loel can each say of the High Challenge
I came, I saw, I conquered!! ( And we have the pictures to prove it. )

  Between scheduled activities we had free time where we could walk around to see the
different animals, watch the goats being milked, help feed the baby goats, admire the
gardens and of course shop in the gift shop. All of the staff and volunteers at the ranch
were very friendly and willing to visit and share their knowledge with us.

  From our time at the Heifer Ranch we all have a better understanding of world hunger
and poverty and a renewed interest in doing what we can to help others less fortunate than
ourselves.

  We met very nice people at the ranch and on the trip to Arkansas and back. We are
grateful to our sister churches- The Covenant Presbyterian Church of Springfield, Missouri,
and The First Presbyterian Church of Clinton, Missouri, for graciously opening their doors
to us and allowing us to camp out in their beautiful churches. We were blessed to get to
know and have an opportunity to make friends with Shawn Nisbit, Shelley Smith,
Victoria Plantz, and Kim Stoner, who joined us on our mission trip.

  But most of all. we are thankful for you, our Church Family. Without your support and
prayers our trip would not have been possible or successful.

Reported  by

Gayle Arndt