Recently in our homeschool history class, we viewed a video about preserving your own history in clay pots. Then, we had Sandra Horton from Quilt House Pottery come to share with our class about her experience in pottery. She also had our kids make their own clay pots...
On December 4, Mia had a life-changing experience when she got to fly an airplane! She dreams of being a pilot someday, so her case manager (Erin) and one of her homeschool teachers (Mandy) took her for a Vision Flight at JAARS (JUNGLE AVIATION AND RELAY SERVICE) in...
By Erin Austin A great many things that happen at Joy Ranch originate from what I call a God idea - an idea so grand that only God can bring it to fulfillment. Yet this has been a recurring theme at Joy Ranch from the very beginning. Often, projects are done in...
By Erin Austin As a case manager, I'm usually the first person a child has contact with at Joy Ranch. While it is a privilege, there's also a gravity in this that I don't take lightly. Most children who come to Joy Ranch don't know about God, and if they do, it's not...
The Children By Erin Austin This year marks the 15th year I've worked in a children's home. The stories I could tell about what these children have endured would make you shudder. It's unfathomable to me the atrocities these kids have endured, and yet we expect them...
After twelve years of serving as houseparents at Joy Ranch, Gene & Bethany Collins are resigning from our Exodus girls' cottage. Bethany is currently dealing with some health challenges which requires them to step away from the Joy Ranch ministry. Please pray for...
(Originally posted August 9, 2025 by Ashley Arnold) Today, our cottage doors officially opened! Houseparents… Such a simple word, but one that carries a weight only Heaven truly understands! When you open the door to a cottage like this, you’re not just stepping into...
We are happy to announce that we have a houseparent family for our boys cottage! Leebrick cottage is re-opening this weekend after months of prayer for the right houseparents to fill the role. Not only are we gaining new houseparents, but they have three sons of their...
[Photo: Resident Jaxson helps in a building project] By: Erin Austin "I do not know why people call a project undertaken by faith a venture of faith. That is exactly what it is not. Webster defines a venture as an undertaking involving chance, risk, or danger. Faith...
Blog by Erin Austin Working with traumatized, abused children is one of the hardest things a person can do. It is heartbreaking, exhausting, and at times, intense. It is not easy. The things we hear and see are mind-boggling. A well-meaning person once told me after I...