2009 Leaders Equipping Conference

The 2009 Louisiana Royal Rangers Leaders Equipping Conference is now history. We thank all our presenters and Certified Instructors who conducted the sessions.

One of the topics that was shared was the ongoing District Ranger of the Year plans for Louisiana. Even though the national office will not be supporting a Ranger of the Year program beyond the local outpost, we will continue to do a modified program here in Louisiana. A team of leaders headed up by Alton Foster will be unveiling the plan later this year.

Commander Craun shared the theme rationale "Back to the Future" in his luncheon devotion. Sixteen leaders completed modules towards the Leaders Medal of Achievement and two fun and informative sessions were presented.

Mack Billeaud headed up a cast iron cooking class in the morning and Dennis Ryan did an excellent job on planning for a backpacking trip.

All in all those who attended were informed, inspired, and encouraged.

Kolt Kays GMA presentation

Only a few really ever make it and I am always delighted when another Ranger is awarded the Gold Medal of Achievement.

Kolt Kays completed his requirements the fall of last year, but because of schedule conflicts was not presented his GMA until last Sunday night February 15.

I have known Kolt for many years now. He was the tag along with former Louisiana district commander D.E. Stroud. Kolt has represented our Jim Bowie chapter of the FCF for several years now and just completed the Wilderness advancement this last January.

Kolt was the fouth Ranger to receive their GMA last year.

Regional Conference & ROTY report

Time is rapidly running around the February calendar. We just finished last weekend the Regional Ranger of the Year and Gulf Region RR Leaders Conference.

Andrew Klein represented Louisiana well at the testing. Our Expedition Rangers contestant Joseph Reynolds was not able to attend due to school conflicts.

This is the last year for 5 years that the Region will be hosting a Ranger of the Year competition. The National RR office will be focusing their energies on other areas of the ministry that will affect many more Ranger boys.

We now have a new Regional coordinator - David North. David did an excellent job with juggling the new agenda. There was a great representation of Rangers from the 5 districts that make up our Region.
Two of our Royal Rangers International missionary candidates gave us an update on the progress of preparation to get on their field of service as a missonary to Royal Rangers around the world.

The district superintendent of Tennessee presented a challenging message on "Is everything right with the boy"

We are in the middle of water school this week and getting ready to start our Louisiana District Leaders Equipping Conference starting Friday night February 20th. Check out the details on our web site http://www.larr.org/

09 Academy Leaders School Report

Adventure is at the heart of what we do in Rangers here in Louisiana. The Louisiana Adventure Academy is designed for boys 8-17 to find age appropriate adventure activities. The last year a Ranger can spend at Academy is in Pathfinders where they learn Wilderness Rescue Techniques. In order to run this camp we need highly skilled and trained leaders who know how to safely conduct all the activities encountered in this Corps of Academy.

This past weekend 8 leaders and 4 instructors came together at Twin Lakes Camp to enhance those skills and meet our Lord Jesus in a much deeper encounter. We made use of new video equipment to capture much of the training classes which can be used to help our Rangers learn more of the technical skills use in Pathfinders.

We want to be the best we can be for the boys of this generation so they will be able to pass on the knowledge of the Lord and Adventure skills that have been entrusted to us.

I wanted to share some of the photos from the camp.

2009 January FCF Trace

Wow! the year is already started with a real bang. I mean BANG! Yep, that's what was taking place this past weekend at the Jim Bowie chapter of the FCF '09 winter Trace. Fifty hearty souls braved Louisiana's changing weather from warm days, to rainy ones until it got down right COLD. Anything can happen in central Louisiana during January. Four hearty souls braved all these elements and left the Trace honored with the rank of Wilderness.

Saturday night 8 Frontiersmen advanced up to the Buckskin level.

We were privileged to have as our special guest speaker David Jenkins a candidate missionary for Royal Rangers International. David challenged us to really make the heart of missions our daily concern to reach souls for Christ.

Lots of fun activities took place: the usual black powder shoot, hawk and knife throw, flint & steel fire starting. This year we added a primitive bow and arrow blanket shoot. The prizes were donated by each shooter and laid on a blanket. The first place winner got first choice all the way down to the last place winner who took what was left by the others. It's lots of fun and some wonderful prizes were offered. Our hats are off to Nelson "Snake Hunter" Jones and his outstanding staff for leading and organizing this outstanding event.

As usual, I pounded away on the blacksmith anvil making implements for those present and a musical triangle (ol' time ranch style) to auction at the Gulf Regional Leaders Conference in Memphis a couple weeks from now.

Enjoy the pics and video clips, especially if you could not be there in person.

Happy New Year everyone! Life is going by quickly and the year has already begun.

I have just returned from Springfield, MO where I said good-by to a dear friend and best friend of my wife Ammie.

Rhona Stanek went to be with the Lord Christmas eve and was buried last Monday. She had been a cancer survivor for many years, but her body was attacked many times in many places. She lived a victorious life in Christ giving her skills and talents to the Lord, His church, and her community.
The day she went to her eternal home her son was in the house sitting in the living room. Her husband Paul and a nurse were in the bed room with Rhona. She looked up at Paul, smiled and then looked off in the distance and took her last breath.

Meanwhile in the living room Chip heard a wind blowing - it was blowing in the house moving the plants even though the doors and windows were closed. The wind went past him toward the bedroom and left behind a glowing cloud that sparkled like star dust. Chip felt that it was an angel and his sister Heidi who had come to take his mother home. Heidi was killed in and accident at 14 years old. After the cloud dissipated, Paul came down the hall to tell Chip that Rhona was with the Lord. Chip said, I know Dad.

The old spiritual song says: " Angels comin' after me, angels comin' after me." The scripture says to be absent from the body for the Christian is to be with the Lord. Even though we will miss being able to see our friend here in this life, we know this life is only the prelude to eternal life together with Christ and all those who have loved and served him throughout the ages.

Imagine Christmas outreach

Merry Christmas to all.

Christmas is "the most wonderful time of the Year." This was the theme for the "Imagine Christmas" outreach hosted by Hosanna Assemblies of God in Morrero, LA.

Louisiana Rangers provided the outdoor games enjoyed by hundreds of kids in the greater New Orleans area who came to the event. It was a great experience with a great church and pastor and wife - George & Sonya McLean.

Ammie and I never get too old to enjoy a trip to the North Pole and stop in to visit Mr. and Mrs. Santa Clause.

We were reminded of the Royal Rangers outreach at the Baton Rouge State Fair we spear headed many years ago before I became district commander. We love watching families have a great time while we present the love of Jesus through our lives and written word.

I was given the opportunity to minister this morning at Hosanna where I preached on "The Manifestations of Inexpressible Joy." The message of the angels was "Joy to the World" because the Lord has come. It is Joy unspeakable and full of glory. Living for Christ is indeed the happiest way to live. The joy runs so deep it can not be completely explained.

Enjoy the pics

David L. Craun
Louisiana District Royal Rangers Commander