Last Fall we welcomed Chef Josh to our team. Chef Josh prepares weekday lunches for children, staff, and volunteers who are served in our newly renovated kitchen and dining hall.
Being at the Ranch for six months now, Chef Josh cites James 1:27 as what he sees as the essence of the calling to serve at WVR: “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
In addition to finding gospel sharing moments through his role as Chef, he loves encouraging children to broaden their love for food by getting them to try new things. “One of the most endearing moments I have experienced at the Ranch involves making gumbo as requested by one of our students. After the meal, the boy shared with me how much he appreciated the meal and the good memories the meal brought to mind.”
Chef Josh is a creative and innovative chef who is teaching students to cook for large groups. While the students are helpful, the boys are learning to cook healthy as more than 90% of the meals served are scratch made using healthy fats and ingredients.
This will be the first year Chef Josh has experienced harvesting fresh vegetables from the Ranch garden. Also, he is looking forward to use of herbs from a new garden space located near the kitchen. “With kitchen and dining hall renovations that happened last fall, I was able to come into this role with a well-equipped kitchen to prepare meals and teach children. I am grateful to those who support the Ranch so these opportunities exist for some great kids,” says Chef Josh. Chef Josh’s favorite quote:
He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. ~ Jim Elliott
