Hidden Springs' hosts,
Neil and Barbara White were married in 1975.
Barbara recalls, "We asked that God would lead us to land
He had chosen for us. We planned to stay there forever, and do
whatever tasks were placed before us. We bought these160
acres just east of Winfield in 1976, and moved into a 40 year
old log cabin on the property in May 1977. We loved our “simple”
life and for seven years, the 700 square foot cabin was our wonderful
home.
"When we came to this piece of land we knew its beauty and
potential were to be shared. Without power, no running water,
and barely a trail in from the highway, we spent many years learning
that beauty and potential are gifts from God that only He can
foster and fulfil.
"Our children are
our greatest delight. Raising our family together on this
land has been our greatest joy!
"In 1983, Neil built
our farm house, using lumber sawn on our property.
"In 1999, Neil traveled
to L’Abri in Switzerland to mark the completion of his MDiv
studies. There he experienced the hospitality of an international
retreat centre established by Francis Schaeffer in the 1950’s.
"We had farmed here
in partnership for twenty years. When our first sheep barn
burned and the partnership ended in 2001, we needed to have a
new vision.
"One day during that difficult period, Neil found water
trickling out of a little place in the hillside he had never
observed before. That small spring reminded him of the wonderful
hope in life that God seems to have hidden right under our noses.
"Hidden Springs Retreat and Guest House became that vision:
we wanted to have a place where people from all over the world
could come and be renewed and refreshed by the beauty of this
landscape.
"The chalet was built by Neil and opened for guests in 2004."
