Ranch Girls

Over the years sometimes I have felt lonely as a missionary; but in our new village, I don’t have a chance too. You see, I have a ‘following’, a sweet group of young girls that wait for me, follow me, call me, and help me a lot too. Of course they are in love with the horses; love to spend time with them, and they absolutely thrive on the personal attention we give them.

It started last year with, “Can I pet the horses?”, then gradually to grooming the horses, then horse camp, and weekly riding lessons. Now this faithful band of eight to twelve year olds helps each evening to ‘bring the horses home’, taking them from their pasture, across the road, to our back corral. A highlight is being allowed to ride their horse down the hill. Our horses have received so much love and attention, they’re quite calm when ridden by little girls, bareback, with just a halter.

We have a regular devotional time each Wednesday before the riding lesson. To my surprise, the girls can sit still for this, and also really look forward to it. We sit in our yet unfinished kitchen on benches and trunks, drinking tea, talking of God’s love for us; how this love is unconditional and doesn’t depend on our worth or good deeds.

These girls: Kristina, Tatiana, Lenka, Sona and Tatka love to talk! (did I mention they love to talk?!) I’ve noticed they almost always talk of things we’ve done together, as well as their accomplishments on the horses, like “Did you see me gallop up that hill?” when it was really three steps in an easy canter. We’ve worked a lot on self-discipline too, and having the gentleness required for working with the horses

So, like I said, I’m definitely not lonely in our new location, and I don’t think the girls are either. Slowly, I think that ‘lonely’ spot in each of their hearts is beginning to be filled with love….special love from our Heavenly Father, meant just for them.