It all started a little over 20 years ago. My husband and I have been talking and praying about starting a non-profit organization to pair abused & neglected horses with abused, neglected, bullied and at-risk youth. I have experience with rescuing and rehabbing horses and my hubby was horribly bullied for 6 years.
His bullying was so extreme that the families involved went to court and his family ended up moving out of their house to a different neighborhood across the city. We also had done inner-city youth ministry in the “bad lands” of Philadelphia for a few years and loved it! In fact, we still keep in touch with some of the youth to this day.
We began looking into all the necessities to start a non-profit organization. Just the paperwork alone seemed overwhelming but, we were willing to forge ahead. So right when I got started with researching things, God had other ideas.
I unexpectedly became pregnant with our second child at 36 years of age. Our first daughter was already 9 years old and we both nearly died when she was born.
We thought we were done having babies and were blessed to just have the one but, God said, “Hold on, I have other plans.”
So thus, our plans for the non-profit were shelved. My pregnancy became a bit scary when I was told I was high risk again and had high blood pressure and gestational diabetes early on in the pregnancy. I was the bread winner at the time and had to continue working despite my physical conditions.
Things went along okay for a while. Then during a routine check-up, an ultrasound revealed that our child would most likely be born with Downs Syndrome or Spinal Bifida or be severely handicapped in some way.
We were ushered into a conference room at the hospital and encouraged to “make the educated choice”. Translation = [abort the baby]. We were told that due to my “advanced age” that these genetic anomalies were more common in older women and that it would not be fair or “responsible” to the child to allow them to “live like that”.
Of course we were appalled and chose to carry on with the pregnancy and leave the rest in God’s capable hands. So almost mid-term, I switched to a reputable doctor affiliated with a different hospital and went on as if nothing was wrong.
After I could breathe a little again, we realized after all that commotion, the baby had only cried enough to wake us up. She went peacefully back to sleep even through all the noise and commotion. We realized, that if she had not cried when she did, I would have died in my sleep.
I spent a total of 5 days in the hospital after delivery and went home. Only to have emergency gall bladder surgery 6 weeks later. When things settled down, we focused on me getting healthy again and getting back to “normal”.
Time went by and ideas of the non-profit went by the wayside. During this time, for many various reasons, we found ourselves in a battle to hold on to our marriage and family let alone being able to minister to others. We had come through some very difficult trials throughout our marriage and were falling apart instead of being strengthened.
We were unworthy, failures, we were physically and spiritually broken, not to mention getting older. We did not have faith in each other, in ourselves and lacked faith in our once shared vision. We wondered what happened to us and our dream of helping kids and horses.
Then it happened. We broke. We became broken for things of the LORD instead of holding on to our own vain ambitions and selfish pride. Our marriage reconciled, our relationship became stronger and more solid than ever. Our baby grew, our older daughter bloomed and found successes in school and her writing interests.
Now we can see that God had this all planned for us to grow through those trials so that we could truly minister to the children AND their parents. Parents who may be struggling with their relationship, marriage etc..
He put us through many fires of varying intensity so that we could know what those fires felt like first hand.
WOW. How wise He is indeed. If we had started this ministry years ago, it was doomed to fail. Now we are ready and God has put many people in place to help us get started.
— This Post Originally was written and posted April of 2012 — Here is an Update for you As of Today 10/20/2017…
Over the last 5 years, we have begun working with some families and their children.
As of August, 2017, my husband Steve is currently pursuing his degree in Divinity / Pastoring from CLI (Christian Learning Institute).
I and my eldest daughter (now 24) manage the farm and day to day operations as well as working on special projects to help fund our ministry.
The little one mentioned in the story above is now 14 and is home schooled so that she too can help at the farm between classes and manages the teen volunteers that come to the farm. She also assists her sister on the farm with chores, projects and juggling ministry and business needs.
Well thanks so very much for taking the time to read my blog.
So many exciting things are happening now and are ahead for us and this ministry! We look forward to how the LORD will use us and our resources for His good intents and purposes.
Ministry Verse: Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
If you want more information about our ministry, please contact us at The Lord’s Lead Line (Triple L Ranch LLC) – 267-227-6377 or email us at triplelranchllc@gmail.com
God Bless!
I remember those difficult days you were going through. By that time, I had grown to love both of you, and my heart was broken to know how difficult it was. I’m sure many of us were praying that the Lord would heal your lives, and that you would be back together again. I was beyond delight as I saw things were changing and your life became such a blessing to so many others, including me. I praise God that He is faithful to all His children. He is good, gracious, kind, loving, patient, generous, and awesome, bringing us through whatever may come.
LikeLike
Oh my goodness dear Louisa!
This made me cry!
Thank you so very much for your kind words!
Thank you for all of the wonderful Godly chats on the train to Center City Philadelphia.
Thank you for being who God called you to be.
I was always truly blessed by your words, wisdom and thoughtful reflection of God’s Word.
I miss riding that noisy the, stinky, crowded train only because of you!
I hope and pray you are doing well and miss you!
Love you sweet sister!
X0X0 Patti
LikeLike