Shiloh Children's Ranch

I had never picked up a maul before. In fact, I always thought it was called a “hatchet” or an “ax.” At Shiloh Children’s Ranch, they know how to chop wood, and they know the equipment and the proper techniques—very well! “Shiloh,” as the ranch is called, is located just outside Hannibal, Missouri, where five families live—five very large families. Each family may have up to twelve children living in their houses. Not all of the children in each house are their biological children. In fact, most of the children on the ranch are in the foster care program. Shiloh’s mission is to provide a safe, Christian home for children who have been raised in abusive or neglectful homes. The children may only stay at Shiloh for a short period, while some may choose to stay forever. These families all live on one farm, where they provide for many of their own needs by living off the land (crops and livestock). They heat the entire ranch with a great, big furnace that burns wood for fuel—this is where we came in.

            I went to Shiloh with my college church group. We left on a Thursday evening and stayed the long weekend until Sunday afternoon, when we headed back—sore, from a long two days of hard work. All day Friday, we chopped and stacked wood. All day Saturday, we chopped and stacked wood. In the evenings, we visited with the families and played with the kids. I chose to continue sitting at the dinner table with my host parents after dinner to find out more about the kids, their stories and the mission of the ranch.

            By talking with my host parents, I was able to understand the concepts we’ve been learning about in FCS 4840, especially when it comes to basic human needs. Some of these kids come from some rough home lives. For many of the children, Shiloh is a safe and stable place for them. Living with 10 more brothers and sisters in one house may sound crazy, but it’s not so crazy when it’s the only safe place you’ve ever known. It was obvious that love (emotional support) was the greatest missing factor for most of these kids.

The passion that my house parents had for their children (biological or not) was so intense. The contrast of what Shiloh provides for these kids (safe home, loving parents, adequate housing, nutrition and education) compared to what they were getting before arriving at Shiloh is so sharp, yet tender. It’s sharp, because it’s evident. It’s tender, because it must also be a sensitive transition.

            I loved working at Shiloh and observing how these families made such a difference in the lives of these kids. The power of this ministry moves throughout not just through one community, but through the communities that each child comes from and where they return to. It is my hope to continue working with Shiloh in the years to come, especially if it involves chopping wood! I learned a lot about what it means to work hard and to be persistent. Chopping wood is no easy task, but after persisting and watching our wood pile grow, I began to love the work! I’ve wondered if that’s how the host families see the vision of Shiloh. With hard work, persistence and a lot of loving, the success of their efforts becomes rewards. I feel like probably they do. It seems that every moment they invest in their children is successful, but that success didn’t come without a little hard work.