Shiloh Christian Children's Ranch- Kayla Spencer

In February, 2011, I had the opportunity to spend a weekend in Missouri at Shiloh Children's Ranch. This is a home for children who are troubled or have been abused or neglected. This ranch is made up of about five families who take these children in and provide spiritual, emotional, educational, social, and physical care. The children are in homes that contain a father, mother, and about ten to twelve other children. Most of these children are there through the foster care system and stay for at least one year. Some even stay and make Shiloh their permanent home. This was such a wonderful place to experience. The families were all so great and I was able to learn a lot through this experience.

I went to Shiloh with my church, Christian Campus House, here at Eastern. We spent our days there chopping fire wood for the homes, which is their source of heat, and then spent our evening spending time with the families. The work was hard... Until that weekend, I did not know my body could be sore in so many places. But, the work was also fun. I had never used a maul to cut wood before, so this was a new and exciting experience. Our group tries to chop a years worth of firewood for the homes in just that one weekend, so it is constant work throughout the day. Those who are not helping with the chopping make a passing line to get the wood to the storage shed where they stack it. This work requires a whole group of people working together.

In the evenings, I spent some time with the families and was able to learn about some of the children there. These children come from such disadvantaged backgrounds filled with all forms of abuse and neglect. But, with the help of the families at Shiloh, they are working through their problems and learning what a true family is like. The parents were so open and taught me a lot. I gained a whole new understanding and appreciation for couples like the ones there that give up having a "typical" family, and instead, they take in ten children with troubled pasts to love. The families there are so special and giving, and they are helping so many children.

Shiloh Christian Children's Ranch is such a wonderful place. They do so much for the children there by providing them with emotional support, a healthy living environment, and the love and support that comes with being in a family. I loved my experience there and hope to be able to go back in the future.