05/02/2026
42 sessions were held over the last 2 weeks. This is a longer post but so many things are happening, its hard to just focus on a couple.
🐴 Chores & Activities
The last couple of weeks was full of meaningful, hands-on engagement across the ranch. Children participated in a variety of chores including:
Feeding animals, filling grain and water, and cleaning pens
Collecting eggs and caring for chickens
Sweeping barns, moving materials, and picking rocks from arena.
Grooming and brushing horses, including braiding tails and building trust through riding and leading exercises.
Activities throughout the week included:
Horseback riding, obstacle courses, and groundwork exercises
Arts and crafts such as painting, slime-making, and nature-based projects
Creative play like sandbox games, storytelling, and building boats
Board games, drawing, and conversation cards that encouraged connection
Quiet moments with animals—petting, observing, and simply being present
These rhythms continue to create space for both responsibility and joy, structure and creativity.
🐴 Highlight of God’s Love -
One moment this week captured the heart of what God is doing at the ranch. During an activity, a child was asked a simple question about something that had disappointed them this week. Instead of answering right away, the child physically expressed their frustration—releasing emotion in a safe and honest way. After a moment, they paused, took a breath, and shared that what hurt most was missing her time at the ranch due to a missed session the week before.
In that moment, what could have stayed hidden came into the light. There was no pressure—just presence, patience, and space. And in that space, God gently brought truth forward. The child felt seen, safe, and able to process what was really going on inside. She was able to regulate her emotions in a safe way and that was a huge win for her.
This is the quiet work of God—meeting children in their emotions, bringing peace where there was tension, and reminding them they are deeply cared for.
🐴 Week at a Glance
This week revealed consistent themes of growing trust, emotional expression, and relational connection.
Many children are beginning to open up more—sharing about school challenges, friendships, family dynamics, and personal disappointments. In several sessions, leaders simply listened, asked thoughtful questions, and created a space where children could process without judgment. These conversations are becoming deeper and more meaningful.
We also saw:
Increased confidence and engagement, especially in younger participants learning to follow directions and stay present
Children forming strong connections with animals, particularly horses, which continue to foster gentleness, responsibility, and trust
Moments of creativity and imagination, where kids expressed themselves through art, play, and storytelling
Opportunities to work through real-life challenges, such as handling friendships, navigating change, or learning how to treat others with kindness
There is a growing sense that the ranch is becoming a place where children can both be themselves and be guided toward who God created them to be.
🐴 Throughout this week, we saw God working in both quiet and powerful ways across many different moments at the ranch. What stood out most was how often He met each child exactly where they were—whether in excitement, restlessness, curiosity, or vulnerability—and gently drew them toward peace, connection, and truth.
In several sessions, children who began guarded or distracted gradually opened up. Sometimes it happened in conversation, other times through activity, and often in the stillness—sitting in a barn, holding a chicken, or simply being near the animals. These unhurried moments created space for children to share what was on their hearts. Leaders didn’t rush or try to fix things, but instead listened, stayed present, and allowed God to work. In those moments, we saw tension give way to peace and guardedness turn into trust.
There were also powerful examples of emotional expression.
We saw children working through relational challenges—sharing about friendships, past hurts, and feeling left out. Through gentle conversation, they began to recognize healthier relationships in their lives and gain a renewed sense of hope. These moments are helping reshape how they see themselves and others.
For some, movement and activity were the pathway to peace. Children who came in with high energy or feeling unsettled found calm through simple, purposeful tasks—collecting eggs, caring for animals, or exploring the ranch. As they engaged, their hearts and minds began to settle. It was a reminder that God often brings order out of chaos through rhythm, responsibility, and relationship.
Creativity also played a meaningful role this week. Whether painting rocks, building projects from nature, or crafting with intention, children were able to express themselves in ways that opened the door for deeper conversation. In these moments, we saw how God uses creativity as a bridge to connection and healing.
Another recurring theme was discovery—children noticing the uniqueness of animals and, through that, beginning to understand their own uniqueness. Simple observations led to meaningful conversations about how God creates each person with purpose and care.
One especially meaningful moment came as a child quietly sat in the barn holding a rooster, eventually gathering a few more chickens and simply being present. In that peaceful space, conversation naturally unfolded. It was a reminder that God often works in the stillness, planting seeds that will grow over time. We continue to pray that in these moments, hearts are being drawn closer to Him.
Across all of these experiences, one thing is clear: God is using relationship—through leaders, animals, and the environment of the ranch—to bring comfort, growth, and truth into the lives of these children. These moments may seem small, but together they tell a bigger story of His faithfulness at work.
🐴 Prayer Requests
* For the children navigating friendships, school transitions, and family challenges—that they would find confidence, peace, and a deep sense of belonging in who God created them to be.
* For continued emotional breakthrough—that children would feel safe to open up, process their feelings, and experience healing through relationships and time at the ranch.
* For leaders and volunteers—that God would give wisdom, patience, and spiritual discernment as they walk alongside each child with love and intentionality.
