Meet Ruthie, named after our friend Ruth, who prayed for Horizons of Hope to become a reality, and also after Ruth of the Bible--a woman who chooses to go to a home that is not her home, and in doing so she is redeemed.
We were surprised and overjoyed to find little Miss Ruthie all alone in our tractor shed. We had been hoping for a kitten, and the Lord placed her directly into our hands. She was quick to be cuddled, and to play all day. We immediately fell in love. But the next morning when we went to the shed, she was gone.
Have Hope was what kept coming to mind.
Have Hope
We found Ruthie a few days later, in our garden, and realized that she had not been alone after all, but had been being cared for by her mama. Her mama is a wild cat, and took Ruthie into some new found shelter. We played and smoozed with Ruthie more...but then she ran off to her mama into the wild after about an hour.
Have Hope
Then we didn't see Ruthie for over a week. We were sad. The kids were sad. We searched for her, called for her, to no avail.
Have Hope
We got the feeling that Ruthie was teaching us what it would be like to welcome our first guest. We may be smitten by her. Shower her with love. And then she might leave. Choose her old life over the one God can offer her. And our hearts may ache.
People in the village told us not to bother with a wild, feral kitten--they told us once wild, she will always be wild. Sounded familiar to me:
"Once a prostit---, always a prostit---."
Such a lie.
Have Hope
About a week and a half after we'd last seen her, we found her again, hidden. She was with her mama. But she ran to me when she saw me and I called her, leaving her mama behind. And she's been home with us ever since.
This little girl is sweet, fun and full of spunk. Our daughter totes her around in her arms and wheels her around in her doll's baby carriage. Ruthie chases soccer balls and runs after the kids when they ride their bikes. She purrs loudly when you hold her. She sleeps in our arms . She is the coolest little kitty. We completely adore her.
We will love her for however long she is with us, as we will do with any women the Lord brings to our home.
On that subject...we did already receive our first request for a young woman to come to our home, but we had to decline. We are in no way ready yet to receive our first guest. We are just settling in ourselves, and are still not fully unpacked. It has been a busy first month here. There is lots to do--but it is GOOD to be home--especially after being given the gift of our sweet little Ruthie.
Have hope!
