Rescuing the Rescued

The morning I woke, knowing that I was going to visit and spend time with a friend in need, this scripture appeared on my phone:
“Yes, God’s riches are very great! His wisdom and knowledge have no end! No one can explain what God decides. No one can understand His ways. As the Scriptures say, ‘Who can know what is on the Lord’s mind? Who is able to give him advice?’ ‘Who has ever given God anything? God owes nothing to anyone.’ Yes, God made all things. And everything continues through him and for him. To God be the glory forever! Amen. Romans 11:33-36
I shared this with my precious friend with joy and confidence, and it seemed to bring a smile to her face as well.
Last week I was scrolling through Facebook. A lady whom I’ve known over the past dozen years had posted a plea to her wall. When I read her words, I could feel her heart. She wrote:

It is with a heavy heart that I am informing my friends and family that Apache Way Farm Rescue Sanctuary may have to close its doors. As many of you know the last few years has been difficult on me financially due to my car accident at no fault of mine and having to give up my dance and cheer studio was also not easy for my soul to bare. I kept telling myself that the accident got my business but it’s not getting my animals. However, the donations have been good but not enough to keep this rescue going. I am a non-for profit 501c3 which allows me to reach out and ask for donations as all nonprofits do, but begging is something I have not been able to do. Reaching out to anyone who can follow through with a solution for me as some of these babies have been together for 10 + years and could not be separated. I have exhausted my options from my end and do not know where to turn. So yes, I am begging now for a wonderful solution to keep this rescue a float AND I get it not everyone is an animal lover but if you could witness the results that I have witnessed watching these animals turn many human lives around from autistic children to adults with down syndrome and even people with depression and anxiety. This rescue has been a therapeutic facility for many years and it has also allowed students to receive many volunteer hours for school not to mention a God sent for even myself. This has been my life for 29 years and I have seen the miraculous changes it has made to not only the animals but to the people who have come through my gate. Any help would be greatly appreciated as this decision is the hardest I have ever had to endure. Thank you for your time.

You’ve got to understand, Lori Matta is one of the toughest, strongest, most determined and caring individuals you’ll meet. So, when I read her posting, my heart went out to her, and prayers were lifted up.

I met Lori years ago when she was in my Sunday School department at church. Lori was always one who would ask those tough questions and just soaked up each lesson.
Not long after our meeting, my daughter Holly was interested in taking dance. Lori is who we went to for instruction, and Holly loved spending time with this fun and focused dance instructor. Knowing that Lori was a formal NFL cheerleader, kept my daughter’s interest and made her feel special.
Yes, Lori is originally from Massachusetts. She was a New England Patriots cheerleader for three years, and is still a dedicated alumnus. Lori will be participating, on the field at half time during a home NFL game, in an alumni and current Patriots cheerleader show. Although there will be much dancing taking place, Lori mentioned that she will be on the field, but not dancing. (You never know, Lori.  God’s not done with you and your dance moves yet.)
You see, the year 2014 was an extremely difficult year for Lori. Her father, whom she calls the soul of her family, unexpectedly passed away.  This completely devastated Lori.  Lori says that he loved unconditionally.  Just a few months later, just a couple of days after Lori was doing back handsprings with her cheer girls and dancing around with the kids (and even a fun mom) in her class, she was in an automobile accident. She had broken her pelvic, shattered her knee, torn ligaments in her neck,  among other injuries. These injuries debilitated Lori severely.
Lori was able to keep her popular dance studio open, but with great difficulty. She had come to the conclusion, after much prayer and trials, that she was going to have to close the doors of Dance Carousel at the end of the recital season.
Lori has a great love for family and dance, but that’s not all. When she was three-year-old, after her mother observed Lori playing, she told her that she was a nurturer.  This trait is so very true and evident still today.
This compassion was one for animals. Lori began rescuing horses and hasn’t looked back. Apache Way Rescue Farm was established in 1989. The mission statement is, “The mission of Apache Way Farm Rescue is to rescue, rehab, and provide a forever home to the loving animals who were given an unfortunate start in life by others, or not able to be cared for any longer.”
When the harsh winters became too much for her animals, she moved to Florida to continue rehabilitating these precious animals.
These animals are not only rescued by Lori, but help “rescue” others as well. As stated in a flyer that Lori gave me: “I love what I do, and I do what I love, which is making everyone happy. This sanctuary is not only a place for a new life for animals, but it also serves as a rescue for the human kind. This sanctuary has been a second home to many families with physically challenged children, pre-teens suffering from anxiety and depression, and high school volunteers in the area who need experience with rescued animals in a safe learning facility.” Lori informed me that once a month adults who have Down’s Syndrome come to spend time on the farm too.
Last week, when I went to take photos of the animals, hear more of Lori’s heart, and just love on her and pray with her, my intentions were to be on the farm for about an hour. Ha! Almost four hours went by, and I could have stayed longer. I fell in love with ALL the critters, and even more with Lori.
Lori used to be this tone and vibrant lady, with arm muscles that I quite envied. Her now frail body may not be as strong in appearance as it once was, but her passion is rock solid.
This is like a petting zoo that allows you to interact one-on-one with the animals. Fences don’t have to separate you from loving on, and being loved by, these animals.
We walked around and played with dogs, pigs, donkeys, horses of all sizes, a llama, and a huge cow. Some horses have been with Lori for over 20 years. One horse is 36 years of age, and she recently lost a horse who was fifty years old. A horse 50 years of age! She told me that the vet says that Lori’s animals live long because of the love they receive from her.  Much like her father, Lori loves unconditionally!
The landscape has drastically changed over the past few months.  With no rain, this drought has turned the once green pastures into the land of sand.  Though the grass is sparse, Lori sacrifices to keep these animals healthy and well fed.
Once an animal is rescued from Lori, as she pulls up to her gate, she pauses to say a prayer of love and protection for her new forever friend. She sits in the stall with them throughout the night, waiting for the animal to slowly come to her. Lori’s dedication, love, and perseverance is evident in the gentleness of each animal.
As the two of us visited and loved on each animal, Lori would share their individual stories with me.  One animal has Tourette’s, one suffers with seizures, one was severely burned multiple times with a cigar, many were to the point of starvation, and the list goes on. These are not just rescued animals, but these are her babies.


 
The day after our visit, I went to show Lori the photos I had taken. Tears were in her eyes as she said, “These are my babies.” Yes, they are. And, Lori, you are a wonderful parent.
Neck braces, casts, crutches, and even homemade walking shoes aren’t keeping this lady down. Lori may feel like she has hit rock bottom, but she is NOT out. I mentioned to her that I’ve often found that it is in those times in our lives when we feel that we’ve hit our lowest, that there is no place to look but up to God. God is always there to help us. We just need to call out to Him.
Three surgeries have pasts and there are more surgeries in Lori’s future. The thought of not being able to work and keep up with the farm is more devastating to her than her physical condition.
Therefore, I am sharing a slither of her story with you. Much like her plea on social media (which was tremendously hard for this strong and proud woman to share) I am imploring with you to consider helping my friend. How? To donate…PayPal account for the rescue is [email protected]. You can visit and like her page at https://www.facebook.com/Apache-Way-Farm-Rescue-Inc-349975538370830/?pnref=lhc . Since this organization is a 501c3, you can get a tax deduction. Another way to assist in the care of these animals is to visit Bliss Feed at 3669 Paul Buchman Hwy in Plant City, Florida. Lori has an account there and you can purchase feed for the animals and she will be contacted.

Lori, you may feel meager during this season of your life, but remember that your Heavenly Father is rich in blessings, wisdom, and knowledge. Yes, His ways are not our ways, and we may not understand why people (or animals) go through the trials they do, but hold on tight to Jesus, there will be glory in the end when you lean on Him.
“Yes, God’s riches are very great! His wisdom and knowledge have no end! No one can explain what God decides. No one can understand His ways. As the Scriptures say, ‘Who can know what is on the Lord’s mind? Who is able to give him advice?’ ‘Who has ever given God anything? God owes nothing to anyone.’ Yes, God made all things. And everything continues through him and for him. To God be the glory forever! Amen. Romans 11:33-36
Thank you all for your donation to Apache Way Rescue Farm.
“Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and t he destitute.  Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”  Psalm 82:3-4