Many people ask and wonder what it is like to live at Shiloh, but for me it is just normal. I have spent my entire life living in this wonderful place. I have seen many great things happen, I have seen God work and seen what He can do as I have grown up in this ministry. Now it wasn’t always easy and it wasn’t always fun growing up here, but growing up in this place is going to allow me to go into my life with mentors, friends, and family by my side. I can take things that I have seen here into my future ministry, family, and life.
I always say I am “the favorite” not just in my house but on the ranch site. I was the favorite baby all around when I was younger. I got to grow up being spoiled by my Mom and Dad’s parents. But they lived six hours away, so I also got to be spoiled by Grandma and Grandpa Blew and Tuley. Growing up next to those two houses was amazing. I loved getting to play with their grandchildren and just going over to their house to eat. Mr. Blew always talks about when I was a little kid I would always go to him while he was cooking on the grill, and I would just say “Blew? Meat!” Then he would give me some meat. Another “funny-but-not-funny” story was the time I accidently shut the door while I was playing in the Tuley’s playroom. Everyone was searching for me, but I was just playing at Grandma Tuley’s.
As I grew up, my favorite time of year soon became summer. During summer I would play baseball at Clarence, got to go to the church camp across the pond, and to work with the work groups. I loved working with the groups that came, and I loved getting to know them. As I have grown up, I have competed for South Shelby in Cross Country, Basketball, Band, and Golf. I was also in the musicals which I was Chad in “High School Musical” and Gaston in “Beauty and the Beast”.
Living at Shiloh is not easy, because having to share Mom and Dad with other kids is hard. There are some nights you just want to go play golf with Dad, but he has to help another kid out. But throughout my life my parents have always found a way to make me feel special and loved even though there were ten other kids in the house. Through my eighteen years at Shiloh, many kids have come through my house but only a few that I have really called siblings. My two older sisters, Mercy and Abigail, have always been there for me and are truly my sisters. I also have three younger siblings, Heaven, Grace, and Hunter who have been in our house for a long time. And Ashley is the same age as me, basically.
One thing that I have come to appreciate about Shiloh is the things I have learned from living here. I can confidently say that I have grown up next to the greatest dads on the earth. I have got to watch men like Mr. Tuley, Mr. Blew, Mr. Kolars, Mr. Penfield, Mr. Cohn, and Mr. VanDyke. I have seen them be great Dads and I am going to try to be a great Dad like them.
I have also had some of the greatest grandparents on planet earth. Mimi and Grampy (my Mom’s parents) have always been supportive of not just me but also all the kids that have come through my house. My love and appreciation for sports has come from Grampy. Mimi has always been someone that is just easy to talk to and she has always got my back. They have been amazing grandparents. Granny and Papa (my Dad’s parents) have also been amazing grandparents. Papa has helped me find a love for the game of golf and has shown me how to work. Granny has been the person that I have looked up to the most as she has come out over the years. She is not only my Granny but is now Granny for everyone at Shiloh. She has always come to watch me compete and I have always loved to talk with her. My grandparents have been the greatest grandparents.
You know you have good parents when as a kid you don’t even realize that the other kids living in your house aren’t your real siblings. My parents have been amazing through the years I have lived at Shiloh. When I was young, I didn’t realize the other kids weren’t my real siblings because my parents treated them like they were, because they were my siblings. My Mom is amazing. She gave me my musical abilities. She made the best cakes as a kid and was the coolest Mom because she did all the crafts and songs. My Dad and I have spent a lot of time together over the years. We have gone on trips together and he has really taught me how to work hard and how to be a good husband and father. My parents are the greatest parents ever.
After high school, I plan to pursue a degree in Biblical Communications at Ozark Christian College and become a Pastor. I feel called to the ministry and hope the lessons, experiences, and the love I have seen at Shiloh can help as I go into the ministry. Thank you to all you have given your time, money, and prayers. I can say that they are not going to waste here.
In Christ, Titus Moore