Linda Ozier introduces Tippy, the dog who was rescued from owners who burned it, to Esther, the beautiful horse. Ozier is director of Isaiah 11 ministry and farm in Warsaw. She matches hurting people with abused animals and watches the miracles happen in their lives. Photo provided by Linda Ozier.

By Laurie Lechlitner
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — “Something miraculous happens when we put hurting people and abused animals together,” stated Linda Ozier, director of Isaiah 11 ministry and farm in Warsaw.

“I’ve been counseling hurting people and rescuing abused and neglected animals for 13 years. And there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t see a difference occur in the lives of the people and the animals.”

Isaiah 11 is the Bible account that talks about the wolf living with the lamb and the leopard lying down with the goat. The calf and the lion and the yearling will exist in harmony and a little child will lead them.

“In a perfect world, animals and people will exist in happiness and peace,” Ozier explained. “Children will make positive contributions and people will live together in harmony. That’s what I envision on our farm. The horses, donkeys, pigs, goats, chickens, ducks, turkeys, dogs, cats and rabbits will be taken care of by people. The animals, in turn, will make a positive difference in the lives of hurting children and adults who love them.”

At the beginning of her ministry, a horse was brought to Ozier. “The animal had a broken leg and skin rot. The flesh was literally falling off her body. She had been abused and neglected in a confined space. Those who rescued her and brought her to us said that Isaiah 11 was her only chance.”

Anyone else might have put the miserable horse down. “I looked her in the eye and told her I was going to name her Esther. ‘You’ll be treated like a queen and become beautiful. You’ll lead an important life and have a purpose.’”

Esther did, in fact, become beautiful in the eyes of those humans at the farm who loved her. “One of the little girls I was counseling told me, ‘I am just like Esther the horse. Nobody loves me and I’ve been passed from foster home to foster home. But if she can become beautiful and have a good life, so can I.’ We see miracles like that happen at the farm all the time.”

Recently Ozier had to contend with an angry kitten. “The poor little thing was delivered to us with only half of her tail intact. I picked up the kitten to help it, and it turned around and bit me. The creature was hanging there with my finger still in its sharp little mouth and it hurt. I was tempted to get mad and call the little savage an ingrate. Then I smiled. She has so much in common with a hurting person. She bites out of self-preservation. A person hits and says mean things when they feel threatened.”

In 2017, a fire destroyed the large farmhouse where Ozier’s administrative and counseling offices were housed. “That is also the year my husband Ron died. That was a painful year for me.” Now she is utilizing a double construction trailer for her offices.

“We welcome volunteers. I have one intern and five regular volunteers. But we could really use some maintenance volunteers who are not afraid to get their hands dirty. Our volunteers do everything from socializing and cuddling our kittens to brushing the horses, cleaning stalls or mending fences.”

Those interested in volunteering or who want to donate animal food or money, can email Ozier: [email protected].