There is a story in every life, no matter how unimportant it seems to the one living it. Those of us who believe that God has a design for every day as we follow Him will find our years more exciting than anything a novelist could ever imagine!
Write, Talk, Imagine
Write about It
Ethan learned at a young age to trust God for the future. Is it easy or hard for you to trust God for your future? Why?
Write about a situation in your life right now where you are struggling with trusting God.
In Mexico, Ethan soon finds himself in big trouble when he gambles with the other boys. But God helps him through his trouble. When has God helped you in the midst of trouble? Tell the story.
Ethan and Frances lived in the days before there were computers, cell phones, and cameras. To record life’s important events, Frances kept a journal, and Ethan drew pictures. For the next month, write or draw about your life each day. When you’re done, you’ll have a record to look back on and remember how God was with you in both good times and bad times.
Talk about It
Do you believe that God answers prayer? Why or why not?
Alice’s adventure in the woods results in an answered prayer. How does Luke’s view of God change as a result?
Why does Ethan decide to give his cherished key to Pancho Villa? What is the result of Ethan’s generosity?
When have you been generous to someone else without anyone prompting you to do so? When has someone been generous to you? Tell the stories. How did it feel to be on the giving end? The receiving end?
Think of an older person you know who loves God and ask them, “How did God meet your needs during your toughest times in life?” Then sit back and enjoy the fascinating stories!
Imagine It
Imagine you are Ethan. You have a chance to leave the hard work of the farm behind, as well as the heavy responsibility of taking care of your two brothers and sister. You could go to school in Kansas with your best friend. Would you choose to pursue your dream? If so, when? If not, why not?
Imagine you meet the “bandit” general Pancho Villa on the road or in town. How would you respond? What would you say?
Imagine you could meet the real Ethan in person after reading this Beyond the Orphan Train series. What questions would you ask him about his experiences?
About the Author
Arleta Richardson grew up on the shores of Lake Michigan, loving the stories her grandmother told about her childhood on a nineteenth-century farm. In the popular Grandma’s Attic series, Arleta retold those memories, capturing the hearts and imagination of more than two million readers around the world.
Fascinated by the history of the Orphan Trains, Arleta based her Orphans’ Journey series on the true account of a boy, named Ethan Cooper in the story, who rode the Orphan Train to a new life in 1908. The Orphan Trains operated between 1854 and 1929, relocating about 250,000 orphaned, abandoned, or homeless children.
The themes of Arleta’s books reveal what was most important to her—family and friends, doing the right thing, overcoming fear during hard times, and working hard to see dreams fulfilled. She believed that God has a plan for each of us, and that His love and care will be revealed in His perfect timing.
Other Books by Arleta Richardson
The Grandma’s Attic Series
In Grandma’s Attic
More Stories from Grandma’s Attic
Still More Stories from Grandma’s Attic
Treasures from Grandma
Grandma’s Attic Novels
Away from Home
A School of Her Own
Wedding Bells Ahead
At Home in North Branch
New Faces, New Friends
Across the Border Page 11
