A Shock...

A Swastica.  

A Nazi Brand.  

On 2 of our new horses.

I am horrified as I watch Liam turn 

his new horse and then smile at me

He of course is clueless

as to the meaning of that symbol

the pain and persecution that it stands for

I feel suddenly ill

Our Instructor Julia,

(a german who married to an Ecuadorian)

just bought 2 new horses for us to ride on the hacienda

And their brands are HUGE.  

As I panic and wonder what to say...

Will calls loudly out across the field

"Hey -  these horses are Nazis!"

Much to my relief, 

Julia nods knowingly and says  

"Ya, I'm sorry.  

We almost didn't buy them because of that, 

but they are gentle and

 we WILL change their brand soon."

Sweet Relief washed over me.  

But the reality sweeps over me again...

.....We have officially left the bible belt.

-The swastika  -  

along with Will's gentle but straight talk, 

allowed us to have a very deep conversation about God.

She is open to hearing about the God we worship.

She abhors what Hitler and the Nazis did in her country.

It is still illegal in Germany to be a Nazi...

so I guess they excersize their political 

freedom here in South America.