undefined undefined Alpacas on the Loose!
2013
Alpacas on the Loose!
August 2013


“Alpacas on the Loose!” Liahona, Aug. 2013, 67

Alpacas on the Loose!

That last alpaca wouldn’t budge. What was I supposed to do?

“Heav’nly Father, now I pray, guide and guard me ev’ry day” (“Heavenly Father, Now I Pray,” Children’s Songbook, 19).

boy and alpacas

Illustration by Apryl Stott

Last summer I worked for my neighbor. She has a big alpaca farm right next to her walnut orchard. Alpacas look kind of like llamas, only smaller.

My job was to clean out their stalls every day. I liked the work, even if it wasn’t easy.

One hot summer afternoon I showed up and my neighbor was gone. That wasn’t a problem, though. She already told me I could clean the stalls any time I chose, even if she was away.

While I was cleaning, one of the alpacas knocked over a gate. In a few seconds all 14 alpacas escaped into the yard and orchard! I couldn’t believe it! I felt sick to my stomach. How would I ever get them back by myself?

I started scrambling as fast as I could, rounding them up one or two at a time. Fifteen minutes later my heart was pounding from all the running, but the last one finally went back into the stall. Whew!

Then I turned and saw a pregnant alpaca lying down by a fruit tree 30 feet away. Ugh. Still one more to go. I tried scaring her back into the stall, but she wouldn’t budge. Then I tried pulling her with a harness and a rope that I found in the garage. No good. She lay there like a giant pile of bricks. I blew out my breath in frustration. What else could I try?

Then I remembered there’s always a way to ask for help, no matter where I am. I knelt down to pray. As soon as I finished praying, I opened my eyes and could hardly believe what I saw. The alpaca was walking back toward the stall, all on her own. I opened the gate, and she walked right in.

I smiled as I rode my bike home. I knew Heavenly Father had answered my prayer.