A friend of a friend

Several years ago, our Bible study took a day trip to Concordia.  Being goofy here.  Standing behind me in the blue hat is my friend Carolyn.  She lived in our town for a few years, but moved back to California.

Another friend, Marilyn, and I were privileged to fly out to California to see her in 2019, after her husband, Rich passed away.

A few years ago, Carolyn notified me that a friend of hers was moving to a small town about an hour away from me.  Cathy had purchased a church in this bitty town!  Not to be used as a church but for another purpose.  She has been seeking the Lord's guidance about that.

Carolyn had given me her phone # so I contacted Cathy.  She invited me to come visit.  Some from our Bible study went along with me to visit her and her sister, who was helping her move.

Her sister has since made new banners for the church.

She invited us to lovely lunch!

She showed us around this beautiful old church with all the breath-taking stained glass windows.

Last week I noticed on Facebook that Cathy was asking if someone could pick her up at the airport.  Unfortunately, it seemed like no one could help her.  And I thought, "there is no reason I can't!"  So I contacted her and told her I would love to come get her.  Her plane was getting in around midnight so she said I should come get her in the morning.  But when I found out she planned to sleep in the airport overnight, I said "absolutely not!"  So I picked her up and brought her to my home for the night.

"Provide the poor wanderer with shelter."  Isaiah 58:7 

I read this verse in my devotions the next morning and it made me laugh. I'm so glad I didn't avoid the nudge of the Lord to help Cathy!

She wanted to go with me to Bible study the next morning and there she met more of the ladies Carolyn had been in study with many years ago.  

After study, I drove her home. But first, we HAD to stop at the Dutch Kitchen!

It was delightful to listen to several Amish speaking "Dutch". 

Fried chicken was on the menu and  I saved half to take home to my husband.  Good old-fashioned food!

While we were eating, Cathy shared some more things about her life.  I love to listen to people's stories!  What a life she has had!  Her dad was a set designer and even helped with Billy Graham films.  Here is Billy Graham's picture in that movie.  

Colleen Townsend was the actress in this film.  She later married the man who became the Pastor of the famous 4th Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington DC and left Hollywood.  

Cathy told me she was in that first film!  She had been sleeping in a bed while her dad was preparing the set.  This scene was in the disaster scene with injured people.

When the lights were turned on and filming started, she woke up terribly frightened and screaming "I want my daddy!"  Her mother was desperate to quiet her down, but the director said "Let her go!  Leave it in!!''  We found "Oil Town" on our Roku and watched it.  Cathy does a great job of screaming!  It fit the scene perfectly!  Realistic!  In fact, I would even say she did the best job of acting in that film!

Cathy's parents knew people like Bill Bright, Lloyd Ogilvie, Henrietta Mears and Billy Graham.  

Cathy's mother was an assistant to Henrietta Mears at Hollywood Presbyterian Church and wrote her biography along with many radio scripts.   Her mother was quite the lady, getting her pilot's license at age 16, joining the first class of women's marine officers and graduating 2nd lieutenant.  She joined the founding faculty of California Lutheran College as professor of church drama.

Cathy edited for Lloyd Ogilvie.

She told me of living at L'Brie in Switzerland and her relationship with Edith and Francis Schaeffer.  I just found her life so very interesting!!  I loved hearing about her travels around Europe!  

God has a plan and direction for each person!

After we had eaten, we stopped at Stutzmans.  It was still a little early for plants but she bought me some pansies!  Thank you!

Then she directed me to her friends' home in the boonies!

This is Prairie Oaks Inn (not just another B&B).  They advertize it as a 

*Quiet Get-a-Way

*Restful pit stop

*Family Reunion

*Relaxing place to work or retreat

*Space for a club to gather and visit, craft, quilt, scrapbook, and more

*Wedding location

*Place to stay while hunting.

They have LOTS of guinea fowl on their place.  You should hear them!  Pretty loud!

The property owners are Michael and Janis Murphy.  Michael is a representative for Reno County and will be running for Senate.  He was in Topeka that day.

Janis took us on a tour of the place.

Pretty amazing!

One of many rooms!

We had some delicious coffee and talked a lot!

We think alike and could have visited much longer!

When we got back to town, Cathy showed me this mural she painted.  She is so talented!

I'm ever so grateful that my friend Carolyn introduced me to her friend, Cathy, a California transplant and now my friend too!