When I was 8 years old we had a barn fire and lost our entire herd of cattle in the fire, except for two young heifers. We kept one for a “family cow” and our church bought the other one and donated it to Heifer Project. Some time after that we received a letter from the recipient family in Germany. My Dad could read enough German to translate the letter.
In 1969 my wife, Miriam, and I accompanied a plane load of Brahma cattle and Hampshire pigs to Ecuador. By the end of that year we were living and working in Ghana for Church World Service on secondment to the Christian Council of Ghana. Heifer Project, Inc. did not have a representative in Ghana but I took on that role and received a shipment of pigs, chicks and funds to purchase oxen for distribution in our oxen training program.
In 1975 I began working for Heifer Project International as the country representative in Belize where we developed programs that are still in operation today. After 5 years we returned to the States and I became the Mid Atlantic (and the Atlantic South) Regional Director. I served in that position for 18 years. I then served as pastor of churches in Manheim, PA and Greensboro, NC, churches that continue to support Heifer International. Since retiring I have volunteered with Heifer to present programs to schools, clubs and churches. I have also written a book about my experiences titled, “Intended for Good” which provides more information.