Catharine

Catharine Janzen was my mother-in-law. She was a giving woman who did not suffer fools gladly. Catharine heard Dan West talk about his idea for sustainable gifts to those in need. Dan West conceived of the idea of sending a pregnant animal to someone in need. That person passes the first pregnant female animal on to the next Heifer Project recipient. Catharine married Paul Janzen and they operated a dairy in Madera, California. The first Janzen heifer, named Faith, was sent to Japan in 1956.

Heifer Project is a family tradition. Ruth and I were in Missouri with our friends Randy and Margie. We drove to Little Rock, Arkansas, to Heifer International. There we saw the work Heifer does all over the world. But perhaps most moving moment was a brick, paving the way to Heifer Village. God rest her soul.