1 00:00:38,001 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 1: Hey friends, it's Kelly from Life Audio. We just launched 2 00:00:41,501 --> 00:00:45,181 Speaker 1: something new. It's called The Good Word, our free weekly 3 00:00:45,241 --> 00:00:48,120 Speaker 1: newsletter built for people who want to go a little 4 00:00:48,161 --> 00:00:54,011 Speaker 1: deeper in their faith. Think devotionals, guided prayers, curated podcast recommendations, 5 00:00:54,191 --> 00:00:57,311 Speaker 1: and a little community all in one place. No ads, 6 00:00:57,651 --> 00:01:00,091 Speaker 1: just good content. This one means a lot to us. 7 00:01:00,491 --> 00:01:03,271 Speaker 1: We built The Good Word based on the audience survey 8 00:01:03,491 --> 00:01:05,671 Speaker 1: so many of you filled out a few months back. 9 00:01:05,991 --> 00:01:08,580 Speaker 1: You told us what you wanted and we listened. So 10 00:01:08,621 --> 00:01:11,560 Speaker 1: thank you truly for helping us shape this. Head to 11 00:01:11,580 --> 00:01:14,161 Speaker 1: the link in the show notes and join our community today. 12 00:01:14,481 --> 00:01:15,441 Speaker 1: We'd love to have you. 13 00:01:15,461 --> 00:01:24,731 Speaker 2: Hello, friends. Welcome to Story Behind Podcast. This is the 14 00:01:24,771 --> 00:01:27,991 Speaker 2: show for people who love hearing a good story and 15 00:01:28,011 --> 00:01:31,401 Speaker 2: who believe the world could use more positivity. We're the 16 00:01:31,441 --> 00:01:34,621 Speaker 2: team behind God Updates and God Too, and we hope 17 00:01:34,661 --> 00:01:37,241 Speaker 2: these weekly short stories will brighten your day. 18 00:01:42,961 --> 00:01:48,891 Speaker 3: Welcome back, friends, subscribers, loyal listeners, newcomers to Story Behind. 19 00:01:49,451 --> 00:01:53,831 Speaker 3: This week, I found a couple of rescue stories for you, 20 00:01:53,891 --> 00:01:57,311 Speaker 3: and who doesn't like a good rescue, especially since we've 21 00:01:57,371 --> 00:01:59,911 Speaker 3: all been in danger or trouble at one time or another, 22 00:01:59,971 --> 00:02:03,761 Speaker 3: and needed someone, whether it been a good friend, a stranger, 23 00:02:03,781 --> 00:02:07,741 Speaker 3: a Samaritan, or the Lord himself or his angels to 24 00:02:07,801 --> 00:02:11,971 Speaker 3: come in and deliver us. Think about times where you've 25 00:02:12,011 --> 00:02:15,251 Speaker 3: been rescued one time or another in your life or 26 00:02:15,331 --> 00:02:17,811 Speaker 3: whether you rescued a pet. And I'll be back in 27 00:02:18,011 --> 00:02:21,960 Speaker 3: just a minute with two stories from Heather Riggleman about 28 00:02:22,041 --> 00:02:29,941 Speaker 3: how we all need rescue sometimes. All right, our first 29 00:02:29,981 --> 00:02:33,741 Speaker 3: story today is about a little kitten found on the 30 00:02:33,821 --> 00:02:37,660 Speaker 3: side of the road by one of our law enforcement officers. 31 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:42,081 Speaker 3: This is by Heather Riggleman. State trooper found a kitten 32 00:02:42,521 --> 00:02:45,281 Speaker 3: on the side of the road. Then he adopted him. 33 00:02:46,341 --> 00:02:48,971 Speaker 3: A state trooper found a kitten on the side of 34 00:02:49,011 --> 00:02:53,311 Speaker 3: the road. Then he adopted him. What began as a 35 00:02:53,361 --> 00:02:57,941 Speaker 3: routine call along a Wisconsin interstate became the start of 36 00:02:57,981 --> 00:03:01,900 Speaker 3: an unexpected friendship neither of them saw coming. Heather writes 37 00:03:01,981 --> 00:03:04,761 Speaker 3: that she loves this story so much because even as 38 00:03:04,881 --> 00:03:08,811 Speaker 3: she's writing, she's surrounded by a furry posse of ginger 39 00:03:08,871 --> 00:03:11,131 Speaker 3: cats who love this story as much as she does. 40 00:03:12,050 --> 00:03:15,870 Speaker 3: In Wisconsin, State Trooper Brody Schmitz responded to help a 41 00:03:15,911 --> 00:03:19,641 Speaker 3: stranded motorist on a ramp leading to Interstate 90. But 42 00:03:19,681 --> 00:03:23,061 Speaker 3: instead of his typical roadside assistance call, the driver shared 43 00:03:23,121 --> 00:03:27,620 Speaker 3: heartbreaking news. The motorist informed him that she had witnessed 44 00:03:27,781 --> 00:03:31,791 Speaker 3: someone throw kittens out of a moving vehicle. The Wisconsin 45 00:03:31,811 --> 00:03:35,271 Speaker 3: State Patrol shared in a Facebook post. Although authorities were 46 00:03:35,371 --> 00:03:40,171 Speaker 3: unable to locate the vehicle responsible, one tiny tuxedo kitten 47 00:03:40,791 --> 00:03:44,391 Speaker 3: was found alive. Rather than simply dropping the kitten off 48 00:03:44,451 --> 00:03:47,891 Speaker 3: and moving on with his day, Brody made a decision 49 00:03:47,931 --> 00:03:51,481 Speaker 3: that changed both of their lives. He gently said, took 50 00:03:51,521 --> 00:03:53,681 Speaker 3: the kitten to a nearby animal shelter so it could 51 00:03:53,701 --> 00:03:56,481 Speaker 3: be cared for while he finished his shift. But before 52 00:03:56,561 --> 00:03:59,241 Speaker 3: walking out the door, Brody couldn't stop thinking about the 53 00:03:59,321 --> 00:04:03,101 Speaker 3: frightened little survivor he had just rescued. He told shelter 54 00:04:03,141 --> 00:04:06,861 Speaker 3: staff he wanted to adopt the little survivor himself, making 55 00:04:07,011 --> 00:04:10,611 Speaker 3: sure the kitten, who had been so carelessly discarded, would 56 00:04:10,691 --> 00:04:13,951 Speaker 3: never have to wonder again if he was wanted or loved. 57 00:04:14,571 --> 00:04:18,621 Speaker 3: The tiny kitten, now named Toby, found exactly what every 58 00:04:18,741 --> 00:04:23,070 Speaker 3: abandoned animal longs for, a forever home. Photos shared by 59 00:04:23,101 --> 00:04:26,671 Speaker 3: the Wisconsin State Patrol show Brody proudly holding Toby in 60 00:04:26,731 --> 00:04:29,991 Speaker 3: his arms and even letting the little kitten ride in 61 00:04:30,051 --> 00:04:34,650 Speaker 3: his trooper hat. The heartwarming rescue quickly captured hearts online. 62 00:04:35,211 --> 00:04:39,350 Speaker 3: The cat distribution system works in mysterious ways, one person 63 00:04:39,411 --> 00:04:43,770 Speaker 3: joked in the comments. Others shared similar stories of unexpected 64 00:04:43,931 --> 00:04:47,441 Speaker 3: feline friendships. I rescued a cat out of a car 65 00:04:47,520 --> 00:04:50,630 Speaker 3: engine down in Detroit last summer. Called the police and 66 00:04:50,661 --> 00:04:53,491 Speaker 3: told them why I was breaking into the vehicle. They 67 00:04:53,510 --> 00:04:57,090 Speaker 3: showed up to help me, one commenter wrote. Another shared, 68 00:04:57,251 --> 00:05:01,431 Speaker 3: I found my fur buddy on duty. Dispatched 911 to 69 00:05:01,451 --> 00:05:04,901 Speaker 3: an aggressive animal. The caller was afraid of cats, so 70 00:05:05,171 --> 00:05:08,200 Speaker 3: I took the young kitten to patrol with me. After 71 00:05:08,261 --> 00:05:10,361 Speaker 3: climbing on my shoulder, I knew he was going home 72 00:05:10,401 --> 00:05:13,461 Speaker 3: with me. It's impossible to know what Toby's future would 73 00:05:13,501 --> 00:05:17,971 Speaker 3: have been. without someone willing to stop, care, and open 74 00:05:18,011 --> 00:05:22,421 Speaker 3: their heart. Thankfully, one compassionate state trooper did exactly that. 75 00:05:23,241 --> 00:05:26,221 Speaker 3: As I write this with my own three rescued ginger 76 00:05:26,261 --> 00:05:29,341 Speaker 3: cats sprawled across my desk and curled around my feet, 77 00:05:30,001 --> 00:05:33,340 Speaker 3: I'm reminded, Heather says, that sometimes the most beautiful stories 78 00:05:33,401 --> 00:05:37,701 Speaker 3: begin with one small act of compassion, and one cat 79 00:05:38,261 --> 00:05:41,541 Speaker 3: who simply needed someone to stop. As it says in 80 00:05:41,601 --> 00:05:46,661 Speaker 3: Proverbs 12.10, The righteous care for the needs of their animals. 81 00:05:47,421 --> 00:05:49,561 Speaker 3: I love that story. I'm a cat lover myself, and 82 00:05:49,681 --> 00:05:53,451 Speaker 3: I sure can appreciate what that trooper did. We'll be 83 00:05:53,491 --> 00:05:56,371 Speaker 3: back in just a minute with our second rescue story, 84 00:05:56,711 --> 00:06:12,321 Speaker 3: this one of the human variety. All right, we are 85 00:06:12,401 --> 00:06:15,770 Speaker 3: back where our theme in this episode is rescue. And 86 00:06:15,801 --> 00:06:19,151 Speaker 3: this one's going to get a little muddy. Just a 87 00:06:19,190 --> 00:06:22,690 Speaker 3: reminder that all of our stories at Story Behind come 88 00:06:22,731 --> 00:06:26,371 Speaker 3: from GodTube.com, where you can watch without worry. And you 89 00:06:26,391 --> 00:06:31,061 Speaker 3: can find them at GodTube.com slash blog, which is where 90 00:06:31,121 --> 00:06:33,440 Speaker 3: we do all of our God Update stories, each of 91 00:06:33,541 --> 00:06:36,700 Speaker 3: which comes from a video that we found out there. 92 00:06:36,761 --> 00:06:39,401 Speaker 3: So if you want to dig even further behind the 93 00:06:39,440 --> 00:06:43,061 Speaker 3: story behind, and see some images from these stories, we 94 00:06:43,101 --> 00:06:45,041 Speaker 3: welcome you to go there, and you can find those 95 00:06:45,081 --> 00:06:48,951 Speaker 3: links in the show notes at lifeaudio.com. We have another 96 00:06:49,011 --> 00:06:52,450 Speaker 3: story by Heather Riggleman today. This one is titled, One 97 00:06:52,531 --> 00:06:58,211 Speaker 3: Trail Change, One Incredible Rescue. Woman found, after three days, 98 00:06:58,851 --> 00:07:04,341 Speaker 3: trapped in mud. One Trail Change, One Incredible Rescue. After 99 00:07:04,380 --> 00:07:07,641 Speaker 3: a woman is found three days trapped in mud. For 100 00:07:07,761 --> 00:07:12,541 Speaker 3: Catherine Wessner, 68. What began as an ordinary drive turned 101 00:07:12,591 --> 00:07:16,671 Speaker 3: into three terrifying days, trapped in mud near her van 102 00:07:17,351 --> 00:07:20,771 Speaker 3: in rural Minnesota. After all the trail rides I've taken 103 00:07:20,811 --> 00:07:23,031 Speaker 3: with my kids over the years, I can only imagine 104 00:07:23,591 --> 00:07:26,701 Speaker 3: how alone and scared she felt. Those trails are hard 105 00:07:26,731 --> 00:07:30,001 Speaker 3: to navigate through, and sometimes you don't see anyone else 106 00:07:30,161 --> 00:07:34,141 Speaker 3: for hours at a time. Catherine's rescue came about because 107 00:07:34,301 --> 00:07:38,901 Speaker 3: two friends, Adam Sandbeck and Mark Gravelin of West Fargo, 108 00:07:38,961 --> 00:07:42,401 Speaker 3: North Dakota, decided to do something they almost never do. 109 00:07:43,141 --> 00:07:47,121 Speaker 3: Instead of taking separate UTVs along familiar trails, they rode 110 00:07:47,141 --> 00:07:51,981 Speaker 3: together and explored a different path near Bacchus, Minnesota. For 111 00:07:52,201 --> 00:07:55,291 Speaker 3: some reason, we decided to go and try to find 112 00:07:55,361 --> 00:07:59,371 Speaker 3: new trails, Adam said. And for some reason, we went 113 00:07:59,431 --> 00:08:03,991 Speaker 3: down that trail. That some reason led them to Catherine. 114 00:08:04,891 --> 00:08:07,651 Speaker 3: As they approached a muddy stretch of trail, they noticed 115 00:08:07,711 --> 00:08:11,711 Speaker 3: what looked like a face in the water. Only Catherine's face, 116 00:08:12,091 --> 00:08:15,951 Speaker 3: one hand, and a kneecap were visible above the mud, 117 00:08:16,531 --> 00:08:19,191 Speaker 3: and she cried out for help. In an instant, their 118 00:08:19,271 --> 00:08:23,411 Speaker 3: afternoon ride became a rescue mission. The men pulled Catherine 119 00:08:23,471 --> 00:08:27,061 Speaker 3: from the mud and called 911. She told them she 120 00:08:27,101 --> 00:08:30,561 Speaker 3: had been trapped there for three days after slipping into 121 00:08:30,581 --> 00:08:34,600 Speaker 3: what Adam described as mud that behaved, quote, like quicksand. 122 00:08:35,300 --> 00:08:39,660 Speaker 3: Paramedics arrived within 15 minutes. Later, Adam reflected on everything, 123 00:08:40,101 --> 00:08:42,671 Speaker 3: that had to change for them to find her. I 124 00:08:42,731 --> 00:08:46,410 Speaker 3: have never mapped that trail in my life ever, he said. 125 00:08:47,211 --> 00:08:50,391 Speaker 3: We changed everything, how we do everything, for some reason. 126 00:08:50,911 --> 00:08:54,251 Speaker 3: It had to be God. It had to be. Sometimes 127 00:08:54,331 --> 00:08:57,971 Speaker 3: God's miracles don't arrive with parted seas or burning bushes. 128 00:08:58,661 --> 00:09:01,081 Speaker 3: Sometimes they come on four wheels down a trail no 129 00:09:01,161 --> 00:09:04,301 Speaker 3: one planned to take. Sometimes he directs our ordinary plans 130 00:09:04,941 --> 00:09:08,551 Speaker 3: so someone else's desperate prayer can be answered. Maybe the 131 00:09:08,611 --> 00:09:12,911 Speaker 3: road you're taking today isn't a detour after all. You 132 00:09:12,951 --> 00:09:16,011 Speaker 3: do go nowhere by accident. Your trail may just be 133 00:09:16,030 --> 00:09:18,691 Speaker 3: the path God is using to answer someone else's prayer, 134 00:09:19,251 --> 00:09:23,841 Speaker 3: perhaps even your own. As it says in Proverbs 16, 9, 135 00:09:23,841 --> 00:09:27,961 Speaker 3: in their hearts, humans plan their course, but the Lord 136 00:09:28,541 --> 00:09:32,801 Speaker 3: establishes their steps. How true. Thanks for joining us for 137 00:09:32,841 --> 00:09:35,481 Speaker 3: this episode of Story Behind as we celebrate a couple 138 00:09:35,501 --> 00:09:39,131 Speaker 3: of wonderful rescues, one of a beloved pet, and one 139 00:09:39,231 --> 00:09:41,841 Speaker 3: of a person who might have been nearing the end 140 00:09:41,921 --> 00:09:44,601 Speaker 3: of their hope. But God sent just the right people 141 00:09:45,081 --> 00:09:48,401 Speaker 3: down just the right path that day. Let's try to 142 00:09:48,441 --> 00:09:51,501 Speaker 3: be those people for someone else this week. Thanks for listening. 143 00:09:52,001 --> 00:10:00,790 Speaker 3: We'll see you next time on Story Behind. Story Behind. 144 00:10:02,441 --> 00:10:05,641 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for listening to Story Behind Podcast. 145 00:10:06,160 --> 00:10:08,361 Speaker 2: We're really glad you joined us for this week's story. 146 00:10:09,221 --> 00:10:11,601 Speaker 2: To see photos and videos that may have been referenced 147 00:10:11,641 --> 00:10:14,381 Speaker 2: in this episode, check out the links in the show notes. 148 00:10:15,160 --> 00:10:17,961 Speaker 2: And if you enjoyed what you heard today, subscribe to 149 00:10:18,001 --> 00:10:21,570 Speaker 2: our podcast and please tell a friend about us. We'd 150 00:10:21,611 --> 00:10:23,591 Speaker 2: also love it if you'd rate us and leave us 151 00:10:23,631 --> 00:10:26,511 Speaker 2: a review. It really does help more people find us. 152 00:10:27,211 --> 00:10:32,951 Speaker 2: Story Behind is a Salem Web Network production. Thank you.