“I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in” (Mt 25:35). Week 8 of home service. I was recently on my way to LCMS Mission Central in Mapleton, Iowa, where I had been scheduled to present. Since there are no hotels or motels within a 30 mile radius of Mapleton, “Old Missionary” Gary Thies had kindly arranged for a local couple, Wayne and Zola Kafton, to host me. He had given me their phone number. When I was in town, he said, I should call them for their address. Unfortunately, my cell phone provider had no coverage in that part of the state and I wasn’t able to reach them. How in the world to find the Kaftons? Friday afternoon, 4:30 PM. I drove to Mission Central to ask them, but no one was there. Mapleton’s police station? Closed. But right next door was city hall. Peeking through the glass door, I spied two ladies still hard at work. I decided to play the only “ace” I had. Opening the door, I said, “Hello, I’m a friend of Gary Thies.” Their faces lit up. One lady cheerfully replied, “Oh sure, Gary. He’s such a good man. What can I do for you?” “I’m supposed to stay at the home of a couple here in town, but I don’t have their address—just their phone number. And I can’t get cell coverage here.” “Who are they?” she asked. I told them. “Oh, Wayne and Zola. Great people. They go to my church, St. Matthew Lutheran. Just head up Main, take the second right, then the fourth left.” Wow… In a big city, how many people at city hall would know individual residents? And to tell a complete stranger where so-and-so lives? Hardly… I easily found the Kaftons and they warmly welcomed me into their home. I told them about my experience. Wayne laughed: “Yup, that’s Mapleton, alright. Population 1,100. Pretty much everyone knows everyone else.” God bless America—especially her small towns.
The Tiews in Germany 