by Dale Reeves
Story Pastor
Several weeks ago, my wife Karen and I flew to Las Vegas, Nevada, rented a car for a week, and drove much of the “Grand Circle” through the southwestern United States with my brother-in-law Greg and his wife Dee. We visited five National Parks in Utah, several state parks, and other landmarks on our journey, marveling at God’s amazing masterpieces that are in this part of the country. We booked some motels and Airbnbs months ago, and had an incredible time together. But, it was in the last few days of our trip that a wonderful surprise awaited us.
One of the Airbnbs that we booked is in Page, Arizona, located very close to Antelope Slot Canyon and Horseshoe Bend, a very famous part of the Colorado River that flows through Glen Canyon. We would be staying at the “H Lazy A Ranch,” in a ranch house located on the property of the owners Robert and Kristi Bennett. When we arrived, there were fresh flowers and a loaf of pumpkin/chocolate chip bread on the kitchen counter, and fresh eggs in the refrigerator. As we hauled our luggage into the house, we loved exploring the western decor throughout, complete with a master bedroom decked out in all things John Wayne. We would soon find out why “the Duke” was so prominent in this place.
As we ventured outside, we heard the roosters crowing, and shortly thereafter Kristi emerged from her house, coming out for the evening feeding of their animals . . . five horses, a baby steer, and a collection of goats. She was fun and outgoing, and we hit it off immediately. She even let me feed her horse Max. Here’s video proof!
Robert was driving a Bobcat, as Kristi and one of her 4-H students were cleaning out the stalls and emptying the contents into the bucket. Robert was a little more reserved than Kristi. Before long Kristi told me about the leukemia Robert had recently battled, and I asked if I could pray for him. We sensed an immediate bond through that time of prayer together. Prayer does that.
Karen, Greg, Dee, and I went about our touring of the incredible canyons in Page, but I asked Robert and Kristi if I could talk with them some more about their journey, and they graciously said yes, so we scheduled a time to talk the next day. They had invited us to come into their house the next afternoon. I knew this would be a very special encounter with them and I knew God had orchestrated our connection many months before.
Covered by Prayer
Last Sunday, in our current teaching series at church, our guest speaker, Barry Cameron shared, “When we don’t pray, by our inaction we’re actually denying the power of prayer.” Barry also shared this:
“Our prayers to God don’t have to be long and filled with fancy words. One of the most powerful prayers you can pray is ‘Help!’”
If you missed that teaching, you can check it out here.
As I spoke with Robert and Kristi the second day we were in Page, they shared details of Robert’s CMML diagnosis (chronic myelomonocytic leukemia), a cancer of the blood-forming cells of the bone marrow. They talked about the astronomical odds he overcame, and a clinical trial he participated in through the “City of Hope” cancer treatment center in Duarte, California. At the age of 74, when Robert was given his lean odds of a stem cell transplant being successful, he responded to the doctor, “You know what? The guy above says he doesn’t want me yet, and the guy below doesn’t want me, so we’re going to get this done!”
Kristi shared how through DNA testing a perfect match for Robert’s stem cell transplant was found through a 27-year-old young man they had never met. Robert was in the hospital for 26 days and throughout the whole half-year arduous process, they had prayer chains going for him in several states. With all that prayer going on, Robert said during that time,
“I just feel like I’m covered—like an umbrella!”
Praise God for Jehovah Rapha, the God who heals. Praise God for the powerful weapon we have in prayer, and how it can bond believers together across many different states.
The Duke
Still wondering about “The Duke” connection? Robert and Kristi both grew up on ranches. Many years ago, John Wayne owned the 26 Bar Ranch in Eagar, Arizona, where he raised Hereford cattle. Later, when John Wayne sold the ranch to Tom Chauncey (of Chauncey Arabians fame), whom Kristi’s mom and dad worked for—managing that ranch and three others—they got to know John Wayne. Kristi’s dad would go to John Wayne’s cattle sales. Kristi grew up raising cattle, and showing steers and quarter horses in 4-H. James Arness’s (Matt Dillon’s) horse was on their ranch after he retired from the TV show Gunsmoke. Kristi rode King as well as Gene Autry’s horse, Champion.
While staying in the ranch house, Greg and I took turns reading from a book that was in the master bedroom, The John Wayne Code: Wit, Wisdom and Timeless Advice from the American Icon. Several of my favorite quotes in this book are these:
“Duke’s generosity and loyalty stood out in a city rarely known for either. When a friend needed work, that person went on his payroll. When a friend needed help, Duke’s wallet was open.”
—President Ronald Reagan
“Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway.”
—John Wayne
Where Two or Three Gather
Robert Bennett had worked on Kristi’s dad’s ranch when he was 17 years old, and he took a liking to Kristi when she was just 13. They were married in 1970. As we continued to talk, Kristi shared some great stories about other famous people they had crossed paths with, including Ronald Reagan and Wayne Newton, who would come out to the ranch and can some fruit and vegetables with them.
Because of her love for 4-H growing up, Kristi began the 4-H Livestock Club in Page in 1992, and she is still teaching kids today. As she explained, “Agriculture is the basis for all living. It is your ‘agra business.’ All these kids are potential entrepreneurs. Robert and I both grew up learning agriculture, vet work, etc. We need to pass this on to the next generation so they can feed themselves. If you work hard, do your job, sell your animals for a profit, you are learning.” She loves teaching the next generation the value of hard work, discipline, how to do bookkeeping, vet science, and many other life lessons.
Robert and Kristi love to hunt and fish and travel when they have the time. As we finished talking that day, the Bennetts wanted to show us their safari room, where they have displayed all kinds of game that were killed and eaten in the southwest of our country, and in South Africa . . . numerous deer, elk, antelope, pronghorn and bighorn sheep, water buffalo, ostrich, etc. But, perhaps the most interesting of them all to me was the bobcat that killed off 26 of their chickens. Robert got tired of it, grabbed his gun, shot the bobcat, and had him stuffed. After his cure from his CMML diagnosis, he found out later that secretly the doctors had given him less than 18 months to live. With God’s power and his positive attitude, Robert crushed those odds!
After our visit to their lovely home in Page, Arizona, Kristi shared this review on Airbnb, “Every once in awhile you get those very special guests that you just click with and it feels like you have known them forever!! This is what it was like to meet these amazing new friends.”
Karen, Greg, Dee, and I felt the exact same way. Our meeting was orchestrated by God. That happens when you believe in the power of prayer, and when you practice it consistently—whether you are with old friends or very new ones.
“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20, NIV).