in the way we think, the way we do the things we do, and how we see things. It is so much fun to stand back and reflect on the ways God has orchestrated His plan andpurpose in our lives! Ps. 33:11 tells us, “But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.” The plans and purposes of His heart, from the beginning to the end, have not changed. And to realize that w”…we are God’sworkmanship, created in Christ Jesus (and this is the part I love) to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Eph 2:9. What an incredible, incomprehensible honor it is to think that the LORD OF LORDS and KING OF KINGS has invited me to be a part of His team because He has good work for me to do! How can I possibly say no?!?God prepared me for the work I have to do by instilling in me a love for dirt. Yep, dirt. From early on, I can remember playing in the dirt, mowing lawns, and weeding with a deep sense of purpose in this. He sent me to Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo where I graduated with a degree in Animal Science, and then to Massey University in New Zealand where I studied Ag Marketing.
Following my studies, I married, had 2 children and, unfortunately, went through a divorce. But, in God’s sovereign plan, it was through the divorce that I came to faith and gave my life to Christ. During this time I met some very significant people. John and Lori Gash became fast and supportive friends. I also met Mark Anderson at a singles 
Bible Study and within a year and a half we were married; he got 3 of us in that deal! Mark and I had 2 more children to complete our family of 6. Three of our 4 children are now married to wonderful spouses, and we are grandpa and grammy to 3 incredible boys!
With 4 children, I was spending endless hours volunteering in classrooms. It was at that time we determined it wise for me to go back to school and get my teaching credential. As a teacher, my emphasis was in agriculture. I developed a school farm for the K-5th graders and taught Ag as an elective in the Middle School. After 16 years of teaching, God clearly called me to something new. In faith, I retired in 2008 and set about listening to the next step in God’s plan and purpose.
It didn’t take long before John Gash began telling me about Farming God’s Way, aninnovative and dynamic movement taking place all over the continent of Africa. The tales being told of the effectiveness of this method of farming were impressive, so off I went to Africa to investigate and be trained. It was as we had heard, and 2 years later we can attest to the success of this model! Now I find myself as the lead volunteer for FaithQuest’s Farming for the Hungry initiatives for sustainable agriculture and food, including Farming God’s Way!It is such a pleasure and delight to see how God used a little girl who just liked being in the dirt, to bring an awareness and action on food issues in remote parts of Africa to our church communities in the USA. ONLY God Himself could have developed such a plan!
My husband, Mark, has been an Estate Planning Attorney for 30 years and has recently been called into donor development work with FaithQuest Partner Operation Mobilization. It is a perfect fit since he’s spent his career helping people determine what to do with their wealth. He keeps very busy juggling his law 
profession with his donor work, but a busy man is definitely a happy man; particularly if he’s busy doing Kingdom work! Mark works closely with John as they collaborate on how to be even MORE effective for God’s Kingdom.
On the side, our son, Casey, and I have started a small business, “AndHerSon Heirlooms”. We grow crazy good heirloom tomatoes using organic practices and sell them locally. For fun, Mark and I enjoy anything to do with the outdoors; particularly hiking.
It is a joy that defies words to be serving God in this way. There’s never a dull moment, there’s always something to do, and God is faithful all the time! May we serve Him with humility, passion, and compassion for others!
Would love to hear form you and explore together how we can provide food and farming for the hungry! – Cathey
Reach me at: Cathey@FaithQuestMissions.org – (760) 807-8686
Farming for the Hungry on this website
