Two lost hikers survived three nights in the San Jacinto Mountains of California after they stumbled on the campsite of a man who disappeared a year ago. Brandon Day and Gina Allen were rescued when searchers spotted smoke from a fire the couple started using matches scavenged from a backpack they found in the wilderness. Day thanked rescuers and said he and Allen were grateful to the backpack's owner John Donovan, a retired social worker from Virginia who disappeared in the area in May 2005. Day said, "I want to thank him for helping save our lives."

Searchers found papers in the backpack connecting it to Donovan and plan to search for the missing man's remains in the area. Donovan was an experienced hiker who was last seen May 3, 2005. Friends assumed Donovan was injured and died during a snowstorm, which hit the area shortly after he was last heard from. Chris Hook, a longtime friend of Donovan said, "Even in death, he was helping people."

—http://articles.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20060510085809990006. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (NIV) "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: [10] If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!"

A North Carolina woman, who lost both legs in a traffic accident, says the experience will not deter her from helping those in need. Stella Sieber and her cousin were returning home after a weekend visiting relatives when they saw an SUV in front of them hydroplane and flip over in a rainstorm. When they pulled over to help, another car lost control and hit Sieber's car, trapping her between the two cars, and instantly amputating her legs.

Sieber was preparing to go on a mission trip to Haiti when the accident occurred. She did not make that trip, but did travel to Louisiana to help after Hurricane Katrina. Sieber says, "It was an important part of my life before the accident and being a recipient of help only reinforced why I wanted to go back to the things I had done before."

Sieber now shows amputees how she can still dance, travel, and exercise. She even redesigned her workspace to make it wheelchair accessible.

Sieber says she not hesitate to stop to help a driver in trouble again because people have been good to her. She says, "Had other people not stopped for me, I wouldn't be here today."

http://www.wral.com, Physical Loss Does Not Prevent Durham Woman From Helping Others, February 21, 2006. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Proverbs 11:25 (NKJV) "The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself."

The night before the 2010 election, two political opponents had a unique meeting. Steven Duggar and Steve Holmes were both running for a position on the Henry County Indiana Council in District 3. As he drove home that evening, Duggar stopped to help at an accident scene, to his surprise, one of the drivers involved his opponent Holmes.

Duggar said the accident was serious. The driver of the other car had to be flown to a hospital from emergency surgery on a broken leg. Officers on the scene ticketed Holmes for passing in a no passing zone. Afterwards Duggar expressed his concern saying “Of all people, it was my opponent in this destroyed car.”

On election night Duggar, the incumbent, defeated Holmes, wining the Council Seat.

--Candidate steps in to help opponent after bad crash, http://www.fox59.com/news/wxin-candidate-discovers-bad-accide-110210,0,3972499.story ; November 2, 2010, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Matthew 5:43-45 (CEV) “You have heard people say, "Love your neighbors and hate your enemies." (44) But I tell you to love your enemies and pray for anyone who mistreats you. (45) Then you will be acting like your Father in heaven. He makes the sun rise on both good and bad people. And he sends rain for the ones who do right and for the ones who do wrong.”

Every summer hikers of all ages climb the 14,000 ft mountains in Colorado. Beverly Wedeistedt was 55 when she summited one of those fourteeners, Gray’s Peak. At the top she felt a pop in her knee and tumbled to the ground. A doctor who was present on the trail diagnosed a torn ACL and fashioned a makeshift splint. There was no way Beverly could walk down the 2.5-mile trail to a rescue center. Into the story steps an unknown hiker who offered to help. He hoisted Wedelstedt across his shoulder to carry her fireman style. His generosity inspired eight other strangers, and they all took turns carrying Beverly down to the rescue station.

The unknown hiker was a blessing to the injured hiker and an inspiration to all others on the trail Beverly Wedeistedt said, “It was the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen.” —Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up.