Leaving Cape Girardeau, and Jackson, Missouri...

I will miss Cape Girardeau, and all that it is.  I really believe that it is a first class city...except for the few places where I actually thought would be welcoming.  :(

Not that I want to leave this place with the bad memories, rather the ones of the beauty.  I still think that this town is like a little San Diego.  Just wonderful, scenic and refreshing.

The river is wide, and I actually saw a tugboat.  Those are pretty neat, but I didnt take a picture...there are a few that I did take and the are of the river.

It is a sad panoramic view, but I did my best.  I really hope that they upload so you can see what I saw from the top of the hill.

As I said before, (maybe), that I was through here once before back when I was in my twenties.  It was a great city then, but the new bridge was not built yet.

I hope you like the view.  :)

P.S.  I will miss this town, and

The head pastor at:

Grace United Methodist Church
521 Caruthers Ave.
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701

And pastor Joe from:

Emanuel United Church-Christ

304 E Adams St

Jackson, MO 63755

:)

The top 10 Questions...and Answers!

There have been many people who have asked me many things about being on my trip, and here are the top 10 questions, not in any order...

#10 ---> Question: When you are out on the road, where do you sleep?
               Answer:  I have a tent, a sleeping bag, and I pitch the tent wherever I can when the sun sets...

#9 ---->  Question:  How do you support yourself?
                Answer:  By donations and by working.  I do not believe in getting handouts, and that is why I will always ask what there is to do to earn the money someone gave me, or for the food they are wanting to buy for me.

#8 ---->  Question:  Does anyone sponsor you?
                Answer:  No.  I rely on working for everything I receive.

#7 ---->  Question:  Do you ever accept rides?
                Answer:  Yes.  There was a pastor in Tatum, NM who asked me this question and I told him that I will only accept a ride to the next town.  But the very next day, I accepted a 750 mile ride from Tatum to Conway, Arkansas.  The reason was because I paid for the gas, and the person was going in that direction. (For the most part...lol)

#6 ---->  Question:  How do you do your laundry?
                Answer:  When I am in a town that has a laundromat, I wash my clothes.

#5 ---->  Question:  What was your worst/best experience(s)?
                Answer:  Worst experience was when I was walking in the freezing rain outside of Tatum, NM and there was nothing to get under to keep from getting wet.
                               Best experience was when I was walking in the freezing rain outside of Tatum, NM and the lady picked me up and drove a day and a half, all the while it was raining nonstop, to Conway, AR.
                               Best experience #2 was when I was about one mile from the major bridge outside Newport, AR and a lady stopped on the road and asked me if I had a baby in the cart I push.  She gave me a ride all the way to Jonesboro, AR after I spent 2 nights in her travel trailer.

#4 ---->  Question:  Dont you get tired walking 17 to 20 miles every day?
                Answer:  Yes.  But I dont mind doing it.  I actually look forward to walking to another adventure...

#3 ---->  Question:  Wow! You are 40 years old?! (When I tell them how long I lived in Idaho, (37 years) and California, (2 years).
                Answer: Yes.  I will turn 40 in a few months.

#2 ---->  Question:  So you are like Forrest Gump?
                Answer:  No.  He "felt like running", where I am doing this WALK to bring awareness to the churches and communities of believers. We need to come together and do more to get away from the government funded programs. We are not to be a part of this world.

#1 ---->  Question:  How many pairs of shoes have you gone through?
                Answer:  I am on my 4th pair total.  I spent several months in El Paso, TX and went through a pair there, so five.  But I do not count that pair because I was not walking the country then....

  Those are the top ten questions I have been asked on this 8 month trekk.  I am not supposing that the questions will change much, and I am going to more than likely add another pair of shoes, or two, to the list before it is all over.

Adieu!

:p

Harvey the good Samaratan...

When I first got to Cape Girardeau, I was not sure if I would be able to make any contacts.  I found the Salvation Army Community Center after being here for 1 hour, took a shower and talked with the staff for a while.  Heading out to find a McDonald's for Wi Fi, I came across a guy sitting on a bench.

After stopping and telling him about my mission, he asked me to sit down and chat with him.
I found out that he was a janitor at the church he sat in front of.  I didnt know that it was a church, but after closer inspection, lol, I saw that is was.

Harvey, the man sitting on the bench, told me that he was happy to see me, and he was glad that I was doing what I was doing on the trip.  I told him to please tell as many people as he could about my mission for Sept. 10th - 15th, and he quickly picked up the phone and called two people.

On of the guys I spoke to was Gary.  We chatted for a little about what was going on...
Harvey told me about a church that was serving an evening meal.  I left and went to that church.  Arriving at 5:30 I met a host of wonderful people and was happy to know that they were having a meal according to the book of Acts.

Later Harvey told me that I was able to sleep behind his apartment window, but before I did, he would need to inform his downstairs neighbors.  They apparently didnt mind, but unfortunately I was not able to stay there.

At the McDonald's that night I was asked by the police what I was doing, and I told them I was able to sleep behind an apartment complex, and they said no.

So I slept behind a church.

Harvey and Matt, the other pastor of the church, came up to me at the library and we talked for a while about my mission.  It was a good talk. Matt told me that he was trying to get the pastors of the city to work together, but it was difficult.  He also was happy to see someone out in the open doing what I was doing.

It was awesome meeting Harvey and Matt because I saw a few good people who strive to be all they can be in the church.

Tonight, I will be going to a music festival and there I will be able to see many people.  I hope to run into a few pastors there, or church folk.

Just another 4 days here in Cape, and I think it is going well.  Lets hope that I am able to keep up the steam to continue a few more days...

Adieu

Still in Cape...

Being here in Cape, I feel a little home sick.  San Diego is a wonderful place to live. I miss it. Cape reminds me of where I started.
I have made contact with several pastors, and got lost this morning. The right rear wheel is squeaking and I believe it is due to a needed new wheel.
I hope it gets me to my destination.  If need be I will take some things out and lighten the load.
I will be here for 4 or 5 more days...
Until next time...
Adieu!

Cape Girardeau.

I made it to Cape Girardeau.  This city is a nice one next to the Mississippi River.
It has been a while since I have been here.  Maybe up to 18 years.
Made my way out of Sikeston, then to Morley, then Benton, and Scott City.
I would like to stay here for the next 5 to 7 days depending on the need.
I will talk with many pastors and see where they are within the community.  I am hoping that one of the pastors will allow me to speak to their congregation about what is happening in our country and around the world.  Nearly everyone watches tv, so they know about the problems worldwide.  But what about the need in their own back yard? Many miss that.
I have not been taking many pictures and that is because I have been busy walking and getting to places, I forget to take some.
But I will do so within the next days for sure...

Lets remember to pray for those who are persecuted worldwide for their faith, and pray for the country.  We need to pray as Daniel prayed for his people and his country.
The prayer for the country and rededication will be from September 10th to the 15th.  This will also be the time where we are going to rededicate ourselves as well.

I have a lot of work to do these next few days, so I will post again when I have another chance.
Take care, and be safe.

Adieu!

The last leg of the trip...

After leaving Rector, and entering Piggott, AR, I ran into a pastor and he allowed me to stay at the church for the evening.
He knew that it was going to rain, so it was a great choice.
On my way to Campbell, I ran into a man who ran a pawn shop...
Tanks Pawn and Jewelry.
The guy told me a story that really touched me and one that I will always remember, because after he told me the story, he allowed me to pick a bracelet that would help me to remember.
So I wear it to this day, and I will always remember...
The guy drove me to Dexter, where I had a rough time.
The very first church I went to treated me like I was a leach, and pawned me off on another church.
The pastor there, Tim was a nice guy, but had his facts mixed up.
So I corrected him, (but I really do not think he cares for the truth I told him, he really cares about what he wants to believe is true...)
I left Dexter and made my way into Sikeston.  I really tried to leave, but a guy pulled up as I was walking, and asked me if I wanted to work for a few hours.  I told him yes, and I loaded tree branches all day.
It was a great day, and I love a little hard work.
The boss told me that the next town was too small and to stay in a motel for the next day, so I am back in Sikeston, in a motel...
Until next time...

Adieu!

:)

Paragould and Rector.

I am finally able to finish this post after several days...

After entering Paragould, I made my way to McDaniel Rd. and found that there were no sidewalks.
A little before this, I was at a gas station, and sitting for about 15 minutes, I looked to my west, and saw a church steeple.
I thought that making it to the church was a good idea, and went on my way.
Even though I would stop at the church, I had a plan for after that would take me into town. I needed a McDonalds to update my blog.
So I turned left down McDaniel Rd. and made my way to the church.
I didnt know what to expect, seeing that I had just pushed my cart up to the front door unannounced.  After trying the door, a man came out and talked to me for a few minutes.
I told him what I was doing there, and he let me inside so I could charge my phone and talk to him about my mission.
His is the head pastor at Grace Baptist Church, Gerald James.
After we talked for a while, I noticed something different about this man, that I didnt see in many pastors...compassion.  It has been missing in so many towns I have visited.
He had a bible study and I got to meet some of the members.
Later he asked me if I would like to stay in the church for the night, and I told him that would be great.  After, I was able to meet with his wife and two daughters, and a little boy named DeMarcus.
It was awesome to see how smart that boy was, and he gave the prayer over the meal.
DeMarcus came from a broken home, so the pastors family was happy to take him in...
The next day he took me to get my beard trimmed and also helped me with a pair of shoes.
I was allowed to go to his home and see the chickens he kept. Growing up, my mother had many small animals.
Later as we had more money, we were able to have the small ranch mom always wanted.
We had supper at his house, and I asked to take a picture of them for this blog, and to keep and remember the pastor who made my two days in Paragould a time to remember.
Of all the churches that I believe God has blessed, it is Grace Baptist Church in Paragould.  Thank you James family for your kindness and hospitality.  You will always have a place in my heart...