You guys should all be so proud of me. I thought of at least 10 one liners to title this blog, but I resisted! Read on and youll get my drift! We got up this morning and got the RV ready to move to Springfield. This is the last move we will make before leaving for home! By now you would think we would have the moving process down to a science. And for the most part we do. But just when we think we have seen it all, we are blindsided by the element of surprise! If you have a weak stomach, you may want to skip down to the next paragraph! We pulled out of Messenger around 10 and stopped at the Flying J truck stop to fuel up and empty the waste tank on the RV. Dad gets it all hooked up and opens the valves to empty the tanks, and everything is as expected. About 2 minutes later, the plastic part that connects the waste hose to the RV breaks and sewage starts splashing all over Dads feet! When I say splashing, I really mean it was GUSHING out onto his feet and legs!
OMG! You know the part on Stand By Me, when the fictitious character “Wide Load” cause a full blown barfarama? Yeah, it was like that! Dad starts screaming “oh God no, please God no! This isnt happening right now, God. Please no”!!! LOL. Seriously, I dont think I have ever laughed and gagged at the same time until today! It was nuts. So we got everything cleaned up and Dad went in and washed his legs and shoes with bleach. And we all got back in the truck, looked at eachother, and just busted up in disbelief. “No way that just happened” Dad said. We shook our heads in agreement and headed toward the drop off spot. Pastor Danny called while we were driving to catch up with Dad on the walk. I understand why he cant be here, but I keep expecting to see him show up at the last minute to surprise us. Now Pastor Danny, that isnt meant to make you feel guilty. It just sounds like something you would do, thats all.
Today we carefully measured every mile so tomorrows walk will be the exact distance of a marathon! 26.2 miles! Dad mapped it and checked it 3 times. He then dropped us off and drove the route to check it again. This is really important to us as we are dedicating tomorrows walk to my Granddad and Christyl. So today we needed to walk 19.4 miles today. That will leave 1 mile for the final day on Wednesday. That is basically so we dont just drive to the General Office and walk in. We want to walk there, but we need to walk there when people will be there to receive us. And since we will be walking until after dark tomorrow, we will need to save a mile for that to be possible. I know, it probably sounds confusing, but there is a method to our madness!
The walk went just as planned today. Dad dropped us off and drove ahead to Springfield to set things up. He called us ike an hour after he dropped us off to tell us that he is sitting in the NYM office with Chet and Jay! I was like, why would you call and tell us that! Man I was jealous! Hes sitting there with my heroes while Im freakin sweatin to death! LOL. It’s all good though, I’ll have my time to kick it with them in Orlando. Dad told me that there is a meeting the day Im coming in and only the office staff will be there. Chet and Jay will be at a conference. But they said they will take me to lunch and hang out with me at General Council! Yeah, I wish they were going to be there Wednesday, but I understand this was planned before I planned my walk. It’s all good, we will meet up in Orlando soon enough! One thing that was awkward, is that we encountered more porn on the roadside today. I called to tell Dad, and he is sitting there with Chet and he told him! Doh, why do I even tell Dad this stuff? How embarrassing! I dont think it is a coincidence that we are running into this kind of stuff in the final stretch of our journey. Im sure that Satan would do anything to trip us up at this point. Well, were not falling for it!!!
Dad picked us up right on time and took us to the RV. We are parked at an RV spot that was built by a group called “MAPS” They are a group of retired missionaries that RV around in groups, building churches all over the US! How crazy is that? They told Dad today that they built alot of stuff at Maypearl, the North Texas District Campground. In fact, I will be there a week from today! I thought that was pretty cool. Anyway, the RV park is located at a Teen Challenge / Chi Alpha building. The MAPS people built that too! I think Im going to have them build my house when Im older! It feels really good to be here already, but it kindof feels like were cheating by being here in Springfield before we actually finish. Oh well, I cant lie. It feels really good to be honest! I can see the light at the end of the tunnel! All of our hard work and determination are getting ready to pay off BIG TIME! I cant wait to walk that final mile on Wednesday and complete the most significant event of my life! To me, this is right up there with beating cancer. And I don’t use that lightly at all!
Speaking of cancer. Right before I typed this blog, I called Christyl and Granddad to tell them my plans for tomorrows walk. I have never spoken with Christyl on the phone, but i encouraged her by reminding her of how God healed me of cancer and that I am now doing Big Things for Him! I prayed for her and asked God to put a big dream in her heart for after God heals her! I know he will do it! I really have faith that he will! She cried and said she loved me and that she was proud of me. She took her first round of chemo today, and I know that her mind must be racing. But I just prayed for God to give her peace. Granddad too it a little easier than Christyl. I know that he is proud, but I also know that he wants to remain strong for his family. I respect that. I know it probably seems like were all being over dramatic. We just love you, nd want to see you well again.
Just remember this Granddad. Dad and I heard this scripture yesterday, and it reminded me of you and Christyl. “My grace is sufficient for you. For my strength is made perfect in weakness” I know this chemo is going to make you weak. Trust me, I know. But allow God to make his strength PERFECT through that weakness. I love you guys, and am looking forward to making you proud tomorrow. It’s a marathon in honor of your recovery! And a testament to what God is willing to do with you after he heals you! He has big plans for all of us, and I am looking forward to seeing what those plans are for you!
