The next morning Anthony and I woke up and drove over to Clearwater Christian College. He had a retreat he had to go to at 10:00am so I started getting ready to leave too, but then it started storming so I went back and slept in his dorm room till 12:00. I started walking from the college down the road towards Tampa because there wasn't really any good place to get picked up where I was. I wasn't really sure what I was going to do because it's really hard to get picked up in the city, but I figured I would discover what to do when I got there. Before long it started to rain again, but there was no where to find cover so I started praying that the rain would stop or that someone would pick me up. I put a poncho over my bag and kept walking, this time trust that God had the situation under control and that He would take care of me. Before long I came up to a side street where a work van was parked. The driver walked up the bank and said that he had seen me walking but didn't have room to stop so he drove ahead of me and was waiting to see if I needed a ride. He was from Puerto Rico and did electric work in the Clearwater area. I noticed a Bible on his dash and our conversations turned to God. We had a very refreshing discussion about Gods faithfulness as he drove me through Tampa to the outskirts where I would be able to get a good ride. Before we parted ways I gave him my number because he wanted to make sure that I got picked up. He said that he would come back and pick me up and take me a little further if I couldn't get a ride, then we prayed and I walked down to the exit.
After waiting at that exit for a while prayed about it and decided to try to walk down to the next exit. There wasn't as much traffic as I thought there would be and the people that were passing didn't seem like the kind that would pick me up or that I would want to pick me up. While I was walking a car stopped up ahead of me. He said that he usually didn't do stuff like that but felt like God wanted him to pick me up. He was a Catholic but didn't want to know what I believed or really what I thought of God though he was full of opinions. He decided that he could take me all the way to Orlando and on the way he told me a lot about himself. He taught psychiatrics at universities for a living. His former wife had bi-polar as well as many other mental disorders and had kicked him out of the house multiple times. He said he still loved her and it really had him torn up about it. The more he talked the more I realized that the only way I could ever be a psychiatrist is by the help of God because I think that he probably needed one as a result of all that he dealt with. After we got into Orlando he took me to eat at Golden Corral then he dropped me off at the mall. It was about 4 when he left.
From there I tried to see if Tim could pick me up, but he didn't have any transportation so instead I took the bus. It took a good 4 hours to get from Buena Vista to Castlebury where Tim could come get me. It was 10:30 when we finally met. We went to a house party one of his friends was having, then came to his house and crashed.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Hitchhiking 8-19-2012
From camp I decided to ride with Melody Rowe and her mom back to Pensacola where she attended college. We spent the night at her grandmothers house then went to Pensacola beach and PCC the next day. The following day I helped Melody move into her new apartment then they dropped me off close to the interstate. I decided to go to Clearwater next to see my friend Anthony who worked at Lighthouse 2 years ago. It was around 12:00 or 1:00 before I made it out to the on-ramp towards Clearwater, then it started storming really badly so I went to a hotel close by and asked if I could wait out the storm in their lobby; thankfully they decided to let me. When the storm finally ended I went back out and waited for my next ride. After a while a truck pulled over and asked where I was going, I told him, but he said he was only going a few minutes down the road and there wasn't really a good exit there so I told him I would wait for another ride. This was actually the first ride I turned down so far. I waited for what started to feel like forever (but was probably only 30-45 minutes when another truck pulled over and the guy told me he could get me about 30 minutes down the road the only thing is that he asked me to ride in the back of the truck. This was definitely the most miserable ride I've had so far. It was already pretty chilly for shorts and a t-shirt especially with the cloud cover and storm coming through and moving at 80 miles an hour didn't help much. Then towards the end of the ride it started to rain lightly which hurts at that speed!
After he dropped me off I waited under a bridge for the rain to quit again then went back out to the on-ramp. The next person was able to bring me several miles down the road. I couldn't really tell what ethnic background he was from but he still had an accent and seemed to have immigrated from somewhere, he didn't say much and I didn't ask though. I was just happy to get a ride!
After he dropped me off at the exit I waited for about 30 minutes then started to get pretty discouraged. It's not unusual to wait 30 minutes or longer at an exit, but the lack of long rides and the fact that it was already 5:00pm and I hadn't even made it to Tallahassee made me realize that I probably wouldn't make it to Clearwater that day which meant I would have to spend another night under a bridge or find a place to sleep. Then I saw a red Ford truck coming towards me. After hitchhiking awhile you start profiling vehicles on how much of a chance there is of them picking you up, and this was usually the type that would pick me up. I remember praying that God would let it pull over and give me a ride. I have to admit that it wasn't a prayer that had strong faith attached to it, but was more like a desperate plea for help. By His mercy the truck actually did stop and he told me that he could get me to Tallahassee. Well, after talking to him a little while I found out that he was going all the way to Ocala, and that his boss would be driving all the way through Tampa that night! It amazed me that such a little prayer held such power when coming from a child of the King. This has definitely showed me that God is always in control and that nothing is too hard for Him. The man that picked me up was a Brazilian American who worked in the tile flooring business. We had some good conversations just about life and about God. He did have a good bit of knowledge about God and said that he prayed to him often, but I don't know how genuine he was. He told me about what it was like back in Brazil and how good things were down there. He said he planned to go back for the Olympics to be a translator since he know both languages. I remember him telling me that I should go spend some time in Brazil to learn the language and I must admit it does sound pretty good.
We made it to Ocala around 7 or 8 and met up with his boss, they moved some tools and workers to his truck from his bosses truck then we both got back on the road. His boss was also a Brazilian American who had started his own construction company. We talked some about his business and how it was going but for most of the trip we didn't talk much. He dropped me off in Brandon where Anthony was able to pick me up. We went to Starbucks and talked some then went and crashed at his mom's apartment.
After he dropped me off I waited under a bridge for the rain to quit again then went back out to the on-ramp. The next person was able to bring me several miles down the road. I couldn't really tell what ethnic background he was from but he still had an accent and seemed to have immigrated from somewhere, he didn't say much and I didn't ask though. I was just happy to get a ride!
After he dropped me off at the exit I waited for about 30 minutes then started to get pretty discouraged. It's not unusual to wait 30 minutes or longer at an exit, but the lack of long rides and the fact that it was already 5:00pm and I hadn't even made it to Tallahassee made me realize that I probably wouldn't make it to Clearwater that day which meant I would have to spend another night under a bridge or find a place to sleep. Then I saw a red Ford truck coming towards me. After hitchhiking awhile you start profiling vehicles on how much of a chance there is of them picking you up, and this was usually the type that would pick me up. I remember praying that God would let it pull over and give me a ride. I have to admit that it wasn't a prayer that had strong faith attached to it, but was more like a desperate plea for help. By His mercy the truck actually did stop and he told me that he could get me to Tallahassee. Well, after talking to him a little while I found out that he was going all the way to Ocala, and that his boss would be driving all the way through Tampa that night! It amazed me that such a little prayer held such power when coming from a child of the King. This has definitely showed me that God is always in control and that nothing is too hard for Him. The man that picked me up was a Brazilian American who worked in the tile flooring business. We had some good conversations just about life and about God. He did have a good bit of knowledge about God and said that he prayed to him often, but I don't know how genuine he was. He told me about what it was like back in Brazil and how good things were down there. He said he planned to go back for the Olympics to be a translator since he know both languages. I remember him telling me that I should go spend some time in Brazil to learn the language and I must admit it does sound pretty good.
We made it to Ocala around 7 or 8 and met up with his boss, they moved some tools and workers to his truck from his bosses truck then we both got back on the road. His boss was also a Brazilian American who had started his own construction company. We talked some about his business and how it was going but for most of the trip we didn't talk much. He dropped me off in Brandon where Anthony was able to pick me up. We went to Starbucks and talked some then went and crashed at his mom's apartment.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
May 20 2012
Today was my second day hitchhiking. I woke up this morning so thankful that it was finally morning! Sleeping under a bridge was great in that it kept me warm and dry, but there's definitely a reason they don't make beds from concrete! Coupled with the fact that I was mildly worried about someone finding me there led to an all around long night.
So I woke up this morning went and cleaned up at a nearby gas station, got some coffee, then I went back to the bridge, ate, and a a short devotion time and prayer. Then it was back to hitchhiking.
After waiting for almost an hour a man pulled over who was on his way home to TN after spending a weekend at a lake in AL. After riding and talking with him awhile he said that he had a business in smyrna and would be willing to take me all the way to cookeville! So after a long ride and great conversation we finally made it to cookeville.
From there I walked 2 miles to the church were all the people from camp went. I can't even explain what it felt like when I saw that church for the first time. I was so happy that I finally made it. And that it actually worked!
Then, at last I finally made it to camp after staying with Braden ten riding home with Sarah that night. Overall it was a very good trip. I have more tan, more money, and more friends than when I started! God has been so faithful to me during this trip and I can't wait to see what He'll do the rest of this summer!
So I woke up this morning went and cleaned up at a nearby gas station, got some coffee, then I went back to the bridge, ate, and a a short devotion time and prayer. Then it was back to hitchhiking.
After waiting for almost an hour a man pulled over who was on his way home to TN after spending a weekend at a lake in AL. After riding and talking with him awhile he said that he had a business in smyrna and would be willing to take me all the way to cookeville! So after a long ride and great conversation we finally made it to cookeville.
From there I walked 2 miles to the church were all the people from camp went. I can't even explain what it felt like when I saw that church for the first time. I was so happy that I finally made it. And that it actually worked!
Then, at last I finally made it to camp after staying with Braden ten riding home with Sarah that night. Overall it was a very good trip. I have more tan, more money, and more friends than when I started! God has been so faithful to me during this trip and I can't wait to see what He'll do the rest of this summer!
The First Step
Day 1
This was my first day hitchhiking. It started off pretty slow. It took over an hour I'm sure to get my first ride. The guy that picked my up was a dancer/home health provider who took me a couple miles down to
Amite.
From there I was picked up by a father and son coming from Texas where the son had a hair transplant operation done. They took me a good ways into Mississippi.
The next ride came from a woman odly enough. She was a scout master and said she picked me up because I looked like a boy scout! She took me down the road a few exits.
Then I was picked up by a few old sketchy guys in an old sketchy truck, they only took me a few miles down the road. He said he was going to pick up his daughter, then he might take me further if I hadn't already found a ride.
Luckily, I did. An older gentlemen by the name of John sojourner picked me up. He, I later found out was a former hitchhiker himself, and was also a strong Christian. We talked about God and theology as he took me all the way to the other side of Jackson. He prayed over me, and also gave me 12 bucks.
The next ride came from a dentist, why was kind enough to take me all the way to Meridian. It was really awesome to meet and talk with him and he even let me take a nap in his truck. After that I was picked up by a national guard chaplain in training who was a basketball coach as well as former youth pastor and had a masters of divinity and was work on another masters degree at seminary. We were able to have some great fellowship talking about God and sports, he gave me a protein bar (which was awesome) and took me all the way to Birmingham even though it was out of his way. Then, to top it all off he gave me 100 dollars, I kid you not. Then he prayed for me and went his way.
Where he dropped me off however wasn't the best part of town...so I hiked a few more miles to a little bit better exit. There I had my first encounter with the police. The officers stopped, made sure I wasn't begging, then moved on and wished me luck.
Then I was picked up by an older man in a rather old and beat up van who took me to a decent exit. Where I again met some more cops. They asked me where I was going, asked for ID ran it through their system, and even asked their Sargent if they could take me a little further. They weren't, but we had a good talk, and they wished me luck and went on their way.
Then I was picked up by a sketchy older couple who let me ride in the back of their truck down to the next exit which he said would be better for me. And it was.
I was then picked up by and old cowboy who took me half way to Decatur. I don't think he said a word the entire trip haha.
Then came a car full of girls stopped and the mom asked me if I needed money and I told her no, then said she would pick me up but didn't have room for me and my backpack.
Then my final ride of the day came. It was a young husband, his wife, and their 3 daughters. She said they stopped because I looked like her nephew. She asked me if I had a gun, the. Said later that she let me in because I looked so shocked and surprised when she asked. During that ride I was treated to the movie HOP, a bag of snacks and a water bottle, a picture drawn of myself, and the prayers of fellow believers. The mom almost wouldn't leave when we got too Athens, she said the mom in her was coming out. But they. Eventually were able to leave after making sure that I was completely fine and had everything that I needed. Which leads me here where I am now, under a bridge in Athens AL. Praising God for what He's done today and looking forward to tomorrow! Well I'm gonna get some sleep now.
This was my first day hitchhiking. It started off pretty slow. It took over an hour I'm sure to get my first ride. The guy that picked my up was a dancer/home health provider who took me a couple miles down to
Amite.
From there I was picked up by a father and son coming from Texas where the son had a hair transplant operation done. They took me a good ways into Mississippi.
The next ride came from a woman odly enough. She was a scout master and said she picked me up because I looked like a boy scout! She took me down the road a few exits.
Then I was picked up by a few old sketchy guys in an old sketchy truck, they only took me a few miles down the road. He said he was going to pick up his daughter, then he might take me further if I hadn't already found a ride.
Luckily, I did. An older gentlemen by the name of John sojourner picked me up. He, I later found out was a former hitchhiker himself, and was also a strong Christian. We talked about God and theology as he took me all the way to the other side of Jackson. He prayed over me, and also gave me 12 bucks.
The next ride came from a dentist, why was kind enough to take me all the way to Meridian. It was really awesome to meet and talk with him and he even let me take a nap in his truck. After that I was picked up by a national guard chaplain in training who was a basketball coach as well as former youth pastor and had a masters of divinity and was work on another masters degree at seminary. We were able to have some great fellowship talking about God and sports, he gave me a protein bar (which was awesome) and took me all the way to Birmingham even though it was out of his way. Then, to top it all off he gave me 100 dollars, I kid you not. Then he prayed for me and went his way.
Where he dropped me off however wasn't the best part of town...so I hiked a few more miles to a little bit better exit. There I had my first encounter with the police. The officers stopped, made sure I wasn't begging, then moved on and wished me luck.
Then I was picked up by an older man in a rather old and beat up van who took me to a decent exit. Where I again met some more cops. They asked me where I was going, asked for ID ran it through their system, and even asked their Sargent if they could take me a little further. They weren't, but we had a good talk, and they wished me luck and went on their way.
Then I was picked up by a sketchy older couple who let me ride in the back of their truck down to the next exit which he said would be better for me. And it was.
I was then picked up by and old cowboy who took me half way to Decatur. I don't think he said a word the entire trip haha.
Then came a car full of girls stopped and the mom asked me if I needed money and I told her no, then said she would pick me up but didn't have room for me and my backpack.
Then my final ride of the day came. It was a young husband, his wife, and their 3 daughters. She said they stopped because I looked like her nephew. She asked me if I had a gun, the. Said later that she let me in because I looked so shocked and surprised when she asked. During that ride I was treated to the movie HOP, a bag of snacks and a water bottle, a picture drawn of myself, and the prayers of fellow believers. The mom almost wouldn't leave when we got too Athens, she said the mom in her was coming out. But they. Eventually were able to leave after making sure that I was completely fine and had everything that I needed. Which leads me here where I am now, under a bridge in Athens AL. Praising God for what He's done today and looking forward to tomorrow! Well I'm gonna get some sleep now.
Friday, May 18, 2012
Looking over the edge
I'm sitting here in my brothers apartment in Hammond Louisiana as I write this. This is where I will start my adventure. Tomorrow morning at 6:00 I will officially start my hitchhiking adventure. It feels almost surreal. Part of me is really excited, but another part keeps thinking "what in the world do you think you're doing?" Well I guess I'll find out that answer tomorrow. Please be in prayer for me, pray that I will keep my focus on Christ and never loose trust in Him whatever may come. Well I should probably get some sleep, early morning and a big day tomorrow!
Thursday, May 10, 2012
The Adventure Of A Lifetime
So I'm not even sure if anyone will read this because it's been so long since I've been on it. But I'm reviving this blog in hopes of recording the events of an adventure that I will be going on this summer. This summer I will be hitchhiking. Yes. Hitchhiking. The reason I will be doing this is because I believe that God wants me to do it; for a couple of reasons. So that I can minister to different people as I travel, and so that I will have the opportunity to be in a position where I have to trust God for everything. I'm planning to leave May 16th which is exactly one week from today. My plan is to hike to Smithville TN to work at a children's camp I've been involved with for the past few years. Then I plan to hitchhike abroad for awhile then come home sometime in August or September. I would greatly appreciate your prayers through this endeavor if ever you think of me. I hope to have the chance to post about my adventures at various stops along the way to give an account of what God is doing. And I would be honored for you to share in this adventure with me.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Three hearts
Awake my love, the morning comes!
At last I see your smiling face
Grant me this and only this
To be with you till slumber wins
Is there need for other things?
What joy can any other bring?
I chose to set my love on you
and nothing else can ever do
Forever, now you've told me twice
I believe; with all that I am
Come what may come what will
Forever we'll be together still
What is this? I call. I call.
But no one comes for quite a while
There you are! I've found you now
Where'd you go? I'm glad your safe
Rest, rest. I hear you say
I lost my way, but now I'm here
And now again we'll never part
Don't worry, don't worry, you have my heart
Where'd you go now? Lost again?
My love has lost her way again
Twice now the door has closed
But is she lost, or has she gone?
Lost, Lost! you say to me
I lost my way but not again
This time I will watch my way
This time I will never stray
Now your here, but where'd you go?
You're here in flesh but not in soul
The lamp I see is burning out
The flame is gone, but where'd it go?
Another, another. There is another.
Your heart has loved another lover
So here I stand with broken glass
From a memory never come to pass
Oh, what is that I seem to hear?
Forever, forever rings in my ear
A promise I hoped would last
But crumbles now at first attack
Formed it was with sincere love
But lacking that which makes it strong
No pith, no strength no commitment was found
It was thought that feeling would linger round
Come back my love it isn't safe!
Your lover loves with cruel hate
Guard your heart, don't let it break
Come back to me, come back it's safe
Too late, too late the damage is done
Two hearts are scarred from one mistake
One breaks from loss, one breaks from gain
Oh, will they ever be the same?
Away, away she's gone away
I want to follow, to show the way
But lost in full is her love for me
How can you help what scorns your love?
No, not lost. I see a spark
A tiny flame inside her heart
Will it last? And will it grow?
I guess it's not for me to know
The wood cries out from stinging blows
The roots can feel it down below
The pain extends to every part
The pain, the pain of a broken heart
Return to me my lover scorned
For I as well have left a love
Return to me and heal this pain
I am the loved who's lost a lover
Good morning, my love that never left
I don't deserve your tender care
What is this? The one I loved
Has come again to love the lover
At last I see your smiling face
Grant me this and only this
To be with you till slumber wins
Is there need for other things?
What joy can any other bring?
I chose to set my love on you
and nothing else can ever do
Forever, now you've told me twice
I believe; with all that I am
Come what may come what will
Forever we'll be together still
What is this? I call. I call.
But no one comes for quite a while
There you are! I've found you now
Where'd you go? I'm glad your safe
Rest, rest. I hear you say
I lost my way, but now I'm here
And now again we'll never part
Don't worry, don't worry, you have my heart
Where'd you go now? Lost again?
My love has lost her way again
Twice now the door has closed
But is she lost, or has she gone?
Lost, Lost! you say to me
I lost my way but not again
This time I will watch my way
This time I will never stray
Now your here, but where'd you go?
You're here in flesh but not in soul
The lamp I see is burning out
The flame is gone, but where'd it go?
Another, another. There is another.
Your heart has loved another lover
So here I stand with broken glass
From a memory never come to pass
Oh, what is that I seem to hear?
Forever, forever rings in my ear
A promise I hoped would last
But crumbles now at first attack
Formed it was with sincere love
But lacking that which makes it strong
No pith, no strength no commitment was found
It was thought that feeling would linger round
Come back my love it isn't safe!
Your lover loves with cruel hate
Guard your heart, don't let it break
Come back to me, come back it's safe
Too late, too late the damage is done
Two hearts are scarred from one mistake
One breaks from loss, one breaks from gain
Oh, will they ever be the same?
Away, away she's gone away
I want to follow, to show the way
But lost in full is her love for me
How can you help what scorns your love?
No, not lost. I see a spark
A tiny flame inside her heart
Will it last? And will it grow?
I guess it's not for me to know
The wood cries out from stinging blows
The roots can feel it down below
The pain extends to every part
The pain, the pain of a broken heart
Return to me my lover scorned
For I as well have left a love
Return to me and heal this pain
I am the loved who's lost a lover
Good morning, my love that never left
I don't deserve your tender care
What is this? The one I loved
Has come again to love the lover
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