I never had the opportunity to get to know my grandparents well as we lived a long distance from them. My memories are all positive and happy. Visits with my mom's parents were especially rare because they were "snowbirds" and spent much of the year in Florida. I know my wandering spirit is inherited from Grandma Littlemore. She had the heart of an adventurer and the feet of a deer. My desire for organization and endurance were given to me from Grandpa Littlemore. This man was a strong, quiet (because he was nearly stone deaf by the time I began watching him), organized, and self directed man. Recently I found out that he had walked around Lake Ontario. It made my heart leap to know that I would be continuing what he had started. Grandpa Littlemore was a man profoundly affected by the first world war in which he served as a medic. I remember waking to hear him screaming in the night, and my heart would pound as I lay as still as possible while the "storm" passed through. I never said thank you to him for serving our country (the world) in this way. The price he paid exacted a toll on his life long after he left the theatre of war.
Grandpa Littlemore did something for me specifically which was burned into my memory and even deeper into my heart. I remembered it again when I walked in the rain the other day. Now I must say that although Grandpa Littlemore was a man of faith (I noticed him reading his Bible daily) he did not wear his spirituality on his sleeve. Like the rest of his life, it was lived quietly and privately.
There was a short time when he was living with our family at Beaver Lake. It was my birthday and he gave me a birthday card. In the card was the gift. No, it wasn't a $5 dollar bill, it was a Bible verse. I remember reading the verse and having a strong sense that the words were VERY IMPORTANT and that I should never forget this gift from Grandpa Littlemore. It was a verse that I was very familiar with and it didn't seem to make any great statement. But the strong sense of importance enveloped me and I tucked that gift away in my heart for it to mature and reveal itself to me in time to come.
I am sure you will understand the flush of joy I felt as I remembered the gift from Grandpa Littlemore the other day in the rain as I walked.
The gift was from Isaiah 40: 30,31
"Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."
Since we don't know for sure if people who are living in eternity can see us on earth, I choose to think that Grandpa Littlemore will be watching me walk with great interest. He will be calmly cheering me on and when I feel like "fainting" from the goal I will imagine him giving me that card once more and this time with a big smile and a wink.
Thank you Grandpa Littlemore for serving your country, for fighting against the evil in this world, for giving me the gift of direction and speaking this into my life, thank you for being a significant part of my road team.
The walk from earth to heaven is just a simple step of faith.
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Walk in the Rain
On Tuesday, May 9 it was raining and the temperature was around 4 degrees. Our small group was meeting at a home in a small town about 24 km north of our place. Paul was away for the week and so I decided that would be the day I would do my big walk. I have learned through experience that walking in the cold is easier than walking in the heat and I wanted to know what it was like to walk in the rain.
So I packed my large backpack with all that I thought I would need for an unassisted walk of 24km in the rain on a cold day. I even took my whisperlite and MSR fuel cannister as I was going to make a warm tea half way there. Since I was going to a meeting I also packed clean set of new clothes in a dry sack).
It rained consistantly but I felt stong and moved along well. After 2.5 hours of what I estimated to be 6 hr trip (I added an hour for resting, lunch, etc) I stopped for my hot tea. There was a deep gully with some trees on the side of the hill and enough space for me to get out of the wind and the rain.
Immediately upon stopping I began to get REALLY cold. I heard myself repeating "cotton kills" as I put on a cotton hoody under my rain coat before I left home. I had ignored the words of wisdom and so here I was now wishing I had grabbed the fleece I had considered.
While starting my whisperlite I melted the plunger on my fuel bottle. I was so disappointed with myself that I had been so careless. So the tea was out but looking back it was a good thing I didn't spend time waiting for the water to heat up as I would have been really late and would have ended up walking in the dark.
Something else that I did which disappointed me was that I hadn't been wise enough to charge my Garmin so I was without my gps. And I didn't print a map as I usually am extremely over cautious about carring a map. All I had was directions and distances, north 13.43km, east 1.69, etc. Even my cell phone wasn't charged (bad planning, or none at all!). Sometimes I think I am so smart and then ... I get what I need a shock of reality. There is always planning to do even for a half day walk.
So I sat on the emergency blanket I did bring, tore pieces off to stuff up my sleeves to keep my hands warm, and ate my peanut butter and honey sandwich. The cotton hoody did have a "hood" and so I drew it in close and pulled the hood of my rain coat up as well and rested my legs and feet. I kept getting colder so I knew that I had to keep moving.
Unsure of my route (and there are NO signs on Saskatchewan grid roads), with squishy wet shoes and socks (another thing I did wrong - didn't pack extra socks), cold, mad cuz I'd melted my plunger, without my hot tea, and muddy (the mud here is like stickytack and builds up on the bottom of your shoe until you are walking on high heels) I began walking again.
There was another 2.5 hrs walk ahead so I just kept putting on foot in front of another.
Whinning is something that I never want to be accused of so I don't allow myself that pseudo-comfort in my mind either. Singing is my occupation of choice at these moments of just doing what you have to. So it was and I did.
One hour went by rather quickly and I felt like forgiving myself for ruining my fuel bottle when there came a rumble from deep down. You know what its saying although it has no words. No it wasn't sky rumble it was bowel rumbles.
OK, so I really do love Saskatchewan but at that moment I was homesick for the unending forests of Ontario. I desperately looked for a place to hide. But nothing. The only small hope was to get into a deep ditch that was not going to hide anything of importance but it was all there was. Starting toward the dual culverts (which were not offering any cover since they were full of a fast flowing creek) I heard/felt it again. Then once more and that was all the warning I had.
Funny how we ignore the little prompting of our friends. Just before I left my friend that was helping me throw everything into my pack said, "That's not enough toilet paper! The dumps in the woods are always way messier than at home." We laughed and I assured him that I also had 3 WetOnes. Now, as I was stripping to my skin, in a ditch with no privacy I thought, "Carmen was right!" I did my best to clean up and then took it all and wrapped it in the rest of the emergency blanket. But I didn't want to put this in my back pack so I took my Tilley (which was too wet to wear anyways) and stuffed it all in there deciding that if an elephant could eat a Tilley and then the owner find it on its way out the other end and still wear it my Tilley could do this messy job no problem. Only 3 vehicles passed while I was "exposed" and one seemed to think about stopping to help. I am so glad they didn't.
So with nothing under my rain pants except me, I started off for the last 1.5 hrs of the walk. I began to worry about hypothermia, but as walking warmed me I just kept it up.
Missing my turn twice cost me about a km extra but I did figure it out and got back on the right track. When I was within 2km of my destination there was one sign, "FAIRY GLEN 2km". I had to laugh, "thanks eh!"
So, I made it. My friends were glad to let me use their shower (in fact they insisted). Remember the clean set of clothes in the dry sack? Yes, one thing I did right! We had a great time together that night. What are friends for if not to help you get over your humiliation - that doesn't seem like such a small step, but one we all have to take.
Something that I was happy about was that although I walked for probably 3 hours in soaking wet shoes and socks I didn't get a blister and my feet felt great. That really suprised me.
My recovery was great. By the next day at noon I felt completely normal.
I did learn alot. I'm glad I walked that far in the rain so that I can know what its like for the walk. Yes, in all I am encouraged.
So I packed my large backpack with all that I thought I would need for an unassisted walk of 24km in the rain on a cold day. I even took my whisperlite and MSR fuel cannister as I was going to make a warm tea half way there. Since I was going to a meeting I also packed clean set of new clothes in a dry sack).
It rained consistantly but I felt stong and moved along well. After 2.5 hours of what I estimated to be 6 hr trip (I added an hour for resting, lunch, etc) I stopped for my hot tea. There was a deep gully with some trees on the side of the hill and enough space for me to get out of the wind and the rain.
Immediately upon stopping I began to get REALLY cold. I heard myself repeating "cotton kills" as I put on a cotton hoody under my rain coat before I left home. I had ignored the words of wisdom and so here I was now wishing I had grabbed the fleece I had considered.
While starting my whisperlite I melted the plunger on my fuel bottle. I was so disappointed with myself that I had been so careless. So the tea was out but looking back it was a good thing I didn't spend time waiting for the water to heat up as I would have been really late and would have ended up walking in the dark.
Something else that I did which disappointed me was that I hadn't been wise enough to charge my Garmin so I was without my gps. And I didn't print a map as I usually am extremely over cautious about carring a map. All I had was directions and distances, north 13.43km, east 1.69, etc. Even my cell phone wasn't charged (bad planning, or none at all!). Sometimes I think I am so smart and then ... I get what I need a shock of reality. There is always planning to do even for a half day walk.
So I sat on the emergency blanket I did bring, tore pieces off to stuff up my sleeves to keep my hands warm, and ate my peanut butter and honey sandwich. The cotton hoody did have a "hood" and so I drew it in close and pulled the hood of my rain coat up as well and rested my legs and feet. I kept getting colder so I knew that I had to keep moving.
Unsure of my route (and there are NO signs on Saskatchewan grid roads), with squishy wet shoes and socks (another thing I did wrong - didn't pack extra socks), cold, mad cuz I'd melted my plunger, without my hot tea, and muddy (the mud here is like stickytack and builds up on the bottom of your shoe until you are walking on high heels) I began walking again.
There was another 2.5 hrs walk ahead so I just kept putting on foot in front of another.
Whinning is something that I never want to be accused of so I don't allow myself that pseudo-comfort in my mind either. Singing is my occupation of choice at these moments of just doing what you have to. So it was and I did.
One hour went by rather quickly and I felt like forgiving myself for ruining my fuel bottle when there came a rumble from deep down. You know what its saying although it has no words. No it wasn't sky rumble it was bowel rumbles.
OK, so I really do love Saskatchewan but at that moment I was homesick for the unending forests of Ontario. I desperately looked for a place to hide. But nothing. The only small hope was to get into a deep ditch that was not going to hide anything of importance but it was all there was. Starting toward the dual culverts (which were not offering any cover since they were full of a fast flowing creek) I heard/felt it again. Then once more and that was all the warning I had.
Funny how we ignore the little prompting of our friends. Just before I left my friend that was helping me throw everything into my pack said, "That's not enough toilet paper! The dumps in the woods are always way messier than at home." We laughed and I assured him that I also had 3 WetOnes. Now, as I was stripping to my skin, in a ditch with no privacy I thought, "Carmen was right!" I did my best to clean up and then took it all and wrapped it in the rest of the emergency blanket. But I didn't want to put this in my back pack so I took my Tilley (which was too wet to wear anyways) and stuffed it all in there deciding that if an elephant could eat a Tilley and then the owner find it on its way out the other end and still wear it my Tilley could do this messy job no problem. Only 3 vehicles passed while I was "exposed" and one seemed to think about stopping to help. I am so glad they didn't.
So with nothing under my rain pants except me, I started off for the last 1.5 hrs of the walk. I began to worry about hypothermia, but as walking warmed me I just kept it up.
Missing my turn twice cost me about a km extra but I did figure it out and got back on the right track. When I was within 2km of my destination there was one sign, "FAIRY GLEN 2km". I had to laugh, "thanks eh!"
So, I made it. My friends were glad to let me use their shower (in fact they insisted). Remember the clean set of clothes in the dry sack? Yes, one thing I did right! We had a great time together that night. What are friends for if not to help you get over your humiliation - that doesn't seem like such a small step, but one we all have to take.
Something that I was happy about was that although I walked for probably 3 hours in soaking wet shoes and socks I didn't get a blister and my feet felt great. That really suprised me.
My recovery was great. By the next day at noon I felt completely normal.
I did learn alot. I'm glad I walked that far in the rain so that I can know what its like for the walk. Yes, in all I am encouraged.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
The Blessing
I remembered something that happened to me in January of 2005 when we were last in Burkina Faso, Africa at the Village of Hope. I believe it was the origin of SimpleSteps Walk but I didn't connect the two until a week ago when suddenly the picture seemed evident.
Pastor Michel grew up in Burkina Faso (then called Upper Voluta), as he grew he felt the call of God on his life. He began his ministry by taking a slide projector and visiting remote villages each weekend while he was in Bible School. Through these successful excursions Pastor Michel became known in almost all parts of their country.
When we first met Pastor Michel and his wife Lydia we were introduced to a man of prayer, vision, and obedience. His authentic faith inspired me to grow in mine. And then God used him in Paul's life in a way that can only be called a miracle.
While in Africa we take many precautions to avoid "tourista" the irritation of the bowels by foreign bacteria. Whether it was by opening his mouth in the shower, putting his fingers in his mouth, drinking from a contaminated bottle, or brushing his teeth with the wrong water he had gotten sick. All the symptoms were taking over his body: high fever, diahreah, vomitting. For two days he lay on the floor in a small round hut at the work site waiting for the illness to pass. On the third day someone mentioned to Pastor Michel that Pastor Paul was sick and perhaps he should pray over him. So simply and powerfully he called on God to heal Paul. Immediately, Paul felt the fever leave, his stomach settled and his bowels stopped churning. He sat up, then stood and decided he should be out at the work site helping with the project. I didn't think he should go back to work so quickly in the 50 degree heat but he assured me he was fine. For supper that night we were having stew with large chunks of meat and potatoe. Paul helped himself to a large plateful. Dr. Bill who was a team member warned Paul not to indulge in the stew (especially such a generous helping)so soon after his recovery. But he continued to eat and didn't suffer any affects from his supper.
That miracle happened on my first trip to the Village of Hope. It was on my second trip there that something unusual happened to me. Paul & I were walking across the yard at the village and I noticed Pastor Michel sitting on the dining hall porch. He had been struggling with exhaustion and burn out at the time. As I looked at him sitting there I felt an urge (I suppposed from the Holy Spirit) to ask him to bless me. Hesitating I thought how I would feel embarrassed to make such a request but the image would not leave. So I swallowed hard and asked Paul to come with me. I could tell that Pastor Michel was surprised and even embarrassed as I asked him to bless me. In fact he asked Paul for permission first. Then, as I kneeled at his side, he laid his hand on my head and began to pray. I don't remember the words, I don't remember any electric shocks moving through my body, I don't remember anything but that I did what I thought I was being asked to do.
That happened in January of 2005, and I had honestly forgotten about it until just last week. And it became clear to me that God had a plan to bless this village of children with a over weight, middle aged, Pastor's wife who thought she heard His voice calling her.
I didn't start this project because I thought I could walk 3o00 km, or because I was physically ready. I believe that its His plan and that He will complete it in me and in you. Obedience is only a simple step.
Pastor Michel grew up in Burkina Faso (then called Upper Voluta), as he grew he felt the call of God on his life. He began his ministry by taking a slide projector and visiting remote villages each weekend while he was in Bible School. Through these successful excursions Pastor Michel became known in almost all parts of their country.
When we first met Pastor Michel and his wife Lydia we were introduced to a man of prayer, vision, and obedience. His authentic faith inspired me to grow in mine. And then God used him in Paul's life in a way that can only be called a miracle.
While in Africa we take many precautions to avoid "tourista" the irritation of the bowels by foreign bacteria. Whether it was by opening his mouth in the shower, putting his fingers in his mouth, drinking from a contaminated bottle, or brushing his teeth with the wrong water he had gotten sick. All the symptoms were taking over his body: high fever, diahreah, vomitting. For two days he lay on the floor in a small round hut at the work site waiting for the illness to pass. On the third day someone mentioned to Pastor Michel that Pastor Paul was sick and perhaps he should pray over him. So simply and powerfully he called on God to heal Paul. Immediately, Paul felt the fever leave, his stomach settled and his bowels stopped churning. He sat up, then stood and decided he should be out at the work site helping with the project. I didn't think he should go back to work so quickly in the 50 degree heat but he assured me he was fine. For supper that night we were having stew with large chunks of meat and potatoe. Paul helped himself to a large plateful. Dr. Bill who was a team member warned Paul not to indulge in the stew (especially such a generous helping)so soon after his recovery. But he continued to eat and didn't suffer any affects from his supper.
That miracle happened on my first trip to the Village of Hope. It was on my second trip there that something unusual happened to me. Paul & I were walking across the yard at the village and I noticed Pastor Michel sitting on the dining hall porch. He had been struggling with exhaustion and burn out at the time. As I looked at him sitting there I felt an urge (I suppposed from the Holy Spirit) to ask him to bless me. Hesitating I thought how I would feel embarrassed to make such a request but the image would not leave. So I swallowed hard and asked Paul to come with me. I could tell that Pastor Michel was surprised and even embarrassed as I asked him to bless me. In fact he asked Paul for permission first. Then, as I kneeled at his side, he laid his hand on my head and began to pray. I don't remember the words, I don't remember any electric shocks moving through my body, I don't remember anything but that I did what I thought I was being asked to do.
That happened in January of 2005, and I had honestly forgotten about it until just last week. And it became clear to me that God had a plan to bless this village of children with a over weight, middle aged, Pastor's wife who thought she heard His voice calling her.
I didn't start this project because I thought I could walk 3o00 km, or because I was physically ready. I believe that its His plan and that He will complete it in me and in you. Obedience is only a simple step.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
