Friday, August 04, 2006

Generosity in Pennsylvania

Our Crossroads walk is filled with unexpected encounters. For example, last week (or was it 2 weeks ago?) we'd just finished our day shift somewhere in north central PA and decided to stop by a roadside ice cream shop for a sweet treat. The middle-aged woman, Anne*, who took our order was curious about our shirts (as most people are) so of course we delivered our usual explanation of Crossroads. She then shared that one of her employees, 19 year old Rebecca*, was struggling from the aftereffects of an abortion she had had within the past year. We proceeded to tell Anne about Project Rachel and Rachel's Vineyard. Anne plans to pass the information on to Rebecca and we continue to hold Rebecca, along with all post-abortive women, in our prayers.

Anne didn't let us pay for our ice cream that evening, in fact, she donated the amount that would have been our bill. I never cease to be amazed by the generosity and kindness of the many, many Americans we have encountered this summer. Wow.

Passionate for Life,
Christy Stutsman
Northern Walk

Thursday, August 03, 2006

See You In D.C. Land!

Hello everyone,
Calvin here, your faithful walker with an identity problem. We are now only one week away from Washington D.C., and I have to say that I have mixed feelings about it. On one hand, the arrival will mean that I will be able to see my Northern Walk family again, I CAN'T WAIT!!!! Although, I am upset that I will not be able to properly say goodbye to everyone. (Sorry Christy and Jessica) Also, it will mean that I will be able to go home and see my family and friends again, I CAN'T WAIT... again. But on the other hand, it means that I will have to leave all my new friends that I've made over the summer, maybe forever.

The walk has definitely been a great experience for me, for many reasons, too many to list. I love that I was able to do this, and I would advise everyone to look into doing a walk. I am truly grateful to God for the people I've met and the relationships that I've made.

To everyone, good night and good luck.

Calvin Jensen
Your Northern Walker on the Central Walk

Get these demons off my back...

Hello all!
This is Jamie from the Northern WaLk. That L is supposed to be capitalized. Anyway, we are somewhere in New Joisey right now at a library. There are 8 days until all three walks will meet up in Washington DC and I can't wait. So many things keep happening. I have found this to be completely true: the devil does not want us to finish and he is putting road blocks in our way to try to stop us. Past walkers have told us that the last few weeks are the hardest and they were definitely right. We're praying really hard; the rosary is our best weapon when we are walking. We're on the Northern Walk, but this week has been the hottest yet. I am so glad that I was on night shift, but even when I was walking, I was sweating profusely. Any attempts to sleep were futile. It's just too hot, and we usually didn't have air conditioning. We did make some pretty impressive sweat angels in various places in the RV though. I can't wait until Washington DC, but at the same time, I really don't know how I'm going to say goodbye to some of these people. They have become my family and I can't stop thinking that the day is coming when I'm going to have to say goodbye. And that day is coming sooner for some than for others. Jessica and Christy are leaving Saturday... I'd rather not think about that right now. We got a new guy last night - Keagan (sorry if I spelled that wrong), and we're getting another new guy Friday - Dave. That means its going to be 6 guys and 6 girls even with Calvin gone. Speaking of which (how is that a speaking of which?!), Calvin: the other Northern Walkers and I miss you soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much! Part of us is definitely missing with you gone, and the Northern Walk just isn't the same. :o( Don't let the Central Walk tell you that you're one of them. You were born a Northern Walker, and you'll DIE a Northern Walker. That is, if I have anything to say about it... :o) I'm sure the Central Walkers are great... :o)
Ahem... what was I talking about? Sweat angels! I offered up every drop to save babies. If God saves one baby for every drop dripped......... well, I definitely hope that's what He's doing because that's a LOT of babies. Not to be gross or anything, but its miserable not being able to sleep in the RV because of the heat. I'm sure the Southern Walk has been going through this all summer. Good job guys, I can't even imagine that kind of heat! Sometimes I forget that there are other walks... I forget that its not just us, and that actually, with every step we take, there is a group of people we don't know yet who are taking the same steps on a different part of the country. Its going to be cool meeting everyone else. :o)

Well, I think I've written quite enough for now. I will talk to you all later... if you're lucky. Have good days!

-Jamie
Northern Walker

P.S. There are a lot of smiley faces in this entry. Don't be fooled... I miss Calvin a lot.