Getting in Shape... Day 30!!!!!

New Life from what was violently cut down!!! 

300!
This morning I did it!
I crossed the finish line!  
I reached my goal of actually walking 300 miles 'in practice' to be able to walk the 300 miles to Mackinaw starting next Monday September 5th, 2011! 


For those of you who are planning on beginning this trek to Mackinaw with me next Monday the 5th of September, "Labor Day"... please be at the office no later than 9:00am so we can prep you about the route and any particulars for the walk on that day and ask Jesus for His help!  


Our target time to leave Dearborn will be 9:30AM.    For any particular questions you may have about the Trek, please e-mail me at  thancock56@gmail.com  and I will respond ASAP with any particulars needed.  


This morning when I started out, I walked a different route than I usually walk, although I have been this way before.  For me, it is hard to actually go this way because of memories associated with the neighborhood.  


As I worked my way down Horger Street from Ford Road, I came to Colson.  I crossed that intersection and just looked across the empty lots that were there.  Just South of that intersection there is a stump between the road and the sidewalk.  The stump is evidence of an elm tree that was there!  It was the only tree on Horger near the church that was on this property.  It had been cut down because it was 'in the way' of those taking down the building.  This structure was one of Dearborn's most useful and beautiful historic structures.  It all ended up in a dumpster!


All that remains of a place that was once a center of life and activity for the neighborhood and Dearborn in general, is a flat grassy lot and one stump!  One stump!  That is all that is visible from what remains!  


But today as I walked by, I noticed something that I had not seen before!  In the photo above, you can see it for yourself!  It is a shoot for a new tree coming out of the old stump!  I stopped and looked at that with amazement!  I thought to my self....'they can cut it down but they can't make it go away!'  What a thought!  I have to tell you that this really encouraged me!  Like a friend of mine that usually says "Jesus gets what Jesus wants!"  Look out ya'll!


With my feet on the Ground!


Simply Trey

Getting in Shape... Day 28 and 29

It happened... I was there!  I saw it with my own eyes!  

These legs are tired but looking forward to trekking NORTH!

The 20 miles that I had determined weeks ago to walk after actually walking 18 miles... at one time, on one day, was realized!


Now I know that I can walk 20 miles!  I can because I really did it!  


Granted, my brother Britt and I did stop at a Subway on Ford Road on the way back and eat lunch... we actually walked 20 plus miles!  20 MILES! Our legs carried us that far!  WOOO!  


That all happened yesterday!  


So Afterwards... we picked up Becky from the Airport after she flew in from Finland.   We all crashed relatively early (10:30 pm or so-after having some ice cream!).  So this morning, I thought that I would just stretch my legs a bit and I set out for the office.  Surprisingly enough, I was not too sore!   The short 4.6 miles that I walked this AM pushed up my personal total mileage for the 'practice walk' to 293 miles!  As I have written before, I had determined for myself to actually 'do' 300 miles before we set out for Mackinaw City, MI beginning on September 5th which is Labor Day 2011!  I think that I am going to reach my goal and some!  


I am excited to see how many folks are going to come and walk that first day with us!  


With my feet on the Ground!


Simply Trey


p.s. Becky is home!  Halleluia!

Getting in Shape... Day 27

This morning I was determined to push past the 18 mile mark for a single day of walking with out actually stopping except for a couple of minutes to adjust a shoe or shift my pack or something.

I had determined last night that I would get to bed and walk up around 5 and get my self ready and leave the house by 6:00AM.  But when I awoke up the weather looked kind of strange outside.  So I checked the National Weather Service report and it stated that there was to be severe thunderstorms with large hail and tornadoes!   So I made the decision not to 'get out there' and get caught in some bad weather that could be dangerous.  So I waited about an hour and then just decided to walk to the Office by going down Greenfield which would be a short 4.5 mile jaunt!  So Britt and both  Jacob and David went with me!

After making the turn and heading down Greenfield, we saw the 'man who carries the flag'!  He has been doing this on Greenfield since 9/11. I first heard about him through the local news paper and have seen him many times, as I would drive by in the mornings!   I did not know the extent of his trek but when we caught up with him, I asked if we could walk with him and he said "Of course!"

So he told us that he does this Monday, Wednesday and Friday!  It was neat walking along with him and him  telling us his story!   Evidently he was raised in Dearborn because he said that he played football at Fordson High School!  He said that he was 79 years old and that his name is Matthew!

It was a real treat to meet him, walk with him and get to know him a bit!  I was able to tell him why we were walking and at the end of our time with him at the corner of Greenfield and Michigan where we turned left to go to the office... He gave me a big ole' hug and we parted!  I appreciate men like this!  Thanks Matthew!

With my feet on the Ground!

Simply Trey

Today was a day to give honor to whom Honor is due!

Dick Stefis (with mic) being honored for his faithfulness!

Scripture instructs us to honor those folks who are honorable in their work and faithfulness to the task that they are called on to perform.

This past year, Jesus sent us a worker who for three months worked tirelessly on our electrical installation and issues.  He was a genuine "God send!" He analysed the task at hand in interpreting the plans for our construction project and made it work!.

He worked the plans like a giant jig saw puzzle;  putting the pieces in place so the functionality of our building would work correctly.   Were there problems?  Yes, most definitely!  But not once did he complain about potential,  real or perceived problems but stuck to the task for many days until late at night!  He fit the classic saying..."He burned the mid night oil!"  Dick simply 'stayed on task' because his work mattered to every other part of the project and he knew that!  It is amazing how such common construction projects can carry such strong spiritual implication and applications in real life!

One reason why folks have such a hard time in their Christian 'walk' is that they have no base in reality to fit life into!  They have never held a job!  Any job!  They have never had to deal with reality in the form of "thangs" in life that can and do hinder you and will make you think that, 'this is not working... it is too hard!' 'Why am I beating my head up against this wall?'   If they quit... they will never find out that they need to 'use their heads' instead of banging their heads...!  They don't allow the circumstances to help develop their work ethic that assist them to 'figure out' what needs to be done besides banging their heads against a problematic wall!  Of course... if you just keep banging your head, you will not ever get anywhere but if you quit trying to accomplish what you are suppose to be doing then you will fail ... every time!

One of the many reasons why Christians fall short in their lives is that they simply "quit" because it seems 'too hard!'  I face this every time I go out and walk!  So I FORCE myself to put one foot in front of the other and take the next step toward my destination!  It is tiring!  Yes!  Do my feet hurt!  Yes!  Do I have pain  in my legs and joints? Yes!  Do I get hungry? Yes!  Do I get thirsty? Yes!  So should not all of those things be enough to make me quit?  Yes!  So what do I do?  I keep going!  Yep!  I just keep putting one foot in front of the other!  Does it hurt at times?  Yes!  So what do I do?  I push through it!   So what happens?  It hurts!  So what do I do?  I just keep putting one foot in front of the other!!!  Does the pain go away? ...  Sometimes and eventually...maybe!  There is much to think about here!  Yes!  But I will write about this later...

Dick Stefis,  you are deeply appreciated and loved!  The Dearborn Assembly Revitalization Project would not be where it is today without you!  Please come back!  We need you;  both your attitudes and your actions!  You are a walking example of what Jesus is to us!  Keep living it Brother!  Thank you for your heart!

With my feet on the Ground!

Simply Trey

Getting in Shape...Day 26

After traveling to the Thumb of Michigan, I was ale to pound out another 5 miles in a hour and a half.  As I briskly strolled along, I was able to pray and think!  Jesus is Awesome! His Mercy is inexhaustable! I am amazed, that so often I seem to loose the sense of that reality.  At times my memory is so short!  It seems that the 'crude' of this world's system, which is rotten the core, has a louder voice than God's!  At times it seems to be more conviencing!  But Jesus' voice through his Spirit will not be drounded out! I like to think of It like this... Jesus' voice is like the roar of a Lion, piercing the darkness, absolutely shutting up the ranglings of the darkness!  When He roars, my heart comes alive and is emboldewned!

With my feet on the Ground!

Simply Trey

Getting in Shape...Day 25

Today was the first day that more than one prson besides myself walked with me. My brother Britt, his wife Audrey and their two Sons Jacob and David went with me. We covered a distance of over 8 miles!  It was a good day to walk and talked about Family and Ministry!

With my feet on the Ground!

Simply Trey

Getting in shape...Day 24

Today I left the house and walked up by the main road and then back North through the woods to the lake.  For some reason I could not get off my mind the topic of "Forgiveness!"  There is much to think about there and right now there is no time to write down all that was trudging through my mind as I walked along.  So I will come back tomorrow or the next day and write out what was there!

It has been a beautiful time here in Finland.  After I get home I want to download the photos that I took and post them for you!  Finland is an awesome place!

I pounded out more than 13 miles today and have up to this point... reached 250 total miles, walked!  September 5th is getting close and I have just another 50 miles to go to finish my 'practice' walk before we actually begin "Trey's Trek!"  Finland is getting me ready for "The North!"

With my feet on the ground...

Simply Trey

Getting in shape...Day 23

I haven't written for a couple of days.  Thursday I walked 10 miles and I pushed up the total miles walked todate to 236.

Just been enjoying our grand daughter!  today I will go out again for a couple of hours...

I am working on an e-mail list of folks who are interested or supporting what we are doing with "Trey's Trek".  I will probably miss some folks so if you don't hear from me about what we are doing via e-mail in the next few weeks just write me on Face Book and I will respond and add you!

With my feet on the ground

Simple Trey

Getting in shape...Day 22

Today, after three days of waiting on my first grand child to arrive safe in this world... I hit the road again.  I left the apartment in Tampere and headed West out of town. I walked for 2 hours and then turned around and headed back.  The walk back was 1:55 minutes thus I was able to push just past 14 miles today after not walking at all for several days!  I am at 226 total miles practicing for "Trey's Trek"!  We have right at 4 weeks before we start on Labor Day so those of you who are walking with me... I hope you are practicing too!

I must share this with you!  It is utterly amazing to have another little one come into the world.  One who can experience the presence of Jesus with all of her heart.  Our prayer is that one day she too would follow Jesus just as her Mom and Dad, Aunts and Uncles, Grand Parents and Great Grandparents are doing and have done!  So here she is...!

My first Grand Child!  Holding hands with Grandpa Trey

Getting in shape...Day 21

The Halfords, Hancocks & Mättös

Writing from Finland is a hoot!  Right now it is 5:50 AM EDT in the States.  For me it is 12:50 PM.  Strange concept but if we all wait a bit it will be lunch where you are too!  Anyway...

I was intending on taking a short walk yesterday down by the hospital where my daughter Ashleigh and her husband Vesa are supposed to have the birth of our first 'grandchild!'  It was going to be a 'chill day' as far as training for "Trey's Trek" was concerned because yesterday we pushed it a bit! So trolling along enjoying the view and the Finish neighborhoods along the way was my plan.  So as I walked along I was thinking about becoming a Grand Parent which is an awesome thing! 

As I was there by the hospital and having walked around behind the place to look for a trail to cut over to the lake and walk back to the apartment, Vesa called.  He said that Becky and Ashleigh had gone to the hospital and were there right now... and that he was on his way to meet me!  He asked me to meet him in the front of the hospital; that he was taking a bus because they had the car, so I walked back out to the front and waited!  We went in together and visited with Ashleigh and 'Gran'ma!' (sounds great... "don't it!") 

The reason why they were here at the hospital at this time, not counting that this is her due date... the Doctor earlier in the day, was not sure about the heartbeat(s)... so they admitted her and she stayed for the night.  Everything was OK!  So as of yet there is no 'Baby Mättö... delivered!  "HE" is waiting for the right time!

My daughter Ashleigh with 'Baby Mättö!

Getting in Shape!...Day 20!

202 Miles!  

Today I did it!  I broke the 200 miles total walking mark, on my way to walking 300 miles before we actually walk the 300 to Mackinaw beginning September 5th, 2011!  Vesa my son in law went with me! 

Most of the walk was in the woods and we traversed a bunch of hills that are 'cross country ski trails!' 

I followed Vesa who kept up a brisk pace and we walked today... 8 miles in 2.5 hours!

With my feet on the ground!

Simply Trey

Getting in Shape!...Day 19!

This is an example of the trails in the woods near Tampere, Finland

Just a short report about today! 

I was able to push through the woods by the lake today and grind out 11 miles in 5 and a half hours! 

Walking through the woods is easier on my feet but everything else hurts!  Go figure!  But the scenery is flat out gorgeous!  Finland is rugged and beautiful!

These are all of my feet!

I have pushed my total distance in practice for the 300 miles for "Trey's Trek" up to 194 miles as of this afternoon!  Thank you Jesus!

With my feet on the Ground!

Simply Trey...

Getting in Shape!...Day 18!

While most of my friends are sound asleep in North America, I am writing!  It is strange that I am already 'in tomorrow' writing from Finland!  Funny concept!   Anyway...

Taking a 'breather' during a five and a half hour trek in the woods...

After arriving here and battling 'jet lag' which is still hanging on but not so much... I took a walk by Lake Näsi which is just North of the town of Tampere in Finland where my daughter Ashleigh and Vesa live.

It is a beautiful area that is rugged and majestic!

I started out walking along the Southern Shore of the lake just North of town and by the time I was finished I had walked almost 10 miles!  It was not an easy path but the view was breathtaking.  It was such a picturesque walk that I took over a hundred photos.

I had been this way on a bike with Vesa the last time we visited here so the terrain was not unfamiliar to me.  But this time going that direction seemed easier as I was on foot and had 'walking sticks' with me.  The walking sticks helped me steady myself as I crossed a 'zillion' roots and rocks that protruded from the trail!  It made the trek very interesting in that I had to be very careful with every step!   I wish I could show you all of photos but that will have to wait until I get back to the States so I can download them into my computer.  But I was able to e-mail myself three photos yesterday and will post them here today.

As I walked along trying to take in all the scenery and watch my step at the same time, I ran across something that I had not noticed when I was in Finland the last time.  Maybe it was because we were on Bikes,  riding through the woods and as such, you watch for different things.   Who knows... but this time as I walked,  I definitely noticed these huge mounds just off the trail.  So when I went over to get a closer look... 

A 5 foot high ant bed in the woods!

I noticed ants everywhere, they were covering the mound and working like crazy moving twigs and small pieces of pine straw and whatever they could pick up; 'up and down' the mound.  It was amazing that not one ant ran into the other or fell off the mound or one just got aggravated with the other and tried to throw them off the mound.  They just worked like they all knew what they were doing!  It was like they all had something to do and they were busy about their business!

Then it hit me!  They were all working for the benefit of the Queen!  From what I could see every ant was doing something for the Queen and the benefit of the colony!  Not a single ant was standing around!  Interesting concept!  Not a single ant was 'doing his own thing!' I think Proverbs talks about 'the ant.'  They were persistent!  They were going out and coming in!  They all seemed to know that it was vital to be doing something!  As they worked and went from here to there, they all seemed to greet each other on the way and then proceed with what they were doing-but they never seem to fight each other, at least from my vantage point!  I did not see any ants breaking off and forming their own colonies, because they were angry that the other ants were not doing it right!  They seemed to have a sense of not only 'survival' but 'direction' and that work was vitally important to who they were and what they were about!  'God's creatures both great and small!'  These creatures seemed to know their purpose and were about the business of their Queen!  I can tell you this... you would never see this 'wizzing' along in a car!

A quiet scene on Näsijärvi..

I am often told that 'culture' dictates what happens in regards to any particular group of people or nation.  I wonder what these ants could tell us about life in regards to 'their culture,' family or ministry?  I just wonder what a 'dumb' ant knows or are ants just too small for us to learn anything from?   After all, because they are really small, they are insignificant...right?  Just a thought!

With my feet on the ground!

Simply Trey