DAY SEVEN, WEEK TWO,  
Monday, September 12th! of           Trey's Trek cont.....  

Trey Hancock, Bill Severance and Mark Kellogg
getting ready to commence the 2nd week of Trey's Trek...

After two days of 'chillin' out' in Saginaw with Family, we headed out toward Freeland, MI just up the road from Saginaw Township.  

Today was to the be beginning of the second week of walking.  I have to tell that in my 'long legged life' (Gran'ma Turner used to say that!) I have never walked so far!  I am still amazed at the wonder of it all!  It is something that is doable!  It can be done!  I know because I did it!  I walked over a hundred miles in one week!  It still boggles my mind...

Great Expectations!

Today after looking at the map... just a bit over 8 miles will get us to our first destination in Freeland, MI where we will stop and eat lunch and pray for Dearborn.

I preached at the A/G Church there yesterday and wore my best 'over-hauls'!  Now I guess if The Father is 'working' and Jesus is 'working,' that I need to be working too!  And dressing for 'work' in the proper clothing is important!  So there you go...!  But now and then... I wear a tie so folks who 'thank' that going to church without one... 'ain't proper'!  But then 'the tie' usually feels... out of place, knowing that I am going to be working while I am there!  So... New Overalls, and a good looking Tie are a good mix and helps satisfy all the cultural norms!  I work 'rilly' hard a pleasing ever'one!!!  But I do have to admit that overalls, a tie and a 'hatta' does stir up a bit of emotion!  But one thing is for sure!  You have people's attention!  For instance...

There was a man 'Up North' one time who wanted to fight me, years ago, because I wore that 'hatta' in church.  He came right up to the pulpit and said... "who let you in here?"  "Does the Pastor know who you are?"  "Are you a Christian?  Man... I have to tell you, he had excitement in his eyes!  I thought that we were going to get into it right there in Church!  And I was the special speaker too!  He didn't think I was so 'special!'  I thought to my self... well, here we go!!! 

After a few minutes he did back down but he told me some months later, when I saw him at another church event, that he was 'sorry' and that he did not understand what I was saying because of what I was wearing!  

It is interesting to note that I had actually preached about 45 minutes on the awesome 'Love of Jesus' and the importance of reaching other folks outside of ourselves and sacrificing who we are for 'their sakes'!   It just goes to show you that 'what covers us, can color us'.  This is why I try to listen when I am talking to people and hear what they are saying, especially those who are from a different cultural context.  

But this does not mean I turn into a commelian!  In fact, if I change who I am just for the other person...I am not being true to myself and or the other person!  Now this does not mean that because I am aggravated and acting like a royal knuckle head that what folks witness at that point is who I really am... NO!  A thousand times no!   

Behaving properly according the Word of God and the promptings of the Holy Spirit should always be the standard.   But making yourself out to be something that you are not... is a bunch of 'huie!"  Jesus made you who you are!   Listen... Culture is important...EVEN YOUR OWN CULTURE!  Don't ever let anyone tell you that you are insignificant or unimportant.  Cultures are like families.  Everyone has one and they are unique.  What throws off the balance in who you are, in your culture... is sin!  It makes a muck of everything!  Steering clear of it is well advised!  It not only affects you but all those around you!  So for what it is worth, get right! ... act right! ... and make HIM happy with you!  Otherwise you won't really know who you are, or for that matter... understand anyone else either!  

"SO!"  There....   Like Paul S. says all the time! 

"...there you go...!"

With my feet still on the Ground!

Simply Trey

DAY SIX (e), Saturday, September 10th! of Trey's Trek cont..... 

Gran'ma's Table!  Set and ready... as an awesome treat at the end of the day!

Sometimes when you start something, you need to know what you're 'going for!'  Well, at the 'finish line' today, what awaited us was "the most, goodest" cookin' that you could be allowed to sink a tooth in!  (after walking 31.9 miles!!!)  It seemed so lucious... that it made my 'tongue just jump up there... and slap me up side the head,'!  Now that's good!   I didn't mind it at all!

David Parvu on Trey's Trek

Birch Run, MI

Let me digress a bit... After David and I headed out of Birch Run, we walked West to intersect the road that would wiggle its way North and West through the country side up to Bridgeport, MI and then toward Saginaw and Saginaw Township where my in-laws live.  This day was the longest leg of the whole Trek North and without David being with me, it would not have turned out the way it did!  He started out walking with me but others joined us after lunch about half way between Birch Run and Bridgeport.  Folks like my Father in Law Bill Severance and Luke my Son in Law and Louaii my friend from Dearborn (who drove up from Dearborn to make the trip with us this day).  It is always good to have partners!   

Then on our way out of Bridgeport, about a quarter of a mile out...David was as strong as ever!  But all of the sudden it was like he had a 'blow out' and he went down!  He spent the next 15 minutes or so trying to 'stretch out' and regain his strength but the injury was too significant for him to nurse back into shape, so we called for the 'sag wagon' and he was driven the rest of the way in.  But I have to tell you... this man is a trooper!  He walked over 20 miles with me before having to 'throw in the towel!'  He was a great walking partner!  

David stretching out a 'pulled muscle!'

David and I walked through some really deserted areas where there were only woods and fields and train tracks!  At times,  the road would just stretched off into what seemed like 'nothing!'  The sky and the sides of the road and the road itself would all just converge down into a pinpoint off into the distance... With that kind of perspective, it is hard to get motivated!  This is why it is so important to have a 'walking partner'!  Someone to go the distance with you!  Someone to walk beside you and encourage you!  Someone to strengthen you along the way with them just 'being there!'   Granted; sometimes in life you must 'walk alone' but most of the time the 'road of life' needs traffic and especially traffic that is going 'your way' and with the 'same intent and purpose' for which you are walking!  The phrase "the more, the merrier," really fits well here!  It is just a thought... but I think that the LORD knew what He was talking about when he said that 'it is not good for man to be alone...'.  There is something to that!  

With this leg of Trey's Trek today, being over 30 miles, the darkness overtook us as we walked away from Bridgeport, MI through Saginaw toward Saginaw Township.  It was probably the most grueling trek thus far!  My father in Law Bill Severance who is over 80 years of age, actually set the pace for me from Bridgeport to Saginaw Township!  If it had not been for him on this last leg of the Trek ...I would not have made it!  That segment of the Trek was over 10 miles long... alone!   He set a 'motivating' pace that I had to keep up with and he did not let up until we reached his house!  

It was dark when we arrived but supper (photo above) was on the table and the lights were on!  So the wonderful meal that was laid out for us when we arrived, really helped sooth the 'fierce tiredness' that we were feeling upon arrival!

The Bridge across the Titabawasee River, Bridgeport, MI
(Dad Severance, David Parvu and My son in Law Luke Halford)

The paved trail leading to Bridgeport along the Titabawassee, River...

My son in Law 'Luke Halford' and my Father in Law 'Bill Severance'

This may be a side note but that's OK!  This is my blog and I can write what interests me!  LOL!  
One the way up the road today, this tree struck me as 'the most excited tree in the woods!'  I don't know why... particularly, except for the fact that while the other trees around it were just kind of drooping over and their leaves were just kind of hanging... this tree seemed to be shouting!  It's branches from the limbs were mostly shooting upward.  Even out from  the ends of the tree branches, the 'pine fur' was pointing up!  It just looked alive and excited to be there!  I wonder if there is a message there!  Just wondering!  It is interesting what you see when you walk!

After almost 32 miles of walking in a single day,  Louaii and I just stared at my feet wondering why they were smoking!  Are feet suppose to smoke?

Well, I guess I better quit for now!  There was more 'stuff' that we saw and did on this day,  being the longest day but I need to bring this one to a close!  

Thanks so very much "Gra'ma" for the awesome meals you "fixed" us the two days we were with you!  You and Dad Severance are the most wonderful In-Laws anyone could ask for!  

With my 'tired' feet on the Ground!

Simply Trey