Thinking through many issues in hindsight...

As I wrote in the previous post...

The last time I wrote anything on this Blog site was when I was 'walking across Michigan' in hopes of helping us fund our construction project for Springwells Church. 

Well, to make a very long and detailed story really short, the construction was paid for and within a very few short years, Jesus helped us pay the whole mortgage in full, to the tune of $480,000.00!  I don't care who you are...that was amazing!  Maybe one day I will write about that story.  Its a good one,  especially since Jesus in involved!

Ok, I have been getting up early in the mornings these days.  My clock irritates me at 5:00AM and I head to the office where it is quiet and I can read the Scriptures and listen to Jesus and the phone doesn't usually ring and no one is asking me to do anything so it's really nice!  I love helping but this time in the mornings in precious!  Jesus & Me!  What a thought!  If I remember correctly, He was up early in the morning too talking to His Father!  So I must be in good company!

Anyway, I am going to start jotting down what I read about and what speaks to my heart and lights me up!  Right now, I don't know if it will be every day but when I 'get something' I will lay it out there!

In all of my accomplished academic scholarship and study, I tend to see thing and write about things quiet simply... thus SIMPLY TREY!

It has been some years...

But the memories seem clear!

Yah it has!  It has been too long since I have written on this blog site.  

The last time I was writing here was when we were in construction with our facility in Dearborn and Jesus had put in me to "walk"...!  And as a result of that admonition... I asked, "where?"  And it became apparent to me that if I was going to walk that I needed to 'walk' as far as I could go in Michigan.  And when I looked at the map, I Noticed that the fartherest place that we could 'walk'  in Michigan was to Mackinaw.  Yah!  Mackinaw, Michigan!  And when you think of Mackinaw you always think of "Big Mac" or the Mackinaw Bridge which we know is a five mile long suspension bridge!  

Then all the sudden I started thinking to myself, 'wow, how am I gonna walk that far?'  And the answer was... that I would have to get into shape!  And if I was going to get into shape, 'walking shape'... then I would need to walk!  What a novel idea!  And to walk with any degree of endurance, I would need to walk to be able to walk the distance!  Hm, it sounded right to me so I started figuring in my mind, about how to do this and came up with a plan.  

And wouldn't you know it, I thought to my self... OK, how far is it to Mackinaw from Dearborn?  So looking at a map, it was just a few miles over 300...!  

300?!!~ NO WAY!  And the idea at that point was simple overwhelming!  So much so that for a few days, the idea just wore me out thinking about it!  And on top of that, I could not get away from the idea!  And about a week later, I just decided to do it and to quit imagining that this was so impossible... So I devised a plan!

If I was going to walk 300 miles plus, I would need to practice walking at least 300 miles just to say to myself that I could actually do it, but thinking about driving 300 miles almost makes me tired, no less walking it!  

But I said to myself, 'OK, you are only going to do this if you get going and walk!  Just sitting around here fretting about how far it is, is not going to get you anywhere.  Failure is a given if you do nothing to prepare for this but if I make a plan and work that plan and get into shape like you know that you can do...' 

"This was something that I knew that could be done!"  Now I was beginning to believe that I could walk 300 miles but like eating an elephant... how do you do it?  The answer... "One bit at a time!"  Is it huge? You bet!  Is it tough?  You bet! Is it daunting?  You bet!  Is it overwhelming?  You bet!  But you get the prize of knowing that you can...do this... but only if you don't quit!"  

So when I "decided" to do it, then the energy to start out; putting one foot in front of the other came like electricity surging through a light switch being turned on and I knew that 300 miles was only a goal and not an obstacle!  

And practically, I said... 'OK I will set a target date to commence the WALK of which it was just a few weeks over 3 months in preparation and this is how I "practiced" getting myself ready to do something that previously seemed impossible but now was only a challenge of which I could actually see 'the end result'... The Mackinaw Bridge!

Getting into shape...

So I woke up early one morning the first of May and repaired to walk 2 miles.  So I stretched and got my legs and body warmed up to walk and measured out the distance on a map and set out on a brisk walk without stopping or slowing down for a 2 solid miles!  

Then the next day, I did not walk.  My legs were tired! So I let them rest!  Then on the 3rd day I walked another 2 miles with the same intensity and then rested but I was not as tired.  Then I rested the next day.  

Then, on the next day I walked 4 miles and rested the day after that, then got back out there and walked 3 miles and rested again.  Then on the next day I bumped the distance up to 5 miles and in my mind that was a mile stone and after that a 5 mile walk.  Yah, I felt pretty good!  So I rested the next day.  

Then I distinctly remember setting my mind on the goal of walking 8 miles!  At first, it seemed like a huge mountain to climb but my endurance was building and the more I walked, the farther I could actually... walk!  The 8 miles came and went without a hitch.   

Then there was a 10 mile trek that was the next WALL 'so to speak' to climb!  

I remember leaving out from our house on Tireman Avenue and walking South down Wyoming to Ford Road and then from there, made my way over to Hines Dive and got on the asphalt walking track that wound it's way through the woods out of the Metro Area of Detroit.  Walking that trial or driving on the parkway makes you think that you are in the country side not the city and the Rouge River runs to the South of that parkway.  

It is an amazing ribbon of woods that winds its way in a general North Westerly Direction which originates in Dearborn and ends up out in Northville, Michigan.  

But this day,  I measured out 10 miles and and marked it on the map and when I reached that huge tree that was there on the North side of the road, I rested under it while I waited on Becky to pick me up.  I was amazed in my mind that I actually walked 10 miles without stopping!  At that time it was a huge accomplishment!  Then for the next day, I rested.

Then on the following day out, I walked another 10 miles and this time 'it seemed easier!'  I was getting in shape.  My endurance was building.  I my mind, I was beginning to see that I could actually do this; that it was doable!  

So, for the whole Summer, I see-sawed up the mileage scale for distance and plotted along until I accumulated 300 miles in distance for walking in my training.  So when I hit that mark of 300 miles; mentally, I knew that 'I could do this thing!'  It just so happened that it was two days before the scheduled start for  "Trey's Trek," North to Mackinaw!   

I actually felt good and rested the day before and caught my breath so to speak and got all my gear together; my walking sticks, my camel backpack which held a water bladder, my treats for energy, my shoes and hat and sun glasses, my cell phone with GPS tracking, etc... .

Then the day arrived to begin!  

Several of my friends who knew what I was up to, came and walked the first 10 miles with me.  Then we had lunch and after that we set out again, but a couple of them bowed out and the rest of us terkked on!  The first day was 23 miles total.  

It was accomplished and my friends were there to cheer us on at the end!   The first day was amazing!  It was like the first minutes of the first round of a wrestling match or the first game of a football season.  We were initiated and it was simply amazing!  It was just the beginning with many lessons to learn and new experiences to grasp!

 

Trey's Trek 2012 Day 3, Wed. September 5, 2012 ...

Some photos of this day's Trek

Yesterday was a bear!  We started out from Richmond after praying with Pastor and we headed down Gratiot Avenue, in a Southwesterly direction.  Within the half hour of us getting started... it began to rain!  And boy did it rain!  It did not pour but it was a steady rain for at least 4 straight hours!  Just when the rain commenced we stopped and put on our rain gear and continued to walk. Although I was not getting soaked by rain water, I was sweating under my rain gear which was pretty uncomfortable but such is life!  

Then after about 1:00 pm if my memory serves me correctly, the rain stopped and the sun came out!  So we took off our rain gear and walked in the sun shine!  Then what was wet... began to mix with the sweat from the heat of the sun and my gear began to 'rub me to wrong way!'  (so to speak...)  

By the time we reached our destination... 21 miles later, my toes were starting to blister along with my lower back where the pack that I was carrying, that housed the "Camel Back" water bladder that kept me hydrated was stored.  What I did not know at that point was that the sores that I would attain that day, would harass me for the next week to 10 days!  This day was the most testing of them all for the 2012 Trek!  I guess life is that way!  So I adjusted my steps and kept going.  What a teacher Life is!  I guess that the saying which goes ... "no pain, no gain" is true after all!  

But what soothed the tension and hot spots on my feet and attitude were the folks that came to the church in Rochester at the end of the day who prayed for our City and our Neighbors!  For me personally, that made the struggle worth the walk!  So, to our friends who attended that prayer meeting...You have my highest admiration and thanks!!!  I am encouraged in my heart of hearts, because of your intercession for those who don't have anyone to pray for them.   The scary thought is, that there are multiple thousands who live all around us and not one single Christian, who knows Jesus,  knows them!  

Think about it!  Who prayed for you before you were saved?  Your Mother? Your Father?  A Brother or a Sister?  A Grandmother or a Grandfather?  An Aunt or an Uncle?  A friend?  Who...?  If you were born in the USA you probably had someone praying for you!  But if those who were not born in a place where the Good News about Jesus is freely preached and accepted and lived out, then there is a greater chance that they, whoever they are, will not have one single person praying for them by name... simple because they don't even know that "that person" is even alive to be prayed for!  It is not that folks are down right mean spirited or that they just hate 'foreigners, NO!  

Just think about it!  How can a person pray for someone if they don't even know that they exist?  'Hmm?'  You may say to yourself!  'I have never even thought about that before!'  Then we say to ourselves; 'no wonder there are not more folks within the 10/40 Window who meet Jesus and who are born again!'  It is a heavy thought!  What are we going to do with that one...?  

As my feet are still on the ground!

Simply Trey

Aint got time to stop... gotta go by the shop

Hey Ya'll! Im still alive out here and Im still walking. In just a few long days I'll be dipping my tired aching feet into the Great Lake Michigan. If my calculations are correct, we'll get there on Monday Night, October 1st. 
I've taking over 1,000 pictures since I stared in Port Huron, and I can't wait to show some to ya. I use them to help me remember who we ministered to, who ministered to us and all the picturesque things along way. When I'm finally home next week I'll post pictures and short stories. Jesus has been doing some cool things out here on the road. Please stay tuned for the pictures and the stories.

Tonight- September 27th, we will be at Kalamazoo First Assembly of God. Please call me if you want to come out. We'd love for you to join us. 313. 632.0168.

 Tomorrow night we will be in Coloma, MI at Central Assembly of God.

Please pray for John and I.

With my feet on the ground,

Trey

Trey's Trek 2012  

Day 1, 

Monday September 3, 2012

Port Huron to Marysville to Richmond, MI

The weather was worm and the sky was clear!  

Its On! The Trek has begun. We've been walking for a week now and I am finally sitting down long enough to share some pictures and thoughts with you. I'm going to post a collage, maybe more, for every day that I have walked. I hope you enjoy them. Please continue to pray for me as I walk.

This collage is from the first day. We started at the most Eastern point of Michigan, Port Huron on the St. Clair River. The main picture in the collage is the beginning crew. We enjoyed a sweet time of prayer before starting the Trek. They were great folks to start off with!  At the end of the day,  it was me and a brother on a bike... he rode, I walked.. I am so very thankful for his company along the road. 

I'll write later. See Ya, bye.

With my feet on the Ground!

Simply Trey

Trey's Trek 2012...!

Simply.................................................................................. Trey!

I know that I am not finished with writing about Trey's Trek 2011.  There is just simply too much to talk about along with what happened and what we experienced last year as we walked from Dearborn to the Mackinaw Bridge!  (328.2 miles)  

Mission Accomplished for Trey's Trek 2011!

So... I have decided (with the help of  "Grace!") to interject new posts from this year's "Trey's Trek 2012" into the blog site; one week at a time and then later on... elaborate on what we experienced as we walk along from Port Huron to Michiana, MI!  

Grace, my daughter, is the one kneeling!

My daughter "Grace" Halford is going to help me with loading the weekly photos onto the blog site, that we have taken along the way and then I will write a short comment for that group.  Then after we finish, I will go back and 'fill in the blanks' so to speak... as to the details of Trey's Trek 2012!

With my "sore" feet on the ground!

Simply Trey

p.s. we are on schedule as we walked into Brighton, Michigan yesterday after starting in Port Huron on Monday morning!

Day Nine d. WEEK TWO, 

Wednesday, September the 14th, 2011

Cows are cool!  They can teach us a lesson!

As we are Trekking North on M-18 to Gladwin, the "folks" along the way offered us a wide variety of viewing options!  

These 'characters' above noticed us as we walked along... we saw that they were just 'parked' out in the field along the side of the road!  As we traversed up the highway...they actually turned and looked at us curiously!  Folks don't usually think that cows pay any attention to much but let me tell you, they are aware or their surroundings!  By the looks on their faces, it was as if they had never seen anyone 'walk by', out here, like this...!  

I have to tell you from experience, cow are curious creatures!  At one time when I was younger, we owned about 25 of them. I can tell you that if they see something that is unusual they will just stare it down!  Have you ever been stared at by a cow?  LOL!  You should try it sometime!  Cows have huge eyelashes and sometimes while they are looking at you intently... their tongues can come out of their mouthes and slides up into their nose like a big ole' snake!  It will freak you out, if you are not prepared for that kind of  'thang!"  

But that is the nature of a cow!  That is what they do!  And they will 'mooo' at you too!  They are like having a 'watch dawg' around...!  What a concept!  A 'watch cow!'  They are interesting creatures!   It doesn't make me mad because they are like that... that is just the nature of a cow!  So I deal with it!  

But if I impose my cultural values over on the cow... it makes me feel better about myself because the cows are 'uncouth' and they use their 12" tongues to clean out their noses and... 'they are not as cultured as me!'  But in reality, if I don't get close enough to notice... the cows, which are always different than me, I will always misunderstand them!  

I told you that they stare!

For most of us, it is convenient and time saving to just keep our distance!  It is less trouble too!  We end up flying past folks so fast that we don't really notice anything outside of our point of reference and if we do notice... it is because something has usually inconvienced us and the 'outsider' is just there staring and moooing and cleaning out their noses!  And we mindlessly see them as just 'folks on the other side of the fence.'  

This is why walking is such a good thing!   In a car; as you speed by, life is happening all around you; you hardly even notice what is on the side of the road... but when you walk, it gives you time to focus on what you see because you are not speeding along at 70!  Life is really too precious to just be speeding around from here to there and all the while missing those who are on the way!  So slow down!  Ask yourself!  "Why am I in such a hurry?"

With my feet on the Ground... 'slowly'

Simply Trey