DAY EIGHT b, WEEK TWO,  
Tuesday, September 13th! of    
Trey's Trek cont...

Starting out after lunch today looked like this!

 The Brothers walked 'a ways' with me after lunch but the time came for them to return home!  So we stopped on the side of the road and thanked Jesus for their sacrifice in time, effort and money to come and walk with me on this leg of the Trek.  In my heart, I was so thankful for their presence!  "Jesus, watch over them as they travel home to North Carolina!  Bless them for their efforts!  Change eternity because of what they have done!  In Jesus' name!

Then as the road stretched out in front me... I put one foot in front of the other and resolved to make this day count!  From Pastor Calvin's home it was almost 15 miles to Albright Shores Assembly of God.  The photo below shows the road through part of the way.

You know you are not "in town" when the "used car lots" start looking like this!!!

On trips like this, especially when you are by yourself... it is harder to stop because you want to get to your destination as soon as possible!  But there are some things that just will not let you continue on your journey. Things that you must tend to.  Things that will just bug you to death if you don't pay attention to it!

Well, as nature would have it... if you eat, you must rest!  And in resting, you must find room on the 'road of life' to do just that!  But I have to tell you... "out there on the road," sometimes... there just 'ain't no' place or room to rest!

Like when you drive a car on the expressway from one town to the next.  You drive and you drive and you look and you look and there is no place to stop!  There is not even a McDonalds Restaurant within sight, so you begin to think... "where can I go?"  At this point,  you really get motivated when the pressure you are under begins to build!  It is at that point that your brain becomes really perceptive and aware and your neurons fire within your brain that have not... 'here to fore' engaged themselves because there was no special necessity to do so!  But now there is sufficient motivation to bare down and get the job done!

Then all of the sudden... like a light coming on in my head, I see a corn field! Yes, a beautiful corn field!  It stretches as far as I can see on the side of the road!  So I say to myself...."Self", 'there you go!!!  Then all of the sudden... I look this way; and then that way;  not a car or a truck or a farm vehicle is within sight!  SO now is my chance, I think to my self!

Straight away, I dart from the side of the road, 'tween the tall, standing, green, corn stalks and instantly I am out of sight!  But also the thought hits me!  I better pay attention...because there are not signs in here telling me where I am or which way I am doing!  All I can see are rows and rows of corn stalks!  I have to tell you that I have never been more relieved!  And as I looked up, there was no 'ceiling fan' noise, just open sky!  Oh what a view!

With my feet on the Ground!

Simply Trey

p.s. I did eventually find my way out!

DAY EIGHT, WEEK TWO,  
Tuesday, September 13th! of           

The "Brudders!"

Trey's Trek cont.....  

Well!  Last night before we 'turned in',  "My Friends" from Winston Salem, North Carolina came up and spent the night in Midland, MI with us!    We all rested in preparation to start out again in the morning to head North to continue Trey's Trek.

So when we started out from Christian Celebration Center on Swede Road in Midland, I was really encourage, not only that four people joined me today but that they drove all the way up from North Carolina (14 hours ONE WAY!) to walk this leg of the Trek with me.  I appreciate men like this who will not only commit their time and resources but their friendship as well!  Thanks Men!  

So we headed out from the Church, West on Swede Avenue which turned into Wacherly Street that paralleled M-10.  That road leads you over to Claire, MI.

  At North Jefferson Road we turned North and headed across M-10 and then left again through the Mall over to North Eastman which took us into the woods on the outskirts of town! 

When we reached East Monroe we headed West again until we can to Sturgeon Road.  

It was this road that led us North to Pastor Don Calvin's home.  It was there where we had lunch and was it 'a meal for the troops!'  Sister Calvin is to be commended and recommended for here cooking!  

I can tell you now that physically, I would have 'run out of gas' on the last leg for today if she had not laid out such a wonderful spread for us all!

It was a welcomed sight when we reached Pastor Calvin's place IN THE WOODS... knowing that we could rest a bit, have some fellowship and also to eat which was such a needed relief!

Arriving!

We made it to Lunch!!!

Pastor Calvin's home

Sturgeon Road to the Calvin's home...

Today the weather was overcast and the temperature was down a bit which made it really comfortable, temperature wise!  After a good rest and fellowship with the Calvins we 'geared' up again and headed back out to the road and looked North again as we continued.  Our next stop would be a fruit stand just up the road a piece.  We were able to pray for the lady who was operating that fruit stand.  (her photo was published earlier).

Some days there are many unusual things you see and experience and some days... not!  That is just life!

With my feet on the ground!

Simply Trey

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

Arriving at Freeland A/G, Freeland, MI

Pastor Don Calvin was waiting on us as we walked into town!  It is always good to know that someone is watching for you!  The church also provided an awesome meal for Mark, Dad Severance and me as we rested our feet and enjoyed an awesome meal!  Thank you Freeland Assembly of God for your sacrifice of love and your grand hospitality! 

Pastor Calvin
former Dow Engineer!

 It was so encouraging to see a 'boat load' of folks there at the church to have lunch with us and afterwards to pray with us for Dearborn.   Then afterwards Mark and I, along with another Sister walked away from Freeland up the road to Midland.  It was very much of an encouragement for me to have company along the way!  We talked and shared stories as we walked along. 

Pastor Calvin with Trey & Mark Kellogg
who are on their way out of town
 ... heading toward Midland, MI

"Sister!" who joined us to Midland
(if you know her name...
please let me know!)

So before we left,  I changed my shirt after freshening up a bit.  I tell you... It just helps!  And you know... that guffy looking hat that I wore... the whole top part of it is 'mesh'!  So anytime that the winds blows, it is like an air conditioner!  Awesome idea!  Great comfort!

It was a hot day!  We drank alot of water!  And it was tiring...and  it was a great sight to be walking up the road and see what you are looking at in this photo below!  It was the first sighting of Celebration Center Assembly of God.  It was was our destination for the day and a welcomed site indeed!  

Tonight the Church would put us up in a hotel but before the day was ended, we would participate in a prayer meeting that this church already had scheduled.  The place was full!  Yes, full of people praying for all kinds of situation and places and people.  In fact, their whole assembly area where we were gathered had a huge map of the whole World, all spread out almost over the whole floor where people would go and stand.  The spot where they would stand over... would be the country that they were praying for and cry out with a broken heart to Jesus for that Country!  It was awesome!  Then they all prayed for us there in Dearborn!  That was humbling!  Thank you Lord!

First sighting of Celebration Center Assembly of God
on our walk up from Freeland!

We made it!  

Praying at Celebration Center for Dearborn!

OK!  There are times when you seem to be on the other side of the world taking care of business as Jesus would have you do.  

So... I am at Celebration Center Assembly of God in Midland, Michigan.  I am on the other end of the country from where I was raised.  I am in a part of the country where hardly no one knows about where I am from, much less where I went to College after High School.  

Now, I am in a PRAYER MEETING!  I have walked over a hundred and twenty miles to get here. I am joining with people praying for places in the world that I have a heart for.  I am wondering around their world map in this assembly area with about 100 other people who are standing over the places that they are focusing on.  While focusing our thoughts and requests in prayer, we all ask Jesus to save and minister those folks who live there!  And naturally I am going to bump into people because there are so many who are there.   They just happen to be doing the same thing as I am doing... 'walking and praying!"  

Then all of the sudden, I look up and I am moving from one country on the map to another and I almost bumped into a lady who is holding a National flag of the country that she is pouring our her heart for in prayer to Jesus!  At first, I did not notice it but it was the colors..., no... not the colors of the flag that she was holding but the colors of the shirt that she was wearing that got my attention!   So quietly, I shuffled over to her and whispered "War Eagle!" (well... I couldn't 'hep ma seff'!)  

At first she did not react at all but afterwards she came over and said the same thing back to me with a big grin on her face!  Evidently, we were the only two in the whole building who knew anything about the big orange AU she sported on her navy blue shirt!  To say the least, I felt right at home!  War Eagle and Praise the Lord!

Just to think about it!  One time Becky was in Midland looking for a certain address.  She got 'turned around' in some residential neighborhood and just stopped to ask two ladies who were talking to each other on the sidewalk.  She asked them where the particular address was that she was looking for and just 'by chance' Becky noticed one of the ladies accents.  It was distinctively "Southern" English!  These folks from the South know how to 'butter' their words!  So, Becky talked to her for a few minutes and discovered that she was from Alabama and had married someone from Midland that she attended Auburn University where I went to School my first two years of College.  And on top of that,  found out that she was 'suite mates' with my sister "Kim" who graduated from Auburn!  'Interesting' to say the least!  Both of these fine incidences took place in Midland, Michigan!  We like Midland!

War Eagle and Praise the Lord!

With my feet on the Ground

Simply Trey

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

Today, this man (My father in Law, 'Bill' Severance) who set the pace last Saturday from Bridgeport Saginaw Township is pointing the way as we set out from his house to the church in Freeland where we will have lunch and  pray for our City;  Dearborn!

Mark Kellogg and I as we head for Freeland...

It was pretty early this morning when we left out from the house after an awesome breakfast that Gran'ma "fixed" for us!  So the shadow that spread out in front of us as we headed West was a pretty neat sight!  This shadow was signaling that we were 'on our way!'

"Dad" Severance and Mark Kellogg Trekkin' on up the Road!

Surrounding Farmland between Saginaw and Freeland

Walking out of Saginaw Township

Beautiful Views on our Trek

How would you like to walk to the mailbox 'to get' the mail at this place? LOL!

Tittabawassee Bridge

We started out walking North on Center Road up to McCarty and then turned right up to Tittabawassee Road that intersected with Midland Road where this bridge was located.  From there we turned North again and headed up to Freeland.

It is just a memory... but Grace and I went fishing years ago, just to the right of this bridge when she was a little girl.  I don't know why it was just her and me but that is where we went fishing one time while we were visiting with Grandma and Grandpa Severance!

Mark is making his way... as we get closer to Freeland

Coming into Freeland

The scenery seems to be changing a bit as we get closer to Freeland.  Sidewalks are re-appearing which make it easier to traverse along!

This is actually a scary photo!

The picture of this millstone that we saw on our way over to Freeland reminds me of a sobering story that Jesus told!  He said that if anyone offends one of 'the little ones' that he considers precious to Him that it would be better for that person if a "millstone" would be hung around their necks and then thrown into the sea!  Wow...!  Just thinking about that gives me the "willies!"  I never thought of it that way... But how often do you see millstones laying around?  So I guess... 'Ima gonna thank about it!'  So walking can make you sober up... just from the things you see along the way!  I am so glad that knowing and relating to Jesus is not just some religious function but... "rilly is", real life!  This 'stone' and what it speaks is real life!   So 'I gotta' deal with it! 

With my feet on the Ground!

Simply Trey

I want to thank my daughter "Grace" for the 'upgrade' of the site as far as what it looks like!  

This is "Grace at work!"

She is awesome at this stuff!   She has an amazing eye for this!  In fact she has a site all her own that is called, "eye of grace!"  

The site for her work is found at ... http://studioofgrace.blogspot.com/  &

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Eye-of-Grace-Photography/150462044986810

Enjoy!

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