Uncle Cam

The greatest missionary is the Bible in the mother tongue. It needs no furlough & is never considered a foreigner." Cam Townsend"

This quote helps point out why we are working so hard to get Scripture into the hands of our refugee brethren.

 

BTW, Cam founded Wycliffe Bible,  the #1 mission aimed at translating the Bible.

 

Uncle

 

Options for Giving

 Now that I, David Crane, aka Uncle, have chosen to stop my attempt of an Appalachian Trial thru hike after 1,652 miles, I know it is important for me to summarize for everyone who is interested in making a donation to Hiking to Help Refugees how their donation can be made.

 I set up an online option for giving with Generosity.com and the url or link for this site is https://www.generosity.com/faith-religion-fundraising/hiking-to-help-refugees.  This same link can be accessed on the Hiking to Help Refugees Face Book fan page we set up by clicking on the "Learn More" button found on the top of that page. 

 I set this particular giving option up mostly to facilitate the smaller gifts which would be made, since there is a %5 handling fee attached to using this service.  That fee, by the way, is pretty much this particular industry's standard fee.  I also set it up to make it easier for certain folks to give, i.e. young adults who no longer write personal checks, for people living outside of the USA, and for people I knew I would meet along the way on my hike who expressed interest in making a donation.  Also I knew that one purpose in having a Face Book page would be to help encourage giving, and the best way to make that happen via FB was to place a link on the page.  Up to this point, $7,515 has been given via Generosity, so that aspect of our plan has worked out well.

However, since there is a handling fee, I would encourage all of you who have been waiting until I completed my hike to make your donation to give by check.  The check should be made out to

Calvary Road Ministry.  The check should be earmarked "Hiking to Help Refugees."  The mailing address is: CRM, 4100 Fulton Road, Corryton, TN 37721.  A tax deductible receipt will be issued by CRM early in January of 2018 via the office of the CPA which CRM utilizes.

As I mentioned in a previous blog, the total number of miles I walked is 1,652.  Based on the last financial report I received from Deloris Anderson, CRM's treasurer, the amount which has been received thus far is just over $28,000.  I am extremely grateful to every person, church and group who have given thus far.  Yet if we are to reach the goal I believe the Lord laid on my heart at the beginning of this venture, we still have far to go. 

Thus I thought it well to mention some of the fund raising ideas which I have heard of others doing for this cause, or for others.

1. The Outdoor Blessings Bible Study raised funds by cooking and selling food.  Since the class is made up of hunters, they cooked up various types of game meat with side dishes.  Their goal was to raise $2,189, which they did, through the proceeds of the cooking event, plus donations from class members.

2. A group of young men connected to a local church in our home town will carry out a fund raising golf tournament on October 21. 

3. Alan McAlister told me about one plan which worked well in his Clovis, NM church.  It involves marking 150 envelopes starting with the number 1 to 150.  The basic idea is that if 150 individuals or couples pick up at least one envelope and donate the amount specified on it, the total reaches to $10,000.  And the beauty of it is that no one has to give more than $150.  This plan points out the beauty of shared sacrifice.  This means of fund raising was usually connected to a meal and program, after which folks were encouraged to choose an envelope.

4. The youth group of a local Methodist church took a group out to hike on the AT for a weekend.  Each youth got church members to sponsor them per mile.  Some members just gave a donation irrespective of miles walked.  They ended up raising almost $2,800.

As I have mentioned from the beginning, these funds will be used to carry out the following ministries.

   * Purchase the midsize Proclaimer from Faith Comes by Hearing of

Albuquerque, NM.  This is an MP4 player which has a speaker with a capacity for up to 75-100 people to hear at one time.  We load each one with a New Testament in 4 different S. Sudanese languages.  The cost of each unit, with shipping included, is about $53.  These have to be carried out in our luggage.

   * We also purchase SD cards on which we load NTs in a Sudanese language, and any other form of evangelistic/discipleship material available in digital format in that language.  This generally includes the Jesus Film and materials produced by Global Recordings Network.  The SD cards can be used in cell phones.  

   * We will also use some of the funds donated to help us pay for on the ground training events.  Our next one will take place in Kenya at the end of October and the first few days of November.  Those who will be trained are housed in the

  Kakuma Refugee Camp.  It will cost approximately $15,000 to carry out this event.  We plan on training 29 women and 17 pastors.  This figure pays for their food, lodging and transport between the camp and the venue, as well as the MAF flight bill for the American team members and much of their lodging as well.

   * Lastly, if $100K is raised, we will also purchase more of the two story cloths.  The two cloths include the original one having 42 pictures depicting 42 stories from Genesis to Luke 24, and the newer Acts cloth which has 30 pictures.  These cloths play a key role in the on-the-ground training events we carry out, and are especially effective in training a population segment which is primarily illiterate or functionally so.  The response to such training done among S. Sudanese, Maasai, and other people groups has been outstanding.

If you would like for either Renee or I to speak to your group so as to help your fund raiser please contact us ASAP so we can make a plan.  Another way for us to give a brief presentation to your group would be via a Skype video call, or using some similar internet based software.

Thanks again for your prayers, the interest you have shown already in this worthy cause, and for any and all effort you will put forth in the future to enable us to help our S. Sudanese brethren who are suffering, but are still gospel centered and passionate about reaching their fellow countrymen for Christ.

 Uncle

Uncle's Last day and NIght on the Trail

                                                                                                          

Gooch Mountain Shelter

As you know by now, I reached Springer Mountain, the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail (AT) on Saturday, Sept. 9.

On the 7th I hiked from Neel Gap, which is at mile marker 31.4 if one is hiking north from Springer, to the Gooch Mountain Shelter which is located at MM 15.8.  In the process I hiked over the beautiful Blood Mountain.  I had heard from a number of north bound hikers how tough    climbing this mountain would be, but in comparison what I had already experienced up north, it turned out not to be much of a challenge.    However the views were great and I was pleasantly surprised to see just how beautiful North Georgia really is.   While on the top I met a man a bit older than I am whose wife started working for the IMB in August of 2016.  Small world!

As I approached the Gooch

Gooch Mountain Shelter

Mountain Shelter, I debated with myself as to whether to pass it and camp alone further south, or to spend my last night in a shelter where I would be more likely to be with other people.  I opted for the shelter and it proved to be a great choice for my last night on the AT.

First of all, a guy named Matt pulled in around 7:00 p.m. who was a classic example of an over-packer.    He must have been carrying a good 75 pounds.  His pack alone weighed 12 lbs and was military surplus.  Fortunately he was the kind of guy who can dish it out and take it, so I had a lot of fun with him.  What made the situation even better was the fact that a 24 year old thru hiker named Robert entered the shelter around 7:30.  He started at Mt. Katahdin on June 4 and did the whole AT in 98 days.  Robert and I laid it on thick as Matt pulled various items out of his pack, i.e. 6 lbs. of powered milk; 6-8 lbs of a powered protein shake mix, and an assortment of items he chose to carry "just in case" they might be needed.  The laughter and ensuing banter were like medicine for my soul.  The next morning before I left the shelter,  I asked Matt to put my pack on his back so he could feel the difference.  The look on his face was priceless!  I only wish I had asked Robert to stand nearby ready to take a picture when Matt hefted it on to his back.

During the evening, I asked Robert what his plans were after  

Robert

  arriving at Springer Mountain.  Given that the remains of Hurricane Irma were expected to hit that area of GA on Sunday night, I figured he would have somebody picking him up.  However his answer let me know he had no real plan since it involved catching a bus to Tampa, FL; an area currently being hit hard by Irma.  So I told him my wife would be meeting me and that we would be happy to carry him to a place where he could catch a bus to another destination.

 I left the shelter for Springer before Robert, but he caught up with me about 5 miles before we reached the end.  My thinking was if I beat him there Renee and I would have some time to ourselves for making pictures and a video.  However, in retrospect, I am glad Robert caught me because I really enjoyed the conversation we had as we traversed those last miles.  I sent Renee a text message upon leaving the shelter, asking her to bring food for two and alerting her that we might have a passenger on the way home.

Well, we ended up bringing Robert home with us, after we discovered he had an aunt and uncle living in a town only 2 hours from where we live.  That allowed us to learn more of his background, hear more stories of his epic thru hike, and shower some love on a fine young man.  And while ultimately I would have preferred to finish at Springer with Nephew, finishing with Robert and getting that extra time with him was, I believe, a God-given gift which acted as the best possible substitute.  I carried him to the bus station on Sunday afternoon after we attended a church service and fed him a big lunch.  

Providing Robert with that "trail magic" made the whole act of finishing my own hike easier and even more special.

On Monday afternoon, Renee and I traveled to Ridgecrest where we attended a meeting held every 5 years the IMB puts on for emeritus personnel.  We returned home on Thursday afternoon, and in part that is why I am delayed in sending out this update.  During the first day of the meeting, on several occasions, people who have known me for 25 years passed me without recognizing who I was, until they saw Renee sitting with me.  I enjoyed immensely the look on their faces, and the ensuring words of affirmation from people I have respected for years was like balm to my weary soul. 

Here are some basic facts pertaining to my AT hike.

   a. I ended up hiking 1,652 miles in 104 days

   b. I started on April 9 and finished on Sept 9, taking 40 days off after I left the AT on June 4 in 

Vermont.  Two weeks were given to healing up from celluitis and shin splints and the majority of the other days were focused on visiting grandchildren.

   c. I ended up with an average of 15.8 miles walked per day.  In the process I put some serious wear and tear on 4 different pairs of hiking shoes, finishing up in the same brand 

of North Face I started with.  Other than shoes and shoe inserts, all other equipment survived and performed well.

   d. I know I was blessed with the support of a small army of prayer supporters.  Various old friends and family members provided much welcomed help at critical times, and I am extremely grateful for each person.  

   e. Renee's first cousin, Ron Ritchie, did an outstanding job of making my blog and trail update       entries look so much better.  His involvement and input proved invaluable from start to finish. 

Uncle

Brothers and Sisters,

David finished his trek to provide Bibles for those forced from their homes in South Sudan.  Now comes the time for us to do our part.  Below you will find a short video Uncle wants each of you to see.  Please click on the link...

https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipOmbGmtd91n7ZebwggRfAsZA8Q2J1FTFyFtPCA

We all know that we are trying to spread God's word, but have you asked yourself "how much do I know about God's word"?  Below you will find a little trivia game.  

                                                                           

As you can tell I included the answers and that is our goal.  To provide the answers for people who are looking to know their creator.  

Choose to Be Blessed....

Over 60 crowd

      In past weeks I have typed up several blog entries about men and women who at the age of 60+ years were willing to take on new and bigger-than-ever Gospel centered ventures, i.e. John Shepherd and CRM.

     Well as much as I loved John, and do love Blaine and Deloris Anderson and Alan and Peggy

Blaine Anderson, Josiah Mwesha and Simeon ole Litik

McAlister, my #1 hero in the 60+ crowd is a short, unassuming Maasai of Kenya named Simeon ole Litik.

 

     There are so many wonderful stories one could write about the exploits of this brother that indeed a novella would be required. I wish Simeon's son-in-law, and my dear friend, Richard Ntekese, would undertake such a project. I know I would pay good money to buy and read it.

 

     I will relate one as briefly as I can. Around 2001, Herb Cady invited Blaine to travel to 

Marlal, Kenya, where he was working among the Samburu, and bring Simeon and Josiah Mwesha, so they could share the Gospel with older Samburu men. Herb had heard of the success Blaine had been having among older Maassi men, and since the Maassi and Samburu are so close linguistically and culturally, Herb figured they could have an impact.

 

     The road between Nairobi and Marlal was at the time so bad I chose to fly those 3 there. Upon there arrival at the dirt air strip, Herb told Simeon and the others an interesting story; one that would play a very important rile in what would happen in the next few days.

 

     Herb related that the Kenyan government had recently made good on their threat to evict all Samburu families living on the reserve the government had set aside in Samburu-land for a national park. Thus hundreds of Samburu families were at that time scrambling to find another place to live.

 

     When those displaced men heard some older Maasai men were coming to visit, they said to Herb "maybe they are coming to remove the curse of our common ancestor from us.". As I recall, I do not think Herb fully understood the meaning of that statement, but he figured Simeon would.

 

     So as Herb drove his visitors to his house, he relayed this piece of info. Sure enough, Simeon then told all in the car the full story as it had been passed down from one generation to another.

 

     At this point in time, here on the AT, I cannot remember all of  

the story's details. However the major facts are these. The Maasai and Samburu had a common ancestor. The mother of all Samburu was this man's second wife. The son's of this wife did something which greatly angered their father. So the elder sent off the wife and her children and pronounced a curse upon them as he did so. The curse involved a number of factors, but one prominent feature stated that they should be wanderers on the earth without a final home. Now one can see the strong connection to the Samburu's current context of being forced off their land.

 

     So after dropping off his guests at his house, Herb traveled to a particular place and made a plan with locals for Samburu elders to gather there to greet the Maassi and hear the message they had brought.

 

     The venue was on a hillside and on the appointed day for the meeting the hill was covered with

red shukas ( blankets), the standard outerwear of Samburu and Maasai. 

 

     When Simeon spoke, he in essence told them they had not come to remove the curse of their common ancestor, but rather to bring news about how the Samburu could escape from the consequences of the only curse they need really fear: the curse which God Almighty has pronounced on sin, sinners and even on creation.

 

     Simeon then preached the gospel by explaining the basic story line of the Bible, culminating with the perfect life, death and resurrection of Jesus. The response of the Samburu hearers was overwhelming.

 

     Simeon was a consistent 60+ year old example of being ready "in season and out of season" to go wherever God sent him to share the Good News. And for the 11 years I was blessed to minister alongside him, he consistently challenged me by his passion and willingness.

Uncle

 

 

Update : 9-5-17

     Wanted to let everyone know that yesterday I walked 16 mi between Deep Gap, MM 2104.7, and 

Dick's Creek Gap, MM 2120.5.

     I got off around 4:30 due to the weather report Renee sent. The Top of GA Hostel was only a one

half mike walk so I headed there about 1 hour before the bottom of the sky fell out. All last night was heavy rain and a lot of thunder. So glad Renee was able to send a text telling of the anticipated hour of the storm's start.

 

     Will just have to see what happens tomorrow, but my intent is     

be walking by 8:00. 

 

      I have read online some of the news about Irma. Scary stuff. 

 

      I have included photos Uncle took of a painting @ Top of GA Hostel. 

 

                                                      

 

 

Uncle

 

 

 

 

Lokichoggio

     Today is Sept 4 and Renee and I are in Franklin, NC. Since Saturday she has been enabling me to "slack pack.". She will return home on Tuesday.

     Slack packing is the term which refers to a long distance hiker carrying a small load/pack because they have lined up a plan involving someone dropping them off on the AT in the morning and picking them in the afternoon at a prearranged spot. Obviously it enables the hiker to walk further and with greater ease, but it also makes it possible for him/her to turn what would be very big climbs into big descents, i.e. hike north for a day instead of south.

     So after I hike the 20 mi between Deep Gap and Rock Gap

   today, which I will do N to S, I will have only 85 mi remaining to Springer Mtn. This should mean I will finish next Saturday or Sunday.

     I think my total mileage hiked at that point will be 1,652. My plan now is to conclude my hike at Springer, return home and focus on the fund raiser, as well as the logistics connected to our next trip which will occur Oct.23- Nov.6.

    That trip will take us to the extreme NW of Kenya to the town of Lokichoggio. There we will carry out another training for refugee pastors and women who reside in the Kakuma Camp. There will be 10 of us flying out altogether, and we will carry in our luggage all the MP4 players we have been enabled to purchase via your giving to "Hiking to Help..."

    The ministry from which we will purchase the MP4 players is call Faith Comes by Hearing and they are based in Albuquerque. Their representative I deal with has said for a big order they will need at least 3-4 weeks to load the players with the Sudanese languages we request.

    I have once again sent in a request to In Touch for 400  of their MP4 players. We took out 200 in Jan of this year. Join us in praying they will at least give us another 200. Their player is preloaded with messages by Charles Stanley as well as with the NT, Psalms and Proverbs, all in English. We can then add the NT in a Sudanese language on an SD card.

    Finally, for this blog entry, we have once again been granted a $2,500  

donation by the Chic-Fil-A Foundation toward buying Scripture for refugees. 

Uncle

.

     Most of us have had the day off from work, some have done some yard work,

covered our pools, seen a movie.  Most of us….

    Uncle, however, is trekking on toward his goal of providing Bibles for those in the South Sudan who were run from their homes by soldiers and fighting and did not have time to grab their copy of God’s word as they ran to safety with their children, most likely not to see their home(house) again.  

    These refugees weren’t worried about doing yardwork today, or making homemade ice cream.  They are worried about having enough food for their families, not covering their pool.  Uncle has around 85 miles left until he reaches Springer Mountain and his/our goal.  Unfortunately, that is the first part of our goal.  Yes, our goal.  We share that goal with Uncle and his effort to promote awareness of the state of the South Sudanese Refugees, you know, the ones not grilling out steaks today.  

    You and I and Uncle are nearing the end of this overwhelming endeavor to shed light on the need of God’s creation on the other side of the planet.  Yes you and I. My request of you today is simple, share this post and ask your FB friends to share this post.  Do you understand the growth of numbers and how the more who see, the more that can help and be a part of this eternal blessing.

      I know for the last 2 weeks we have been watching devastation in Texas.  I have dear friends there who have lost their homes, and have no place to live.  Sounds familiar doesn’t it.  While most of us have had our phones by our sides on this day off from labor, and

we read this post, request, we still don’t share these posts on FB.  

 

     Please step up and share this need, this need that will make a difference in Heaven and eternity. 

Be Blessed

Ron             

                                                                      

Blog: Outdoor Blessings SS Class

A number of years ago, Ed Beam and other men who live in Cherryville, NC came together to form a Sunday School class aimed at drawing in men who love to fish and hunt.  

  They chose as the venue for the class the sporting goods store known as the Great Outdoors.

     Over the years, this group of men have taken on various projects aimed at drawing in men and boys who love to hunt and fish, and in the process share the Gospel with them. 

     Ed is a pharmacist and avid hunter. I reckon he has traveled to more

places to hunt and fish as any other man I know. However, as passionate as he is for such sports, he is more passionate about winning men and boys for the gospel. So through the years he has done a great job at combining those two passions for the sake of the Gospel.

     Over the last two years, Ed has invited me to join him for deer hunting on the lease land he has in AL.  While with Ed and two other brothers in early February of this year, I reached the final decision to accept Nephew's invitation to join him on his AT thru hike.  I appreciated greatly how they joined me in praying about the whole matter, and their obvious enthusiasm for such a venture. 

     Before Nephew and I started our hike in early April, Ed lined it up for me to speak to the Outdoor Blessings Class and he sponsored a dinner at the Cherryville Community Center where I presented to all in attendance just what Hiking to Help Refugees was about. Over $3,000 was given at the latter event. He also helped me to get an interview on a local radio station where once again I was granted the chance to talk about my background in East Africa and share how that produced in me a passion to help the suffering South Sudanese church while in exile due to war.  Lastly, Ed and another class member, Tony Abernathy, came up with the idea to produce T-shirts bearing the logo of Hiking to Help Refugees. A number of them were sold and the profit given to the cause.

     Last week, Ed and the members of his group put on a fund raiser that centered on selling to the public various types of wild game meat, along with various side dishes. Their goal was to raise $2,189 which would equal the # of miles of a complete thru hike of the AT. I am sure they will accomplish their goal. 

     So today I am thanking God for Ed's support and encouragement, as well as for all the others in the class who stood with him in their various fund raising efforts. Thanks guys! May the Lord bless and reward you as only He can. 

Uncle