Rocks, Roots and Rain: The AT's Big Challenges

When we lived in Kenya back in the 1990s and early 2000s, every now and then down town Nairobi would be basically shut down due to rioting caused by students of the University of Nairobi.  Bob Calvert and I used to joke that it appeared some of the students must have joined the university to major in the "Three Rs" of "Running, Rock throwing and Rioting.

The main way we avoided the rioting down town when it occurred was to seek alternative routes out of town.  On one occasion back in 2000, I was expecting two young men, Bruce and Steve, to arrive at the airport around 10:00 p.m.  Renee and I were staying at a Guest House, which is located in the north of the city, and the airport is to the south.  The rioting that day had been especially bad and all of us were warned not to even think about venturing through the city.  So I left the guest house early enough, I thought, to make it to the airport in time via alternate routes.  Boy, was I proved wrong!  Every other driver in Nairobi, or so it seemed, had the same idea, and thus the traffic jam on those smaller streets was horrible.  Soon I realized I'd never make it to the airport in time.  What to do?

So I called Bob and some others on my vehicle's HF radio and told them I was going to plow through down town and to be praying for me.  I'll never forget the sights I saw as I zipped and zagged through the carnage on Nairobi's major artery.  Buses and cars were burning, windshield glass was all over the road, and there was all sorts of evidence that a big battle had taken place that day between the police, students, and perhaps others who sought to join in the mayhem for whatever reason.

I made it to the airport and walked into the Arrivals area just as Bruce and Steve walked out of Customs.  Afterwards we drove right back through the city, and contrary to my instructions regarding keeping their heads down to prevent being hit by a thrown rock, the guys hung their heads out the vehicle's windows and stared at what certainly looked like a war zone.

Well, now that I am on the AT, the "Three Rs" Adam and I are constantly having to deal with are: Rocks, Roots and Rain.  If the trail did not have so many rocks the energy and endurance required to walk it would probably require only %40 of what is actually demanded.  AND we have been told that it only gets worse starting in PA all the way to Vermont.  What???

So at this point I feel like I did after making the U-turn on that Nairobi street, and calling for prayer cover after reaching the decision that my only choice was to plow through the chaos caused by the "Three Rs."  Thus I am requesting that you pray for us as we plow ahead through these particular challenges.

Pray that our feet will remain strong and healthy.  Pray that we will make thousands of good, split second decisions each day regarding where to place our feet.  Pray that when the rains soak us, our clothes and our gear, that we will not grumble and lose heart; but rather embrace such conditions with a cheerful mindset.

Above all, pray that I personally will at all points keep uppermost in mind that this hike is about raising awareness of the plight of our South Sudanese brethren.  My challenges are self-imposed.  I could leave the AT whenever I choose and return to a comfortable home. Their plight has been imposed on them.  Such a condition is much worse that the "Three Rs" many times over.

David Crane

First Trail Report

Adam and I have made it to Front Royal, VA and are staying in a hostel tonight. So it is my first chance to post.

We are doing very well. We have stuck to the hiking plan Adam had predetermined and that on average is around 10 miles.  We have decided on the trail names: Uncle and Nephew.  Not very original, but relevant to our context.

God willing, we will attend an early church service and then head back to the AT. Our next stop will be in Harper's Ferry. There we will stay with friends we met in Uganda who, like us, are now living in the USA.

Thanks for praying. God is definitely blessing. One example relates to the two instances we lost site of the trail. On both occasions we immediately ran into someone who could direct us. The trail is 2,181 miles long so what are the odds? Providence of God for sure.

He is risen!

David Crane

The Toughest Part of the AT Hike

This picture was taken of Renee and me in 1979 in the yard of the old home place on Old Post Rd.  We were 23 years old and had been married going on 5 years.  Every time I look at a picture from that era I think of the book title "We Were Soldiers Once... And Young,"  Yep, we were indeed once young.  Isn't that gal gorgeous?  Thirty eight years later she still is the most beautiful woman I have ever met.

Through the years she bore me three healthy, beautiful children, and in our later years we are enjoying our four grandchildren.  Being married to me has forced her to literally move halfway around the world.  It's tough to even count the number of moves we have made.  Each move presented her with a new set of challenges: new neighbors, pursuit of new friends, finding another church family, a new culture, one new language (Swahili), and the list goes on.

At one time or another we have lived in all sorts of dwellings.  Our first year of marriage was spent living in a motel room in Maggie Valley.  Later on we lived in a 35 foot camper for 4 years.  The list includes: mobile homes, apartments, a flea infested house, and houses in Kenya surrounded by Maasai neighbors and lots of both domestic (cows) and wild animals.  Go to the Maasai Mara to see the wildebeest migration?  No need, we use to watch them run by the hundreds right by our house!

Through all the moves and their various challenges, she never ceased to amaze me with her ability to adapt.  She turned each new living situation into a real home.  She learned to cook dishes whose origins hail from at least a dozen different countries.  The list of life long friends she has accumulated via her vivacious spirit and compassionate heart is very long.  Many Maasai friends remember her as the woman whose Southern accent made it tough for them to understand, but they knew she loved them through all the meals and acts of kindness she performed on their behalf.

When one talks with others of hiking the entire Appalachian Trail, generally speaking the topics that are quickly mentioned deal with the challenges of the trail itself: steep trails, blisters, animal encounters, ticks, etc.  Sure, those things are realities and have to be accounted for, but they pale in comparison when laid side by side with the thought of being far from Renee for such an extended time.

So why do it?  Because Renee and I both have met so many South Sudanese women who are now widows.  Their husbands were killed in some scenario, and afterwards they were forced to flee their home and all that was familiar to seek refuge in another land.  Along the way some of them lost children.  Some were raped.  All saw and heard things that will leave scars for life; both on them and their children.  The list of daily challenges living as refugees forces upon them is daunting.

Such women and their children need to hear the same Good News of Jesus which has transformed mine and Renee's lives.  They need to know that there is a loving, gracious, sovereign God who can give them a future and a hope.  In short, they need to have access to God's Word so they can enter into a personal relationship with the only One who can wipe away all tears, conquer all fears, and enable them to know the joy associated with the promise of Jesus, "I have come that they might have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."

Please donate to Hiking to Help Refugees, so that we might have the means to supply more S. Sudanese refugees the opportunity to read or hear God's Word.  That goal is worthy of much sacrifice.  It won't be easy, but then again Jesus never promised us easy.  He just promised to be with us every step of the way.

Remember, you can donate online or by sending a check directly to Calvary Road Ministry.  Just make the check out to "Calvary Road Ministry" and earmark it for "Hiking to Help Refugees."  Mail it to: CRM, 4100 Fulton Road, Corryton, TN  37721.

Jay Mundy and Mission Aviation

The picture is of David with Jay Mundy standing in front of  one of the flight simulators Jay uses for instructing/certifying pilots with Dynamic Aviation.
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As Renee and I traveled to Harrisonburg, VA on Friday April 7, we received a most pleasant surprise.  Susan Mundy called to say that she and Jay lived in Harrisonburg and wanted to visit us while we were there.

Wow, my first trail related visit and I haven't even started walking yet!

Renee and I moved to Entebbe in November of 2009, after agreeing to take on a leadership position which would see us responsible for supervising personnel in 4 countries, and working with the national convention in one other (Burundi).  Little did we know at the time how important a role mission aviation was going to play in our lives and ministry.

The Mundys moved into a rental house just a stone's throw from ours in 2010 and stayed there until AIM moved their operation to Arua.  Before they moved, we attended the same house church, shared a lot of meals, swapped a lot of stories, prayed with and for each other, and flew several times into South Sudan with Jay.  In short, Susan, Renee, Jay and I became good friends.

Like every pilot I personally flew with, Jay had served as a pilot for many years before sensing a call to serve by flying personnel around the African Continent.  Jay was different than most in that he had already put in a career with the US Air Force.

When the current conflict began in South Sudan, Jay's role became even more strategic for our teams living and serving on the ground there.  Our teams were able to stay in place, first of all by the grace of God, but secondly because we knew our fearless AIM Air pilot friend, Jay Mundy, was on standby should things go sideways.  He and I talked often during those days, and the only thing he asked of our teams was that they call him before the bullets started flying.  At times the S. Sudanese government put out a temporary ban on all air travel.  When I heard of the first ban, I called Jay and asked if that would prevent him from going to rescue our guys should they holler for help.  His answer let me know that our guys could rest in the knowledge Jay would do whatever it took, as long as they always bore in mind that he also had a wife and children.

Jay now has a job with Dynamic Aviation of Bridgewater, VA.  The company is one he is very proud to be affiliated with.  He now does a lot of training in addition to flying; his second love after Susan and his kids.  Renee and I are were so pleased to hear how our Lord has guided their steps since they left the field.

The Power of Legacy: What Compels You # 3

The picture is of my mom, Mary Etta, and my step dad, John (Jack) Wesley Stephenson.  Yeah, as his name implies, he has been a life long member of the Methodist Church.  They are members of the First United Methodist Church of Cherryville, and mom still plays the organ for them.  She would have retried by now, but whenever the subject comes up, the reaction that ensues can only be compared to what happens when a rock band plays their last song at a live concert.  If you have attended one you know what I mean.  The audience all stand and cry out "play more!" until the group returns to the stage.

Mom was a self-employed piano and organ teacher during most of her working life, and had the pleasure of training a host of men and women who went on to excel in various music related vocations.  My brother and I were not among that "host."  Mom required us to take piano lessons for a minimum of 5 years when we were kids, aged 8-13.  After 5 years we had the option to continue or opt out.  We both opted for football!  Mom received some great advice from colleagues, "do not try to teach your own children."  She followed that advice.  Good move mom!  Raising two rowdy, rough-and-tumble boys on your own was hard enough without throwing that into the mix.

Yeah, my mom had to raise us alone because her first husband died when I was age two and my brother only a few weeks old.  She remained a widow for going on 40 years before remarrying.  How I thank God He brought Jack into her life.  He is a class act.  He has added so much to my life personally, and to the life of our family at large.

Mom and Jack now live with us in a mother-in-law suite connected to our house.  When God was ready for their personal house to sell, he sent a neighbor lady to knock on their door and ask "I hear you want to sell your house.  May I buy it?"  The papers were signed a few days later.  Yep, God is still in the real estate business (got that line from Nathan Cothen of Beaumont, TX).

The last time I climbed Mt. Kenya (17,000 plus feet in elevation) with my youngest two kids, the going got tough for me on the home stretch.  When approaching the top, the slope is not only extremely steep, but it is very cold.  Plus one tackles the last stretch after waking up a 1:00 a.m. so he/she can be on top for the sunrise.  What helped me to get to the top was envisioning mom and Jack standing in front of me, encouraging me not to give up.  Sound weird?  Maybe.  But I swear I could hear their voices. And it worked! What a glorious sunrise that was.

They will celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary while I am doing my thru hike of the AT.  I want them and the world to know just how much the power of their example as individuals and a couple has meant to me.  They have exemplified in a multitude of ways, which space does not allow me to wax eloquent on, what it means to be God fearing, other-focused servants.

So Jack, you might be walking around these days at times with the aid of a walker and cane, but know that in a way that is real to me, you and mom will also be making this AT hike with me.  If nothing else, the power of your life's legacy will supply the power my feeble legs will need on many a steep slope.

Remember, you can sponsor me on this AT thru hike by sponsoring me at X amount per mile walked.  The AT is 2,181 miles long.  Or you can make a one time donation.  Checks made out to "Calvary Road Ministry" and earmarked for "Hiking to Help Refugees" should be mailed to: CRM, 4100 Fulton Rd., Corryton, TN  37721.  Or donate on line at: https://www.generosity.com/faith-religion-fundraising/hiking-to-help-refugees/x/16376073 

The Tables are Turned: Adam Grew Up!

The first picture was taken approximately 33 years ago when Adam was a baby.  You can tell it was long ago as well by the fact that I have a head full of hair and do not weigh around 200 lb.  How about those circa mid-1980s glasses?

Adam's father is my only brother, Stephen.  His mom is Kim Austell Crane.  During Adam's childhood, his dad moved them around a few times while working for Carolina Freight Carriers.  They moved back to our home town just a few years before we moved to Kenya in 1993.  They built a house right beside my mom and great aunt, which was a blessing from the Lord.  They supported us %100 all those years we lived overseas, and were an extremely important part of our personal lives and ministry team.  They came to visit us in Kenya around 2001, and Adam and my two sons had fun together.  We enjoyed showing them some of Kenya's most beautiful sites. 

But as you can see from this second picture, Adam grew UP to be a big man like his dad.  Dare I say a 210 pound plus on a 6 ft. 2 in. frame man.  Uncle David will not be carrying him around anymore, that's for sure!

Adam spent the last 4 years teaching English to children in South Korea.  He just returned to the home town on April 3.  Since then he has, like me, been scrambling to complete tons of last minute
preparations.  He has, however, been preparing for this AT hike for around 10 months.  That's great news for me because it means he will be our navigator on the AT, having studied well the ATC Trail Guide, and having read the blog entries of others who have successfully navigated an AT thru hike.

So now it's time for Adam to carry me.  Sure, not physically pick me up and haul me around.  However, I have a feeling there are times ahead where he will hear his uncle begging for help with this or that.  Plus if any rough and threatening characters impose themselves on us, it will be my absolute pleasure to stand behind his massive frame and say "better not mess with us if you know what's good for you!  Right Adam?"

Please write our names down in your prayer journal and pray for our health and safety.  Pray that we will enjoy all the sights and people we will encounter along the way.  Pray that whenever one is down, the other will be up and willing to handle whatever extra burden might be required that day.

Remember, you can sponsor me on this thru hike at X amount per mile.  The AT is 2,181 miles long.  Or you can make a one time donation.  A check made out to Calvary Road Ministry, and earmarked for "Hiking to Help Refugees" can be mailed to: CRM, 4100 Fulton Rd., Corryton, TN  37721.  Or you can donate online at https://www.generosity.com/faith-religion-fundraising/hiking-to-help-refugees/x/16376073.

David Crane

Turning Trauma into Triumph; What Compels You? # 2

The picture is of Gary Price Adams, born May 2, 1963 and died on May 2, 2004.  He is surrounded by some of the nieces and nephews who absolutely adored "Uncle Gary."

My in-laws, Dare and Morris Adams, had four birth children and then adopted 3 boys.  Gary was the eldest of the latter 3.

Gary loved sports and played linebacker on Cherryville High School's varsity team.


Gary joined the US Army not long after graduating from high school.  During the final year of his first stint, he and his unit were based in Germany.  In the final days of his deployment, he was on medical leave following a simple medical procedure that required some down time.  His intent was to sign up for a second tour of duty while on base.

One night while on leave, he and 3 friends went off base in a car owned by one of the other fellows.  The car had no seat belts in the back where Gary and another guy were sitting. While returning to their barracks, and on base, they topped a hill and came upon military truck doing a U-turn.  They slammed into the side of the big truck.  The two men in the front died from their injuries.  The other fellow in the back with Gary was paralyzed for some time, but ultimately recovered the use of his limbs.  Gary's only real injury was a break in his spine at the base of his neck.  He remained a quadriplegic until the time of his death, almost 20 years later.

Gary's condition required that my in-laws, and everyone else in the family, learn as much as possible about how to care for someone in his condition.  He had a great support system, including not only family and close friends, but also from the V.A.  He was enabled to build a house designed just perfectly for wheel chair access.  He was supplied with a motorized wheel chair with the features which matched the very limited ability he had in his arms.  He ultimately even acquired a van equipped so that he could drive it.

During his short life, Gary Adams was as beloved as anyone I have known.  Now things could have played out differently.  Had he allowed his circumstances to make him bitter and hard, his life, and the lives of those who loved him, would certainly have been much different.

Gary had received Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior before the accident. After it, of course after wrestling with all the feelings and thoughts associated with coming to terms with his condition, he came to find peace and purpose as a result of the power of the grace and mercy of His Lord in his life.

Gary's house was always open to his large family.  He lavished love and gifts on his nieces and nephews.  They loved to hang out with him.  He really and truly became a center piece of the family.  By the grace of God, his traumatic experience resulted in triumph.  I do not mean to imply that his life was rosy every day, or that he did not continue to experience physical pain and mental anguish.  However, it is no exaggeration to say that Gary's life exemplified the truth of Romans 8:28, which says, "We know that in everything God works for the good with those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose" (RSV).

Why am I thinking about Gary as I approach the start date of my thru hike of the AT?  Because I and my family have seen up close and personal how the Word and grace of God can transform what the devil would like to twist and use for evil purposes, into something beautiful and edifying.

The forces of evil would like to use the conditions our South Sudanese refugee brethren are living in to produce a generation of bitter, hardhearted people.  That is why we must do all we can to supply them with access to the Word of God, and Bible based training, so that their current traumatic experience can also ultimately result in a triumph of God's grace, one person at a time.

Remember, you can sponsor me on my AT thru hike at X amount per mile, or make a one time donation.  The AT is 2,181 miles long.  A check made out to "Calvary Road Ministry" and earmarked "Hiking to Help Refugees" should be mailed to: CRM,4100 Fulton Road, Corryton, TN  37721.  Or you can donate on line at www.generosity.com.  Just look for my fund raiser, "Hiking to Help Refugees."  All donations are tax deductible via the nonprofit, Calvary Road Ministry.