Update: Great Smoky Mountain National Park to the Nantahala Outdoor Center

   I came off the AT yesterday, Aug 30, at the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) after descending there from the top of Cheoah Bald Mountain. Given the weather forecast,  it just seemed prudent. So I will not walk Thurs-Fri. God willing I will resume early Sat a.m.  I now am only 137 miles from Springer Mountain in GA.

 

     I was helped greatly by Blaine Anderson, Danny and Dena Dorminey and Thomas Watson in my traverse of the Great Smokey Mountain Park. Guys, please receive my sincere thanks.

 

   

   Blaine picked me up at the Standing Bear Hostel on the north end of the park and carried me to Pigeon Forge where I stayed in the Dorminey's garage apartment. The next day, after she fed me and did my laundry, Dena carried me to the Newfound Gap so that I could hike north back to where Blaine picked me up. Then Thomas and Blaine met me at the same hostel and carried me back to the Dorminey home. Next morning Danny returned me to Newfound and I continued hiking south. They fed me well along the way so I had plenty of energy for that stretch of the AT. Had few good views in the park due to cloud cover. However I did see 3 bears in the park. I saw another one not far from the Fontana Dam bringing the count to 18 bears. 

 

     While in the park I ran into Tree Walker, a 21 year old thru hiker who passed me and Nephew in PA. He will finish the whole trail when he gets to Springer. We stayed in one shelter together so I was happy to hear his stories of how things went for him in NH and ME. 

 

     Walking over the Fontana Dam and arriving at the NOC were big psychological moments for me. I had been looking forward to those land marks for a long time.

 

     I was helped by Brody Holloway and some interns from the Snowbird Wilderness Outfitters (SWO) of Andrews, NC as I hiked between Stecoah Gap and Cheoah Bald Mtn. Brody sent two female interns to bring me food where the AT crosses NC 146 @ Stecoah. They helped me lighten my pack by carrying back to SWO every item I chose to remove. So my climb and descent of Cheoah was so much easier. Thanks Brody, Julia and Jimmy!  BTW, the view from the Cheoah Bald is outstanding!

 

     As I close this update, I ask all readers to remember in prayer our brethren who live in Beaumont, TX(outside Houston).  We partnered with the Calvary Baptist Church of that city for years and count many people there as dear friends.  Those with whom we have been able to communicate are OK but I am sure their lives are going to be different for a long time.

Uncle

 

 

Hiking wit the Secretary of the Interior

                                                                   
     Today is August 30 and I had Renee pick me up at the Nantahala Outdoor Center so I could avoid today's rain and that forecasted for Thurs & Friday. I have had to walk around too many "widow makers" lying on the AT over the last few days to take any weather related chances at this point. So I will now try to catch up on my writing.

     Since my last blog had to do with some of the special gifts God has given me while hiking, I thought it well that I should start off by relating to you how I got the opportunity to hike with Ryan Zinke, the Secretary of the Interior, while climbing up to Clingman's Dome  in the Great Smoky Mtn Nat'l Park (GRSM).

 

     Danny Dorminey of Pigeon Forge allowed me to stay in his garage apartment the night before I climbed the section which includes Clingman's Dome, the highest point on the AT at 6,667 feet. He told me as he drove me to the Newfound Gap that the Secretary was in the park, but of course I figured that would have nothing to do with me.

 

 

 Well about 3+ miles north of Clingmans, the Secretary, the Marines, and others hiking with him passed me as I talked to someone I met on the trail. The Secretary introduced himself, and I took the opportunity to tell him who I was and explain the goal of my hike. After they carried on, the idea hit me that I would like to hike close to the entourage so I could see whatever photo-op might take place at the tower on top of Clingmans.

 

     When I caught up with them they had stopped for a break so they stepped aside and let me pass through. Ryan joked that maybe I should be given a 30 lb rock to carry to slow me down. I responded by saying I already had that much weight or more on my back. So I carried on but it did not take them long to catch up with me as the path becomes very steep and the Marines were young and Zinke was not only a Navy Seal but a trainer of SEALS.  But before they could pass me I came upon two cubs. They ran off the trail fast and as they did I turned to the Marine in the lead, pointed to my eyes with two fingers and said "2 cubs. I will walk ahead and see if mama is near." So I advanced whacking my trekking poles. As I did that I heard the Marine speaking into his mike and giving someone a status report. 

 

     Well the mama bear did not appear and the secretary and troupe soon passed me. Man was I whipped!  As Ryan passed me he said "don't feel bad, these are 20 something year old Marines."

 

    By the time I arrived at the top, the Secretary was already climbing the tower and surrounded by people. So that was the end of it. But what a story!

 

      Oh yeah, there was no view at either Clingmans or Charlie's Bunion as the Smokies lived up to their name and were cloud covered most of the time I hiked through the GRSM Park.

Uncle

 

Mountain Climbing and God's Special Gifts Renee and I lived within sight of Mt. Kilimanjaro for the 11 years    we stayed with the Maasai. I climbed it twice, the first time with Renee and Thomas and then again in 2002 with Zeb and some of his high school friends. Climbing Kili the first time increased my interest in such things, so in 1998 and 2000 we also climbed Mt. Kenya. The first time we climbed Mt. Kenya, the Lord blessed us to see an every 30 year meteor shower. I do not remember the name of that particular phenomenon only that it sounds Russian. Meteors fell continuously in every quadrant of the sky as we climbed from the last shelter to the top of the mountain. All our Kenyan guides were young, so like us, they had no idea what was happening. We only found out weeks later when bringing in the New Year with some colleagues in Kisumu. The dad of one of them had written her to tell her to be watching the sky on the very date we climbed to the summit between the hours of 1 a.m. and sunrise.        The second time we climbed Mt. Kenya, at the top we got to see the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro sticking up through the clouds. Again, while not an every 30 year thing, it was a sight not all climbers get.  Then just 2 days ago, I got to witness an eclipse from the Appalachian Trail. I heard it was the first of its type in America in 90+ years. I bought the glasses required for viewing it so I had the full experience. While it was not 100%, it was  close enough for the forest to grow pretty dark, and the temperature dropped by maybe 10 degrees. I needed that relief because it was a very hot and humid day and it was also a day with big climbs. One can never know exactly what will transpire when he/she takes off on a big venture.  However, followers of Jesus always can take off knowing He is guiding and protecting them. And when our gracious King gives us unique experiences along the way, it makes the going even more special. Uncle

 Update: August 11-23

    Today is August 23 and I am in the Standing Bear Hostel which

  is located just north of Hwy 40 and just north of the Great Smokey Mountain National Park.

     I was off the trail between the dates of Aug 12-20 while making a family related visit. I came off at MM 1879.8 on the 12th and today I am at MM 1949.5. I had to hike 20 miles yesterday to make it to this hostel. The forecast was for rain and I did not want to enter the national park soaking wet. 

 

     The rain came and as a result I will today be helped by Blaine Anderson to make a new plan. If all works out I will be taken to the Newfound Gap tomorrow. I will then hike north back to where I am now. I will then catch a ride back to Newfound Gap and

resume hiking south. This will make the hiking easier for at least 2 days as I will have more downhill than up.

 

     While off the AT with Blaine, I also hope to get a fresh status report from the Park Service regarding which shelters are closed due to bear activity. When hiking through the park, AT hikers are only permitted to camp at shelters. So if 2 or more consecutive shelters are closed one could be staring at having to hike 25 mi or more to camp. So having an up to date report is helpful.

 

     My hike yesterday included Max Patch and I must say it afforded one of the most beautiful views I have seen thus far. Will definitely return there with Renee.

 

    Two days ago I stopped along the way to watch the eclipse using the glasses  

   I bought at Hot Springs. It was not total but the temperature sure did go down by maybe 10 degrees and helped make the rest of the afternoon easier. The heat and humidity have definitely been a big factor lately. 

 

     Thanks for your prayer support for me and for remembering our S Sudanese brethren as well. 

Uncle

 

 

      In my last update I mentioned I was going to slack pack 9 miles into Erwin and then stay in a hostel. Well the slack packing experience was great. The 9 miles took 3 hours. Uncle Johnny's Hostel is located only 60 yards from the AT and it was convenient.

 

     A couple from St. Augustine, FL bought steaks, corn, potatoes and other food and fed all of us staying there. Sweet! I was able also to utilize their internet and do some blogs. Best hostel experience I have had.

 

     I left Erwin MM 1847.1 early Tues a.m. and hiked to the  

  Bald Mtn Shelter MM 1863.9. A very beautiful area. The shelter is located right at 5,000 ft. This morning I left there bound for the Flint Mtn Shelter but opted to get off at MM 1879.8 because of the rain. It started at 2:00 just after I left the Hogback Ridge Shelter where I ate lunch and got water. I arrived at rhe Laurel Hostel around  5:00. It is located only 150 yards off the AT.

 

   The owner is a nice guy and made me a pizza and washed and dried my clothes. I am his only customer. Being a Baptist preacher and a Southern boy is helping me a lot in northern VA, TN and NC. Got me Nada in CT!

 

    It is now 8:17 p.m. and still raining. The forecast is for rain all day tomorrow. So will have to make a call in the a.m. as to whether to plow in in the rain or take a zero day. Up ahead is a section called Firescald at the Bearwallow Gap and I am told it is very tough and might be very had to do in the rain. Hence my waffling regarding taking off in a rain storm.

Uncle

Sixty Plus One: The McAlisters
  

In two previous blogs I have spoken of John Shepherd and the Andersons as great examples to follow for those 60 and older when it comes to how to utilize ones gifts and experience during what are commonly referred to as "the retirement years."  In this entry I want to put rhe spotlight on my dear friend, Alan McAlister.

     Now Alan and I have so many significant shared experiences in ministry that

  it would take a novella to tell them well. So I will try to focus on the topic at hand. 

    
    I met Alan in 1986 on the steps of the library of the Mid-America Baptist Seminary. He had already graduated and was preparing to move back to Henderson, NC to start the Central Baptist Church. I was preparing to transfer to SEBTS in Wake Forest, NC, which is located just south of Henderson.

     I had seen Alan around campus but never spoken to him. As we passed each other at the entrance to the library, the Lord told me to speak to him. So I did and started the conversation by asking him what his plans were. That's when he told me about his plans to return where he had been living to start a church.

  I told him I would soon move nearby and would give him a call as his church planting plans interested me greatly. I mean how can one move overseas to be a church planter if he has never helped start one in his own culture?

     I called Alan about a month before we planned to move to NC and asked him if he remembered our conversation. He said he did and had two questions for me. Could I work with children and youth and could I lead music? I told him what my experience in both areas was and as a result he asked me to travel to Henderson and have a look about and see what his strategy was.

     Well, to make a long story short, the Lord ended up calling us to join their team. We had a marvelous time in Henderson, albeit it was one of the busiest times of my life, I.e. attending school, working at Carolina Freight in south Raleigh and doing all I could for the new church.

.

     The Lord bonded our hearts together through all we experienced. Once we moved to Kenya to work among the Maassi, Pastor Alan started to come out on an every other year basis to help us with evangelism efforts.  Through the years he involved a lot of Central members. Those teams really helped our work.

     After we began to work with John Shepherd and CRM, Alan and John became very close friends. Thus when John died in Sept of '13, CRM's board asked Alan to consider taking on the role of the group's presidency.

     Now at that time, Alan was the pastor of another Central Baptist, but this one in Clovis, NM. It is a large church and Alan already had enough to say grace over. Yet despite all the demands on his time, he agreed. And oh yeah, Alan was already 60+.

     Under Alan's innovative leadership, CRM's ministries have expanded in scope. The story cloth is now literally being used all over the world. Hundreds of public school teachers have been taught how to use it in religious education classes. Alan completed John's dream of having a second cloth on Acts and set up a great web site for the cloth www.Historycloth.com.

    Alan retired as Central's pastor last December, and it will be interesting to see what happens now that he is able to give CRM's various ministries his full attention. 

     I was with Alan in Arusha, TZ last January. He had a second hip replacement done not many weeks before making the trip. As I walked behind him at the airport and noted how he limped, I sent a note to self. "Self, if you are ever going to walk the AT you better do it sooner than later, because who knows, if a strong guy like Alan is in such shape at 65, who am I to think I will be able to do it in 5 years?"

     So Alan, to some extent you are responsible for my AT hike at this period of my life! Ha..!

     Bottom line, Alan and Peggy both are an inspiration to me and I am sure to many others. Their example has encouraged me to stay focused on Kingdom advance even after retiring.

Uncle

 

   I am 36 miles from.Hot Springs which I think is in NC and only 310 miles from.Springer Mtn in Ga. May get there by the end of this month or God willing by end of first week of Sept. I plan on calling it quits there to focus on the most important thing; the fund raiser.

   Would love to get the thru hiker badge but at the end of the day it is secondary.I feel great. If I could meet the 40 year old David I think I could out hike him. I weigh around 187 at this point. Been in a lot of rain of late. Stopped at a hiker hostel in the middle of Nowhere TN to get out of it. Good thing I can speak "Good ol' Boy" lingo!

 

 

Uncle

     Today, August 8, Kenyans are once again going to the polls to vote for President and other officials. The BBC article I hastily read this morning indicates that some bad things have already happened leading up to voting day.

     We will return to Kenya the last week of October as we have planned to do a training event in

Lokichoggio, located in the extreme NW of the country, for refugee women and pastors who live in the Kakuma Camp.

 

     Renee and I were in Kenya in early Jan. 2008 when election violence stemming from the Dec. '07elections was ongoing. I was pulled out of a training event to go to the Tigoni Police Dept. compound so I could help register people who were fleeing there from the threats they had received. They were of the wrong tribe and someone or some parties in their area made it known they would be killed or harmed if they did not leave. Many.of those folks hailed from western Kenya and were in the area employed at a tea estate.

 

     I will never forget the look of sheer terror that was on the faces of those

folks as I spoke to them and got all info required to register them. To this good day it is hard for me to believe just how many thousands of people crammed into that small area.

 

     So let us pray things will indeed be different this year for the sake of the nation. E Africa needs a stable Kenya.

Uncle

Urgent post from David.....


http://www.southsudannewsagency.com/index.php/2017/08/07/spla-io-urges-pagak-residents-stay-indoors-warns-imminent-attack/

Update

Update

Night of a Million Miracles

     Some time ago I did a write up for our personal newsletter about the Open Doors project done back in the mid-1980s called "Project Pearl."  

   I think it is worth repeating some of it for our blog as it certainly relates to the goal of Hiking to Help Refugees.

     Brother Andrew started the ministry which is called Open Doors. He has been a great friend of the persecuted church world wide for more than 4 decades. The little book he wrote in the 1970s "God's Smuggler" had a very big impact on my life. After reading it I signed up for their monthly newsletter and read every issue.

 

    In the early 1980s, a call went out from Bro Andrew for help in raising money so they could respond to a request from the leaders of China's underground church for one million Bibles. I gave a lot of time to the cause via speaking in churches and to anyone that would listen. I was even given the chance to speak in chapel at Columbia Bible College and challenge students to give.

 

     Well, many years passed and while I knew the smuggling of the one million Bibles had taken         

place, I never spoke to anyone who could speak to the impact that infusion of Bibles had on the growing underground church. That is until 1998 when Bill Smith and his wife came to Kenya to lead a 2 week training for church planters. Since he had spent decades in Singapore, I thought he might have a report. We ate lunch together one day and he related to me how Project Pearl's success had made a massive difference in kingdom expansion.

 

     In 2010, Nik Ripkin and his wife ate dinner with us. They brought a guest who was an employee of Open Doors. When I asked her questions about Project Pearl, she asked me "have you never read the book? " What book?" I replied. So she sent me overnight a copy of Night of a Million Miracles, a first hand account of all that was involved in carrying out that project. I read the entire book the day I received it and cried several times. 

 

     You can watch a video on You Tube about it.  Just use the search bar and type in the book title.

 

     How does this relate to our current venture? Well, I believe if we can get as many copies of God's Word into the hands of S Sudanese pastors, evangelists and church planters as we can, we can play a role in the life of the S Sudanese church as Project Pearl did for China. Our brethren are now living in refugee camps in close proximity to hundreds of thousands of their countrymen.  

  They have access to most of the tribes of their country. So the time is ripe for them to win many souls for Christ and to teach those new disciples the Word.  The Gospel of Jesus alone can lay a foundation for this country once peace is restored and the attempt is made once again to put the world's newest country on a different path.

 

    So please pray and give to Hiking to Help, whether through giving online or by sending a check directly to Calvary Road Ministry.

Uncle

 

 

                                                                                                           

.


Roan Mtn and Environs

     Today is Saturday, August 5 and I am staying in the shelter located on the top of Roan Mtn.

 I can tell the temp is going to plunge tonight. So at 20:45 I am in my tent inside this shelter and snug in my quilt.

     This shelter is the highest on the AT and has 4 walls and a door. So I have hung my pack and food bag inside the shelter from ropes suspended from the rafters. The rope is run through cans or half of a plastic bottle so a mouse cannot climb down them. 

  That is good because I can already hear a mouse running around. I have set my free standing tent up and because I have no food items in here with me I trust one will not try to eat a hole in the tent wall and get inside with me.  I sleep with ear plugs so even if mice run around in here all night I will not hear them.

     The views on Hump Mtn were great and at the top were 360 degree. The same goes for Roan. I was told these two mountains contain the largest natural balds in the world.  Since it is Sat there were a lot of people out either day hiking or out for the weekend.

     The forecast is for rain on Monday so I may get off the trail Sun night and stay at a hostel at Greasy Creek. I have enough food to stay on the trail all the way to Erwin, TN but will just have to make a decision. 

     I missed a big storm on Friday by staying at a hostel on Hwy 19, Mountain Harbor B&B.  They had good resupply in their store and offered a great breakfast. I tanked up and I think I hiked today's miles on the energy it provided.

Uncle

Second Chances: Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis

     While I am walking the AT south, I am generally by myself, even at night. So that means I have plenty of time to think and pray.

 

     One subject that has been a big idea or thought in my life has to do with making the most of the second chances I believe God has graciously given me.

 

     Most folks are unaware that when I was younger I was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid

arthritis (JRA). I do not recall how young I was when my knees and ankles swelled up, but I do remember my mom taking me to see Dr. Houser who was a family member and neighbor. I also remember the high level of pain associated with not only those early episodes but each succeeding one.

 

     Now I loved playing football, so when those episodes hit during football season, putting up with it was even harder. Twice I could not compete in the Punt, Pass and Kick competition due to my swollen knees. I always took first place in my age group so that really bummed me out.

 

     The last time I dealt with this condition was when I was age 15, the summer before I entered the 10th grade. I had played Jr. High football with no problems but that summer' s episode was bad. Dr. Houser had retired years earlier so Dr. Marshall Agner treated me.

 

     Well, the time arrived for all who wanted to play high school football to see Dr. Agner and get a permission  slip from him to say they were physically able to play.

 

     Given that Dr. Agner had been treating me for JRA earlier, and because one of his own kids suffered from the same condition, he declined to sign for me. I was crushed. What to do?

 

     So I went to Dr. Houser and explained my dilemma. I told him if he would not sign for me I would go to an out of town Dr who did not know me and lie to him. He agreed conditionally to sign, the condition being I would promise to quit immediately if I experienced a fresh attack. Of course I promised!  My how I enjoyed those 3 years of high school ball! And what a formative experience it was in my life.

 

     In the Providence of God, that attack in the summer of 1971 was the last I ever experienced. 

 

     So as I approach the 1,300 mile mark on the AT, I realize how blessed I am to have been granted by God complete healing of arthritis. Much of what I have done during the succeeding years has required good health and strong legs. 

 

     To Dr. Agner I would say" you did what was right at the time. Now rejoice with me that our Lord has allowed me the health to take on this current venture on behalf of S Sudanese refugees."

 

    He is the God of second chances! 

Uncle

 

 

 Opportunity Combined with Passion

 

The first time I read the below poem by E. Sills it was when reading through a book of poems my mom had been given as a high school graduation present. 

 

     From the first reading of it until now, I think the author has captured well the idea that what matters most in life is not always the equipment or gear we (or an army) may have to work with, but the passion, willingness and bravery of a heart committed to a higher cause.

 

     As I have been hiking the AT, I have met many "gearheads." These are people who are constantly talking about the types of shoes, backpacks, etc. that can lead to success in an attempted thru hike. As if the gear is the end all and be all! For sure I know having the lightest and most durable equipment, or anything which can lessen the stress on a hiker's body is important. Absolutely.

 

    But my problem is with people who speak as if there is a magic bullet which, if they can just find it and buy it, will ensure success.

 

     If that were true then the fledgling church of Jesus would never have become the force it grew into by the 4th century. The Roman Empire had all the gear! But the disciples of Jesus had something (and someone!) in their hearts and minds which enabled them to ultimately overcome everything the empire could throw at them.

 

    So do not think you are unable to dream big dreams or take on God-sized challenges. If you are a child of the Sovereign King who created and rules over this world then He can use you in His royal cause.

 

 

Uncle

 

 

 

Opportunity

THIS I beheld, or dreamed it in a dream:--

There spread a cloud of dust along a plain;

And underneath the cloud, or in it, raged

A furious battle, and men yelled, and swords

Shocked upon swords and shields. A prince's banner

Wavered, then staggered backward, hemmed by foes.

A craven hung along the battle's edge,

And thought, "Had I a sword of keener steel--                           

That blue blade that the king's son bears, -- but this

Blunt thing--!" he snapped and flung it from his hand,

And lowering crept away and left the field.

Then came the king's son, wounded, sore bestead,

And weaponless, and saw the broken sword,

Hilt-buried in the dry and trodden sand,

And ran and snatched it, and with battle shout

Lifted afresh he hewed his enemy down,

And saved a great cause that heroic day.

Second Chance #2                 

     In the fall of 2011, I had two teams of short term volunteers work with me among the Ilkongeri Maasai of the Kajiado District of Kenya. They hailed from TX and TN.

     The leader of the Baptist work in that area was a man named Onesimus Muindi. His wife's name was Mary. They were both very 

  hospitable folks and very committed to seeing that all the Maassi homes of their area received a Gospel witness.

     Now there were so many folks involved that I had to ask them to pay to rent several four wheeled drive vans. The area's roads were primarily more like goat paths, and there were many river crossings to be traversed.

     One day a van got stuck in one of the crossings and we all had to bail out and search for stones to put under the back right tire. 

    My hand was just next to Onesimus' when he suddenly jerked it up and said " I have been bitten!" Sure enough, as we looked at the spot we realized he had been bitten by a snake.

   We frantically looked around for the snake because we knew that the type of antivenom one is given depends upon the type of toxin involved, I.e. neurotoxin or hemotoxin. However we did not find a snake.

     When I finally got Onesimus to the ER of the Nairobi Hospital ( long story with lots of details),    

we learned from the attending physician that there is a type of antivenom which can possibly neutralize both types of venom, BUT its potency is such that it might kill you. Onesimus was feeling so badly that he opted for the powerful medicine.  When I visited him the next day, he seemed to have recovered well.

.

     Onesimus died about 9 months later. Whether his cause of death was in any way related to the snake bite and antivenom event remains unknown to me.

     What I do know is this; our hands were literally back to back when he was bitten. 

     I have had a lot of time to think about Onesimus and the pivotal role he played in the Kingdom advance that took place among his Maasai neighbors. He was a kind hearted and Gospel centered brother. It was his persistence in asking me and the leadership of the Kaputei Baptist Association to join hands with him which led to the big work done there over a 3 year period.   

     He was bitten and I was spared. To this day I have felt that the whole thing represents a type of second chance in my life. That is to say I am very aware my life was spared for Kingdom purposes and that I need to use every day I am granted on this earth to point people to the Gospel of Jesus the Messiah.

     If any of you in Beaumont or Knoxville have a picture of Onesimus in digital form you can send to me so that it can be added to this post please do so. I am sure I have at least one at home but I am not there. Thanks.

   Send to my Gmail address: drc11292@gmail.com

Uncle                                     

I am staying tonight at a hostel near Elk Park, Tn. as they have internet.  My plan is to do several updates and blog entries.  I start climbing some 5000 ft plus mountains tomorrow and wanted to eat well today.


Uncle

Hi all,

Below is a different type of post than we usually make. Directly below you will see an email David directed to me concerning what is currently going on in South Sudan. As I looked at it, I felt that many of you would also like and benefit from reading what Uncle shared. First, all may not be aware that cross cultural Gospel workers alongside those from other organizations, hand in hand, prayerfully seeking God's glory around them. This blog will refer to that knowledge.   Below is the email David sent along with a picture and a video if I can get it to post.

Ron,

I am staying at the Black Bear Resort (fancy name for what is actually here) and plan on typing up an update this hour.  This email is from Mike Scalf who is the president of the New Life Endowment (NLE).  He went with me to the refugee camps in northern Uganda last Oct.

Maridi is a town in S. Sudan.  NLE sponsors James Kenneth who is the pastors/evangelist who is staying there and still leading the church he planted there.  As Mike says, it is dangerous for him to remain there but he has chosen to do so.

Mike wanted me to see the picture because it is clear he is using the first storying cloth.  If we meet our goal of $100K it is my plan to purchase more cloths, both the first one and the one on ACTS.

Uncle.    

P.s. They have an old computer here and that is the only way one can utilize their internet. They are in the middle of nowhere TN and apparently the only way they can get internet access is by satellite and so they are limited in how many GB they get per day. Only way to control
things is to tell patrons they have to use their computer. So there may be many typos in the update I sent youCrane, thought you would want to see this. As dangerous as Maridi is…it is not slowing down James Kenneth and the Story Cloth. The message and pic from Edward.
---Scalf
This video I am including just to show a little day to day life in South Sudan, click on the link below to see the video

https://youtu.be/IGL75AZEn0Q


**Please share this post and other posts that are made so those who don't know about our purpose and David's trek may be involved in sharing Jesus' love and purpose in another part of God's creation.

Update August 2, 2017                                     

Tonight I am staying off the trail so I can buy food for another few days, shower and do laundry.  I am staying at the Black Bear Resort which is located on the Dennis Cove Rd. mile marker 1771.4.  I am now 418 miles from Springer Mountain. 

Nephew dropped me off in Damascus on Monday.  He flew in to the home town from NYC last Sunday afternoon and picked up a truck he has bought from his dad.  Since he was traveling north for a job interview to be held on Tuesday in PA, he agreed to drop me.  It was so good to see Nephew again and to have that time to visit.  We made some pictures at his parent's house on Sunday night that I know we will enjoy in the future.

I started hiking at mile marker 1719.7 at 8:44 on Monday morning and arrived at mile marker 1771.4 today, Wednesday the 2nd around 4:30.  Along the way I crossed into TN.  

  On Tuesday I hiked a ridgeline that looked down on the Watauga Lake.  The number of trees that are down along that ridgeline was amazing.  They have obviously had a lot of bad storms hit this area in the last couple of years.  The first night I camped in the Double Springs Shelter   

  and the 2nd night I pitched my tent near the Wilbur Dam Road at MM 1758.4.  That road leads one down to the dam of the Watauga Lake, which I walked across this morning.  I ate a late morning snack at the small sandy beach area of the lake at 10:30 today.

There was a sign at the Watauga Lake Shelter which said it was closed due to Bear activity.  However I have not seen a single bear since leaving Damascus.   

I want to give a shout out of thanks to the counselors of the Wilderness Trail which is a ministry based at Troutdale, VA.  I ran into 3 of their groups over the last 9 days and they were very kind and generous to me.  They shared food and water with me and made 2 of my days much easier as a result.  I camped with Michael and his group last night.  I haven't sat around a camp fire with a group of American teens in many years, so last night was a treat as I listened to Michael lead them in a discussion that would help them to debrief what they are learning and experiencing as they hike on the AT. 

This afternoon I hiked by the Laurel Falls.  What an outstanding sight.     

   I asked some ladies to use my phone and take a picture of me in front of them, but I will not be able to send Ron the picture to use in an update until later. 

Within the next 2 days I will cross over Roan Mtn. and I am looking forward to walking through that environment.  It is bad that I will not see the area when the rhododendron are in bloom, but I'm just too late for them. 

Uncle