On a Rainy Day

Monday October 13th

This last day began and ended with rain, wind and quite a number of sidewalks.

We began at the intersection of 84th Street and Interstate 195 just east of Zeeland. With a few short, walking detours, we wound our way through the village and onto the long, but beautiful walk along Ottawa Beach Road. Wally stopped to escape the rain once at a Dollar General and engaged a potential voter in conversation. He left thinking she heard what he said and that she now understands why she will vote the way she was “leaning”! As they approached Macatawa Lake the rains and winds picked up. A mileage check showed only 1.7 miles remaining to the finish! Linda started out. Wally parked the car exactly one mile from that spot at the entrance to the State Park. Two rangers asked what he was doing and received the now, almost finished, story of the walk across Michigan. They let him leave the vehicle for Linda and were waiting for him when he arrived first at Lake Michigan. They both gave him a thumbs up and congratulated him for the success of the journey. Linda picked up the car and roared onto the beach with the horn sounding the final victory. What a blessed journey we undertook in the Spirit. We were blessed all along the way.

The End in Sight...

Saturday October 11th

Highway 131 was the starting point as we followed 84th street through villages, fields and valleys. It was a beautiful day with few clouds and many of the last colors still providing a backdrop for the walk. Most of this day was spent between cornfields. We never knew there were so many farms in this area of Michigan. The hills were conquered by God’s grace and with His help. By the end of the day both of us were filled up with song and joy. We could see the end in sight. The water tower of Zeeland was well within our grasp. Because we chose not to walk on Sundays, we were looking forward to that final portion on Monday morning. According to our calculations, we only had around 12 miles left to walk and pray.

Last Weekend Walk

Friday was a beautiful day of walking near Zeeland, Michigan. We left Bowne Center and arrived east of Zeeland about four hours later. Wally met a man and woman who were hanging a "re-elect a judge" sign. The man offered a handshake and said, "God bless you for what you are doing" to Wally. The corn fields and colors were breathtaking!

Walk On!

Thursday-Oct. 16
What a great day to be praying for the Church, pastors, leaders, educators and for the Church to be Spirit driven, for revival and for a clear vision for the future. The trees seemed to be a their peak color as we walked past the woods painted by the Lord. Linda had a blessing when she met some Christian ladies and one thirteen year old girl who was selling little puppies. A full sixteen miles brought us about forty miles from Lake Michigan. Keep praying!

Coffee Shop Christians

Wednesday-October 15
We were in the country today. What beautiful colors we saw along the way. We walked past Mullican and Sunfield. When in Sunfield, we stopped at a wonderful coffee shop and had lunch. We met at twenty-three year old, Alisha, who went to Montana Bible College. The coffee shop is hers and she is finishing out the old building she purchased for the coffee shop to live above it. We also met her parents Chris and Penny. After eating we were invited to see the upper room that Alisha wants to turn into an efficiency apartment. There is some work to be done and God put it on Linda’s heart to offer help. Wally has contacted three men to go to Sunfield and finish the project this Sunday. Please pray that it will come to pass! Another great day for God.

Notes of Encouragement

Tuesday Oct.14
We walked out of Lansing toward G.R. on the Saginaw Highway this morning.

Linda’s blood sugar had dropped so she decided to hit McDonalds for a burger. As she reached into her pocket to get her money, she looked down and saw a caricature drawing on a napkin on the counter. It had the cutest little guy and puppy. Above the drawing were the words, “Cheer Up. Jesus Loves you.” When I turned it over, much to my surprise were instructions to look up Matthew 11:28. “Come unto me you who are heavy laden and I will give you rest.


She left McDonalds and continued about ½ block, really enjoying the burger and having her spirits lifted tremendously by God’s provision of a sweet note of encouragement. AS she looked down she saw a piece of yarn with rainbow colors running through it. She decided to pick it up. To her surprise, she was pulling behind her a half a skein of yarn. Those of you who know Linda, know that she loves rainbows.

On her afternoon break, she purchased an AW Root beer to go. There she met Jeannette who was 86 and her neighbor, Sharon who was in a wheel chair. After she spoke with them for a few minutes, they prayed together and she was on her way again.

Praying in the Capital

Monday-Oct.13

We walked into city of Lansing on Monday having started at the Williamston City Limit Sign on the East side of Williamston.

At Panera in Okemos Linda stopped to use the facilities and met Marcie
a young, expectant mother who talked with Linda. Linda prayed with her and she
was praising the Lord because she had wanted someone to pray with her
for the delivery of her baby. She and her friend were having a bible study
at Panera. She had asked God to send someone to pray with her. God sent Linda!

Next, Linda met Ruth, a refugee from Liberia who lived in a Sierra Leon refugee camp for seven years. Ruth approached Linda with a piece of paper in her hand and showed her a map, but she seemed quite lost. She wanted to go to the library on Foster Street. Linda knew nothing of the library. So she called her trusty sidekick and he drove back, picked up the two women and within a short while, they found Foster street and the library. The librarian was so helpful she called the ESL coordinator who told us to come to his office at Christ Lutheran Church. Ruth was able to enroll in Monday and Wednesday program. She is 22 years old and has been in Lansing for two months along with her daughter, sister and two brothers. They are all in school. She is a Christian and does not yet have a job. But, she does have a caseworker for Catholic Social Services. She was so proud of her new tennis shoes and so thankful that we prayed with her and helped her find a way to learn English. She said over and over again, thank God, thank God. Please pray for her.

After arriving at the Capital, Linda and Wally were ushered by Joy Brewer, an eighteen-plus year employee of Senators and Representatives at the Capital. She had made arrangements for us to visit the floor of the House and the floor of the Senate. While in both of those chambers we were permitted to pray over the desks and for the activities that transpire in these great chambers. We also prayed in the caucus rooms for both parties and in Joy Brewer’s offices across the street. What a wonderful time we had. It is our prayer that God will answer what we prayed on this day.