It's been awhile since I've needed to update, but I'm sort of trying to catch up on my life these next two days before leaving for 12 days and then getting back to start right into the swing of school. This summer has been NON STOP!!! And we haven't even been on vacation!! But I did want to share a bit of Trand's travel adventures.
Last week (either Wednesday or Thursday, I can't remember) he connected with a family in MA through a FB friend of mine (who I've actually never met in person--love FB.) This family has homeschooled 8 kids and only has one left at home. Surprisingly, he was very happy to call them and go to their home for the night. Y'all, he NEVER would have done this two months ago!! But as I've said, he's changing, and God is shaping him little by little. Part of what he's doing is showing him that he does need other people. This family was wonderful as they took him in and made him a part of their family for the evening. He texted me to say that he was so happy to have a bed, no bugs, and not have old men snoring around him all night.
I had sent him his phone and put this couple's phone number in it. I texted him to let him know to call them if he got to a certain point. I was sure he was probably past it because he was very south in MA. Providentially, the day he got his phone he was on the exact highway that they mentioned where they could pick him up. And he had already walked about 23 miles that day and was ready for a rest. God is good.
He told me that night that, as nice as their family was, it was very difficult to sit and have conversation with "normal" people. He knows it's going to be hard to assimilate back into society. He's feeling like he doesn't even want to go into towns or be around people. He loves when he meets up with one of his trail buddies or connects with a north bounder every so often for one night of conversation and sharing about what's to come on the trail. But I can imagine that it will be very hard for him to come off of this. He had been planning to only stay in Knoxville for a week before heading down to Naples, but I'm pretty sure now that will be longer. And I will be glad!
He is feeling more connected now that he has his phone and he can call or text almost daily. He's gone through lots of ups and downs emotionally. Sometimes he'll text me feeling like he just wants to quit--although he immediately says he WILL NOT QUIT no matter what. But he just mentally wants to at times. He's struggling. He's wondering if he's really going to get anything out of this. Oh, he has no idea. I believe at 18 he really can't know exactly what he's going to get out of it. It may be years before he realizes it all. But he will one day.
He is an inspiration to me everyday. I see him learning and adjusting his steps as he learns even if he can't see it. He was doing great at a pace that he was happy with--22-28 miles a day. Then his feet just wouldn't let him. He had to do a 17 mile then a 15 mile day, and he was so discouraged. He is a planner. He is a strategist. He always knows what his next step will be--much like his dad. He told me that being a thru hiker is for people who don't have a plan. :) He said the happy ones are the ones who can just take what comes day by day, relax and not worry about when they are finishing or making goals. That's not him. He spends every evening strategizing where he's going next, how long to his next stop, planning out weeks in advance all the way to his ending date. And then when he veers from that, he beats himself up. If only I could just transfuse a little of myself into him right now!!! I'm so NOT a planner. I take life as it comes, and I enjoy it. Flexibility is my middle name. He is about as flexible as a metal rod. ;) Once again, this is something that he is learning on this adventure. Please pray that he is able to learn this quickly. He recognizes it, but he just thinks he can't change to feel that way. He will always be a planner. That's a great thing. But maybe he could learn to bend a bit as well. And to not beat himself up when he doesn't meet his goals.
My prayer is that he's not miserable right now. My prayer is that he will find joy in his journey. I really believe that his journey is this right now because he's 18. He's learning lots of things that most people learn much more gradually just living life. But for some reason, God had plans for him to learn them now--all at once. :) If anyone feels like they would like to send him some encouragement, please let me know. I know he would appreciate hearing from people. Even if you don't know him well but he's been put on your heart, I know it would mean a lot to him. I have an address that he should be at in about a week. Thanks so much for your prayers and kind words.
He crossed over into NY on Monday. He will probably be in NJ on Friday or Saturday.
AT sign
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
He's okay!!
I'm so thankful that he called!! He called and said, "I'm at the Cookie Lady's house." She's a lady on the trail who's been making cookies and giving them out for years.
He's had a very hard week. There were many things that happened, but from what I gathered the common thread is loneliness. He's struggling with MA. He says that ME and NH were very friendly and helpful, but he hasn't found the same in VT or MA. He hasn't been able to get rides into towns so it's added precious time to his days. He set out to go into a town one day that was 7 miles away. I guess once you're committed, you don't go back and you just assume someone will pick you up. No one ever did. He went in to eat at Wendy's. Okay, so maybe that wasn't the best reason or choice on his part. But poor thing. When he got there, it was closed down. So he headed back out and didn't get a ride then. So that day he walked 14 extra miles for no reason. These are life lessons. This might be an example of what an 18 year old does on the trail as opposed to a 30 year old. But he's learning.
When he's gone into towns he's felt very ostracized there. He feels like everyone is looking at him weird. It seems to me that people would be pretty used to seeing thru hikers. But he said that out of 25 people maybe 1 might want to talk to him. He's taking that personally right now. It's not strengthening my view of Northerners. Sorry, just saying. ;) I need people to be kind to him, to smile at him, to act like he matters. He told me today, "Tell people to pick up hitch hikers for me!!" :) Ha!! Especially if you're near the AT, pick up hitch hikers!!
He's been trying all week to catch up to a couple of guys that he knows. He started last week two days behind them when he had to wait for a package. Today when he called, he broke down crying when he said "Now they are two hours in front of me." That's why he decided to walk the next 2.2 miles to hopefully find them tonight. I pray that he found them. I pray that they were where he thought they would be.
I told him today that when I got his message yesterday that all I wanted to do was get on a plane and come find him. If I hadn't had five other kids at home, I would've. I think he wanted to say, "Come anyway." I think for the first time on this trip he's wanted to ask me to come. I think he's the most desperate he's ever been. I told him he's going through his wilderness. Everyone has a wilderness. His just happens to be TRULY the wilderness!! I feel like today was one of the first time that he's really listened to what I had to say. I mean, he's always thought he's listened. But today he knew he NEEDED to hear what I had to say. He hung on every word. That hardness is being softened. He's becoming moldable. He's being shaped into the man that God has planned for him to be. I gave him a verse to meditate on as he hiked the last 2.2 miles this afternoon. His Savior is calling him to himself. He's learning who his true anchor is.
Thank you for caring. Thank you for loving him and me. Thank you to all of you who have messaged me and care enough to drive over an hour to look for him and give him supplies and a hug from his mom. It does so much for his heart to know that people care about him. He was overwhelmed that my post from yesterday has already had over 450 hits. He was in a much better state when we hung up. He was ready to do what it took to get to the place where he'll pick up his next package from me on Thursday that will contain his body glide, phone, and a change of clothes. Pray that his spirits stay high. Pray that he finds those friends. Pray that he continues to allow God to penetrate his heart, teach him what he needs to learn, and that he will feel the love of Jesus pouring into him.
Thank you, friends.
He's had a very hard week. There were many things that happened, but from what I gathered the common thread is loneliness. He's struggling with MA. He says that ME and NH were very friendly and helpful, but he hasn't found the same in VT or MA. He hasn't been able to get rides into towns so it's added precious time to his days. He set out to go into a town one day that was 7 miles away. I guess once you're committed, you don't go back and you just assume someone will pick you up. No one ever did. He went in to eat at Wendy's. Okay, so maybe that wasn't the best reason or choice on his part. But poor thing. When he got there, it was closed down. So he headed back out and didn't get a ride then. So that day he walked 14 extra miles for no reason. These are life lessons. This might be an example of what an 18 year old does on the trail as opposed to a 30 year old. But he's learning.
When he's gone into towns he's felt very ostracized there. He feels like everyone is looking at him weird. It seems to me that people would be pretty used to seeing thru hikers. But he said that out of 25 people maybe 1 might want to talk to him. He's taking that personally right now. It's not strengthening my view of Northerners. Sorry, just saying. ;) I need people to be kind to him, to smile at him, to act like he matters. He told me today, "Tell people to pick up hitch hikers for me!!" :) Ha!! Especially if you're near the AT, pick up hitch hikers!!
He's been trying all week to catch up to a couple of guys that he knows. He started last week two days behind them when he had to wait for a package. Today when he called, he broke down crying when he said "Now they are two hours in front of me." That's why he decided to walk the next 2.2 miles to hopefully find them tonight. I pray that he found them. I pray that they were where he thought they would be.
I told him today that when I got his message yesterday that all I wanted to do was get on a plane and come find him. If I hadn't had five other kids at home, I would've. I think he wanted to say, "Come anyway." I think for the first time on this trip he's wanted to ask me to come. I think he's the most desperate he's ever been. I told him he's going through his wilderness. Everyone has a wilderness. His just happens to be TRULY the wilderness!! I feel like today was one of the first time that he's really listened to what I had to say. I mean, he's always thought he's listened. But today he knew he NEEDED to hear what I had to say. He hung on every word. That hardness is being softened. He's becoming moldable. He's being shaped into the man that God has planned for him to be. I gave him a verse to meditate on as he hiked the last 2.2 miles this afternoon. His Savior is calling him to himself. He's learning who his true anchor is.
Thank you for caring. Thank you for loving him and me. Thank you to all of you who have messaged me and care enough to drive over an hour to look for him and give him supplies and a hug from his mom. It does so much for his heart to know that people care about him. He was overwhelmed that my post from yesterday has already had over 450 hits. He was in a much better state when we hung up. He was ready to do what it took to get to the place where he'll pick up his next package from me on Thursday that will contain his body glide, phone, and a change of clothes. Pray that his spirits stay high. Pray that he finds those friends. Pray that he continues to allow God to penetrate his heart, teach him what he needs to learn, and that he will feel the love of Jesus pouring into him.
Thank you, friends.
Monday, July 20, 2015
This Mama's Heart is Hurting
I got a voicemail from Trand today. I knew he was probably calling, but I wasn't too worried if I missed it because when he stops in towns, he always stays for a night. I figured if I missed it, I'd hear from him later. I was playing in the pool with the kids when he called.
When I listened to the message, my heart dropped. He was very upset and lonely. He really needed to talk to someone. He said he'd been alone for a week. His voice was cracking, and he just kept saying, "This isn't the time for you not to answer." UGH!!!!! My heart is breaking. Apparently, there is no where [cheap] to stay in North Adams, MA. So he is continuing on. He said, "I guess I'll talk to you in Stormville, NY in a week." He said that he needed body glide really badly (for chaffing) and he doesn't know how he's going to continue on without it. And that's my fault because he asked me to send it. With all the craziness of packages getting missed, I just had his other packages forwarded to N Adams and completely forgot about the body glide!! It's sitting right here at my house to send. I feel so badly. Looking at my AT book, it says that Stormville is 150 miles from where he is now. I don't know how he'll make it that far without the body glide.
Please pray for him. And pray for me. I'm having a really hard time right now. I just want to hop on a plane and go find him. I might just do that if I didn't have five more kids here who need me. I don't know that I've ever heard him sound so desperate. I know that God has this. I know that God knows what he needs more than I do. I pray that he is finding comfort in God's word and God's presence. But oh, everything in me wants to go find him. I'm praying that God will send someone to him to be a friend. I'm also praying that he will find someone who has something to help him with the chaffing. I can't imagine how much that hurts day after day. So with physical pain on top of the emotional hardships going on right now, he's not doing great. This next week will be very slow and very hard. Please help me cover him with prayer.
In looking at his next stop, I don't see a place for him to stay there either. Not sure what rationale he's using to pick these stopping places!! I really hope I don't miss his next call. If I talk to him at least I could tell him to go to a hotel, and we would put the money in his account for him. Ugh, I just need him to feel better.
Okay, not such a great report, but thank you for praying. Lots of tears today.
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Saturday, July 11, 2015
Crossing into Vermont
We talked to Trand yesterday in Hanover, NH. This is where Dartmouth College is. He told me he had slept on the streets that night before because he had gotten kicked out of where he was sleeping. Always sounds like a great story to hear, right? I guess in this town there's no hostel for hikers, only hotels or people who offer their homes. Well, he wasn't paying for a hotel, and by the time he got there Thursday afternoon all of the houses were taken. There's a basement at Dartmouth where they let the hikers store their stuff, but they can't sleep there. Well, guess who tried? Around 1:30 am a security guard came and kicked him out. So the next morning he found a family really fast to stay with the next night. This couple had a son who had hiked the trail when he was 18 too so they just loved having hikers come through and stay. I think he really enjoyed that.
Hanover is right on the NH/Vermont line so he actually stayed in Vermont last night. He called this morning to say he was heading out and expected to be able to call again in about two days. His last couple of days have been 30 mile days so I expect he'll keep up that pace especially now that the terrain is much easier. Although, he's heard Vermont is really muddy. So that could slow him down some. He's still got the Green Mountains to go through, but he says those are hills compared to the ones he's done so he's not too concerned about those. After that it's flat for a really long time.
He's still doing well. Still a little lonely, even with meeting people along the way. I think it's a little hard because he's got a faster pace than most people he meets. So he doesn't end up in the same spots as the people he already knows very often. He's figuring out better what to eat on the trail to give himself enough calories and energy.
Thankful for the couple who welcomed him into their home last night. He enjoyed that and enjoyed a nice bed after 10 days through the Whites and a night on the streets!!
I love the perspective he's gaining and the growing up he's having to do. I love that he's taking initiative and living this adventure right now. He's growing into a man right before my eyes. Well, not right before my eyes but as we speak!! 😊 Can't wait to hug his neck and sit and talk about it all in person!! Thanks for prayers!!
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
Leaving Gorham
As I said in the last post, Trand walked 21 miles yesterday into the White Mountains, and a car picked him up and took him back to the hostel in Gorham last night. He spent the night there again and then stayed today during the downpour. His plan is to set off tomorrow morning. The car will take him back to the place he left off Tuesday night (21 miles down the trail) and he will start there. He is hoping to get through the White Mountains then in five days because the forecast looks really good through then. He says that the weather is really unpredictable through there so he's praying that it stays good.
He sounded a bit down earlier today when I talked to him but this evening was a little better. He said he keeps getting word of people that he's met that have quit or had to leave because of injury. I asked him this evening if he was still enjoying it and glad he was doing it, and he said "yes." He got 3 packages and 5 letters at his stop in Gorham, and he said, "I never knew I was so loved." If only he had paid attention to us his whole life!! :) But it made him really happy to get those letters. He said he's not able to respond right now, but he should soon.
I won't hear from him again for maybe two weeks!! I told him I was hoping for 10-11 days, but he said not to count on it. After he hurries through the White Mountains, he'll pick up a package in Warren, NH. He's been told there is only a post office there. I'm hoping that MAYBE he'll find a phone. But he will pick up his package there, and then head to Hanover, NH before he can stop again at a hostel. That will be right on the NH/VT line. So he'll basically go all the way through NH before calling again. He should smell really great too by the time he gets there!
I'm praying for him to find some more companionship through the Whites. I hope he takes the time to enjoy himself some, but he doesn't really have the clothing to get caught in bad weather. The pull-over that I ordered him got to him, but he says it's cotton so it's not going to do any good if it rains. Oops. I ordered it off Amazon so I didn't know. His coat and pull-over that he started with (really nice ones) that he mailed back two days into the trail because he thought it was hot and he wouldn't need them JUST got here today!! I've been looking for them for weeks. But he wasn't at a post office when he mailed them. The guys at the state park just said they'd take care of it for him. They would've had no idea that we actually needed something in it to mail back!! So that kind of stinks!!
Not much else to report. I'll be sending his package out tomorrow to get to Warren by Tuesday. Praying he realizes more and more that he's so loved!!
He sounded a bit down earlier today when I talked to him but this evening was a little better. He said he keeps getting word of people that he's met that have quit or had to leave because of injury. I asked him this evening if he was still enjoying it and glad he was doing it, and he said "yes." He got 3 packages and 5 letters at his stop in Gorham, and he said, "I never knew I was so loved." If only he had paid attention to us his whole life!! :) But it made him really happy to get those letters. He said he's not able to respond right now, but he should soon.
I won't hear from him again for maybe two weeks!! I told him I was hoping for 10-11 days, but he said not to count on it. After he hurries through the White Mountains, he'll pick up a package in Warren, NH. He's been told there is only a post office there. I'm hoping that MAYBE he'll find a phone. But he will pick up his package there, and then head to Hanover, NH before he can stop again at a hostel. That will be right on the NH/VT line. So he'll basically go all the way through NH before calling again. He should smell really great too by the time he gets there!
I'm praying for him to find some more companionship through the Whites. I hope he takes the time to enjoy himself some, but he doesn't really have the clothing to get caught in bad weather. The pull-over that I ordered him got to him, but he says it's cotton so it's not going to do any good if it rains. Oops. I ordered it off Amazon so I didn't know. His coat and pull-over that he started with (really nice ones) that he mailed back two days into the trail because he thought it was hot and he wouldn't need them JUST got here today!! I've been looking for them for weeks. But he wasn't at a post office when he mailed them. The guys at the state park just said they'd take care of it for him. They would've had no idea that we actually needed something in it to mail back!! So that kind of stinks!!
Not much else to report. I'll be sending his package out tomorrow to get to Warren by Tuesday. Praying he realizes more and more that he's so loved!!
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