I Love Free Meals

Well folks, a couple days later and a few more miles down the road and I'm in Mansfield Oh; halfway across this lovely state. I am so excited as I start to see the scenery change from the endless miles of corn and more corn to a few rolling hills just hinting at the Appalatians to come.

My new family back in Van Wert brought me down the road to the town of Bluffton Oh, which consists of a truck stop and a, well, another truck stop. I headed down new Highway 30, and finding it to be a very busy 4 lane highway, I realized that it was a very slim chance that anyone would stop for me (realization: the faster we're going the less likely we'll stop.) I had a late start and after nearly 5 days off of my feet, I only made it 7 miles before stopping into a church with loud music blaring.

The youth pastor and his merry band were practicing for their upcoming high school retreat. I asked if he knew of a place that I could stay and after a couple failed concepts, he brought me to his grandfather-in-law's farm.

It was nearly dark already so I simply set up camp and went to sleep.

In the morning, I started out again on Hwy. 30 but this was the old 30. All the traffic from the busy four lane was diverted onto this 2 lane death trap for construction purposes. The 2 foot shoulder was hardly enough of a buffer between me and the thousands of semi trucks that dominated the road. And naturally, no one stopped.

About 14-15 miles later, I found the only business/restaraunt/anything around and I rested over lunch through the heat of the day only to set out again with 13 miles to the next town.

I got a short ride from another kind officer just several miles out of Upper Sandusky and welcomed the back seat of a squad car once again.

Once downtown, within minutes, I was offered a free meal at A.J.'s Heavenly Pizza. The owner made sure that I had my fill then tried to find a place for me to stay. With little luck on that front, I headed to the Library to check a couple things before they shut the doors. And who would have guessed it; those librarians found me a spot for the night.

I camped in the backyard of a retired couple who are helping out a family member and staying in her home because of her health. Normally this very vibrant couple is out on the road in the RV that is their home and has been for many years.

We went out for malts and had great stories to swap and being that conversation is one of my most desired commodoties, I was so very blessed.

I set camp on their lawn and eagerly awaited the breakfast they had offered in the morning.

After breakfast (fabulous pancakes) and a short sit at the coffee house, I was out again and looking for old 30. I followed all the signs and everything seemed to make sense untill I ended up on another 4 lane madhouse. I wasn't about to backtrack so I just kept pressing on down the new 30 again.

I had just read in Matthew where Jesus says to his diciples that if they had the slightest faith and did not doubt, they would receive anything they ask for in prayer. Experiment time: I asked God for a ride, knowing the slim chance on this type of road, then did the best I could not to doubt it. I even made up a song about how my ride was-a-comin. Four minutes later, I was picked up by a kindly woman and her daughter headed to a baby shower here in Mansfield.

Before the night was over, they had brought me to McDonnald's, found me a place to stay, (with the couple having the baby) treated me and the couple to pizza, and rented a movie that we could all watch together.

It's fascinating how normal this is all beginning to feel. It's almost hard for me to remember all the exciting things that God has done because it's beginning to seem common. Now, somehow, I never want to loose the excitement to see God provide, and the joy at it's happenning, but I am rather glad that moments like that have lost the element of surprise. I have come to simply expect God to do exactly what He said He would, and that is to be expected. I know that it will take different shapes every day and sometimes it's later than I would like, but His provision will be there. And even if there is a night where I have to wander the streets till sunrise, I know that He has a plan in it all (though I'm sure that I wouldn't be all that happy about it.)

Response to inquisitive poster:

Someone posted a question (somehow under my own name) asking how I introduce myself to people. Well, most the time it sounds like "Hi, I'm Chris." Very rarely does the conversation end there in light of the huge backpack that is permanently attatched to me. When they ask where I'm headed, I tell them exactly that. For the most part, I have held off mentioning the fact that I left without money, food, or cell phone, unless the topic comes up or they ask for for stories from my trip.
Why would I hold that back? Simply because I don't want to feel like I am manipulating anyone into providing. If I did that, it would be entirely to easy for me to rationalize this entire experience and say that my charm (or lack there of) saved me instead of God.

Right now, I am staying another night here in Mansfield, though I am getting increasingly excited about getting to the Appalation Trail. My qualms about taking rides has fallen by the wayside, and I'm looking forward to getting to the mountains as fast as I can. So I will soon be off again, and headed toward Canton to stay the night with someone that I met while passing through Madison what feels like ages ago.

Thank you all for your prayers and posts. I hope to see everyone soon!

Christopher Andrew.