Sweet Home Pennsylvania

I have just crossed my fifth and final state border! I half expected a welcome party with a dancing color guard and a band playing fanfare in front of all the citizens of PA clapping as I passed. Kind of like the Saturn dealership, but way cooler. Okay, I didn't really imagine that but I thought that passing by the welcome sign would have at least inspired me to dance a jig, but I was tired, and it's really hard to do high kicks with a forty pound pack.

I left Salem and my free hotel room early yesterday morning to go into town for coffee. When I checked out of my hotel, there was a pound of fresh roasted coffee grounds waiting for me with an invitation to come by before I left. The owners had heard that I was sad to find their doors closed at 4:30 pm and were eager to make it up to me.

I returned the grounds knowing that there was no way that I could brew it, and left after my free drink and muffin.

Just as I left town and entered into the beginnings of some majestic foothills, it began to rain. I quickly threw on rain gear and covered anything in my pack that needed it then pressed on down the road.

The only major problem with walking in the rain is not getting wet from the outside, but the buildup of moisture inside my 'breathable' rain gear. Within 30 minutes, even I could tell that I reeked to high heaven, and I had just had such a nice shower.

Not far out of town, I walked into a local breakfast joint for some french toast. The locals were very friendly and immediately started to ask questions. Some other adventurers dining there started telling stories of their travels and the kindnesses that they had found on the road. All the while the waitress was trying to grasp the concept of a God who speaks... I love those moments.

The gentleman put some cash together to pay for my meal then offered me a five mile ride to the next town. I was hesitant given my hygienic state, but obliged all the same.

The rain wasn't eager to let up and some thunderstorms rolled nearby, but by late afternoon (and many, many miles of wet) the sky cleared up to a beautiful blue. And just in time for me to cross the line.

My welcome into PA was quiet and a little deserted being that there was no town for another 4 miles. My body was starting to give way and needed rest fairly often. Soon I found a small restaurant where I was glad to enjoy a bacon cheeseburger and stay off of my feet for a time. The patrons were quiet and kept to themselves; a stark difference from my breakfast experience but to be expected on most occasions.

The waitress pointed out that the next town (though it's not on the map) was Chippewa and only a few miles farther. So I put on my tourist cap (metaphorical) and went to check it out.

It was a small and quiet town with much more corporate businesses than I expected. I searched for a locals hangout with little luck. Just as I began to think that I should walk outside of town, I saw a church with cars in the parking lot.

Once inside, I was directed (by the barbershop quartet) to head outside to the field in search of the youth pastor. I went outside and looked for a large congregation of children and soon found the one in charge. The youth pastor quickly offered me a place to stay and some food from their little cafe of sorts. Once all of the details of my trip were sorted out, he asked a favor of me.

After the band had played two songs, this young pastor introduced me and handed over the microphone. I was so glad to share the details of my journey and tell these young ones how great our God is; not to mention, I absolutely love speaking!

God's timing is so fun.

Then there was volleyball madness.

The band members decided to give me a free tee-shirt which looks 'bad' (that means good) on me, and more than that, it was clean! So I wore it proudly after all was over as we went to meet those that I would be staying with.

We drove to Beaver Falls, the home of Geneva College. The young woman I was about to meet (ironically from southern MN) had attended Geneva and been upset by the disconnection between the community and these private school students. As her best resolution, she and a friend bought a house in the community with enough room to house several Geneva students and introduce them to the community of Beaver Falls. They have intentionally become friends with their neighbors and play games in the yard with the community kids. There is no real planning or organizing behind it, that's just part of who they are.

I was glad to stay the night, and will stay one more just to get to know a few people here before moving on toward the big city of Pittsburgh. I am both excited and scared about that prospect, but hopefully I will have a contact even before I arrive. That way I can see the city without the pressure of finding a spot to stay while I'm at it.

Thank you all so much for your comments! I love to hear from you and I hope that some day soon it will be in person!

Christopher Andrew