Gall Bladder Surgery

Please note that Dave has had gall bladder surgery and is unable to access his blog for a bit. He is still on track for his gallant dash across Southern Ontario in May of next year, and would appreciate your prayers as he recovers. Get well soon Dave!

60 Kms in 5 days!

60 KMS, well it may not sound like much, but trust me it is. I took a week off and went out to Winnipeg and Saskatoon to visit family. While there I took the opportunity to walk, A lot! I stayed at my brothers home, which is about 7 kms north of Winnipeg on Henderson Hwy, I walked into the city either to the supported housing that my mother lives at (recently moved into, thus the reason for my visit) or to my brothers church to pick up a vehicle. Either way, both destinations were 15 kms from the morning start.

This bridge pictured below, you may recall from media coverage in February, it is the bride that Olympian Cindy Klassens sister’s jeep went over the edge and landed upside down on the frozen red river below, was on my route during my morning walks. It just so happens that in February when the accident happened, I came upon the scene just 15 minutes after it occured as I was visiting in Wpg then as well. All told in the span of 5 days last week I walked 60 kms, It was, yet again, a learning experince, mainly to see what it felt like to walk for 3+ hours then see what the body thought of doing it again the next day….. needless to say I’ve got more training and conditioning to do.

In other news! Our Elgin county, Christian Horizons teams, hosted a garage sale this past week for the Guatemalan, Ecuadorian and Respite projects, Thanks to ALL who were involved and donated their time and their stuff to the cause…. If you have some pictures, sent them and I will post them here.

4:45 AM on A Saturday Morning

4:45 AM, The alarm goes off and I'm up like a shot.... Got to get there! Another morning meeting at church and like a few weeks ago I decide to walk, only this time the meeting has been moved up an hour so I leave an hour earlier. By 5:05 am I'm out the door.

this is what Woodstock looks like at that time of the morning, just in case you were wondering.... Not much going on!



As I walked I checked my email.... I know I know, a bad habit.... in the early hours of the monring this quote came in from a daily quote website I have subscribed to... I found it very inspiring as I still had about 11 more Kms to go of my 13 that morning.... Perhaps it will inspire you as well to reach inside for that second wind... I know that in that second wind, that extra mile or climbing out on that limb that scares us, we find Gods strength, his spirit of empowerment and encourgmange and his blessing, to accomplish what might have seemed impossible the moment, day, month or year before. Truly that is how I see these project we will provide for....


Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out
they've got a second. Give your dreams all you've got and you'll be amazed
at the energy that comes out of you.

William James
(1842-1910, American Psychologist, Professor, Author
)


PS... Troy, a reply to your comment on the previous post - I'm giving myself up to 12 days and hope to do it in 11, For those of you who need more info see the very first post in this blog. Thanks for the Encouragement Troy.... God Bless!

Breaking records and a photo shoot

This weekend, more milestone were reached.... I broke a personal record on the cross trainers again. Managed to stay going for 35 min straight both sat and Sunday.

This past week Heather and Jacqui from Christian Horizons Global were by to start to develop some promo material, shot some video and took some pictures, I must admit, it's making me nervous, but I trust them!





* I'm posting this picture of them, just to make sure I wasn't the only one having pictures taken knowing they would be posted, published or reproduced! Thanks H and J for all your hard work toward the goal of funding these projects..... NOTHING is IMPOSSIBLE !!!!

CAR WASH - Windsor

Thanks to all who supported these projects by hosting a car wash in Windsor earlier this month. A special thanks to the Christian Horizons team members that organized it, worked hard washing cars and freely sacrificed their time and efforts....

Over 600 Dollars was raised for Guetemala, Ecador and Respite..... This will make a huge impact on children and adults in these areas!!!!!!!





Some other notes....

Training update: Finally! the first 10 pounds have come off! I know I have more to go, but figure that that is 10 pounds I don't have to carry for 325Kms!!!!

I could drive....... But........

Good morning, It is just after 5:30 am on a wonderful sunny Saturday morning... well, the sun isn't up yet but I have faith that when it is it will be great.... I have a board meeting at my church at 9 am this morning so I figured I'd get a taste of how it is to get up and walk today..... Oh, Ya.... I go to church in Ingersoll and I live in Woodstock. The church is about 13 kms away, in a car, only a 12 min drive, walking it will be 2.5 to 3 hours, so I'd better get going. I will let you know how it goes later, have a great day!



LATER.......

I made it.... it took me 2 hours 35 minutes (exactly what Google maps said it would). It was a challenge, I learned a lot about needing good shoes for this, I also learned that walking on the gravel shoulder is much different than treadmills and cross trainers.

6 am is a wonderful time of day, thought I'd share some picutres that I took along the way. Oh ya, and when my meeting was over, I walked about 2 kms back towards woodstock, before Sandi (my wife) picked me up.... Enjoy the pics.



Morning Fog lifting about 7am


The sun comming up in the fog.


Long, early morning shadows....


My path took me through Beachville.... The sign gives away it's claim to fame.....

GAME ON !!!!!!

Remember playing street hockey, or some other sport as a kid, and someone yelled “Game ON!” and everything changed, it was the start of the game, getting down to business!

Well, that is how I feel, GAME ON !!!! I had the opportunity to discuss the District Dash with our Global Ministry department and am just so encouraged and jazzed about the opportunities, challenges and impact that is before us.

Suffice to say for now that the passion to support these projects is growing every day! And there will be some great things happening in the near future as details will now be coming together about the walk (ie District Dash website, donations online, updates from Guatemala and Ecuador etc….)

Keep an eye on this blog…. You won’t want to miss a thing!

Thanks for all your support.... Dave

Email from Michael

Just wanted to share a portion of an email I received this morning from Michael Alemu ( Christian Horizons - Global, VP)

I trust you will find it as encouraging, challenging and passionate as I do....

"As you may know, I just returned from a trip to S. Sudan, Ethiopia, and Moldova (Eastern Europe). Once again, I witnessed the pain and grief of children with disabilities and children at risk in many marginalized communities, children who suffer immensely particularly in these days of the global food crisis. It is heart breaking to see children in several communities get by each day by digging through piles of garbage looking for small food for survival.

In your walk, you are sharing hope with children, particularly those with disabilities on the slums of cities like Quito, Guatemala and Mumbai. It is to reduce the stigma and shame associated with being disabled. It is for the abandoned children like Alison in Kajo-Keji, South Sudan who was found with her umbilical cord still attached, or the nearly 3000 lepers isolated in leper colony who are rotting away in their small houses suffering from infection, malnutrition, disease and stigma."


So if you were to ask me why I'm going to walk 325 K, or why people and CH teams are partnering together and committing to the cause.... I trust the above email gives you a glimpse into the answer.

Some Ecuador Info!

Some things I have been finding out about the country of Ecuador




Quito is located about 25 km south of the equator.

Ecuador has a average income of only about $5 per day

More than 65% of all Ecuadorians live in extreme poverty. This means they are unable to satisfy their most basic human needs: housing, food, healthcare and education. (obviously the need is GREAT!!!!!)

Quito population estimate 2007 1,800,000

The Waorani tribe of Ecuador is portrayed in the 2006 theatrical release of The End of The Spear, the story of five missionaries speared to death,

Ecuador is divided into 24 Provinces

The District Dash Does not take a vacation....

just a quick update, my family and I are about to leave Montreal and head to the Sauble Beach area for the 2nd week of vacation.... we are having a wonderful time! but I have not let up on my training... I have been jogging and walking all this week, In fact today I took a hand held gps on a walk to judge average speed and distance to a can better have an idea of the BIG WALK in May..... I was somewhat encouraged... I walked 10 Kms today......

Marathon Running

Doesn't this title just grab your attention! Yes, i have progressed into my training for this fund raising walk significantly! - Into marathon running..... Well... let me explain... My family and I are currently in Montreal, visiting family as part of a 2 week vacation..... in the absence of my regular routine, or at least the routine I have been in for the past 2 months, no gym etc... I have decided to try and jog (aka marathon run) I ran yesterday and today. I like to call it a 1/20th Marathon... yes, it was only 2.5 KMS and it took me forever, but i did it!!!!. I am also convinced that if you would have seen me do it you would have said to yourself... "look at that poor old guy running, something look wrong with him!, maybe we should offer him a ride" My running was not exactly a smooth and polished Olympic style stride , it was short strides, very labored, and very awkward .... but I'm convicned I'll get better and it will all aid in the goal of being able to complete the 325km walk in May 2009 (see previous posts for more info)


ps. factoid: I have never, ever, jogged before in my ENTIRE life! and yes, I am currently in a significant level of pain..... this too shall pass.....

The Chocolate Factory!

I had opportunity this week to review the Chocolate Factory plan from the Triangle foundation in Quito, Ecuador. What a Great Plan!

Just as a refresher for some, my walk will in part fund the purchase of equipment for this factory. The goal of the factory is to provide employment opportunities, skill development. It is to create a self sustaining and permanent business for people with exception needs. The revenue the project creates will be reinvested in to services and opportunities for people. I can't think of a better way to invest!

Some of the equipment needs include

Molds,
thermometers,
a shrink wrap machine,
a coating machine
and an air buffer (just to name a few)

Lots of letters to write!

Spoke with the OPP this week about getting permission to walk on the roads of south west Ontario for this fundraiser..... They informed me that I have to get permission from each municipality and if that municipality requires any kind of police escort that it would cost me about 50-75 dollars an hour, Pray that they don't!

So I guess I will start writing letters!

A Matter of Choice!

This District Dash is certainly becoming a lesson in Choice. I knew it would, I thought long and hard about the changes in my life that needed to happen in order for this to become a reality. At it’s most basic level the choice was….. Choose to walk in order to fund projects that will have a life long impact on people….. but as next may draws closer day by day I’m challenged with the details of that choice fresh every morning….. like this morning, get out of bed and work out or NOT…. The flesh says no way”, after all it’s been used to that for a long time, it doesn’t want to change, it was happy and content never coming across a treadmill, “pump class” or a bar bell for years and years….Sure I could pray about it (and I do) but ultimately God in his wisdom allows me to be the director of the morning, prayer wasn’t going to get me out of bed this morning, I had to choose! And with help, like my wife’s encouragement, the vision of these projects in my mind and the commitment to “Do This” I did get out of bed, got to the gym and managed to last a whole 20 minutes on a cross trainer ( a personal record for me!) before doing some weight machines and heading home for a shower…..

As I reflect on this I constantly think of the verse “…. Choose this day whom you will serve….”. (Joshua 24) God’s gift of choice, free will and freedom is an amazing thing and I feel like I understand it a bit more this morning.

Have a great day…..

Walked for a Day

Last week I had the privilage of going on my daughters Grade 8 class trip to Quebec City. What a great time! Wonderful history and an all around beautiful place.... On the friday, in order to allow our bus drivers the day to sleep (in prep for the overnight drive home) we spent all day walking and exploring upper town and lower town of Old Quebec. It was an 8 hr + day on our feet and walking up and down some significant hills (ie exploring the old fort). After the day was done I thought that it was a good trial walk. I'm sure we didn't cover much ground but it was a practical example of what the District Dash will be like, except after the day is done, then there's another one, and another one and even more after that...... I guess the lesson is that I still have a long way to go to be ready for this 300+ Kms walk, cause I still hurt from the Quebec trip.

The Start of an Amazing Journey!

Hi Everyone! Please come back soon as you join me on this journey.

Below is some basic information about this District Dash! Lots more to Come.....

Thanks

Dave