A Minnesotan Week

Parks, picnics, friends, caves, downtowns, unexpected reunions, guns, lakes, ATVs and woods. That pretty much sums up my week spent in Minnesota.

I left you off in Sterling and Emily's and my good friend Katie was on her way to pick me up. What a saint she is. She came and got me and we eventually made it down to Rochester where she lives, but not with out her parents three and a half pound dog with an attitude. If you know me, you know that small dogs aren't my forte and apparently strapping young lads like myself aren't hers. It took some time, but she eventually excepted me for who I am.

On Saturday the 11th we went to a picnic with the rest of Katie's class. She's studying physical therapy at Mayo. It was a fun time. Got to share Costa Rica adventures and play some sand volleyball. Again, not my forte, but I lived at the beach long enough to not look like a fool out there. Well, apparently, it had been a while. I looked like a fool. It took my about 30 minutes to warm up and then I spiked it once and a guy said, "wow, didn't see that coming!" Ugh, I need to work out.

Sunday we went to church in Rochester. It was a Minnesota-sized "mega church". It was large, but, it wasn't "mega" for So Cal. I always look through the bulletins to see what goes on out side of Sunday morning. Their bulletin was like a small book. Folded and staple-bound. I was really impressed with all the different events and regularly planned meetings for all stages of life. I mostly scan, but I actually read through their men's ministry programs and I was really impressed. A good men's ministry is somewhat of a rarity in the American church and I love it when I see it.

I struggled with the music worship. It was great musically and I could tell that much preparation and concern had gone into this part of the service, but I felt like the leaders were separated from the congregation and visa versa. If I had to choose though, I would take a great community with different venues for people to get connected over great worship on Sunday morning.

After lunch we met up with Katie's parents and we went to a cave! Niagara Cave to be exact, near Harmony, MN. it was pretty dang cool. At one point we were like 300 feet below the surface of the Earth. There was a 75 foot underground waterfall at one point. Fossils from when those creatures were last alive! And we experienced total darkness. it was sweet.

Monday Katie had to go to class and I took the bus down to downtown Rochester and got off at St. Mary's hospital to check out the chapel. I was impressed they had such a decorated chapel inside of a hospital, but they did. Complete with stain glass windows, high ceilings and a beautiful alter. I took plenty of photos and even took time to read a piece of Confessions. I found it fitting. Towards the back they had a table of trinkets and things for sale on the honor system. Find what you want and put your money in the little slot in the table. There was a little box with Catholic charms in it. I'm not Catholic, and I don't pray to the saints, but I have been looking for a charm of St. Christopher because he's the saint of travel. I searched and searched and finally found one. They were 35 cents so I bought it. I wear it now around my neck along with my two "blessing rings" that read, "protection" and "Life is a Journey, Not a Destination". I don't think these have any special power, but they help me remember that the Lord is with me and I have people praying for me everyday.

12 days ago, I received a text message from a number I don't know asking if I was, "hitching across the us?" I responded with yes and asked who they were, but they didn't tell me, and they still haven't. They just said that they were the little angle on my shoulder and that they would be praying for my everyday and sending me encouraging thoughts and Bible verses here and there. I really have no idea who this person is, they have given me a couple obtuse clues I think, but I'd almost rather not know. This person has been diligent to send me a good word every day or so and it has been more than welcome; such a blessing. I know you read my blog because you've asked about it, so I want to publicly thank you for blessing me with your thoughts and prayers.

It wasn't planned and we didn't even know until just a few days before we met up, but I got to see my close friend Ben Sprenger! We lived together for a while, but he moved up to Alaska this past summer and I did not think I was going to get to see him while I was here, but he came in town for a family event and it was so good to see him and spend time with him. One night we went downtown to uptown, yeah I know, for food and drinks. We met up with Sterling and Emily and it was so good to see them again.

Thursday was man-day. Ben, his dad and I went up to "the farm" and played around in the woods. We drove around an ATV and set up deer stands for the oncoming deer season. I'm not much of a hunter, at all, like, I don't think I could do it, but it was fun mucking about in the woods. Before we went back to town we got out the guns and shot at a piece of plywood. I had never shot a shotgun before and they really do kick as much as they say they do. I shot a 12 gage slug. boom.

The next day Ben drove me out to Hwy 52 and dropped me off and I headed south to Iowa. I wasn't there very long and Mark stopped to give me a lift. He drove me from Hampton, MN to just south of Rochester, about an hour's drive. He was curious about what I was doing and why I was doing it. East conversation. As we were entering into Rochester he offered to buy me lunch and I was not going to pass that up. We hit up the Culver's drive thru and were on out way again. He drove me all the way onto Hwy 63 which reaches all the way down to Cedar Falls where I have some family. It wasn't the best location to hitch from, but I had to make do.

I was there about an hour when Katie got in contact with me and offered to drive me as for as she could get me in the next couple hours. Heck yes. A for sure ride and more time with a good friend. Before she came and got me though, I was warned by the lady who lived up the dirt drive way that "for safety, you might wanna move down that way some. I have a 130 pound dog that patrols this area." I wasn't sure if she was serious or just wanted me to move, but I just said thank you and wished her a good day. I didn't move. She came back a little later and offered to take me down the road some cause she was serious, but by that time Katie was in her way.

Katie got me all the way to Waverly, IA where my cousin, Melanie and her three boys came and got me. I was about 20 minutes from their house so I took some time to journal sitting in a park bench.

I've been staying with Bob and Melanie and Jacob, Joshua and Johnathon for the last couple nights and tomorrow will be on my way to see family in Cedar Rapids. I don't know for sure, but I am thinking of hitting the road again on Wednesday to reach Jeremy in Michigan for the weekend. He's just over 450 miles away to I think I can get there in two days hopefully. I was thinking about heading toward Milwaukee and taking the ferry over to avoid Chigago, but the ferry is $85 one way, so I think I'll stick to the road. I am going to make my way up to near Traverse City, MI and see my friend Jeremy and his family. I'll spend a few days there and be on my way to Maine! Pray for a late winter!