Plan... preparation...packing...prayer

 

As we post this week's blog, the reality of what we have been planning and preparing, for over the last few months is finally upon us. There are feelings of excitement and anticipation, and not a few butterflies in our stomachs. These feelings intensified as we realised how much "stuff" we needed to pack.

This past week has seen us reviewing the plan and asking, "is it robust"? We have also asked ourselves, "have we prepared enough, both physically and mentally"? Looking at our motorhome we asked ourselves whilst packing the van, "is there enough room in our motorhome for everything"? 

As we seek to answer these questions, we simply bow our heads in prayer and remember some words of Psalm 121: We look up to the hills, but where does our help come from? Our help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let you be defeated. He who guards you never sleeps.

The plan? Whilst it may be tweaked here and there, in essence though it is complete. The preparation? We certainly hope we have prepared enough, however, that too is complete. To our relief around lunch time on Saturday the van was packed and ready to roll. The prayer though must never stop.

There may be days during the walk when we will feel weary, especially on days where there is a bit of climbing. Shona regularly tells me, that on days like that, she will humph and mump (sigh and moan) a bit. I of course will just say, "aww wheesht, stoap mumpin, ye can manage it".

Joking aside, one of the most important aspects of the whole challenge, is to keep praying, come what may. The apostle Paul says, and so much better than I can, in the first letter he wrote to the church in a place called Thessalonica, and I quote from the Youth Bible verses found in: 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 verses 16-17:  "Always be joyful. Pray continually and give thanks whatever happens". We know that sometimes this is not easy, indeed, it can be extremely difficult but, Paul finishes in verse 18 by saying: "That this is what God wants for you in Christ Jesus". 

Knowing that there are others praying for us is, without doubt, a great encouragement, and without your support our walk would be all the more difficult.

God willing, by the time we post our next blog we will have completed the first week of our walk, hopefully with no ill effects, e.g. blisters, strains, or any other mishap. 

If you are a Facebook user, we also hope to publish a short mid-week video. The address is: https://www.facebook.com/WeAreMillerHall This is the Church we attend. Having said that I don't think any of the recognised travel writers need worry about their jobs. 

Mike is no Michael Palin and, for those who can remember him, neither is he an Alan Wicker, although it was suggested this week if he wanted to be like him, he would need to wear a blazer and a wired microphone.

Just as we were about to finish this week's blog, the last before we set off for Land's End, I heard a knock at the door and it was a very kind neighbour with lovely card and a big box of "celebrations", she said that there wasn't a box of "heroes" and hoped these would do, she also wondered if we had enough room to take them with us, "oh thank you I said, and don't you worry, I'll make room 😋😋.This is yet another example of the kindness, and there have been many, that others have shown us, and we say, from the bottom of our hearts to all, a massive THANK YOU THEY ARE ALL APPRECIATED MORE THAN WORDS CAN EXPRESS. 

Finally, thank you again for reading our blog, and once again please feel free to visit and share the "Shona and Mike Take a Hike" fundraising page at:

https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/shonaandmike-giving-page-2298439

You can also visit our page using the QR Code below: