Dec 22nd, 2008 by Lyn Hanush
2008 Highlights From Hanush Haven Lyn: What an incredible year, starting with five days when I went to the inner city of Los Angeles with our church youth group. A great week of working alongside our youth at Rescue Missions, and helping do a “make-over” of two rooms in a pastor’s home, among other things. My main purpose for being there was to pray, but God used it to show me what a great group of young people we have at our church, to introduce me to some wonderful, but needy people and those who work with them, and to prepare me for some of the places I would be walking during this year. I would be delighted to go with our youth again. Dave and I went away for a few days in early February to Windsor, CA to celebrate 48 years of marriage. We had a good time of just being together.A few days later I headed out with a friend, Daryl Fahey, driving across the country to begin the Going And Praying (GAP) Walk from Florida to Maine. We made a few stops along the way for speaking and interview appointments. The last week of February and first week of March were in Florida with Coni Harris and others, where I did some more speaking, interviews, and preparation time for the GAP Walk. Dave: Meanwhile, back home, I was getting into the bulk of tax season, and trying to keep up with details of Lyn’s trip. I also kept busy with my genealogy work and being the California representative for the International Czechoslovakia Genealogy Society. Lyn: The GAP Walk began on March 6, with Lili Williams joining me for the first month, and Coni and Daryl for the first three days. We started in Ormond Beach, FL, meeting groups of bikers (it was the annual Daytona Bike Week), and a variety of other people.
For a few days we kept seeing one homeless couple as they walked to St. Augustine Beach. Our paths crisscrossed, and we helped them out with food, water, and other items, as well as prayer. Throughout the year different people came to join me as drivers, but I walked alone much of the time. Daryl came back in mid-April to drive for me for three weeks. When she left, I took some time to visit my daughter, AlyceKay, and family in Tennessee.
Russ: From mid-June to early August I drove for Mom and coordinated her route. I re-mapped the remainder of the route to cut out some distance and keep her moving so she could catch up on time lost when she was without a driver.Lyn: For those in-between times when I was without a driver, God provided a variety of people to help out. In April I was in the Charleston, SC area, where radio station WKCL lined up drivers for three days. This radio station provided me with opportunities to share and greatly encouraged me during the two weeks I was in their area. I will never forget the team of people there. Judy was a special gift to me, and she and her family have become good friends. Norma Teel from Santa Clara, CA was my driver from August to mid-September. Then Bonny Boniface from Hackettstown, NJ drove until the last two days when Dave came for the ending. I wish I could tell you more about all these wonderful drivers, but space doesn’t permit here. Daryl, Norma and Bonny were old friends of mine, each from a different area, and each gifted in different ways. What a blessing they were.Sometimes my driver and I stayed in homes, and other times we stayed in motels. We made some wonderful friends - some of our hosts were: Melanie in Jacksonville, FL (she also helped drive some); Bob and Becky in Lucama, NC (Becky also drove some); Cindy and Pieter in Fredericksburg, VA; Dale and Diane in Reston, VA; and Harri and Evelyn in Potomoc, MD.In Mount Olive, NC, my shuttle van, “Snow White,” was in an accident on Memorial Day. No one was injured, but the van was totaled, and a few days later I had a replacement, “Lady Mag.” Thankfully, our insurance company acted quickly. Lady Mag is six years newer, and was an excellent addition for this journey.Russ: During the time I drove for Mom, my cousin, Connee came for three weeks. She walked parts of each day, and rode the other part. The three of us were a great team, and it was during this time that Mom walked her highest mileages (up to 35 miles in one day!).
Lyn: Some of the critters I saw were a mother skunk with four babies; a bear; and a variety of smaller critters. Connee, Russ, and I saw a young moose as we drove to the start of the walking route one day.
It was also during this time that I ended up in the emergency room of the hospital in Skowhegan, ME for a few hours on an IV. After several days of not holding anything in my stomach, I suddenly felt great again with a fill-up of fluids.
And then there were the people I met along the way as I walked along beaches, and swamp lands, through inner cities, and Washington D.C., and the rural areas of the New England states. I had expected to be in Washington D.C. only one time, but because of a variety of circumstances I was there six times. Since my purpose was to pray for the nation, it was great to be able to pray in our capital city the extra times. Part of the reason for the extra time there was the decision to walk from Florida to D.C. March 6 to July 4; and from Maine to D.C. July 20 to October 18, instead of straight through from Florida to Maine as originally planned.I had the privilege of praying with many people along the way, and sometimes people asked if they could pray for me - what a beautiful experience. I talked with many people of a variety of backgrounds - from those who carried everything they owned in a shopping cart, to those who had much; from those who worked on construction sites to our congressman in Washington.A different church each Sunday was always a delight. I kept notes of the different sermons in a notebook, and got to meet a delightful array of ministers. Some weeks we were Presbyterians, other weeks we were Methodists, Evangelical Free, Alliance, or Pentecostal Holiness. It was great to be with God’s children singing, sharing, and worshiping.Dave: I joined Lyn for a week in June in Washington D.C., another time in September in New Jersey, and at the end for the final day of walking to the Lincoln Memorial. We toured Washington and New York City together. And finally drove home together with visits to many friends and relatives along the way. This took a little over a month.
Lois Rose (our third great-grandchild) made her entrance into the world on October 15, and we got to see her when she was only a week and a half old. This is Sam’s second. Great-grandchild number four is due the end of February. This will be Brenda’s second.
Now we’re home, and trying to get organized, settled in, and ready for Christmas and the New Year. At times we both feel overwhelmed with all there is to do, but we are glad to be home.
I’m getting caught up with the year-end stuff that needs to be done in order to prepare for the next tax season.
Lyn is preparing to do more speaking in the months ahead. We both feel that is where God is leading her right now. We’re checking into some speaker’s bureaus, and have some good potentials in this area. Her publicist has also encouraged us in this.
Russ: My dog, Loki - age 14, died earlier this year after a bout with cancer. My folks’ dog, Dimples, died in December after his kidneys shut down. He was 13. We miss them, but are all enjoying my puppy, Toby, who is 6 months old now.
Dave, Lyn and Russ: Thank you to all who prayed for us, housed us, fed us, or in any way helped us. It meant SO much to us. We trust that each of you had a very wonderful Christmas and have a Happy New Year.
As you head into the New Year remember that whatever comes to pass, as you put your trust in Him, “The Lord Himself will go before you, He will be with you. He will not leave you or forget you; don’t be afraid, and don’t worry.” Deuteronomy 31:8 New Century Version
Dave, Lyn, and Russ
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