Running 4 Bare Feet

I am so ashamed at how sporadic my posting has been over the past several months.  My running hasn’t been much better either, to be honest.  However, with the recovery of my shins from overrunning a couple months ago, and with the completion of three runs last week with no issues, I press on to the goal line of finishing my mileage and keeping the blog more up to date.

I put a stop to the mileage I was recording because the running was so sporadic and so little, so I am now picking up where the last post left off, and today I will be running the 368th mile of the project!  We have crossed the sea between the islands and now begin our hundred-mile stretch on Palawan Island!

Thanks for sticking around to see the completion of the project! Once I have finished my mileage the blog will take on a slightly different tone but it will still be focused on running, ministries, and children.  If you are interested in sharing any running tips or ministries with our readers, please let me know!

Day 117

Miles Run: 364 Miles

Cotabato Airport, Cotabato City, Mindanao, Philippines

I would love to have this little fellow for a running partner!

Good bye Mindanao! I can hardly  believe that this project has traveled so far.  Thanks to Ronald de Jong for providing the visual tour of the island through his camera lens, and thanks to all of you for following this leg of my journey! As I fly over the waters that separate Mindanao from other islands in the country, please prayerfully consider donating to help the little ones that Compassion International works daily with to bring to the Savior.  Meanwhile, although our financial is far from being met, I will also be sharing pictures with you of the second ministry that the project set out to support, Aloha House on Palawan Island.

The route map will now be switching to a map of Palawan island as I run the rest of the 500 miles there.  Thanks for coming along!

Day 114

Miles Run: 356

Cotabato City, Mindanao, Philippines

Here we are on the other side of the island now! It has been an adventurous last hundred miles, to say the least, and highly irregular.  Please forgive my sporadic posting.

I hope you all have had a wonderful Thanksgiving and had a wonderful opportunity to thank the Savior for all the blessings that He so abundantly pours out on us each and every day! As we head into the holiday season, please keep those in mind who have nothing.  God has given us so much–reach out and share the blessing with another!

As far as the route goes, I am gearing up to leave Mindanao behind me and head to Palawan for our final leg of the running journey!  More coming soon as I head toward Cotabato Airport!

Photos courtesy of Ronald de Jong

Day 106

Miles Run:  324

Pan-Philippine Highway, Sigayan Beach, Mindanao, Philippines

I am finally feeling well enough to run again!  Whooping cough is hardly something that you can deal with when running, so I had to drop the whole project for a good 7 weeks.  Thankfully, I had miles to record before I stopped, hence the furthering of the project.But now, I am back into running and greatly enjoying, via internet, the Western side of the island and the Celebes Sea.

I know I haven’t been running–I have been strangling myself just trying to keep up with life, much less running 4 miles/day.  But I am back into it now and feeling great! I will see this project through to completion, Lord willing.  Please consider donating and asking a friend to partner with you as we help precious little children over on the island of Mindanao.  Every little life counts and is precious to Jesus, and that is why I continue to make every step toward my 500-mile goal!

Day 43

Miles Run:  152

Maramag, Sayre Highway, Mindanao, Philippines

This little city of Maramag is inhabited by only 90,000 people, an average of 30,000 families.  The city is so named because of large flat stones in the vicinity that have been used for centuries as a picnic ground by friends and foes alike.  “Maramag” is essentially the shortened version of “Let us eat breakfast here.”

Such a city would hardly be considered anything but a peaceful one,  by the name.  Political feuds with local tribes and wealthy landowners, however, have turned this area into a poverty-stricken community.  Many native former farmers have been forced off their lands as the local government has given it over to landlords to export crops.
Please pray for this community as they endeavor to gain back their property and raise food for their families.  I, too, am sending a prayer to the throne as I pass by in my sneakers.

~

And now for our Link of the Week!  While my feet have been running hither and yon around Mindanao, I must say that my mind has traveled to the furthest corners of the earth.  Here then, is our first link of the week!

Started by a prospective adoptive mom to raise money for her Rwandan adoption.  Selling chic jewelry and fashion accessories made by impoverished women around the globe.  What’s not to like?

If you find something you like, do let me know!  And if you purchase it and make it the star of your fashion statement, send me a picture!  I’d love to see more girls wearing fashion that benefits other girls around the globe!

p.s. I want to start this kind of business…maybe someday.

Day 30

Miles Run:  120!!!!

Sayre Highway/Digos Sultan Dugarat Road, Mindanao, Philippines

My Kids’ View of the Route

My view, if I squint hard enough

What are you running for?  Taking a brief glance at other running blogs, there are plenty of reasons out there…

For glory.

For health.

For looks.

For others.

For Jesus.

What are you running for?

I’d love to hear your thoughts.  Thanks for following my journey!