Days 198-199 – 12/8-9/11 – Disaster Kindness

Independence to Levasy; Distance = 26 Miles; People Met = 11+

Photos at the end

We mainly hiked on paved back roads that angled towards the Missouri River but never came within view.  What we did view was a lot of trash and dumping on one hand, and a lot of small churches on the other.  Many are Community of Christ churches, a branch of Latter Day Saints that rooted itself in Independence.  However, unlike Utah this was not the “only game in town,” and the opportunity to attend the small church of your choosing was available.

A former minister for the Community of Christ, Johnny Stabno, walked with us out of Independence.  We connected before the journey began as Lion Johnny was the M5 District Governor for the Missouri Lions Clubs.  Anytime someone comes to walk with us is a special treat as we get to chat and pass the miles away a bit.  In this particular instance I even interviewed Johnny as we walked.  That interview will be available in the Missouri newsletter.  Speaking of which, I alleged that the Kansas newsletter would be out by now; there is one submission that still needs to be made.

On both days we stopped in at the Buckner public library.  There we met librarian Mary Beth Hollenbach, who immediately took an interest in what we were doing.  She talked to us about a documentary being made about a special type of food that could provide nourishment to the hungry; how she housed the folks working on a Lewis and Clark documentary; and how she wished there could be more public transportation for people needing jobs but can’t afford cars.  She also shared her dismay, stemming from a court appearance over a barking dog, at how some people are burdened with what she called “poor people” crimes such as writing a bad check.  They sometimes drop out of the system entirely, foregoing such things as assisted housing, rather than risk the burdens that would ensue from their “poor people” crime.

Before leaving Buckner we stopped at Sonic.  From our trips out west in the past our kids fell in love with this fast food drive-in.  For the sake of those treasured memories we resolved to eat once at Sonic during this journey.  They were supportive of what we were doing and gave us chips and a coupon for free Sonic food down the road.

Both nights we stayed inside the Ebenezer UCC Church in Levasy.  On the second night we broke bread with Pastor Steve Redman and parishioner Lynnette.  Pastor Steve is the UCC coordinator for disaster relief in Missouri and the northern parts of Arkansas and Tennessee.  This was a busy year for him in that capacity, with the tornados and floods that occurred recently.  I recorded his observances on how there can be too much kindness in regards to disaster relief.

Photos

Lions Johnny Stabno, Cindy and Kirk

Librarian Mary Beth Hollenbach

The bridge was out ahead, but Jamie helped us with a detour

The crew at Sonic

Grace and her father Todd at the library

Curator Rick at the Truman library in Independence

Where do they store all this off-season?

Community radio?

Small churches abound ....

... as does dumping

Do they ever finish sidewalks in the midwest?