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Video: Church service in Podgorica on Sunday morning

Friday and Saturday were two days of rest. I was able to catch up on some work I needed to do, update the Snail-Trail blog, had meaningful conversations and prayer with my hosts, Jonathan and Brittany Hollingsworth, and Pastor Dragan Novakovic and participated in the local church prayer meeting on Friday evening and a national prayer meeting on Saturday evening both in Podgorica. Rest days mean that I am not walking on those days with a 40 pound backpack.

Photo 1: I had the honor of preaching in the Sunday morning service in Podgorica. Pastor Dagan translated for me.

Photo 2: After the service our Assembly of God Team in Montenegro and I had lunch and a Field Fellowship together. To the left are Jonathan and Brittany with their two boys Benjamin and Blake, and on the right, Tamara Henkes. They are working together with Pastor Dagan at the church in Podgorica and are developing various community connection projects including learning English and a crisis counseling center for women. They also hope to soon offer an online platform for people seeking answers about God and what it means to follow Jesus. A future area of ministry outreach would be among the students at the university in Podgorica. Anyone interested in coming to help?

Shortly after leaving the campground, this black dog started walking with me. It kept looking back to me to see if I was still following. Together we went over this hanging bridge. After about 4 kilometers we came to a crossing in a small village. The dog went to the right and I needed to turn left. I think I know why it turned right. Shortly after my left turn I came to a house that had three dogs viciously barking at me that were unleashed. The black dog must have known they were there. My sticks and pilgrim song seem to help in such situations.

Photo 2: Even though it was a long hike of almost 40 kilometers, I did not pass a sigle grocery store or water source along the way other than one restaurant. Fortunately Brittany and Jonathan brought me a cold bottle of mineral water and lunch inbetween visits to the visa office. As I got closer to the city of Podgorica, I walked on a back road that took me through a number of small villages. All of a sudden the path turned into a jungle that I could not pass through. That is this picture. You can see that there was once a dirt road there. I hate it when a path ends like that, but that is also part of the journey. The detour costed me an extra three kilometets which is a lot on a long stretch like today.

Photo 3: The final path leading to Podgorica. There was no traffic on this one which was a great relief. I sang my pilgrim song of blessing as I approached the city.

Photo 4: Jonathan was waiting for me in his car before the main Orthodox Chuch in the center of Podgorica. I was really glad to see him, get to his and Brittany's house, meet their two boys and two cats, take a shower, have something to eat, get my clothes washed... and go to bed.

Photo 5: Another pilgrim path comes to an end. I always felt that if I could make it to Podgorica, then I could make it to Tirana... my next destination.

Recently as I walked and prayed I thought: "On the Snail-Trail so far I have met, talked and prayed with a Buddhist from Nepal, a Hindu from India, Muslims from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Orthodox and Catholic Christians from Serbia and Croatia, but I have yet to meet a Jewish person. Lord, I would really like to meet a Jew, talk and pray with them." That happened yesterday evening at the campground. I set up my tent next to the river and just below a small hill with two other tents and a car with Austrian license plates. I saw an elderly lady with two young children and greeted her in German. She answered in English and said the children would understand German. She and her husband were from Israel, speak Hebrew and English and were visiting their daugjter and grandchildren from Austria. I told her the few Hebrew words that I know which are the Hebrew names for God, the Holy Spirit and Jesus the Messiah. She responded that those are all spiritual words. I answered that I am a pastor and lerned these words from my study of the Bible. Later her husband shared with me how a complete stranger had helped them that day with repairing two flat tires that they had gotten. I replied that "Jahwe-Rah", the Lord my Shepherd, had been watching over them. The man then quoted Psalm 23:1 in Hebrew. This morning as I was taking down my tent, we saw and spoke with each other again. I told them that I am a pilgrim and offer to pray a prayer of blessing for the people I meet along the way, and whether I could pray that the blessing of Abraham would come upon them and their family. This is the promise that God gave Abraham that the peace/shalom of God would come to all nations through the Messiah, the desendent of Abraham. They said yes and I prayed. The woman then responded that she could not say things so nicely as I just did, but wished all the best for my continued journey. I responded: "Please say these things to me in Hebrew and let that be a Hebrew blessing for me." She did. It was another one of those special moments.

Unfortunately Jonathan could hardly walk this morning when got up after yesterday's 31 kilometer hike. There was no way he could continue. He called Brittany to pick him. Never before had he walked so far with a full backpack. We celebrated his personal milestone and the people he was able to speak with and pray for in their language. After I left the campground and while he was waiting for his wife to come, he a God-talk with one of the two brothers that ran the campground. When he got back home, he had a notice from the visa office to come and clear up some issues concerning their children's visas. It was good that he could be home and take care of these things. God allows all things to work for good, even muscle pains.

Photo 1: River scene

Photo 2: Famous Emporer's Bridge on the edge of the city of Nikšić

Photo 3: I met these two Russian bike riders at the bridge, Natalie and Maria, who now live in Nikšić. They take care of two stray dogs there, had them neutered, chipped and feed them. The fate of these two dogs is much better than the four I had seen in the city that had been poisioned and their corpse just waiting to be disposed of. Natalie is an English teacher and Maria understood more English than I did Russian. We talked a bit and I was able to pray for them before I left. They asked if they could put my picture and story on their blog... always a good sign that the moment was meaningful.

Photo 4: Further down the river I saw this coal hut that was actually producing coal from wood. I had only seen such huts before in outdoor museums in Germany.

Photo 5: At the end of the hike I had to go over this mountain... and sang my pilgrim song on the way down as a prayer for the people living in the valley all the way to Podgorica.

Jonathan and I spent the night at this motel. Between Plužine yesterday and this place there were no other stores, water sources or restaurants. We were out if water when we arrived and glad to have this place to stay. The food was good, the room very simple, the shower and toilet worked. What more could you ask for? In the evening we met a man from England who has a home and spends the summer months there in the area. We were able to talk and pray with him. Early this morning we were also able to talk and pray with the cook and the junior boss. Even though they understood English quite well, it was still good that Jonathan could pray for them and explain a few things in their language. Jonathan also had two New Testaments that are santioned by the orthodox church that he was able to give them.

Photo 2: There was not much traffic on this part of the road, but nice views of the surrounding mountains.

Photo 3: This dog followed us for about 6 kilometers. We thought he was a stray as there are many on the side of roads. It was a very friendly, young dog that seemed to like walking and was street smart. Jonathan was negotiating with his wife by phone about the possiblity of picking the dog up and taking it home when a car pulled up. It was the owner, an older woman. The dog ran over to her, then back to us. I think he would have like to continue his adventure with us.

Photo 4: Praying for Montenegro

Photo 5: Later the traffic on the road picked up. We were glad to take a sideroad after a few kilometers that took us to the village of Gorne Polje which means "High Field". We stayed the night at a small campground next to a river. After the evening meal I met three Germans who were traveling through the region and both of their vehicles had broken down. They were stuck at the campground waiting for spare parts to be delivered. They had many questions and I was able to share my story with them and pray for them. Perhaps the talk will give some orientation in their further journey through life.

The water reservoir Lake Piva. Today's stretch started with a 550 altitude meter climb up a mountain. There were some nice views along the way... and I did a lot of sweating (Photo 2).

Photo 3: You certainly would not want to have an accident here...

Photo 4: Meet Jonathan Hollingsworth. He and his wife Brittany are Assembly of God intercultral workers here in Montenegro. They live with their two children in the capitol city Podgorica, my next destination. It will take four days to get there. Jonathan met up with me about halfway through today's hike and would like to walk and pray with me the next days to Podgorica. Brittany dropped him off right as I was leaving a roadside stand. There was a picnic table in the shade there and I had attempted to speak with the man at the stand, but he could not understand English or German. So when Jonathan showed up, I went back with him to the table to take a water break and see if we could have a conversation with the man. His name is Vesko. Jonathan knows the local language and could translate for me. We had a God-Talk and were able to pray for him. Jonathan knows the culture well and could tell that we were able to break through to touch the heart. It was a great start for our walk together. It also shows how important it is to have people in these countries who know the language and culture and can build bridges from God's heart to theirs.

Photo 5/Milestone: Today marked the halfway point in Snail-Trail 2. Every step I take now, even through the distance will be further from home, will actually be taking me closer to home.

Yesterday evening I arrived at the Evergreen Campground in Plužine. It was deserted. No reception. An old man was collecting fruit from the orchard of plumbs, apples and pears that apparently served as the campground. I asked if I could put my tent up there for two nights. He said yes and showed me a shady spot between some trees and near the water source/bathroom. It was obvious that no one had been there for quite some time. The first thing I did this morning was take out some wet wipes and cleaned the sink and toilet seat and used shower water to clean the floor. Spider poop and cobwebs were everywhere. It was nice to have hot water, though... and a shower. I had the whole place to myself, very peaceful for a day of rest.

Photo 2: Scorpion in the shower room... You do not want to step on him bare footed when you take a shower.

Photo 3: Nearby Orthodox Church. I used the time in the afternoon to work on my blog. I did not think I would have an encounter with anyone today. Then towards early evening a young man on a bicycle showed up, Tobias from Germany. He was also wondering if the campground was in operation and whether he could stay there. Not long after that another man arrived who was traveling by motor bike through the region, Chris, also from Germany. I said that there was a shower, a toilet and a water source. Whether the old man would come around again, I did not know. Chris decided to move on. Before he did, though, we had a short talk. I told him I was a pilgrim and offered to pray for him before he left. He said he had an experience like that in Romania where an old woman prayed for him and afterwards good things happened. I said that it was God knocking on his door to show him that he is there and loves him. I also had a good talk with Tobias and was able to pray with him.

Photo 4: Sundown at the campground. It was a good day... and evening!

Video: Very scenic road leading through the Piva River Canyon. I wanted to get an eary start today, because I knew it would be getting hot in the afternoon. I had a room with breakfast, but breakfast was not until 8.00. In reality it was not ready until twenty after. While I was waiting a lady from Germany sat down across from me. I met her and her family the evening before. She had some questions about what kind of a church I am a pastor of. I said that I am a pastor of a Pentecostal Church. In Germany Pentecost Sunday and Monday are a national holiday. In our area of Germany it is the start of a two week school vacation. But many people do not know what happened on the Day of Pentecost or why we celebrate it. I explained that on the Day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit filled the first followers of Jesus with power to enamble them to live for Jesus and do the things he called them to do. It was the birth of the Christian Church. I then shared my story of how the Holy Spirit filled me fifty years ago, set me free from the fear of speaking and has enabled me to do what I do. Pentecost ist the root of Christianity. When we get back to the root, we will have the fruit.

Shortly before this bridge going over the Piva River Canyon, I met three Germans who had parked their car so they could walk to the bridge. We talked briefly and I was able to say a prayer of blessing for them.

Photo 1: Montenegro means "Black Mountains". There are many of them.

Photo 2: On the path today I needed to walk through 56 tunnels! Some were very short, others long and dark. I had my emergency reflecting vest on my backpack and wore a head flashlight. I actually looked forward to going through a tunnel, because it was cooler there.

Photo 3-4: The Piva River is dammed at one point to create this very beautiful water reservoir.

I still had a little more than a hour to walk and was almost out of water. I was trying to ration it the past two hours and was getting very thirsty. There had been one water spring after about 45 minutes at the beginning of the hike, but after that no water/drink resources along the way. I asked God if he could send me an angel with water. Shortly after that a car honked at me. That usually happens a number of times during the day. Some want to encourage me and give the thumbs up sign. This time I turned around and made a drinking motion. The car actually stopped. The driver handed me a plastic bag with two 500ml bottles of water, one energy drink and two Mars candy bars... all cold. I said it was too much, I just needed one bottle of water. He said it was from God and pushed the bag through the window and drove off. I did not know whether I should laugh or cry. I had never in my life drank an energy drink. I guess if God provided it, he knew what I needed!

Photo 5: End point for today - Plužine

Photo 1: This is the main road between two Euopean capitols, Sarajevo and Podgorica. It follows the Drina River on the side if Bosnia-Herzegovina. This would be my route for the whole day.

Photo 2: A welcomed shady spot for these sheep. It was hit and miss for me.

Photo 3: Some nice views along the way. At the border to Montenegro three rivers come together. It is a popular place for rafting. Early on the walk a car stopped and the driver asked me if I would like a lift to the rafting camps. His name was Darko and he was on his way to visit his wife who works at one of the camps. That would have saved me about 18 kilometers of hiking on a hot day in Bosnia-Herzegovina. It was tempting. I said that I was a pilgrim and pray while I walk. He seemed to understand and continued on his way. A few hours later, now towards lunch time, he came by me once again. This time he had a packed lunch to give me from his wife. He told her about meeting me on the road. Both if them had done a pilgrimage from Bosnia-Herzegovina to a famous monastary in Montenegro. Darko is a medical student who would like to immigrate to Germany once he finishes his studies. So many of his generation would like to do this if they could. We talked and then I prayed for Darko and his wife that the Good Shepherd would direct their steps. They are orthodox Christians who love Jesus and want to follow him.

Photo 4: The single lane wooden bridge that crosses the river and the border between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro

Photo 5: The last view of Bosnia-Herzegovina. My heart was greatly touched by the people I met there, their history and spiritual needs. May God's will be done in this country.

Video: Chris and Katie Saser would like to use this vacant building in the backgroung with the high tower to be a center for their skating business, international church and indoor community skating facility. It would draw young people from the various people groups together to help promote healing and reconciliation which is so greatly needed in Sarajevo.

Photo 1: The sign says, "Warning! Forbidden Entry. Potential mines." I saw it laying on the side of the road that I was hiking on. I do not know where it was originally mounted or whether I was in a landmine area. It is certainly a reminder that you can not just walk anywhere you want in this country.

Photo 2-4: Road following the Bistrica River. I had actually wanted to go a different way, but missed a turn off. This way had a number of tunnels on it. One was long, had a curve in it and no lights. It was good practice for a hike coming up in Montenegro that has a lot of tunnels, some long with curves and no lights.

Photo 5: Mountains of Bosnia-Herzegovina