01. Sep 2026

Simmern - Luxembourg

Photo 1: "Snail-Trail"

It was a snail like this that God used to get my attention on a training hike back in 2022 to let me know that he would watch over me and be with me on the long foot journeys. Whenever I see such a snail on the Snail-Trail, I remember God's promise to me. It encourages me to continue on.

Photo 2: It was a wonderful September day for walking, sunny, but not too hot, and some nice foot paths through the woods.

I finally was able to buy some food to eat at 1:30 in the afternoon at a Shell gas station just before the city of Luxemburg. I bought a package of cannelloni and they had a microwave to heat it up. A lady who worked there helped me with the microwave. I attempted to tell in French that I was walking from Scotland to Germany and that I was walking with Jesus. Her boss came in and I heard her tell him what I had just told her. When she mentioned the name Jesus, he gave me a polite smile like: Yea, he is an old man who believes in fairy tales. Then I counted off my age by using my fingers. He was amazed. He did speak some English, so I told him that Jesus was my personal trainer since I was 16. I think thar gave him something to think about. My last sentence in French before I left: "Avec Dieu, c'est possible!" (With God it is possible!)

Photo 3: As I entered the city limits of Luxemburg, my path led me directly through this carnaval.

Photos 4+5: It was not possible to capture the cityscape of Luxemburg in one photo. It is a vast fortress spread over the side of a hill with a high ridge splitting the city in two parts. At the tourist office in the city center I was able to get a stamp for my pilgrim passport. I shared my story a bit with the people who worked there. They were really interested in the stamps I already had.

I spent the night at a campground just south of the city. While I was putting up my tent, a German by the name of Lutz came over to me. He was impressed to see a person my age come into the campground with such a big backpack and now put up a tent for the night. He wanted to know where I was going, how long I would be walking and why. The "why" question always leads to a conversation about Jesus. Lutz was not religious. Neither was his wife. I shared my story. Then Lutz mentioned that his wife was sufering from long term corona. At the end of our talk, I prayed for his wife that God would renew her strength. I cannot heal anyone, but I walk with the one who can. When I pray for someone like this, it gives God an opportunity to show his greatness.