The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"

John 1:29

PRAY WALES

They said it was impossible

The first walk started at 6.30am on Monday 1st July 2003 from Clive’s home in Ely, Cardiff. There was no fuss, no send off committee and his wife and children slept peacefully upstairs. After praying he opened the front door, shouldered the cross and headed west down the A48.

The cross was made of solid wood, measured 12ft x 6ft and weighed almost 50lb. Over the next four weeks Clive would walk almost 450 miles around the circumference of Wales to tell the people of this nation that Jesus died on a cross, similar to this one, because of His love for them.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the world.

Acts 1:8

In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid.

John 8:17

Calling the twelve to him, he sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits

Mark 6:7

I never expected the walking to continue but a second walk in 2004 took us to the rest of the towns in Wales, a distance of 750 miles over 7 weeks. Then in 2005 we journeyed from Land’s End to John 0’Groats, walking 1000 miles in forty days. In 2006, we walked once more around Wales in order to make our first visit to Anglesey. At the end of this walk we both felt it would be some time before we ventured out again.

Against the advice of friends and family we travelled with the cross to Israel in 2008. We were warned we could be attacked and possibly killed but we both felt God’s calling and knew with His protection no harm would come to us. Following in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul we retraced the last missionary journey from Jerusalem to Rome. Travelling through Israel, Malta, Sicily and Italy, this expedition almost destroyed our friendship and at the end of it I resolved never to walk with Clive again!

After walking from Jerusalem to Rome I continued to meet regularly with Clive and we both worked hard to repair the relationship which had been damaged by the stresses and strains of the expedition. We were eating breakfast, a greasy fry-up, when Clive returned to an earlier thought of climbing Pen-y-Fan, the highest mountain in southern Britain, with the cross. The conversation drifted to climbing Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon the highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales. Looking at Clive I suggested doing them back to back. We could do it over Easter and call the event “Three Days One Easter.” As I spoke these words I felt my spirit jump. I was instantly fascinated by the challenge. Clive smiled, “That’s not from you, that’s from God,” he replied. From his face and his voice I knew he was also hooked. I could tell God was speaking to him and I knew our next challenge had begun. I couldn’t believe we would be walking together again so soon.

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 28:18-20

Clive Cornish

Clive was born in a poor family in the wrong part of town. His mother, brother and sister all had physical and psychological health issues, and his father who should have been there to love and support him walked out of his life when he was just three years old.

Clive was never encouraged and even today, 30 years on, his voice strains and the tears fall as he recalls how family members and school teachers shouted “Clive you’re a waste of space!,” driving home the message that he would never amount to anything.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift from God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 2:8-10

I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it

Mark 10: 15

With no confidence and little self-respect Clive had few friends and spent his days with a group of older, mentally sub-normal individuals. Stickily built and with tufts of facial hair they were known locally as “the badgers” and Clive soon discovered that imitating their behaviour – screaming, biting and pulling contorted faces - got him his own way.

Quickly, Clive drifted into solvent, alcohol and drug abuse and inevitably trouble with the law soon followed. This damaged young man was lost in a world of anger and loneliness and his future looked bleak. At 14 years, in a desperate cry for help, Clive tried to end his own life.

But not everybody had given up on Clive. A local family, neighbours, did not shun Clive but reached out to this desperate boy. Then one day they asked if he would like to attend a church meeting with them.

“Bible Bashers” accused Clive, and refused to be persuaded. However, after talking with their son he changed his mind, he had nothing else to do and it could be “a laugh”.

The church hall was full and, forced to sit at the front, Clive continually disrupted the event with his loud, derogatory comments and inappropriate laughs. Eventually the vicar challenged Clive. “Do you know Jesus”,

“No”, said Clive, “Do you”

“Yes,” replied a confident voice

This was not the answer Clive expected and as he sat in silence the confident voice asked him “Would you like to know him”.

In the following moments Clive recalled the bible stories he had enjoyed listening to and to his surprise found himself saying nervously “Yes”.

So the vicar gently laid his hand upon Clive and prayed for him. Immediately, and to his amazement, Clive felt a sense of peace and an inner calmness descend upon him. Clive’s life changed that night.

The Lord is good, a refuge in time of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him.

Nahum 1:7

Clive continued with the evening meetings and started to attend church on Sunday mornings and Sunday evenings. Clive could not discover quickly enough the God who wanted to reach out and love him no matter what he had done.

Clive began work in a local bakery, bought a small flat and started to look forward to his future. If God could love Clive than Clive could also love and respect himself. At last, Clive felt worthwhile.

As Clive’s life changed he wanted to reach out and help those less fortunate then himself. So Clive invited an old friend to stay with him. However, back with his old associates Clive found he was not as strong as he thought and with relative ease he returned to his old ways. Drinking, drug abuse and petty theft eventually led to armed robbery and a prison sentence of six years for tying up, blindfolding and terrorizing an 81 year old pensioner.

Locked behind bars Clive knew that unless he changed this could be the pattern for the rest of his life. His teachers would be proved right. Desperately Clive prayed to God. Where else would he find the strength he needed to change, He wanted to feel valued and life a live of worth. Clive knew that when he was in control of his destiny he had made a mess, so he looked heavenwards through the bars of his cell, and gave the control to Christ.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

Hebrews 12:1

After three years Clive walked free from prison. His first jobs involved back breaking work clearing stones during bridge cleaning operations and land reclamation work.

Clive’s faith grew quickly and his spiritual life developed through his involvement in chapel life. Two and half years after leaving prison Clive married Fiona, a local pastor’s daughter, and children soon followed.

Employment in a builder’s merchant provided better work but Clive yearned to work for the Lord. Seven years after leaving prison Clive joined Counties, a Christian organisation, and began training to become an evangelist.

Clive knew that this was his calling.

“When I became a Christian, about twenty years ago, I listened to a man called Arthur Blessed who was walking with a cross. While he talked I felt my spirit jump and I knew at that moment that one day I would also carry the cross for the Lord. As my faith grew in strength I shared this with Christian friends, and in 2003 I knew it was time to start walking.

I visited my old work place, Graham’s Building Merchants, and asked if they had any cheap wood. Among some scrap pieces in the rear yard I spotted a suitable length of timber, said that would do nicely, paid a tenner for it, went back home and made a cross.

After 4 - 5 months of walking in Cardiff and the city outskirts I heard the Lord say “Clive walk around Wales”. I thought “Right O” and immediately stopped praying.

Carrying the cross was exhausting work and believed a journey around Wales impossible. To my surprise, I was soon planning the route. To encourage people to make peace with God… ”

Clive Cornish, June 2004

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:

Ecclesiastes 3:1

The Meeting

I first met Clive at my church’s family weekend away. We were not going to go, financially it had been difficult and we decided it was just too expensive. As new Christians the church was keen to fully involve our family in church life and the pastor had made several generous offers in the hope we would change our minds.

Saturday was the trip’s deadline for names and the evening before we received an unexpected gift – a cheque that matched exactly the latest cost of the weekend. We felt God was telling us to go.

The retreat was a roaring success. An enjoyable mixture of praise, teaching, family fun and games, swimming and, of course, relaxation. On the Friday evening a guest speaker, Peter Brind, led a devotional with the catch phrase “if you wake in the night with a good idea shout “Thank you, Lord’”. Although captivating I failed to see how it applied to me. I always slept soundly, despite the recent burden of personal problems. Crying children, sick children, I never woke up much to my wife’s annoyance.

As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.

Ecclesiastes 11:5

Always let him lead you and he will clear the road for you to follow

Proverbs 3:6

On the Saturday afternoon I played table tennis with my daughter. During the game she wandered off and I stood by the table, bat in hand, looking lost. Similarly, by the neighbouring table stood another deserted dad. It wasn’t long before we were testing each other’s ball skills and during the competitive game I got to know Clive.

On the drive home we discussed the weekend, it had been great fun. Dinah, my wife, announced the best part was meeting lots of new people. Strange I thought – the only new person I had met was Clive.

I next saw Clive the following Thursday. I taxied my daughter to youth club and in the foyer, looking tired, he leaned against the reception desk.

“How’s it going,” I asked.

“Fine, all except my feet, they’re killing me,” came the reply.

Intrigued I asked what he had been up to and discovered his calling to walk around Wales. He had been out training, and after pounding the streets of Cardiff he had blister covered feet.

Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."

Luke 9:23

At home I inquired, “who remembers’ Clive?” Then announced, “He’s a nutter!” before describing his plan to walk around Wales carrying a large, heavy, wooden cross.

That night I went to bed as normal but woke dreaming about Clive! I had always enjoyed photography and thought of the challenge of recording Clive’s walks with the cross in the landscapes of Wales. I thought about this and pictured the magnificent series of coloured prints.

The next night I went to bed as normal and woke again dreaming about Clive. This time, I was thinking of capturing Clive talking to the people of Wales and I pictured a series of beautiful black and white photographs of Clive and the people he met.

That morning, I told Dinah about my dreams. After careful thought she replied, “Perhaps someone is trying to tell you something.” I quickly blocked this suggestion, smiled and went downstairs to collect the post.

There were two letters that morning. Mine was a newsletter from Big Ideas. A local Christian charity that did not normally sent me literature. I slid the brochure from the envelope and there was a picture of Peter Brind.

Staring right at me, his words, “if you wake in the night with a good idea shout, “thank you Lord’,” flooded in to my mind.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.

Revelation 2:11

I showed Dinah.

“That’s confirmation,” she smiled. I knew she was right but I did not want to accept it. What would other people think and say? So I looked for a way out.

“What would I do with the pictures? I have never mounted an exhibition or illustrated a book. I wouldn’t know what to do”, I said, before trying to change the subject.

“What’s in your letter?” I asked.

It was a monthly devotional, sent “by chance”, from my mother.

“What does it say for today,” I asked,

“If you do not feel equipped for the task do not worry you will be resourced when the time comes”, came the reply.

“OK, I give in, I’ll talk to Clive. I get the message.”

On Sunday morning we went to church as normal. As I sat and listened I also thought about Clive and his plans to walk around Wales. The service ended and as I started to leave I saw Clive and his family walk in to the hall. I was surprised as he no longer worshipped in Thornhill but attended a chapel on the other side of town.

After we said hello I told him about my dreams and my ideas for capturing his journey in pictures. He looked thoughtful, smiled and said, “Do you know, since Wednesday I have being thinking wouldn’t it be great to get some photographs of the walk?”

One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent."

Acts 18:9

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him.

Mark 1:17-18

We arranged to meet the following Saturday afternoon. We would go as a family to Clive’s home for tea. I looked forward to the evening but wondered what people would think? I decided to keep quiet for now.

Lathan Ball

Compared to Clive I came from a privileged background. I had a loving and supportive family and had always been encouraged to work hard and take life’s opportunities. A good education led to university, a degree in biological science and a career in research and development.

As a boy I had attended Sunday school and believed in God and Jesus. I had always pursued a passion for mountaineering and had climbed extensively in England, Wales and Scotland and enjoyed expeditions to the Alps and the Himalayas. In the outdoors I had marvelled at the beauty of God’s creation, and in those moments I knew inside that God existed. In the mountains I often found myself praying, not only when I though I might fall off, but also in the quiet times. At home I thought about God but rarely attended church and never did anything to discover more.

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

Romans 1:16

Dinah, my wife, had no faith and thought religion was OK for those who needed it. But we were doing fine with a nice home and three small children – Eleanor 6, Lucy 2 and Joe almost 1.

Then one day Eleanor came home from school. They had been learning about Christianity and she looked at Dinah and asked, “Do you believe in God, Mum?” Dinah looked into Eleanor’s big questioning eyes and found she couldn’t answer. “I don’t know,” she replied. Matter of factly Eleanor answered “Don’t you think you should find out?” Dinah wanted to answer Eleanor’s question honestly and for the first time felt a need to discover the truth for herself.

The next morning Dinah dropped Lucy at the nursery. It was run by the local community church and as she turned to leave the nursery teacher asked “Are you interested in the Alpha Course?” The Alpha course is a well respected international program that allows you to explore Christianity and ask the questions you always wanted to. Dinah listened and left without making any commitment to attend.

The Alpha Course was a new venture for Thornhill Church and they were keen to encourage as many people as possible to attend. As she waked through the centre foyer the receptionist pointed out the poster on the wall and suggested she think about it. The sessions would start with an evening meal, a time of relaxation and an opportunity to get to know the others on the course. An opportunity to get out of the house, escape the children and enjoy adult conversation certainly had appeal!

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

John 14:6

That weekend my parents were visiting. They are committed Christians and while out walking saw the Alpha poster in the church window. That night they dropped the subject in to conversation, “Have you seen.....” Dinah, feeling both pulled and pushed towards the course, found herself agreeing to attend.

The course lasts ten weeks and by week three I could see the changes in Dinah’s life. Behind the wheel Dinah was an aggressive driver. She had a rich vocabulary, a keenness for the horn and a range of hand signals that were missing from the Highway Code. I often felt that I would be the one who got thumped when some big trucker took offence at her behaviour. But suddenly this all stopped and to travel as a passenger when Dinah drove became an unknown pleasure.

As the course progressed Dinah began to believe the bible was true. Jesus had existed and his teachings she could simply accept. But the simplicity worried her - had she carefully considered it and was she missing something that others could see? To find out more Dinah was drawn to reading the bible.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5:21-22

We did not have a bible on our bookshelf at home. There was one in the loft but it would not be easy to find. In the local Christian bookshop Dinah asked to buy a bible. “Which one,” came the reply. Without thinking, she answered “the one about Jesus.”

The sales person looked at Dinah and pleasantly explained they all contained Jesus but did she want a NLV, NIV, a King James standard, King James modern, The Message and many others from a long list of versions and translations.

The New Living Version was recommended and purchased. In the kitchen we talked about our day and Dinah repeated how she worried about her simple acceptance of Jesus teachings. How she felt like a child accepting what was said without doubt. As we chatted the cellophane wrap was torn from the new bible. In the NLV Jesus words are written in red and as Dinah opened the book for the first time His voice jumped from the Gospel of Mark –

“I tell you the truth, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like little child will never enter it.”

Mark 10:15

As a family we started to attend church on a Sunday morning. I felt it was important to encourage Dinah and I wanted to know more myself. As I sat through the service it so often seemed that the speaker was talking directly to me. The message would focus upon challenges in my life and I would look at Dinah who read my thoughts. “I haven’t said anything, honestly,” she would mouth.

Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven

Mathew 18:4

We attended church throughout the summer and in the Autumn I enrolled upon the next Alpha course. I learnt little from course itself but it did provide me with the time to consider what does Christianity mean to me? By the end of the ten weeks I knew I believed and was wrestling with the question what do I do next? How should my life change? It was not easy to answer and the thoughts seem to go round and round, weighing heavily on my mind.

After the Alpha Course I continued with “Christianity Explored,’ a follow-up provided at Thornhill church. There should have been three of us but I was the only one who turned-up. As I talked with Alex the pastor the conversation gradually turned to what it meant to me. At the end of the evening Alex asked if I wanted to pray and ask Jesus in to my life. Alex prayed first and I would follow. As he finished my mind raced, I sat in silence as all my struggles flashed by, the questions remaining unanswered. I didn’t know what it meant to commit my life to Christ, I had to pray in faith and accept were the answers would lead. I fought to find the words and as I spoke I felt hot, sweat poured down my checks, my face burnt and inside my entire body was on fire.

As I finished praying I looked at Alex, who smiled. He knew something had happened. What I had thought of as a short period of silence before praying had been over twenty minutes, and as I wrestled he had wondered if I was ever going to speak, and was thinking should he just say “Amen’ and end the session.

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

1 Peter 5:7

As I left the church the elders were meeting downstairs. The good news was quickly relayed and I was soon being congratulated and welcomed into the fellowship with warm handshakes and huge hugs. As I walked the short distance home I felt alive, I buzzed inside, there was a skip in my step and I sang to myself.A good job it’s late, dark and quiet , I grinned to myself.

At home I made a cup of tea, and as we chatted about the evening I quietly mentioned how tonight we prayed and I had asked Jesus in to my life - immediately changing the mood from quiet chit chat to joyous excitement, lots of questions and prayers of praise and thanks.

The next morning I came downstairs as normal, picked up the post and walked in to the kitchen. In the post was a hand delivered card - congratulations on my becoming a Christian. News certainly travelled fast on the Thornhill grapevine! On the front of the card was a drawn picture of a green hill with stylised flowers. I placed the card on the kitchen bench and put the kettle on for tea.

In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.

Acts 2:17

As I turned I noticed a shaft of light coming through the font door window, travelling down the passageway into the kitchen and projecting on to the back door. I have always loved the sunlight and in the outdoors was captivated by the way light brought the landscapes to life. As I looked I saw the light made a flower shape on the back door, and then I noticed the card and the picture and the match. I picked up the card. Inside was a Bible verse which immediately struck me.

“Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away sold everything he had and bought it”

Matthew 13:45-46

As I read, the hairs on my arm stood up and a shiver ran through my body. I had read this parable many times and been challenged again and again by its meaning. I had never told anyone and I could not believe that this was just coincidence. This was confirmation of last night’s actions. Looking back I wondered why it had been so hard to commit. New challenges lay ahead but they no longer felt difficult. The questions remained unanswered but there were no longer fears. I had changed on the inside and felt thrilled that God wanted to know me.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.

Romans 8:1-2

Planning and Preparation

We were warmly welcomed into Clive’s home. The children quickly disappeared upstairs to play and we were soon comfortably seated, drinking tea and chatting like old friends. It wasn’t long before we were talking about Clive’s calling to walk around Wales and his preparations for the journey.

I couldn’t believe the simplicity. Clive would walk from Monday to Friday and return home at weekends. He intended travelling alone covering between 25 to 30 miles per day. He would attach a rucksack to the back of the cross for his personal possessions and would sleep wherever he finished walking that evening. As I asked questions I discovered his friends, who were active walkers, had advised against the distances. They had told him it was physically impossible walking 25 – 30 miles per day with a large and heavy cross. He had no tent, no stove and had not considered food and drink. He had no help, no money to fund the trip but was confident that God would supply all his needs.

As we discussed the detail I was quickly drawn in to the planning. I am easily excited by expeditions and was attracted by Clive’s challenge. I was soon offering advice and wisdom from time spent in the great outdoors and telling stories from my own climbing adventures and explorations. The conversation continued throughout tea. And as we ate through the sandwiches, quiche, sausage rolls and large assortment of cakes I was offering my tent, my stove and other pieces of equipment to Clive.

"Have faith in God," Jesus answered.

Mark 11:22

After tea Dinah and Fiona cleared the table and washed the dishes. Clive spread the roadmap on the table and traced the outline of his intended route. As I followed the directions I could hear their muffled talk in the kitchen. At this time I had no intention of travelling with Clive but as we traced the route I found myself agreeing to join him for various sections or to collect him from his finish point each Friday evening and return him to his starting point the following Monday morning.

After another cup of tea we left Clive’s home. The girls had played quietly together and were disappointed to be leaving. Dinah and Fiona had struck up an immediate friendship and I had become part of Clive’s adventure. We agreed to meet again very soon and I promised Clive I would search my garage and loft for an assortment of camping items and other useful bits of expedition equipment.

As we drove home I chatted with Dinah about the visit. We had both enjoyed a lovely afternoon and had had no difficulty getting along. We agreed that Clive was a unique character whose life was committed to God. We talked about his plans and I asked Dinah if she thought he would go through with it. In the kitchen Fiona revealed that Clive had considered the walk many times but had never felt ready to go. But she believed with someone to support and encourage, someone to say “yes, let’s do it” then he would go. I knew inside that I was that one. But my thoughts were “what will people say?”

How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity.

Psalm 133:1

By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another

John 13:35

I continued to meet Clive regularly. We worked through the route and the distances to be walked each day. We noted the places and researched potential campsites and other budget accommodation. We thought about food and diet. With Dinah I prepared menus containing pasta, rice and other foods rich in carbohydrates and energy. We considered health issues and compiled a first kit packed with medicines for the treatment of blisters and foot complaints

Tents, stoves, sleeping mat and bags were found and cleaned. Consideration was given to footwear and clothing. Clive opted to wear a welsh rugby shirt. The bright red would increase his visibility - as if the cross was not enough I laughed - and he hoped the padded shoulders would provide some form of protection. On his feet he would wear lightweight leather walking boots., having been advised that the natural fibre would allow his feet to breathe and provide support to his ankles.

The walk was named Pray Wales and, while Clive wrote letters and sought support, I designed a logo and prepared a website. We produced a leaflet to distribute during the walk explaining the purpose of our task and encouraging people to pray.

And when we met we prayed. We prayed for the walk, for God’s guidance, for God’s provision and God’s protection. We prayed for each other and we prayed for our families.

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.

Jeremiah 33:3

They said it was impossible

Our families were very supportive and encouraging. They joined in the preparations, and helped wherever possible. But most people after asking just smiled in disbelief. They thought it would never happen and if we did set off would be quickly home, defeated by the enormity of the task. They said it was Impossible carrying a large wooden cross around Wales

Clive wrote to over one hundred churches along the proposed route, asking them for help and support as we passed through their towns and villages. Only one replied with an offer of refreshments and a gift of twenty-five pounds. I knew Clive was disappointed by the response but he was determined not to let it affect his enthusiasm and his desire to begin this unique journey.

As the start grew closer we worked hard at completing the preparations but no one else seemed interested. I wondered what response the walk would generate? How would the general public receive us, the cross and our message of love?

And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined.

Luke 5:37

Pray Wales

The sight of Clive with his cross walking down the side of the road was a powerful image. As Clive passed by, people of all ages would just stop and stare. Some would look and smile, others tried hard not to catch our eye, while others quickly approached to ask why. Even just the sight of the cross forced people to ask themselves the question, “Do I believe?” For some this challenge resulted in outbreaks of anger. Occasionally, motorists would slow down, wind open their windows and shout abuse, while others would throw empty cigarette packets, plastic bottles and soft drink tin cans. Near Ynysbyl one old lady physically attacked Clive and hit him with her walking stick before trying to strangle him. Small and frail, her assault was never dangerous but her anger and emotional outpouring was a reminder of what could happen.

Most people, however, were genuinely interested and wanted to know more. Many motorists would stop and ask why, often abandoning their cars in the most dangerous and unexpected places. As the walks progressed an interesting correlation soon became apparent. Christian drivers were far more likely to park somewhere dangerous or illegal than non-Christian drivers, either parking their vehicles on blind bends in the middle of a narrow road or stopping in the centre of a carriageway facing the on-coming traffic, having swerved across the lanes to park! This left us wondering if this reckless behaviour was a result of their faith?

The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.

Luke 4:18-19

We quickly settled in to a routine. I would walk with Clive, photographing his encounters and capturing the cross as it passed through the countryside, towns and cities. After accompanying Clive for several miles I would then turn around, walk back to the car, drive on to re-join Clive and begin walking with him again. At later presentations Clive would say he walked around Wales and I would always add I walked around Wales twice, once each direction. Much to Clive’s amusement.

During the second day of our first Pray Wales event we were walking from Port Talbot to Bury Port. As we approached the River Lougher I joined Clive after safely parking the car about two hundred yards ahead of him, around a blind bend in the road. He was still out of sight when I scrambled up a steep embankment into an elevated position to capture his approach. Waiting, I visualised Clive crossing the long suspension bridge spanning the river mouth with the sand dunes and Severn Estuary behind. I was pleased with the position and pleased to be able to photograph Clive from a more unusual distant angle.

Waiting for Clive, I watched the bend for his appearance expecting him at any moment. The time started to pass. Car after car sped round the corner but Clive did not appear. I was growing concerned and as the time passed this concern developed in to a worry. Had he had an accident? There was no pavement and nowhere to escape from on-coming traffic. Perhaps he had been hit by a car. Other possibilities passed through my mind. Had someone taken offence and was he in trouble? An ambulance now came round the corner heightening my anxiety. I could wait no longer and had to go and see if he was ok. I was just starting to climb back down my embankment when he came round the corner. I could see he looked fine as I quickly grabbed my camera and snatched a few shots. Then I just sat and watched him continue ahead over the bridge. As I watched him the enormity of our task hit me. Walking around Wales with a large wooden cross suddenly felt impossible. At that moment I recognised that this was only going to be achieved with God’s help. We were not going to manage this alone. Later, I discovered that Lougher was the starting place of the 1904 Welsh Revival - a time when God’s Spirit went out in power across Wales, transforming the nation. I still pray that our walk will transform the lives of those who saw the cross.

Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

1 Thessalonians 5: 1-2

It wasn’t only drivers who were interested in the cross. People would come out of their houses and out of shops. Workmen would cease labouring, climbing down ladders and scaffolding to engage Clive in conversation. And Clive’s message was always the same. “I am walking with the cross just to remind you that Jesus loves you and he died on a cross for you but it is not a one way ticket to heaven. You have to turn from your sin and be cleansed by Jesus.“ Some would just listen to the answer while others would ask him to pray with them or want to know what they must do to ask Jesus in to their lives.

I had never anticipated talking with strangers. I was content to provide support and walk with Clive, photographing his encounters and capturing his journey. But walking back to the car people would approach and ask what newspaper I was with. “I am not with a newspaper,” I would reply and before I could say more they would burst in, “Ok, freelance, so what’s the story?” The perfect invitation, just when they thought they were safe, for me to explain more and for God to challenge them on their beliefs and priorities in life.

Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones and say to them, 'Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD!'"

Ezekiel 37:4

As we walked we handed out tracts - leaflets with a brief explanation of what we were doing and why we were doing it. I carried a handful in my camera bag and was surprised by the occasional strong challenge, or inner pull, to cross the road and hand the tract to somebody on the other side. I vividly remember one morning parking in a lay-by just ahead of a roadside burger van. I could see Clive approaching and as I waited for his arrival I began preparing sausage sandwiches and mugs of tea for breakfast, cooking on a small stove sheltered behind the car. To the side of the burger van I could see the owner setting out a table and chairs and tidying the area around his pitch. He was hidden from Clive, but I saw him watch Clive as he strode past. For minutes he just stood and stared. He than sat in one of his chairs and watched us finish cooking and eating breakfast. We didn’t stop for long and Clive was soon walking again. As we prepared to leave I just knew I had to go and give a tract to this man. But it felt a bit late. A voice inside was saying “don’t bother. You have left it too long. You are going to look really stupid.” So I ignored the inner voice telling me to go and got back in to the car. As I started the engine my whole body ached to give this man a tract but I ignored the desire and listened again to the voice telling me to drive or now I would look really, really silly. I started to pull away but knew I couldn’t go. An inner power was screaming at me to stop and give this man a tract. I really didn’t want to but I had to stop. After braking hard I jumped from the car and walked up to the man sitting in the chair and just offered him a leaflet. At the very moment he took it a surge of energy passed through my body. It felt like bolt of electricity passing between us and a great calm descended upon me. I returned to the car stunned by the experience. The inner peace I now experienced confirmed I had done the right thing.

I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

John 10:16

Sitting in the car I could not believe that God had chosen to work through me. I wondered what effect that tract would have. Would that man’s life be changed by our encounter? I knew mine was. Perhaps it was about me and my faith, my willingness to listen and act. Either way I felt elated and as I drove I prayed and praised God singing out loud and out of tune. Our journey was providing unexpected challenges and I was excited at what lay ahead.

During the first walk we wore bright red Wales International rugby shirts. The name Pray Wales was clearly written in large white letters on the back of the shirts. As we walked passing cars honked their horns. As the day passed the pips and toots became more regular and as we approached Llanelli we discovered why. Steve, a factory security guard, came out to meet us. He had seen us approaching and informed us that we were the hot topic on his local radio station. They had received a rush of calls and had instigated a “cross watch” with regular updates on our progress. Many callers had asked why and the message was broadcast that we were walking with the cross to mark the demise of Welsh rugby! It was Steve who later phoned the radio station with the real reason why.

At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?"

Mark 5:30

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things

Colossians 3:2

The tooting continued during the next day and we soon learned to correlate the encouraging toots with the radio broadcasts. We were even more encouraged late that afternoon when a car stopped and a young schoolgirl got out with her father. Standing in her uniform she explained that her teacher had seen the cross on her way to work that morning and had structured a Religious Education lesson around her sighting. She was so thrilled to see us after her lesson and became even more excited after being given some tracts to take into school. We were uplifted to discover our walk had prompted a lesson about Jesus, who he was and why he died on the cross. We were every bit as excited as this young girl and I could see how much these individual encounters were encouraging Clive.

Walking with the cross was hard physical work. It was a difficult shape to hold in balance, especially when the wind blew and buffeted. It dug in to Clive’s shoulders and as he walked he regularly hoisted the weight into the air and the over his head to swap from one aching shoulder to the other. As he walked the wheel regularly crashed into holes or on and off the pavement causing the wood to bounce up and down and bruise Clive’s neck and shoulders. Very quickly the area was completely black and blue.

We were averaging 25 – 28 miles a day. The first walk was hot and dry. With the long days and continuous pounding Clive quickly developed blisters on his heels and the soles of his feet. With the heat, his hot damp feet soon became painfully infected with Athlete’s Foot. His normal walking pattern was interrupted as he struggled to reduce the pain. But this only placed an additional strain on his calf muscles which became increasingly sore and painful. As we walked we prayed continuously for our physical wellbeing, we prayed for God’s protection and we prayed for those who were challenged by the sight of the cross. We prayed for our families and asked for God’s blessing upon them.

Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Deuteronomy 6:5

During an interview Clive later recalled -

“The shocking thing for me when I said I was going to walk around Wales was the number of people who came, and I mean Christians, who said, “you will never do it.” And I wasn’t a kind of confident person and it was obviously a new venture and I started to get really worried about this cross walk around Wales. And my faith in it really started to, eh, I really started to lose my faith about walking the cross around Wales. But then I realised I had already sent letters out all over Wales so I am going to have to do it. Lathan came, he pulls his van up outside and we just left my house and we began to walk around Wales, starting from my front door. And it wasn’t long before I realised it was going to be a really, really tough time. We were walking between 25 and 30 miles a day and my cross was weighing around 50lb with the things I was carrying tied on to by rucksack that was on the back of the cross. And I wasn’t very experienced with long distance walking. Even though I had done the odd twenty to twenty five mile walk, I had leather shoes and the weather was absolutely boiling because we were just coming into the summer months. My feet were sweating something awful and I was drinking like there was no tomorrow. It was incredible how much I was drinking. But it was a good time of experience.

But I call to God, and the LORD saves me

Psalm 55:16

But my feet, by the time we reached Aberystwth – I really, really was suffering. But we pressed on, in my leather shoes. I got information from the internet on what shoes were best to wear. By the time we came to Aberaron I phoned my wife and said, “Fiona, I am not sure I am going to be able to continue through this, I am really, really in a lot of pain with my feet.” I mean blisters were coming up and they were bursting because it was so hot. Athletes feet in between my toes, my feet were in quite a state. So I said, “Will you get people prayin’ that God would do something or speak to me.”

Then I had a call from a friend, Doug, a very good friend. I call him my mentor because he is somebody I would go and speak to if I needed encouragement or wanted to know about certain things. So he called and I told him the situation and he said, “Well don’t be afraid to give up Clive, if you have had enough you give up, you can always resume the walk.” And that really hit my spirit. I know he wasn’t been negative, but I felt quite negative about that because I thought when Jesus was walking with his cross he couldn’t stop and turn around and come back when he was feeling a lot better. There was one way to do it and one time, and that was the time for Jesus. So I just felt no, I am going to carry on no matter what. Even if I get down to the stumps of my legs I am going to carry on walking till it is impossible for me to go any further.

Then as I was coming down in to Aberaron, I was nearly in tears with my feet. I just put the phone down to Doug. And I just felt God say to me, “Try a different walk Clive.” Well I thought that is a peculiar thing for me to think, try a different walk, and I pondered on it till I realised I am using the same pieces of my feet and the same muscles walking in that same way all the time. So I started walking like the Germans would have during war time and probably how the armies do today. I mean, I must have looked a right funny sight to those looking. But it worked! So, I tried a different walk and it got me an extra two days - the Thursday and the Friday, I believe it was. On Saturday we could have a couple of rest days. When I look back on those kind of memories, how God has worked in those times of suffering, when we have decided no I am going to press on, no matter what, it is in those times when God has actually stepped in and said “Right, now I can see you are going to press on and by faith, now I am going to work.” And that is how God has worked in our walks.“

Clive Cornish

The LORD your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the desert. There you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.

Deuteronomy 1:31

Machynlleth

From Aberaron we continued north along the coast, through Aberystwyth to Machynlleth. Until now we had received a lot of interest in the cross. But in Machynlleth nobody was interested, nobody stopped and looked and nobody came and talked. Sitting in a street café, the cross resting along the wall behind, brought no attention. Later, that evening we discovered that Machynlleth was the only town not uplifted by the 1904 revival. Preachers had come only to be driven out by the inhabitants. We heard a story of how one preacher, aware of the hostility had locked himself into a town house and began to preach from an upstairs window. The locals, unable to get to him, had set the building on fire forcing him to flee for his life.

He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.

Luke 10:16

We discovered that the ancient city of Machynlleth had a reputation for witches and black magic that stretched back through generations. Today it is favoured by those seeking modern day lifestyles, embracing new age living and alternative therapies. Perhaps it was not surprising that while reversing through a farm gate on the outskirts of town I swung the car round and caught the front wing on a low rock just out of my view. The muffled cracking sound did not do justice to the substantial damage. The car was drivable but the crumbled, splintered panel would be an expensive repair job.

We spent the night with a local pastor who talked about the hold of ancient religions and beliefs that still existed in this part of Wales. He held our interest with descriptions of lay lines running through the nearby valleys, paths of prayer, energy and dark forces. I remembered the site of my accident, a place where two valleys met, a place where natural and ancient routes crossed and a place where lay lines intersected. I wondered how I could put all that on an insurance claim form!

After the first walk a second journey followed. We returned to Machynlleth during this second walk with a feeling of trepidation. Our concern propelled us to pray and as the days became closer our prayers became more fervent. To our surprise this time in Machynlleth there was interest. People stopped, looked and conversations were engaged.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Ephesians 6:10-12

In the centre of town we stopped by the clock tower, removed the wheel from the cross and raised it up in the archway of the monument. Crossing the road, we sat in a pavement café drinking coffee and eating teacakes, observing those intrigued by appearance of the cross. As we ate Clive’s mobile phone rang. He read the text message out loud,

“I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

1 Corinthians 6:16

Our third visit to Machynlleth was different again. We again approached prayerfully. It was early evening when we arrived and the streets were starting to empty. As we entered the town a group of young schoolgirls immediately stopped us and asked what we were doing. We were encouraged by their interest and walked into town happily looking for somewhere to eat. Clive describes what happened next -

“When we were coming through Machynlleth on a previous walk nobody talked to us. We just walked through, we experienced nothing at all. But on this walk, on our way in we met a witch. She came and attacked what we were doing. It was quite heavy, and she had with her two of her followers. She was teaching them in witchcraft. Then when we went for a meal, and when we came out Lathan’s vehicle had all things tied to his roof rack. It seemed obvious that someone had been there so we got straight into prayer about that situation.”

Clive Cornish – Pray Wales 2006

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

James 4:7

Pray Wales – The Second Walk

After the first walk I didn’t anticipate a second event. But we had only been home a few weeks when Clive telephoned to say that during Pray Wales we had visited half the principality’s postal towns. I listened in surprise as he declared a second route walking through the remaining towns. Without pause he continued explaining how his new route zig-zagged a little and was therefore further than the 450 miles we had just walked around the circumference of Wales. I listened in shocked silence as he delivered the bombshell. To visit the rest of the postal districts we would have to walk 750 miles over a 7 week period. I remember thinking we, we, we. I recall thinking he was mad and then to my surprise found myself agreeing.

The second walk was very different from the first. While the first walk had been a physical challenge the second walk was very much a spiritual battle. If something could go wrong it would go wrong. Punctures were a common feature of this trip. Often the police stopped us walking on what seemed to us normal sections of road, sending us on long detours to avoid what they claimed to be fast and dangerous stretches of highway. Whenever we asked for directions through a town we were invariably sent the wrong way, usually along a route that was difficult to correct without returning back and adding more miles to that day’s walk.

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Ephesians 6: 13-18

Worst of all was the feeling of heaviness that pressed in upon our mood or spirit. The strong desire to just give up and go home was overwhelming. Questions about how worthwhile this really was continually went round and round in my head, driving out any feelings of joy and elation.

One evening driving home from the Welsh Valleys we sat quietly in the car. We felt fed up and the sombre atmosphere reflected the day’s feelings. Without reason suddenly Clive started laughing out loud. I looked at him and waited. “Well, what’s funny I asked.”

“Your face,” he smiled. “You like you have been smacked in the mouth with cricket bat!” he roared. This perfectly encapsulated the day’s emotional feel.

“The second walk was very different from the first. We quickly realized it was more of a spiritual battle rather than a physical one. Immediately, from leaving Cardiff we were beginning to experience spiritual battle, there was just a great heaviness seemed to be upon us. Plenty of people were shouting out their windows and throwing things at us. It was quite an odd experience. I can remember when we reached the Vale of Glamorgan, I think it is the Vale of Glamorgan, which is where Aberfan - you might have heard of the Aberfan disaster - it was just above that area Lathan and myself were really feeling the heaviness of what we were doing. Because we had reached Merthr Tydfil and we felt God was saying rather than continue walking in a straight line if you like, to continue our walk to every other town in Wales, was to actually do a circle and circle the Valleys because they needed a lot of prayer. So that is what we did. As we came across Aberfan, the spiritual attack we were experiencing, it was just incredible, the weight of it was amazing. As we were reaching this area I remember this women stopped her car, and I don’t know what it is about Christians, but they tend to stop their cars anywhere and she stopped in the middle of the road and just left her car and she run over and she said, “Do you know you are dispersing of evil spirits while you are walking through here with that cross.” I said, “Yes, I do, but I needed to hear that. Thank you very much.” And that was it. But just that comment from her really lifted my spirits. I carried on walking. Well everything was going wrong, nothing seemed to be going right on those few days we were walking and Lathan was obviously feeling the pressure in his spirit as we set off home. For those first few days we could walk for twenty to thirty miles and then return home until one hundred miles and then we don’t come back home. But we realized that we really needed to get down to some prayer while we were walking, to enable us to reach, or to do the work that God wanted us to do. So we done that circle round the valleys, then we went back to Merthyr and we continued our walk. But the spiritual battle didn’t stop, it really didn’t. It really did feel that the pressure of an evil spirit was trying to suppress us from doing what we were doing. The number of people again seemed to increase with people coming and asking why. I just give them the simple message, “That Jesus loves you and he died on a cross for you.” The great stories for me are those that came back of people we didn’t even speak to. “

Clive Cornish – Pray Wales 2004

Then he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia.

Daniel 10: 12-13

“Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!” Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.

2 Kings 6: 16-17

Newsletter 2
28th May 2004

At 8.00am on Monday 24th May Clive left St David’s and began his walk around Wales. After a quiet start encouraging conversations were held with all ages and both Christians and non-Christians were challenged by the sight of the cross.

Early on Tuesday morning Clive was interviewed by Radio Pembrokeshire. As part of their local news bulletin the interview was broadcast hourly throughout the day. Listeners were encouraged to phone in and report the cross’ progress instigating the “Cross Watch” programme. As a result many motorists acknowledged Clive with a toot of their car horn.

Soldiers who had observed Clive during manoeuvres on Monday and Tuesday stopped and asked why on Wednesday. Imagine the soldiers’ comments during Wednesday evening conversation.

An interesting pub discussion must have been started by the atheist “skinhead” who photographed Clive and took literature to show his mates. Please pray for the non-believing evangelist.

Please pray for all those who saw the cross and felt either called, challenged or encouraged.

DAY 1…….. DAY 5
St. David’s …. Milford Haven | 24.5 miles
Milford Haven…. Narberth | 31.2 miles
Narberth…. Carmarthen | 21.8 miles
Carmarthen…. Ammanford | 28.9 miles
Ammanford…. Neath | 16.8 miles

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.”

Acts 1:8

Newsletter 3
4th June 2004

After leaving Pembrokeshire in the warm sunshine the first week’s walking ended in an almost constant drizzle. After a week at home drying out and tending blistered feet Clive is now preparing to continue his walk around Wales.

On Monday the walk will leave Cardiff travelling around the Black Mountains and through West Wales to Lledrod. During the first week’s walking we were greatly encouraged and strengthened by your prayers – thank you - and we ask that you continue to support us in this way.

We have also been encouraged in the last few days by the stories of fellow Christians who have used this as an opportunity to talk and witness to family, friends, neighbours and associates.

It is very exciting for us to discover how God is using this walk to reach out in so many different ways. If you would like us to pray for your family and friends than please telephone Clive on 0779 5231734. Alternatively you can e-mail Clive at clivejohn@ntlworld.com

DAY 11…….. DAY 15
Cardiff to Merthyr | 25.0 miles
Merthyr to Ystradgynlais | 24.1 miles
Ystradgynlais to Manordeilo | 24.0 miles
Manordeilo to Harford | 22.0 miles
Harford to Lledrod | 25.5 miles

“Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

Luke 9: 23

Newsletter 4
11th June 2004

Last Monday, after a week at home recuperating and spending time with our families, the Pray Wales walk resumed.

In very hot weather we left Cardiff for Merthyr Tydfil. “Wrong directions” in Pontypridd sent us in the direction of Aberdare. By the time the mistake was realized, it was too late to turn back.

The “wrong directions” led immediately to the most memorable encounters to date. Clive, for the first time, was physically attacked when an 80 year old lady tried to beat and strangle him. While her hands were firmly around his throat, Clive marvelled at how strong an old lady’s grip could be!

This was quickly followed by three young girls who asked many questions about Jesus. One of these girls bravely stood apart from her friends, prayed and asked Jesus into her life.

The following day police instructions forced another route change and we continued in the valleys. We both found the walking very difficult and struggled against a heavy, discouraging spirit which clouded the day and left us both feeling emotionally battered. However, the sight of the cross towering over Aberfan in the valley below helped expel our doubts and strengthen our resolve.

Please pray for those who live in the valleys, saw the cross and asked themselves why?

Day 16……20
Lledrod to Eglwys Fach | 21.7 miles
Eglwys Fach to Rhoslefain | 25.6 miles
Rhoslefain to Barmouth | 19.4 miles
Barmouth to B. Ffestiniog | 25.8 miles
B. Ffestiniog to Llandudno | 29.6 miles

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ…..”

Colossians 4:2-3

Newsletter 5
19th June 2004

This week’s route took us from Lledrod to Llandudno in the warmest weather of the summer so far.

Walking through Aberystwyth we met a young cyclist who had recently taken part in a youth event walking from Cardiff to Llandrindod Wells. We were encouraged to discover that during this walk they had been praying for Clive and following his progress through text messaging. Thank you to everyone praying for Clive’s work.

After the lack of interest in Machynlleth last year we approached the town with subdued spirits. However, our hearts were lifted by this year’s response and the interest in the cross. Stopping for a much needed tea break, we stood the cross proudly against the clock tower in the town centre and were amazed to receive a text quoting a verse from 2 Corinthians 6:16 -

‘I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.’

We have also heard that Jonathon Brain, a friend of Clive, will walk with a cross around Stonehenge from 10pm until 6am on the night of June 21st.. Please pray for Jonathon as he witnesses for Christ to those gathered to celebrate the Summer Solstice.

Day 21 to 25 |
Llandudno to Meliden | 22.8 miles
Meliden to Mold | 21.8 miles
Mold to Llangollen | 24.3 miles
Llangollen to Bala | 21.1 miles
Bala to Bwlch-y-cibau | 24.7 miles

“Jesus himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.”

1 Peter 2:24

Newsletter 6
25th June 2004

After the hot sunshine of previous weeks the weather broke on Monday and the walk continued in very wet and windy conditions. Camping at night Clive felt blessed that his tent, straining under the gales, remained standing and was not blown away.

Despite the weather people have continued to stop and ask about the cross. Interesting conversations were held with some Jehovah’s Witnesses, and a Mormon couple who hosted Clive felt led to reimburse his costs in support of this work. They left it pinned to the cross with an encouraging note.

After a recommended short cut sent Clive 5 miles in the wrong direction, a bus driver stopped to ask about his ministry. Discovering the mistake the driver invited Clive aboard. For the next fifteen miles Clive received bemused looks from passengers as they scrambled over the cross to get on and off at their chosen stops!

Newspaper coverage has grown and reporters from three local papers interviewed Clive this week. Please pray that their articles will be a true reflection of this work and bring glory to God.

Jonathon Brain’s walk with his cross around Stonehenge on midsummer’s night proved eventful. He encountered a range of reactions from outright hostility through healthy curiosity to singing hymns with an RE teacher who is also part-time witch!

Day 26 to 30
Bwlch-y-cibau to Abermule | 22.2
Abermule to Llanidloes | 19
Llanidloes to Llanafan Fawr | 25.1
Llanafan Fawr to Pwllgloyw | 28.6
Pwllgloyw to Brynmawr | 22.2

“Therefore everyone who hears Jesus words and puts them into practice is like a wise man who builds his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.”

Matthew 7: 24-25

Newsletter 7
2nd July 2004

Having completed four weeks walking Clive was forced to buy new shoes after wearing out the footwear he bought for this year’s journey. The replacement shoes felt comfortable in the shop but the stiffened heel designed to support the ankle rubbed uncomfortably whilst walking, causing a large and very painful blister.

Despite the emptiness of Mid-Wales interesting conversations and encounters continued. These meetings encouraged Clive up and down the many steep hills that barred his route.

An unusual meeting occurred on Friday by the edge of the Brecon and Monmouthshire canal when the Greek “captain” of a small boat disembarked to ask about the cross. After sharing painful details about a difficult period in his life he offered to help Clive carry his burden. He soon returned the cross after feeling the weight and staggering a short distance along the canal towpath.

It was interesting to note that the many “Wales for the Welsh” slogans found in this region were greatly outnumbered by cars, houses and pubs flying the English cross of St George. We smiled at the thought that this outpouring of neighbourly love was caused by the sight of the cross and not Euro 2004!

Day 31 to 36
Brynmawr to Caerphilly | 22.7 miles
Travel to Knighton |
Knighton to Clifford | 25 miles
Clifford to Wormlow | 24.1 miles
Wormlow to Chepstow | 28 miles
Chepstow to Cardiff | 27.5 miles

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and all your strength and all your mind; and, Love your neighbour as yourself.”

Luke 10:27

Newsletter 8
12th July 2004

This week, as we approached the end of the walk, the miles grew longer and progress now seemed painfully slow. Our spirits sank when we realised extra miles were needed to visit Monmouth which Clive originally placed in England (!) and omitted from our list of Welsh towns. Unsurprisingly, Gods’ planning and timing was perfect.

In Abergavanny, a community police officer who had spent many years searching for God – including making a pilgrimage to the Holy Land – approached Clive to ask about the cross. That night he asked Jesus into his heart. On Friday we met the officer again in Monmouth who was excited to tell Clive about this.

As we talked to the officer we were invited to the first street BBQ held by a local evangelical church. We were all greatly encouraged by this meeting and enjoyed great fellowship with each other. As we prepared to leave the officer said:

“Yesterday I followed the cross and found Christ, today I followed the cross and found a church.”

From Monmouth we travelled down the Wye Valley towards Tintern Abbey where we enjoyed a delicious cream tea. We easily convinced ourselves that this was for energy as we watched the fisherman and discussed the walk’s highlights.

The walk officially ended at 11.50 on Sunday 11th July at Thornhill Church. After 725 miles we felt blessed to arrive in time for the final hymn and prayers.

After the service it was two happy children who threw their arms around Clive and welcomed him home. I know Clive has missed both them and his wife and is now looking forward to a few days rest at home with his family.

Clive’s thoughts on Pray Wales 2004 will be reported in a future newsletter.

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. “

Colossians 3:17

Newsletter 9
27th July 2004

It is now two weeks since the Pray Wales 2004 walk ended. Wales is still heavy on my heart and my mind constantly searches for ways of reaching this nation that God loves so much. I am amazed at how the Lord touched lives as I walked with the cross during those six weeks. I was privileged to talk with atheists, people with drink and drug problems, Christians whose walk has not been easy and others who were just encouraged to see what God was doing. I also felt privileged to be given some ‘hassle’ for carrying the cross. Whenever I was questioned about carrying it, I would refer them to God. "Talk to God - I'm only carrying this cross because he told me to!”

There were times when I felt spiritually low. Mostly these were when I was alone and not around people. I love to talk of Jesus.

Obviously the thought of walking 750 miles is quite daunting. When I look back on it, there is certainly a kind of 'unreal' feeling about it. It is just amazing that I was able to do the walk at all. I believe that this is because God allowed it. No credit to me. He intended it this way.

“Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, (the apostles) never stopped teaching and proclaiming the Good News that Jesus is the Christ.”

Acts 5: 42

I hope that those with whom I talked and those who Lathan and Phil talked with while supporting me, will continue to be challenged by the Holy Spirit as God seeks to win them for Himself. For the many who saw the cross, I know their hearts were stirred. God's grace will call them.

This walk was undoubtedly different to that of 2003. I believe it was much more of a spiritual battle to walk this time rather than a physical one as last year. I have been just amazed by my fitness this year. I had finished treatment for Hepatitis C just six weeks before and had lost nearly two stone in weight while on the medication. Friends and family commented that I would not be fit enough to walk. I thought I would not be fit enough. But God is fit! Praise the Lord!!

I believe that God has dropped a net. Many are walking on to it, ready for when he pulls it in. When he does, not many will fall out. God is no doubt moving in Wales. People want God, but not necessarily ‘church’. My belief is that the church is no longer salty - it has lost it’s taste. If the people won’t come in, then we must go out and take church to them.

Please don't forget Wales. Why pray for one house when you can pray for the street? Why pray for the street when you can pray for the town? Why pray for the town when you can ‘Pray Wales’? He's a big God!

My final thought - What next Lord? Here I am Lord! Take me and use me Lord.Amen.

Clive Cornish, August 2004

“What is impossible with men is possible with God”

Luke 18:27

You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.

Matthew 5:13

Cardiff Marathon

Shortly after the second walk around Wales I received a phone call from Clive. He was planning to run in the Cardiff marathon and wanted to know would I like to run with him. It was only 3 months away and my first thought was “No! Definitely no!” I had run the London marathon several years before and remembered how much training and preparation I had undertaken. I also remembered how hard it was and how I had been a lot younger and a lot fitter. Then I doubted I had the time to prepare properly and knew it would take a lot of commitment. However, Clive can be very persuasive and I eventually found myself saying yes, against all common sense. I should have seen it coming and I really should have expected it but I didn’t as Clive put the phone down I heard him say, “And we will be taking the cross.”

I never expected our entry with the cross would be accepted. But it was and so I began training. My first run was a visit to my local park to jog round the boating lake. Two laps of the lake is approximately 2.5 miles and by the end I felt tired and out of breath. All I could think was a marathon would be ten of these sessions, back to back. I went home feeling daunted by the training requirement and doubtful that we could run 26 miles with the cross. I would need to pray about this.

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

1 Corinthians 1:27

The weeks passed quickly. I tried to run regularly but with commitments elsewhere found it difficult to stick to a meaningful schedule. When I ran, I prayed. A few weeks before the race Clive received a phone call from the event organizers. The police had been going through their final preparations and had expressed concern that a man carrying a cross would be able to complete a full marathon. They were also concerned about his speed, how slow would he be and would this delay them in re-opening the course roads to traffic. The organizing committee now expressed the same concern and had phoned to ask if we would withdraw from the marathon and perhaps compete in the half marathon. The half marathon was taking place at the same time, one lap of a two lap course. Clive felt he had no choice and had reluctantly agreed.

Clive called immediately with the bad news. Bad news? - My prayers had just been answered!

The half marathon was less of a struggle then we anticipated. The cross drew interest from other competitors and the spectators lining the route. Elite athletes would stop and ask why, encouraging us in our efforts. From the bay the route made its ways through Cardiff to finish in the Millennium Stadium. After one lap of the stadium track we approached the finish line. The electronic clock was ticking when Dinah shouting her support from the crowd, called out, “Look at the time.” Our time was three hours and sixteen minutes. The clock read 3:16 and perhaps the Bibles best known verse came to mind. This encouraged us and once again confirmed we were walking in God’s path.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16

Pray UK – Forty Days and Forty Nights

It had been a long drive to John O’ Groat’s the most northerly inhabited town in mainland Britain. It had taken almost two days of constant travel and it was a daunting thought that we now had so far to walk.

It had been a stunning journey. In the clear blue skies and warm sunshine the ever- changing scenery caught our attention and we looked forward to the challenge - a walk to Lands End, a thousand miles away.

We had smiled at the disbelieving faces and strange looks. The large wooden cross made an unusual sight tied to the top of the car. During two previous walks Clive had carried this cross around Wales. The first walk had been a physical challenge, tired, aching legs and heavily blistered feet made walking slow and painful.The second walk, in contrast, had been very much a spiritual and emotional battle. Heavy and oppressive feelings made the walking even harder and we had fought a strong desire to just stop and go home. As we lifted the cross from the car we now wondered what lay ahead.

We had spent the night near Loch Lomond, in one of Scotland’s most beautiful youth hostels. Built from a warm pink stone this turreted country house provided stunning views over the Lake towards the mountains, with Ben Lomond reflected in the Loch’s still waters.

After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.

Acts 1: 3

The small dormitory had been full. Despite the open window the room was hot and stuffy and it had been difficult to sleep as the occupants snored, grunted and tossed nosily in their bunks. Unsurprisingly, the castle’s ghost stayed away – there were more comfortable rooms in the castle than this one. Thinking of spirits and demons, I had prayed for protection against a less benevolent foe than this one.

Now excited and anxious we stood by the John O’Groat’s signpost and I wondered how many people had been photographed here before heading south to the other end of Britain. The distances read; Pentland Skerries 6 miles, Land’s End 874 miles.

An icy cold wind blasted off the sea. Before leaving I tried to video Clive and record a few parting words. In the buffeting storm it was impossible to stand still. The cold wind froze my fingers making the camera impossible to handle and the roaring wind drowned out Clive’s comments. Later, the video had to be subtitled as Clive was almost impossible to hear against the incessant scream of the wind.

“It is Monday 16th May and here we are at John O’Groat’s. When we drove here it was a lovely sunny day, but unfortunately it is an absolutely, drastically freezing cold, windy day in John O’Groats today. But we are still looking forward to reaching people. Having the cross seen by people in the UK, we are excited by what God is going to do. We really are actually…. (drowned out by wind….) and going forward and letting people know that Jesus died on a cross similar to this one. I am really excited by what God is going to do (he beams). All we are really doing is telling people how

Jesus has changed our lives, not with fancy words, but with a simple message that Jesus died for you and he loves you. I have no doubts at all that he will change peoples lives when we begin this walk of around 1000 miles….. “

Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

1 John 5:5

Wrapped securely in waterproofs, hats and gloves we started south. The wind crashed in to the cross, throwing Clive off balance making progress slow and uncomfortable. Black clouds raced in from the sea bringing a regular succession of heavy downpours –rain, hail, snow and sunshine. In the sunshine we enjoyed distant views down the wild coastline and across the rugged moorland to snow capped peaks. Bright yellow gorse flowers sung in the crisp clear air and lifted our thoughts to God. Looking out to sea we could watch each storm approach, until it arrived and obliterated everything from view.

Passing through the small towns and villages we stopped regularly to talk and hand out leaflets explaining why we were walking with the cross. Despite the sparse population of northern Scotland, we gave away over 400 tracts in the first two weeks - a surprising number as not everybody we met accepted one. As we walked we prayed for God to go before us and prepare the way. Sometimes, it felt that divine intervention brought some people to Clive. On the first day, one car containing a Hindu family broke down and came to a stop right next to Clive walking with his cross. The passenger wound down the window and just looked at Clive. “To tell you Jesus loves you,” said Clive. “But I am a Hindu,” shouted the driver. “Yes, but Jesus still loves you,” Clive assured the surprised looking driver and his family.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

Romans 8:35

It was our plan to walk and camp. But it was early in the year and on the first evening we found the local campsites were closed. During the day we discovered, to our great discomfort, that the piercing rain quickly found its way inside our waterproofs, soaking our clothes and leaving us feeling wet and cold. In such conditions we were quickly put off camping with the thought of everything getting even colder and wetter while we pitched the tent and set up camp. Our budget was limited and did not stretch to bed and breakfasts or cheap guest houses, so we opted for the car parked in a quiet lay-by. Between storms we cooked in the shelter of the car and then retired “to bed” soon after dark. We were settled down by 8.00 but, despite feeling tired, it was hard to sleep. With no room to stretch out and a steering wheel which made turning over difficult, it was a long and uncomfortable night.

Because of the weather we spent many nights sleeping in the car. Again and again I would lie there sensing the vehicle rocking in the wind and listen to the rain beating upon our “home”. Each time I promised myself this would be the last time I slept in the car. Along with the tent we also carried individual “bivvy” bags. Waterproof, breathable sacks that fitted over the sleeping bags and zipped closed to seal us inside, protected from the elements. The “bivvy” bags were quick and easy to use. After climbing into our sleeping bags we would wriggle in to the waterproof covering, insulated and protected from the hard ground by a thin foam mat. The “bivvy” bags saved time finding a pitch and erecting the tent and more importantly, allowed you to stretch out and turn over.

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:14

The “bivvy bags” became a preferred choice and were frequently used. We “bivvied” by loch sides, huddled inside away from the biting midges, close to woods and armies of ants and in a church graveyard where hooting owls and bats flying around the church tower added an eerie atmosphere.

I remember one night we “bivvied” by the shore of Loch Lomond. After arriving very late (around 11.00pm) we had parked in the visitor centre car park and selected a place on the building’s balcony protected by the overhanging roof. We did not anticipate anybody arriving until opening time and by then we would be long gone. It was the middle of the night when the police car pulled in to the car park and the policeman got out. With his flashlight he carefully walked around the outside of the building. We could hear his feet crunching on the gravel and as he turned the corner and approached us we lay quietly watching his torch beam search and survey. He walked unaware over the corner of Clive’s mat and stood between the two of us looking around. It was Clive who spoke first, with a loud, “hello mate.” The policeman jumped and screamed in surprise then recovered quickly to ask, “What are you doing down there.” I just wanted to answer, “trying to sleep,” but thought better of it. The question was directed at Clive who soon gave a full answer, describing our walk to Land’s End and the reasons why. Even in the night Clive took the opportunity to evangelise. Through the part-pulled zip I watched the officer listen with expressions of surprise, amusement and disbelief before joining his colleague in the car and leaving. He must have being shocked and much to our relief he left without moving us on.

I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:13

We bivvied another night close to Glastonbury. We settled down in good weather but during the night the conditions changed. In the dark the thunder crashed and the heavens opened to deliver a deluge. We dived for the car and watched the water level slowly rise (in the road roundabout). On the radio that morning we listened to the devastation that had hit the Glastonbury festival, the crumpled tents, soaked campers and the mud that trapped everybody and everything.

In the mornings we would walk until we reached the first open café or tea shop. Here we would stop for coffee and a teacake and use the facilities to wash and freshen up. As the days passed we became increasingly addicted to the morning latte. Early in the walk we fell a day behind schedule, but as we grew fitter and walked faster we soon made this time up. By the time we left Scotland we were one day ahead of schedule and estimated that we would spend forty days walking.

As we walked we became increasingly fixated on the forty days. In the Bible forty is a significant number and we\would spend our time trying to recall its occurrences. It rained for forty days and forty nights after Noah built the ark and God wanted to cleanse the earth of evil. Noah waited forty days after the rain stopped before opening the ark. Moses twice spent forty days on Mount Sinai with God. It took the Israelite spies forty days to search out the Promised Land and bring back its fruit. The Israelites spend forty years in the wilderness. Elijah strengthened by one meal spent forty days on Mount Horeb, where he heard the Lord’s voice. For forty days Ezekiel lay on his right side to symbolize the 40 years of Judah's transgression. Jonah warned the City of Ninevah that they had forty days to repent and change before God would destroy them. Jesus fasted for forty days in the wilderness and Jesus appeared for forty days after the resurrection before his ascension to heaven. We came to the conclusion that forty days was a time of preparation and we began to wonder what we were being prepared for.

The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

Psalm 118:6

The walking became a way of life with its own routines and activities. I tried hard to capture this in pictures and became more interested in the possibility of film to record how Clive was feeling and what he thought. I had a small video camera and as we walked together I would ask Clive for his feelings and views on the day or aspects of our journey. The camera was very simple and I had to keep close in order to pick up the sound and not be drowned out by the traffic as it thundered past. But Clive spoke well and his answers were always open and honest.

Questions like, how has walking with the cross changed you?

“One of the greatest ways it has changed me is my faith has obviously grown. I have seen God work as we’ve walked. I obviously get really excited when I am going to go out walking with the cross. Because we are going to be doing what I desire to do, and that’s reach people. But when we see God move, now Lathan accompanies me most times when out with the cross. But on the odd occasion he hasn’t been able to because he’s got his own business and he is obviously very busy. I have to carry my own things, my own tent, my own water, and drinks. And it gets very difficult. But I remember one occasion, I was up in mid-Wales somewhere, in the middle of no-where and I’d had a call off a friend on the mobile and it was a really, really hot day. And he said, “How you doin Clive.” And I said, “I am doin’ fine, but I am out of water, I’ve got nothing, and I am really thirsty, and emm, such a hot day.” Well just as I said that a car pulled up to the side of the road and this lady walked over with a bottle of water and said, “I thought you could do with a drink.” That was it, she just gave me the bottle as I was on my phone and she went away. And she doesn’t even realize what I had just been speakin’ about on the phone to my friend. As I went further up the road, because I had drunk that straight away because I was so thirsty, it was gone, and there was this trucker parked on the side of the road with his window wound down, and as I was passing he said, “do you need any water mate.” And I filled up my water bottles. So my water was provided and I went without nothing. And I’m always, I shouldn’t say always amazed, but I am always grateful, thankful, because it is when I am on my own that God seems to work more. When people come with food, with water, and I’ve been offered accommodation for free. So for my faith, to see God is honoring me, as I have gone out in this way, because it is by myself, and I really don’t know what is going to happen when we are out walking, my faith as grown tremendously. But I can’t say it is anything I’ve done. It has grown because of what God has been doin’. I suppose it sounds a contrast, but it takes time for me to accept the things that God wants to do. Especially because of the background I come from. And God seems to be using me in a quite an unusual and unique way. I ask myself, why God did that. And I think it is because I experienced so much rejection and hurt in the past, it was kind of training. My mother was in a wheel chair, and I used to push her miles and miles and miles in this wheel chair and she was fifteen stone. So my legs were really strong and it was just like it was preparation for what God was going to have me do. For an instance the bottom of my legs are quite big but the tops of my legs are like matchsticks. So my faith has grown even looking at my past life, looking back and seeing how God has put all things together and used what I am or what I already was. So my faith in God as grown tremendously just by looking and seeing how he has done things in my life.

Clive Cornish

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach.

Romans 12: 6-7

Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

Matthew 8:26

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.

Romans 8:26

Between video sequences I would walk along either behind or in front of Clive, usually in single file because of the traffic. As we walked I could consider Clive’s comments, learning more about his life and the almost impossible changes that had occurred. Sometimes I would tease him and in good humour our banter would bounce back and forth. On other occasions we would be more reflective carefully considering what had been said.

I could see how my own faith had grown and strengthened during the cross walks. I recalled the number of times somebody had stopped to offer support and encouragement providing just what was needed at just the right moment. Again and again our requirements were fulfilled, fulfilled too frequently to explain as just coincidence. Water when we felt thirsty, food when we felt hungry. Outside in a pavement café we had been drinking tea and enjoying a teacake when a complete stranger put money on the table towards our refreshments and it was the exact amount needed for the bill. Or the night in Scotland when it was late, quickly getting dark and we still needed to eat and find somewhere to sleep. I was waiting for Clive to catch up, feeling dirty and tired and hoping for a hot shower and a comfortable night’s rest. As I waited I watched a couple walk across a field towards where I was standing. As they approached I knew inside I was going to talk with them. When they stopped to open the gate our conversation quickly developed and I was soon explaining the cross walk to them. As I finished describing our journey Clive arrived and we were invited to their home for supper. In their warm comfortable kitchen we were spoilt with homemade bread and soup.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11

It was a full house. Their daughter’s friends were staying for a sleepover and we were touched by their generosity and kindness. They apologized about their full home, apologized about the activity and chaos, apologized they could not offer us a bed for the night and then announced they had phoned the local bed and breakfast and booked a room for us - all expenses paid. This was an amazing gesture that provided us with tremendous encouragement and a reminder to trust in God for all we needed. I had begun the walk in faith trusting in God to protect and provide for us and I knew from Clive’s video comments that he felt the same.

“I can remember when I first started carrying the cross. I was going to go out on a Saturday morning, and I really didn’t feel like going out but I felt God wanted me to, so I did. When you come out of my house you cross the road, go through a gully on to a busy main road. As soon as I got out on to the busy main road I had somebody with their window down shout some abuse, which didn’t make me feel all that good. Then I was pulled over by a police car because he said I had an unusual load and went through a red light, would you believe? But as I got further down the road and came to the flyover near the centre of Cardiff I was very near to turning around. Because I just didn’t feel strong enough and able to carry on. I wasn’t in the right frame of mind, or the right frame of spirit. So I put the cross down and I said, “Lord, how am I going to carry this cross reaching people when I am feeling like this?” Then, I just looked on the floor and this piece of cardboard was stood there and written right along that piece of cardboard was the word ‘faith’. It really hit me, and it still hits me to this day, at that time that word was stood right in front of me when I asked God that question. I picked that piece of cardboard up and I keep it and when we go to different places talking about the work we do I sometimes take that with me. But that was what God was saying to me. “Clive, I am not going to be no bolt of lightning out of the sky to tell you what you are going to do, where you are going to do it. You are going to go forward by faith and when you go forward by faith that is when I am going to use you and when I am going to speak to you.” “

Clive Cornish – 2003

But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

James 1:6

I understood what Clive meant. Before this walk I had sat in church praying about what next. I had prayed throughout the sermon, head bent down, lost in my own world. I had remembered how I met Clive and how God had so clearly led Pray Wales. I remembered the night I prayed with Alex and the card I received with the stylized flowers and the similar flower shapes made by the beam of sunlight shining on the kitchen door. When I eventually looked up I was filled with anticipation, anticipation that I would see those flowers and the answer to my question – what next? Looking up there was no flowers and a feeling of disappointment filled my spirit.

For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.

1 Peter 3:12

If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!

Luke 12:28

After the service I headed towards Sunday school to collect my daughters. As I approached the stairs I saw Lucy skipping down the steps with a picture in her hand. At the same time I saw Clive and his family entering the church through the front door. As Lucy thrust her picture into my hand I heard Clive say, “I know what we are doing next.” I glanced at Lucy’s picture, and smiled at brightly coloured drawings of stylized flowers, as I asked, “What’s that.”

“We are walking round the world with the cross mate,” he calmly stated while watching for my response.

My quiet smile hid my real feelings. I was thrilled and inside my spirit jumped and soared, and I just knew we were going to walk around the world. But immediately, I also felt this would not be one continuous journey but a series of separate walks each telling its own story. Before we were back in the church hall I had blurted this out to Clive and suggested the first walk from Jerusalem to Rome, in the footsteps of Paul the Apostle. I didn’t know when or how but I knew God was calling me to act in faith.

During walks God’s guidance was a regular topic of conversation. I tried to capture on video how God talked to us. I would ask Clive questions about his experiences, particularly about those times when God had given Clive an insight in to someone’s life.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Ephesians 3:20

“There are quite a number of times when the Lord has really spoken to me and I can’t really explain how he has spoken to me. Something is just planted in my spirit. I remember one occasion we were coming up to an area called Ynysbul (????) on the outskirts of Cardiff. There was this old man sat on a bench and I just felt God say, “Go and sit next to him.” So I walked there with the cross, put the cross behind the bench were he was sitting and sat next to him and said, “Alright, mate?”

He said, “alright.”

So I said, “what you doin.”

“Not a lot,” he replied.

Then I said, “God told me to sit next to you.”

He said, “Did he?”

I said, “Yeah. Do you know why?”

“No idea.” He replied.

“Oh, right” I answered, and we both just sat there for a minute and said nothing. Then he said, “I used to go to Sunday School.”

I said, “Oh, there we are, that is why God has probably told me to come and sit by you. Why don’t you go anymore.”

“I used to help lead the Sunday school, and the leader of it was leavin’ and I wanted to take over. But they wouldn’t let me. So, I left,” he said.

And I said, “There we are, now we see why God told me to come and sit next to you. It is obvious you have left God, and there was a time when you were close to God and God just wants me to tell you that he hasn’t forgotten you. That he still loves you, and he still wants you. But you left him and he wants you back.” Then I just held his hand and said, “Thanks for talking with me, and just think about the things we have talked about.” And that was it. Because God is doing the work, I can only do what - and it is the same for everybody - we can only say what God is saying. It is always tempting to add our bit. But it is a simple thing. God is interested in peoples lives.

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

1 Peter 1:18-19

I knew Clive was interested in people’s lives. I knew he hurt inside for those that did not know God and he believed were going to a lost eternity. And I could see God was using Clive to speak to and challenge the people we met. The times Clive would include a specific fact, or detail in their conversation that really meant something to them, a fact he could not be expected to know or easily guess.

“On another occasion, this chap came up to me. He was quite a posh man, and he said to me (in very upper class tones), “Oh, hello. I was in my church yesterday, as I am going through a few problems at the moment, and the priest said to me, “Look for a sign.” And I saw you with the cross and I take that to be my sign.”

Now, I don’t know why I answered this way. Because he was obviously quite a posh gentleman and I answered him, “You are going through marriage problems.” And he looked really shocked and when he looked shocked I looked even more surprised. And I said to him, “You have been married twenty five years,” and it was spot on.

He said, “Yes.”

Actually, he said, “Yes, I have, I have been married twenty five years and my marriage is on the rocks.” So, I was just able to pray with him, and I really felt such a privilege to be just there at that time and for a gentleman, I’ll say, of that nature, because to me he was quite a proper chap. For us just to stand their and pray together was a real, great experience. There are experiences like that often. Sometimes there were only one or two on the second walk around Wales, but it was worth it just to speak to that fellow. But witnessing is very different but personal words in to peoples lives, and I am probably guilty often of just not listening to God, when he wants me to speak in to peoples lives, but we must be careful as well not to put all our efforts, or our words, in to the times when God wants to speak in to peoples lives.”

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

Philippians 2:13

I was also amazed at how Clive spoke to people. Sometimes gently, other times more forcibly, shouting and challenging them directly. I often wondered how he dared talk to somebody in that way only to be amazed at the response of that person and the tale that person would tell.

“On another occasion I can remember I was walking up this big hill when this man pulled over in his car and ran over and he said, “Do you mind if I walk with you.” Now I don’t know why I answered him the way that I did but I just turned around and shouted, “Where has your faith gone?” And he looked really surprised that I answered like that and he said, “Can I walk with you?” And again I shouted, “Where has your faith gone?” And we began walking and he said, “Do you mind if I have a go at carrying the cross.” I said, “No.” And he put the cross on his shoulder and he continued walking and then it came out that he used to go to church as a regular, he was a born again Christian, and he considered himself a backslider. He lost a lot of his faith and the reason was he had actually lost his job twenty years ago and he couldn’t tell his wife. Well obviously his wife found out, and because he couldn’t cope with the losing of his job he ended up losing his wife and his couple of children as well and therefore he stopped going to church. I really felt for this man as we were walking and at he end of the walk, he must have carried the cross half a mile, we sat on the wall and I asked if I could pray with him. Lathan was there with his camera, but we both began to cry, it really was a personal moment for this man. He was also telling me about a couple of weeks before when he also had a car crash. His tyre blew up, he was doing ninety miles an hour going up the motorway and at that time he believed God was with him and that he protected him. So he sat on this wall he was obviously hurting so much this man, and he began to cry and I was cryin’. It much have looked a right picture for anybody walking past. When I speak to people I do get quite emotional and really connect with how they are feeling. So we sat on the wall, I prayed with him and I never forget that after praying with him, and Lathan didn’t take any pictures at that point because he said he could see it was personal and he didn’t feel right to take pictures. But this man was really, really in tears and I’ll never forget he didn’t even say goodbye. He just got up and left. But I know, it was quite obvious, that God was speaking to him. We don’t see the outcome of these things, we just know, we have faith, that God is working in this man’s life. Faith is such an important aspect of this Christian walk. We have faith in everything we do. We keep saying God tells us what to do, God tell us how but he has already told us and it is when we go he will be with us. While we are sitting down, how can he work. We have to go for God to move and to work in peoples lives and in our lives. “

Clive Cornish - Pray UK 2005

But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

Matthew 10:19-20

Perhaps one of the commonest questions Clive received is why he walks with the cross.

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalm 34:18

“I have been asked on numerous occasions why I do it. Obviously, I believe God has chosen me to carry it, the cross. But I also think another reason is, is that when I became a Christian there was a couple in that meeting where I asked Jesus in to my heart that sort of took me under their wing. They were millionaires, never gave me any of their money, but they were millionaires. Something he really pressed on was getting out and reaching the lost. From a couple of weeks of being a Christian, I remember being out in Peterston, in the middle of the town. He took me there, and been told to shout my testimony out. So I went out and shouted my testimony about how Jesus had changed me a couple of weeks ago. In Cardiff they had their own church in a community hall and they would take me door to door. So from an early age as a Christian I knew how important it was to reach people and something was built in to me by those things that he did, and God had planted something there that gave this great desire. It is there constantly for reaching people, and the importance of reaching people as they are going to go to hell unless they receive Jesus, unless they know Jesus. So wherever I am, whatever I am doing, I am always looking for that way in to a person’s life. Just to be able to get a sentence in. I don’t want to press my faith on to them in an area they don’t want it. But faith is a part of everyone’s life whether they realize it or not. Everybody is searching and they find their comfort in some area of their life. And I just like to get in there and just show them that they have it in the wrong place. God has provided our place of solace, where we should be. So in carrying the cross I just want them to see how much it means to me that they find Jesus. It is the most important thing in my life that they find Jesus. It is more important to me that what happens then my family. Even though my family is obviously very, very important. But we are in it together, my wife and my children. We do have the understanding that people are going to a lost eternity unless they find Jesus. So we go together and I think that is probably no secret, but it is the way we should go. When we go together I am not leaving my family behind, or my children, because they come with me and I involve them as much as possible. They are excited about the work, so the most important thing not just for me but for my family is for people to know Jesus. That’s how we work, and we are not over the top. Most people would come to us because they, thank God, see a difference in our life and they are maybe asking questions themselves. God has given us this work to do and people have to find where God wants them to work, where their gift is, in what areas of their lives and not to just sit in the pews finding comfort in their own lives. But find that area even if it is just posting a letter through a letter box of a neighbour who they know is ill. That is called evangelism. It is not just carrying a cross. So what is important for me is reaching people in whatever shape or form, to just let them know that Jesus Christ loves them. And he died on a cross to pay for their sins. “

Clive Cornish – Three Days One Easter

As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:5

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.

Proverbs 11:30

We arrived at Land’s End in warm sunshine under a blue sky. A group of Irish cyclists were just starting their ride to John O’Groat’s. Clive strode past as they prepared to pull away and I heard one call, “Do you think he is walking to John O’Groat’s with that.” I had just filmed Clive’s approach and as I hurried by trying to get ahead of Clive I answered, “No, he has just arrived from John O’Groat’s with the cross.” I should have stopped and photographed their surprised expressions as they looked back in shock. I wondered how many times they would think of Clive as they struggled north on their bicycles.

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

2 Corinthians 4:7

The path ended above the steep cliffs dropping down to the sea. In the distance the Longstone Lighthouse and on the horizon the Scilly Isles were just visible. Looking out to

sea it was hard to believe our walk had come to an end. For me there was no feeling of elation or accomplishment, it still had to sink in.

I got the video camera out and asked Clive for an immediate comment.

“Well, here we are at Land’s End. We have being walking for some eight weeks, forty days and sleeping forty nights (he laughs). And what a journey it has been, it has been absolutely incredible. I think looking back at just how amazing God honours us in His work. But through it all (pauses and holds back tears) I think of the people that we met and those that are hurting in their own life (pauses to compose himself) and those at have been hurt by the church and many that (longer pause struggling with emotion) have no direction. It is amazing to think that (voice heavy with feelings) a lot of these people, of all different ages, teenagers, mums and dads, OAP’s, each of them in their own way knowing that there is something missing, no direction, some having rejected Jesus, rejected the cross and really more interested in the effort that we are putting in to getting the message across. But more than anything for me I think the Lord has highlighted the sin, the pain and people just lost with no hope and they don’t even know it. Some do know it and accept what we are saying and we have had one or two in tears as well when the cross has been imprinted on their hearts. So we count this time as a great privilege, taking it from one end of the country to the other, and I think it is just amazing that we have reached our destination on time. To plan, if you like. God has allowed us to do this work for him. It has not all been easy, it has been hard, there have been days when we thought “are we doing the right thing? Are we going the right way?” It has been a great challenge and obviously it has been painful as well. Our families been at home. Actually I just texted Fiona, “I am finished.” And she just texted back, “Hooray.” It has been for her, and for Dinah at home a challenge, so we thank God for our wives and we know how important they are in this work. But even as we finish this we are asking God, “Which way do you want us go?” And we don’t know at the moment. But we just encourage you to do whatever the Lord has called you to do: to step out in faith and not be ashamed of that gospel, to take it to those who need him and show Jesus Christ in the way that we live. “

Clive Cornish

I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me – just as the Father knows me and I know the Father – and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

John 10: 14-16

But now Clive was just looking forward to going back home to his family and a well deserved rest.

By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.

Genesis 2:2

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Psalm 23:2-3

Jerusalem to Rome – In the Footsteps of the Apostle Paul.

For once Clive was early. It was 03.45 when I heard the quiet knock at the door. Outside it was dark and in the streetlights you could see the heavy rain. The strong winds of yesterday’s gale were dying but you could still hear the branches rustle as the trees swayed. Inside my stomach churned, I felt anxious as I kissed and hugged Dinah goodbye. Upstairs the children slept peacefully. I wondered what I was doing. This was it, after three years’ talking and planning, Jerusalem to Rome in the Footsteps of the Apostle Paul was beginning.

The cross fitted comfortably in the back of the transit van while we squashed together in the front. As we drove I contemplated the day ahead, the prayers and the verses from supporters and well wishes. I also prayed, I prayed for my family; Dinah, Eleanor, Lucy and Joe. I prayed that they would be kept safe and well during my absence and that the home would be protected and blessed. I prayed for the journey, our drive to Luton airport, our passage through check-in, a safe flight and a trouble free entry into Israel. Entering Israel was a concern. Nearly everyone we had talked to had just smiled nicely, before authoritatively stating, “no way, two men and a large wooden cross would not be allowed in to that country.” Then confidently continuing even if we did enter Israel and begin walking with the cross then we would almost certainly be beaten up, suffering serious injury and possibly death. With this in mind I prayed for the days ahead, for God’s protection, his guidance and an ability to hear him.

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

2 Timothy 1:6-7

We were among the first arrivals at airport check-in. The attendant took a long look at Clive’s very large and very heavy ski bag.

“What’s in there?,” he enquired.

“Three pieces of wood,” Clive replied in what sounded to me a rather cavalier attitude. As a puzzled look spread over the young man’s face Clive quickly added, “That assemble in to a cross.”

“Oh,” replied the assistant, his blank expression turning to one of surprised realisation.

“You cannot check that in…” his words caused my heart to beat faster, as all the warnings and comments flooded in to my mind. I almost missed the rest of the sentence “…here. Oversized baggage”, he pointed across the hall. The relief flooded into my body. That was it, after all the worry, we were checked in. We still had passport control and security to clear, but without the cross we were no different from anybody else.

Flying above Greece I stared out of the window thinking about Paul’s visit to Athens 2000 years earlier. I thought of his pain and distress to see this city full of idols. I recalled his speech, about one great God, delivered to the learned members of the Areopagus. On the TV screen the route map showed we were flying over Thessalonica. Paul had visited Thessalonica where his proclamations had convinced many Jews that Jesus was the Christ, the long awaited Messiah, the Son of God. His success had aroused jealousy among other Jews and incited a riot, forcing Paul to flee the town.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

1 Peter 5: 6-7

As we continued over the Aegean Sea, I gazed at the turquoise blue waters and dry coloured islands below and thought about Paul’s travels and his writings. “I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the sea; and in danger from false brothers." As I considered these words I looked at the inviting view and wondered what adventures lay ahead.

We entered Jerusalem through the Damascus Gate. The white stonewalls towered above the Arab traders and beggars who lined the narrow path through this solid, protective gatehouse. Passing its huge wooden doors we left the heat of the outside world and entered the cool, dark passages of the Holy City. Hemmed in by people we joined the flow of life passing the open shop fronts, selling clothes, shoes, food and sweets. On the ground sat groups of women selling more goods, home grown fruit and vegetables, bread and leather goods. The sights, the sounds and the smells overwhelmed our senses. All the traders wanted you to stop and buy. All of the shopkeepers wanted you to come inside, reassuring you with their “Best in Jerusalem, best in Israel” claims as they guided you to their doorways. The people, the noise and the activity hit us and overwhelmed us as we entered another world – one that had changed little since the time of Jesus.

When I called, you answered me; you greatly emboldened me.

Psalm 138:3

Inside the walls we immediately noted the armed police and soldiers. Automatic rifles and batons in hand, hard hats hanging from their belts ready for use. They stood in small groups carefully watching the crowds. We sensed the tension and it heightened our feelings of worry and concern. I wondered if these emotions could be captured in photographs and decided to keep a written diary. The idea for a book, describing the walk, our thoughts and our feelings began to grow and develop. In my mind I could see the intertwined threads of Paul’s journey, our journey, the history and insights in to Paul’s character.

In my diary I recorded it was Palm Sunday and how, with the cross, we made our way up the Mount of Olives to join the annual possession retracing Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. At the summit town of Bethphage the crowds grew quickly and we were very aware of the armed soldiers and mounted police keeping watch over the rising noise and excitement. In Jesus’ time these would have been Roman soldiers maintaining law and order.

Local boys and girls pushed through the crowds selling palm leaves and olive branches. Worn, poorly fitting clothes portrayed their daily struggle to just get by. Yet their dirty faces beamed and their eyes sparkled as they pleaded, “please, please,” with their small, grubby hands stretched out. The palm branches varied between 1$ to a steep $5 and they did a brisk trade among the swelling numbers. They were fascinated by Clive’s cross and walked alongside us, talking and mischievously climbing on the wooden beam to pinch a ride uphill.

A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.

Matthew 21:8

Waiting for the parade to start I pushed my way through the throng photographing and recording the celebrations. At 2.30 the procession headed downhill towards the city. Singing, shouting, praising, olive branches and palm leaves waved in the air. As we came over the crest of the hill I could see the line of people stretching from the summit to the city wall and in through the Lion’s Gate.

Stuck at the back it was difficult to capture Clive with the cross and the atmosphere of the day. I indicated to Clive to move forward a little but the suggestion was met with a hard no-way stare. I quickly explained the problem but he was determined to hang back, his sharp “No, it’s too difficult,” betraying the anger he felt.

I found his lack of co-operation difficult and wondered why he felt like this. I came to the conclusion it was the result of the worry and concern about the reception and attitude of people towards him while he was carrying the cross. I decided not to argue, we had talked a lot about the possible responses and I knew Clive feared a brutal and physical reaction. But our first walk with the cross passed without trouble.

When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:

Luke 19:37

The following morning we headed towards the city. Outside the street was lined with military vehicles and police cars. A helicopter circled noisily overhead, the whirr of its rotor drowning out the people and traffic. A crowd had gathered round the Damascus Gate. The gate was locked and armed military were dragging young men from the crowd for questioning. Armed police marched two youths back down the road and the press photographers arrived rushing to photograph events. It seemed unwise to stand around and we walked on to the next city gate.

This gate was also locked and guarded. A small crowd was waiting and as I took a photograph two soldiers appeared. With their automatic rifles in hand, batons clearly visible and donning their bullet proof vests, they were a menacing presence. I tried a cheery hello and was relieved when they smiled. They then amused themselves by pointing at my stomach and asking if twins were present. The friendly banter continued, they didn’t know why the city was locked down or how long before it would re-open. But fortunately after a couple minutes we were allowed to enter.

Inside we headed towards a cafe. Walking through the narrow alleys we observed the old crumbling stone houses and small children playing. Women were sweeping dry, dusty courtyards, beating carpets and drying washing. As we approached the Damascus Gate, the city entrance was again locked. No one seemed to notice and I deduced this must be normal life for these people.

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

Revelation 3:20

As we drank coffee we watched the heavily armed security personneI. Life seemed to continue uninterrupted; the traders shouting at the shoppers, the delivery boys with their wheelbarrows piled high shouting warnings as they carried every conceivable good through the narrow streets. Life appeared normal but a tension simmered just below the surface.

We talked to the cafe owner and learned that this morning a Rabbi had been stabbed in the neck as he walked through the Damascus Gate. A young Muslim man was being sought, the reason was unknown, but the event was not unusual. I looked at Clive, “walking the cross will be interesting”, I joked. The Damascus Gate was on our intended route. “Interesting! That’s an understatement,” replied Clive. There was no humour in his voice. I could see the morning’s events had upset him. Visiting Jerusalem had been an experience and the walk still lay ahead.

We studied the maps, considered the last few days and finalised our route. I was happy with our decision and felt confident that we had done all we needed to. We did not know what lay ahead and I felt that some flexibility in our planning was a good thing. By contrast, Clive thought we had not done enough and believed that any flexibility increased the likelihood of failure. His face showed his displeasure and I found this hard to accept. I had spent hours studying the route, the number of miles we needed to walk each day and our intended destinations. I had thought of “what if” scenarios and was upset by his criticism. I asked him why he had not expressed his doubts before leaving Wales. “You did all the planning, you wouldn’t have changed it anyhow,” was his reply.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.

Isaiah 55:8

I felt strongly that his remark was unjustified. We had spent hours talking and planning, I e-mailed day by day schedules and the updates for Clive’s consideration and comment. I decided that the planning was good and Clive was just expressing his anxiety about the days ahead. I prayed that once we start walking his concerns would disappear and he would be able to relax. Previous walks had been physically demanding, at times emotionally and spiritually challenging but we had always got along well, enjoying each others company and finding plenty to laugh about. Reading Paul’s writings and the description of his travels in Acts I was struck by the arguments between Paul, Barnabus and John Mark and wondered how much the stresses they faced amplified the discord between them. I made a note in my diary – a discussion point for my book.

Our next walk with the cross took us through the Muslim quarter of the Old City, following the Via Dolorosa, the route taken by Jesus as he carried his cross to Golgotha. Market stalls filled the road and it was impossible to move quickly through the crowds. I shouted to Clive to slow down. I felt sure he had heard me but he strode ahead with no change in pace. It was so frustrating. I wanted to get closer to Clive and ahead of the cross for the film making but it was analmost impossible task. Pushing through the traders and shoppers I could see their stares, the surprised expressions and mocking smiles and was unable to record them from my current position. I also heard a few shouts and a loud “No! No! No! No! No!” I could see Clive had also heard and his face reflected his anxiety.

Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company.

Acts 15: 37-39

Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.

John 19: 17-18

We arrived too quickly at the Damascus Gate. I again asked Clive to slow down, but my request was met with a sharp “You’re joking!” It was difficult to capture events without cooperation and I again felt annoyed. With both video camera and a still camera it was difficult to work fast enough and Clive’s comment, “you’ll have to get what you can and make do,” made me wonder about the coming days. I felt six and half weeks without cooperation would be a long time. Passing through the Damascus Gate we left the crush of people and entered the open space outside the city wall. I could see the relief flood into Clive’s face and I knew he found this frightening.

Our walk from Jerusalem started at the Garden Tomb, a well reasoned site for Jesus crucifixion and burial. I knew we were starting here because God wanted us to. I knew God was with us and I was filled with confidence. We prayed together and after more photographs it was time to leave. Together we lifted the cross up the steps, now loaded with Clive’s personal possessions. It was heavy and awkward. Wearing a rucksack and carrying a video camera and still camera I felt slow and cumbersome and as I struggled to bend and lift the rear wheel, I prayed I would soon feel a lot fitter and stronger.

At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

John 19: 41-42

The garden was a beautiful spot and I was overwhelmed by the tranquility and the sense of peace I felt here. I did not want to leave but it was time to go. As we approached the Jerusalem Gate, the present day entrance to the city, we talked about the days ahead. The traffic had come to a standstill and we passed the long line of stationary vehicles. We talked about the people in the waiting cars and laughed at their surprised and puzzled expressions. As we reached the head of the queue we both agreed it was good to be walking. This is what Clive enjoyed and I sensed his joy at being on the road. It felt more like “old times.”

The traffic jam started at the intersection of two main roads. The police had cordoned off the roads with strategically parked cars. Flashing lights marked out a large area free of cars and pedestrians. In the centre an armoured vehicle provided protection to soldiers coiling wires and tidying the remains of a controlled explosion. We patiently waited, watching the activity. Watching the soldiers I was reminded of our vulnerability and I prayed for God’s protection and guidance.

The road from Jerusalem is a fast dual carriageway. As the cars sped by we were buffeted by the repeated thump, thump, thump of hot air and loud engine noise. It didn’t feel safe and we were soon stopped by some workman repairing the hard shoulder. Their English was poor but we understood their acted warning about how dangerous this road could be. They suggested a smaller road running parallel to the dual carriageway. It was not on our map but they appeared confident that it led to the same place.

For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

Philippians 1: 29-30

We retraced our route. It was only a short distance but enough to upset Clive. After about 200m we turned off the dual carriageway onto a narrow lane. The road ran steeply downhill and we walked briskly along looking across the dry and dusty landscape. As we walked along, Clive complained continually about the delays, our lack of preparation and how we should have walked the route earlier in the week. After about one mile the road, to our surprise, suddenly ended by an isolated house.

We could see the main road but no obvious way to reach it. The owner of the house appeared and after cautiously viewing the cross from the safety of his drive decided we were safe to approach. We were soon in conversation. Odet was born a Jew and he enjoyed the Jewish holidays, the celebrations and good food, but did not follow the faith. He believed he has a spirit, could not accept death is final, and liked to think that he would be reincarnated in the form of another person or animal. We had a meaningful conversation before being forced to retrace our steps.

It was a steep climb and Clive was angered by the lost time. As we walked back towards Jerusalem, Clive became more discouraged and annoyed. I felt he just wanted someone to blame for the delay and unfortunately I was the only one. It was impossible to discuss our options and as I walked quietly along I thought about the encounter and wondered whether our detour was God’s intention. We prayed continually for God’s guidance and protection, the willingness to do his work and his help not pursue our own dreams and ambitions. I knew inside that God has called us to this walk and I was prepared that on occasion we would have to change our plans in order to talk to the people God wanted us to meet.

When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.

Acts 16:7

At the top of the hill we were faced with two options: to either continue along the busy highway or return to Jerusalem and find an alternative route. As I studied the map Clive impatiently repeated our need to make a decision but there was no obvious alternative. We had walked for almost four hours, our progress was minimal, and as I looked at the thundering traffic I felt discouraged.

I only just heard my phone beep above the noise of speeding cars and lorries. It was a text message from Dinah. She was praying for us and felt compelled to send this verse;

“Do not be afraid or discouraged for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1.9

I read the message out and the verse lifted both our spirits. For me it confirmed God’s presence with us watching, protecting and guiding us. In single file we restarted down the busy carriageway. We walked briskly along and I watched Clive unable to understand how he could get so easily discouraged, his impatience and the extreme and sudden changes in his moods. I felt strongly that God had called us to walk from Jerusalem to Rome and I had no doubt that we would arrive safely at our destination. I believed God had confirmed this again and again. Unless Clive’s attitude changed, it was going to be a very long walk to Rome!

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28

Day by day I recorded events. My diary allowed me to vent my frustrations and anger as we failed to come together in unity. Again and again God provided opportunities to witness and talk. Each day was filled with adventure and excitement yet I worried how a book would read. How could such discord glorify God? As the days passed and we met the struggles and challenges I realised that these walks were also about us and God working in our lives to develop our characters.

Before reaching Rome I decided never to walk with Clive again. By the time we returned home neither of us wanted to see each other again. But God had other plans. We continued to meet regularly and slowly rebuild our friendship. Without the concerns and efforts of walking with the cross we soon started to laugh and talk about events and how we both had felt. We discussed previous walks and old ideas but neither of us felt God calling us to walk again.

Then one morning over a large fried breakfast, a single sentence changed everything. As we ate we laughed over previous thoughts to climb Mount Snowdon with the cross. Then jokingly, I suggested carrying the cross up Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon the highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales. As I suggested the title, Three Days, One Easter, we both felt our Spirits jump. The next adventure had been born.

Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”

Galatians 4: 6

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Galatians 5: 24-25

Three Days, One Easter, 2010.

I don’t know how it happened. After suggesting Three Days, One Easter we both agreed that climbing three big mountains with the cross would definitely be a strenuous and very demanding challenge. But six months later, when travelling to Llanberis to reconnoitre the route up Snowdon, it was obvious that this challenge had been relegated in our minds to an easily manageable walk in the hills. Now, as we were toiling up the rocky path following the route of the Snowdon mountain railway, I struggled to understand how this occurred.

It was June and the start of the plan to walk Snowdon, Scafell and Ben Nevis before tackling the three peaks with the cross the following April. Walking up the rocky path we immediately realized just how different this would be compared to walking on the road. The wheel would never run smoothly and we imagined it crashing from boulder to boulder jarring and bouncing painfully on Clive’s shoulder. It was easy to see the cross crashing into the larger rocks, jamming against the stones or becoming trapped in the cracks and gaps, needing to be constantly lifted free before we could continue on our way.

Clive was worried about the cross being able to withstand the constant battering and whether it would survive to the end of challenge. Climbing on the steeper, looser ground I was concerned about Clive and how safe he would be, particularly on the descents with the weight of the cross pushing him downhill. Just a small slip or slide could result in a serious accident. It was a warm and still afternoon as we slowly climbed the mountain path but I could imagine how we could be buffeted and thrown by any wind and rain.

Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.

Psalm 55:22

Halfway up the mountain stands a small café, aptly named the Half Way Café. We joined the few walkers inside and ordered a large mug of tea. On the walls of the café a selection of newspaper articles reported upon the winter accidents and call-outs made by the mountain rescue teams. Many of the articles were accompanied by pictures of large yellow helicopters flying in atrocious weather conditions. Eye-catching headlines proclaimed the number of fatalities or seriously injured people. Easter was the first weekend in April and the mountains could still be under winter conditions.

After a short break we continued climbing. The cloud had now settled on the summit and as we gained height we were soon enveloped in a thick mist which limited our view to a few feet. The wind blew and we quickly felt very cold and very wet. Waterproofs, fleeces, hats and gloves were needed to keep warm, yet just below the cloud it was a lovely, warm summer’s day. We followed the course of the Snowdon Mountain Railway. We could hear the rumble of the trains as they slowly ascended and descended but the thick grey mist hid them from view and enveloped all other points of reference. Relieved we reached the triangulation point, huddled out of the wind and poured hot coffee from our flasks. The new summit café was nearby but in these conditions was completely hidden. Sipping the hot coffee I thought that we may have underestimated the challenge.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28

We walked up Scafell Pike on a beautiful clear day and enjoyed spectacular views down the Wasdale valley and out over the Irish Sea. Several well worn routes climb this mountain, some short and steep and others long and relatively gentle. We had selected the short but steep option from the Wasdale Head Inn hoping this would allow us to climb the mountain in the shortest time. But as we struggled upwards I again wondered about the decision.

Making our way over the rocks and boulder fields, we considered ways of modifying the cross. We talked about changing the wheel and the ordinary bicycle forks for a set from a mountain bike with shock absorbers to help dissipate the crashing force as the cross bounced over the stony ground. We considered a plastic sleeve to wrap around the end of the cross to reduce the damage and potential splintering as it hit and scraped against the mountainside.

We carefully considered our own equipment and in the sunshine we discussed ice axes, crampons, whether we should we take a rope and deadman to belay and protect us on any particularly steep and icy sections. We discussed what we would need and what we could realistically carry for photographing and filming the journey. We noted how long the walk took and tried to estimate how well we would perform with the cross and equipment in winter conditions. We agreed to tackle Ben Nevis under winter conditions to try and get a better understanding of what we could really expect.

We set several dates during January, February and March to drive to Fort William and climb Ben Nevis. But it never happened. Each time we planned to leave the snow came and the drive north was made near impossible. Even if we had managed to get there, the conditions on the mountain were dangerous - fresh deep snow with a high potential for avalanche. The newspapers reported the accidents and we started to reconsider the sanity of our plans. The winter 0f 2009/2010 was one of the most severe for decades and we never managed to reconnoitre Ben Nevis. It had been over twenty years since I had last climbed Ben Nevis and we would be travelling north with just my distant memories of this big mountain.

The day of departure arrived quickly. The alarm clock woke me early and I lay in bed listening to the news. Severe weather had swept across Scotland, Northern England and North Wales. Today we were supposed to be driving to Fort William for the start of Three Days One Easter and deep snow had closed roads and brought traffic chaos to northern Britain. The news reporter listed the worst affected routes and the top description was the A road from Bangor to Llanberis. I listened in dismay. Our plans included an overnight stay in Bangor before driving to Llanberis to make our ascent of Snowdon.

Clive arrived shortly after breakfast and over a cup of tea we reviewed our options. Neither of us wanted to cancel and we decided to leave and see how the day worked out. I added my carefully considered clothing, equipment and cool box full of mountain rations to Clive’s already full car and we set off. The M54 leaving Wales was clear and we made good progress.

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.

Hebrews 11:8

The Mendips, low lying hills on the border with England, were blanketed in white snow and I wondered just what the conditions would be like further north especially in the big mountains of Scotland.

The car radio provided regular weather and traffic updates. It was a bright sunny day and we continued to make good progress. Travelling north we could see the snow covering the Pennines and the Lake District mountains. The traffic reports told how bad the conditions were and it felt unlikely that we would be walking there in three days’ time. By the time we reached Scotland the snow was several inches deep and reached down to the motorway verge. The traffic reports advised motorists against traveling through Lanarkshire and we listened to a bulletin describing how over one hundred drivers had abandoned their cars because of impassable conditions. “Where is Lanarkshire,” asked Clive, as we drove past a huge sign saying, “Welcome to South Lanarkshire.” I checked the map, the road in question ran parallel to the motorway, but there was no sign of the difficulties described and we continued easily ahead.

Another traffic report described an early morning bus crash. A school party had set off on an end of term trip and in the frozen conditions their coach had skidded off the road and plunged down an embankment. One young girl had been killed in the accident at Abingdon. As Clive asked where Abingdon was we passed the sign saying ‘Abingdon services next left’. As we travelled north on our clear road it felt as if God had opened the way for us and with that feeling our spirits and confidence rose.

We arrived safely in Fort William. It was 9.30pm and dark and our first task was to find an affordable Bed and Breakfast. The main road into Fort William was lined with small hotels and guest houses. As we entered the town I saw the sign outside a small bungalow, Bed and Breakfast, vacancies from £20.00. The owner welcomed us warmly, showed us a clean and comfortable room and confirmed the price included a cooked breakfast. Breakfast was served at 8.00 but an early breakfast on Friday would not be a problem. We quickly agreed and thanked God for his good provision.

The next morning was cold and windy; the cloud hung a few hundred feet above the valley and heavy showers swept down the loch hiding the mountains from view. After breakfast we drove up Glen Nevis to examine the start of tomorrow’s climb. The rocky path climbed steeply from the valley bottom. At about 300ft it became covered in snow and at about 450 feet it disappeared into the cloud. We stood in the cold and read the tourist information board. A normal ascent took about eight hours, the weather conditions on the summit could turn arctic at any time and the difficulty should not be underestimated. In the last few weeks the temperature on the summit had remained well below zero and with wind chill had regularly fallen below -22°C.

We spent the afternoon sorting thermal underwear, fleeces, waterproofs, hats, gloves, ice axes, crampons, head torches and everything we needed to make a safe ascent. That night we returned to town for a curry. It was Clive’s favorite food and had become a tradition the evening before a walk.

We rose Good Friday morning to a bright clear day. There was not a cloud in the deep blue sky and the mountains, clothed in white, stood clear in the crisp dawn air. It was just after 8.00am when we started walking and the effort needed came as a shock. We had anticipated it being strenuous but not this demanding. The mountains round about looked so high, the summit of Ben Nevis was out of sight, but we knew it was higher than all the peaks we could now see. The size of our task hit home and a feeling of inevitable failure began to press in.

The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.

Joshua 3:17

Despite the modifications to the cross’s wheel it did not run smoothly over the steep rocky ground. The wheel constantly came to a crashing halt unable to ride up and over the larger boulders. The harder Clive pulled the cross the harder the wheel hit the stones pounding the wooden beam in to his shoulder and pulling him off balance. At other times the wheel would catch between the rocks or slip in to a hole coming to a sudden and painful stop. Film making seemed impossible as I was continually lifting the wheel free from obstacles.

On the steeper sections the cross beam caught on the steeply raising slope in front of Clive pushing the cross back in to his body. To clear the obstacles Clive was continually hoisting the cross high in to the air while struggling to keep his balance and forward momentum. More and more Clive was lifting the cross on to his shoulder and carrying the entire weight. On the back of a cross Clive carried a small bag containing his food, drink, protective clothes and equipment. This increased the weight of the cross making the task even harder and after a slow three hundred foot climb we stopped to rearrange loads. To lighten the load Clive was carrying we hid his flask behind a boulder, intending to retrieve it on the return journey. His food, crampons and spare clothing were transferred to my rucksack. We considered removing the wheel and leaving that behind but decided to wait and see if emptying the bag improved things first.

In the valley below we could see groups of walkers gathering and beginning their climb to the summit. Compared to us they made rapid progress and soon we had a constant flow of walkers passing us by. It was amazing how far people had traveled to climb Ben Nevis, with

climbers from America, Canada, Australia, Singapore and various European countries stopping to ask what we were doing. Some were believers, other were not but they all had the same surprised look and a manner that suggested we would never make it.

Emptying Clive’s bag helped but it did not make an enormous difference. From about 500ft the path became covered in snow hiding the holes and making the rocks more slippery. There was no wind, no clouds and the hot sunshine reflected brightly from the snow. The scenery was magnificent giving the day an alpine feel. Passing climbers warned us about the conditions ahead, of deep snow and hard ice and asked if we had the correct equipment with us. I was confident we were well prepared, we respected the mountain and were not afraid to stop if it became too dangerous to continue safely.

In the soft snow the wheel would sink and needed to be constantly pulled out of the furrow it ploughed. On the hard ice the wheel would skid and slide. Progress was never easy. It was midday before we reached the halfway loch – Lochan Meall an t-Suidhe - and stopped for lunch. As we slowly climbed higher the mountain views became more expansive. It was over twenty years since I had last spent a winter climbing around Ben Nevis and Glencoe. As I absorbed the mountain scenery I knew today’s perfect weather was exceptional. I thanked God for this and asked for his continued protection, strength and guidance.

It took all our resolve to restart. It was so appealing to just sit and rest and enjoy the weather and mountain grandeur. But after a short break we forced ourselves to continue. From the loch we turned west and began the long climb up the aptly named zigzags. Several groups who had passed us earlier that morning were now making their way back down. Some had turned back before the top because of deteriorating conditions and warned us that long sections of steep icy ground lay ahead.

Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.

Exodus 14: 21-22

I had managed to video several sequences of Clive climbing with the cross, but at the more difficult and most interesting sections photographically, he needed help and support. I had tried to capture some close up shots but on the narrow paths and over uneven terrain it was difficult to work closely together. I had to carefully watch where I was stepping or I found myself stumbling over the boulders, sliding in the snow or slipping on the ice. I didn’t want to fall, I didn’t want to hurt myself and I particularly didn’t want to drop or land on the camera and microphone. We had been unable to afford spares and any damage would bring the film making to an abrupt end.

At about 2500ft the path narrowed and steeply crossed the snow filled gully plunging down the mountain flank. Turning a corner a series of bucket steps traversed the slope before widening and easing. Moving together we carefully followed the steps. Clive at the front, me at the back, between us we held the cross over the drop. It was a precarious position. If we were to slip here it was a long way to fall and I tried hard to concentrate and ignore the thought that this was another missed photo opportunity.

After the exposed traverse the path continued upwards. After a few more unrelenting zigzags we met another descending climber who we had talked with that earlier that morning. His first question was, “how did you manage the traverse.” He was delighted we had made it so far and tried hard to encourage us. We were encouraged to discover that the groups reaching the summit were all talking about the men with the cross, and he had spent his lunch discussing our walk with complete strangers., debating if we would be able to carry the cross along the traverse and continue to the summit.

We continued up the zigzags. With each turn we hoped to see the summit but it was always over the next horizon. We could estimate our altitude from the mountains round about and we were slowly gaining considerable height. However, I was becoming increasingly concerned about the time we were taking and tried to estimate how much effort would be required to descend. We were both feeling tired and I certainly wasn’t planning to spent the night on the mountain. For a short while the difficulties seemed to ease and we made more rapid progress. But this did not last long. The snow now became harder and icier and we guessed this was where many groups had turned back. We called a halt, enjoyed some hot tea and then struggled into our crampons.

The crampons bit into the ice and we moved confidently over the increasingly more difficult terrain with alternating stretches of hard bare ice and jumbled ice covered boulders where we both had to lift and carry the cross. There was no obvious route and climbing over the rough uneven ground sapped our strength. We moved slowly and it was so discouraging as other walkers climbing the mountain quickly passed by and disappeared from sight.

Vincent, a big, strong-looking fellow stopped and asked why. As Clive engaged in conversation I moved away looking for an angle to film this meeting, trying to capture the difficult mountainous terrain, our isolation, the magnificent scenery and the uniqueness of this moment in one shot. While changing my position I saw Vincent pick up the cross and start walking. I pictured Jesus. Exhausted from the beatings, a nearfatal flogging and the sheer physical effort He struggled to continue and the Roman soldiers took Simon of Cyrene from the crowd and forced him to carry the cross.

You are glorious and more majestic then the everlasting mountains

Psalm 46:10

Together, Vincent and Clive made quicker progress and quickly covered the next two hundred metres of ice covered rock. The rocks ended and Vincent, climbing without crampons and ice-axe, decided it was time to turn back. Ill-equipped, it was a wise choice and we thanked him for his help. We moved more quickly up the snow slopes. Clive walked in front with me behind, steering the wheel over the icy sections and lifting the cross when it sunk into the softer drifts of snow. More climbers were descending then ascending and as the afternoon passed I became increasingly concerned about the time we were taking.

Those making their way down assured us we were getting close to the summit but I could see from the map we still had some distance to the top. Many of these mountaineers we had met earlier. One lady who had denied the existence of not just our God but any God on the ascent now threw her arms around Clive and assured him he was blessed by his God. In her excitement she threw her arms around me shouting in a thick East European accent, “ You are the first men I have hugged and kissed since I married my husband,” highlighting the emotion she felt.

If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land;

Isaiah 1:19

Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.

1 Chronicles 29:11

Two Australian climbers assured us we were the hardest men on the mountain. I was not sure we were the hardest but we were definitely the maddest! Delving into his rucksack one of them produced a bag of jelly snakes. He had brought these from Australia and kept them for special occasions. The strong fruity taste was delicious and I was touched he wanted to share them with us. We continued on following the line of cairns plastered in snow and frost. I calculated about another two hundred feet to climb to the summit plateau. The summit cairn and trig point was still a mile away.

We decided to push on to the summit plateau before considering our options. The steepness eased considerably and Clive moved much more quickly, almost racing to the top. We stopped above the steep ground of Five Finger Gully were the mountain fell vertically away. Above the cliff edge we sheltered from the wind, drank tea and absorbed the view. Looking south the snow covered panorama was magnificent. We were now higher than all the other mountains and it felt unbelievable that we had climbed so high with the cross.

To the north a track led over the summit plateau to the cairn. Returning climbers estimated another 15 to 30 minutes to the summit cairn. We would almost certainly take longer with the cross and it was now 4.00 in the afternoon. It had taken 8 hours of demanding physical work to get this far. We had reached the summit plateau of the mountain and it was now time to turn round and return to the valley. I knew already we would be finishing in the dark.

After a few more moments to savour our achievement we retraced our steps towards Red Burn. Red Burn is unadvisable in poor conditions. It has steep sections and can be avalanche prone. However, the snow pack seemed very stable, several other climbing parties had already safely descended this way and the long obstacle free snow slope looked the easiest line down the mountain. Our path naturally drifted into the gully and we followed this as our chosen route. Hugging the side we made quick progress and rapidly started to lose height. I constantly monitored the conditions underfoot, trying to assess how safe we were. And as we descended I prayed to God for his guidance and protection. I reflected upon the ascent, the difficulties we had surmounted, the incredible weather, the conversations and knew that God was with us. God had being with us in the planning and preparation, the drive north and now today on Ben Nevis.

Unfortunately, the firm ground did not last long, the snow soon became softer and the cross sank deeply in to the loose powder. We immediately slowed as we were forced to lift and carry the cross between us. Red Burn crosses the main tourist path near the bottom of the zigzags. Here the gully narrowed and steepened considerably and with some difficulty we lowered the cross down the mountainside, allowing the cross to slide on the snow and holding the weight from below. We rejoined our original route just before the exposed bucket step traverse, but after the last obstacle this was no problem and we almost skipped along what now felt like huge steps.

It was obviously evening when we reached the half way lochan. Our descent was quicker than ascent but we were never able to move all that quickly. As we continued down, the sun set and gradually it grew darker and darker. We had to tread carefully over the slippery snow covered rocks and by the time we had left the snow behind it was to dark to see. From my rucksack I took our head torches. They illuminated the path in front and we stepped from flat rock to flat rock isolating each footstep in a beam of yellow light.

And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, "Surely this man was the Son of God!"

Mark 15:39

We continued to carry the cross between us. On the steep uneven path it was difficult to move together. Clive would slow or stop at each obstacle and I would be left trying to hold my balance or shuffle a small distance when the terrain demanded a larger step. Once over the obstacles Clive would speed up pulling me quickly forward and I would find myself rapidly hopping down the awkward section he had just carefully considered. The high steps coupled with the weight of the cross made for hard jarring landings and my knees started to ache with the pounding. I knew Clive was suffering as well.

I tried hard to concentrate but my mind drifted continuously to the flask of tea we had stashed away earlier that morning. As we descended I felt more and more tired. My forearms screamed in pain, the muscles exhausted from the continuous lifting and carrying of the cross. We had to stop regularly to change arms and we both struggled on, hoping the other would be first to shout change so we could stop and rest for a few moments. I asked Clive what he was thinking and like me he was focused on the flask and a much-needed cup of tea.

When we eventually retrieved that flask of tea from it’s carefully chosen hiding place we quickly gulped it down. It reality it tasted old and lukewarm but in that moment the drink was hot and delicious. Afterwards we descended the last section. As the slope ended and we stepped in to the valley bottom a sharp, searing pain shot through the bottom of my knee. I shouted out in pain then stood buckled over as wave after wave of pain flowed down the side of the joint. I couldn’t move and sat on the mountain trying to understand why.

As I sat I felt relieved I was down the mountain but worried that this would be the end of our three peaks. It was almost 10.00pm and still warm. I must have sat for ten to fifteen minutes looking at the star filled sky before slowly continuing. I could have happily sat there for much longer enjoying the peace and the quiet. On the flat I could walk comfortably but each time I had to bend and lift my knee it hurt. I caught Clive just as we arrived back at the car.

It had taken fourteen hours to climb Ben Nevis. We now had to drive to 220 miles to Carlisle. Travelling south the weather started to change and light showers turned to heavy rain making the driving hard and tiring. It was almost light when we reached the Travelodge and we collapsed into our beds. The alarm woke us after only 2-3 hours sleep. It was still raining and the low cloud obscured the view. In the Lake District the mountains were completely hidden behind a thick wall of cloud. The snow reached the valley bottoms and I knew that the wet slush covered rocks would be treacherous underfoot. I remembered yesterday’s perfect weather conditions and thought how wet and cold it would be today. I thought how slowly we would be moving and what a problem this could be. I thought about the demands of navigating in these conditions and I thought about my knee. It still hurt and I knew that to continue would be foolhardy. I knew Three Days One Easter was over.

Without voicing my feelings, I asked Clive what he thought. “It’s over mate, and I feel completely at peace,” he answered. I was taken back by Clive’s reply. He is normally so focused, so driven that any change in plans, any watering down

Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.

Habakkuk 3: 18-19

of the vision or challenge is always met with anger and opposition. I knew for Clive to say this he felt he had completed all God had asked of him. I knew God had blessed the ascent of Ben Nevis. I knew God had called us to climb Ben Nevis with the cross and now he had closed the door and was saying, “You have done what I asked now go home.” I also felt at peace with our decision. Now I wanted to get home quickly and enjoy the holiday weekend with my family.

Driving home Clive laughed, “It was hard, probably the most strenuous thing I have accomplished, even harder than our walk from Jerusalem to Rome.” I asked him what he thought when I hurt my leg and he laughed some more, before answering, “Thank you, Lord. Now we can stop.” Then Clive looked at me and said, “No, the answer is catergorically, no!” “What’s the question?” I asked. “Before you say it, we are not climbing Mount Everest,” he laughed.

Not yet, I thought. But all our journeys have begun with a seemingly casual remark, a throwaway comment. I wondered what was next and I knew Clive was also thinking the exact same thing.

Look at the nations and watch — and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.

Habakkuk 1:5

What is impossible for man is possible with God

Luke 18:27

For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen

Romans 11:36

You can follow Clive and Lathan’s activities at

www.lathanball.co.uk

or

www.threesixteen.org.uk

I would like to say thank you to everybody who has supported this work. I say a special thank you to Dinah, Eleanor, Lucy and Joe. Without their commitment, encouragement, understanding and prayers all of these walks would have been impossible.

Copyright

© 2012 Lathan Ball

Lathan Ball has asserted his rights in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.

www.lathanball.co.uk

Published by 316 Limited

First published in eBook format in 2012

eISBN: 978-1-908886-01-9

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