Day 59, Feb 12, 2007: Clear escaping the midday sun under an indigenous bus stop on the Grand Savanna in southeastern Venezuela. (Photos courtesy Samuel Clear/Walk4One)   Where’s Sam now? For a look at where Sam has been and where he’s headed next (or to download a detailed spreadsheet of his itinerary) visit http://www.ymt.com.au/walk4one/whereintheworld.html

CD: In what sense?

CLEAR: I don’t think I trusted God as much as I do now, even though now I still don’t trust Him enough. I would really try and take control of the situation very early on when I started walking. Now, in a way I expect that things are going to happen, so when they do I just trust it’s happening for a reason.

CD: Even if it’s some crazy, scary man chasing you?

CLEAR: Yeah, I think I just have to keep coming back to, “God, your will be done. If it’s your will for this to happen, let it happen. I’m not going to enjoy it but, yeah let’s do this and get it over with.”

CD: What are you thinking about while you’re walking? Are you constantly praying? Are you constantly looking over your shoulder, now, hoping no one is coming at you?

CLEAR: In Russia and Belarus, I’d do a shoulder check probably once every couple of minutes, but I hardly do it at all now. When I’m walking I do pray a lot. I pray a Rosary every day. I do sing a fair bit.

CD: Do you ever find yourself bored with the whole situation?


CLEAR: No. You’d think the scenery would change really slowly because you’re walking, but it doesn’t. Maybe my mind’s slowed down. I’m really quite interested in what’s around, the changing scenery, the people I’m meeting. The day seems to fill up pretty quickly. Plus, there’s the added benefit of being in agony and pain as you’re walking.

CD: How are you holding up physically?

CLEAR: Okay. My right knee has seized up a few times. I’ve literally not been able to bend it. There’s something wrong with my right foot; it feels like it’s on fire every now and then. My left pelvis had rotated backwards, but it’s actually gone back in. In the course of one day I might cover 50 to 70 kilometers (Approximately 31 to 43 miles) on a big day, and in that time I can go from being in no pain at all to having some serious problems. Or vice versa.

CD: What are you most looking forward to when you return home?

CLEAR: Probably just sitting there in the kitchen with Mom and Dad with the view. Just talking and taking all of Mom’s abuse for the last two years of agony I’ve put her through. I’m also looking forward to just catching up with my best friend, Dave. Maybe a game of backyard cricket.

CD: Has communication with local people been difficult during the trip?

CLEAR: Not too bad. I don’t need to ask for much. I can say what I’m doing, what my mission is in Polish. I actually learned Spanish that way. I can now stand up in a church and speak for ten minutes in Spanish. But in three days time I have to learn Slovakian and then another week later I have to learn German because I’m going into Austria; and then Italian, then French, and then back to Spanish.

CD: You’ll be able to work at the U.N. by the time you’re done.

CLEAR: No, I’ll just be completely confused. I think I’ll continue learning Spanish, but I think the other languages are all just going to melt into one big blob by the end.

CD: In spite of all these differences and the various reactions of people, have you had a moment when you’ve really that God is present and that you are particularly united with people around you?

CLEAR: I just feel God’s presence the whole time. One of the bigger moments was when I was crossing Shirley Basin in Wyoming; it took me three days. I started walking before sunrise and it was freezing cold, and when the sun rose the clouds disappeared and the chinook — a warm wind — came in and it melted all the snow. My water supply froze that night and the next day I walked for about three or four hours without water. A guy pulled over and said, “Do you need a lift?” And I said, “No that’s okay; I’m walking around the world on foot praying for unity with Christians.” The guy yelled out, “Halleluiah, Jesus!” And he pulled out this massive bottle of Gatorade and said, “I bought this when I left home and I don’t really want it. I haven’t opened it. It’s yours.” People saw me walking over the three days, and when I arrived in Casper there were a couple of media crews who wanted to know more. So I got to share the invitation to pray for unity with Casper through the media.