Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Last Night-June 15th

Well, this is the last night of walking. About 20 miles to go and we decide to start at midnight. While my mother and god-mother are sleeping, I'm sitting in the back of the MCC (mobile command center) thinking about whats to come. I have three days in Washington D.C. after finishing and then we go home. What do we do when we get there, whats going to happen once we get there, will there be a lot of press? All these questions are constantly popping into my head and I just think to myself, this is the first time for all of us so nobody knows until we get there so lets just be prepared for everything that could possibly happen.

Midnight rolls around a few hours later, I've gotten no sleep, but don't feel a bit tired. We get prepared, getting our feet bandaged and wrapped up, then getting our shoes on. Then we set out more excited then ever because D.C. is just a few hours away. This excitement is quickly lost as we look up at a monstrous hill that seems to never end. We push on, determined to make it to D.C. before 9:00am.

Around about 6:00 in the morning, we peer up at a hill that was the biggest yet, if you were to sit on the hill you would start rolling. This hill was huge, so before we tackle this massive hill, we stop at the bottom and get some water. Then with a slow, but steady pace we climb the hill. We don't last too long. We had to stop about half way up the hill to rest for a minute, but then continued and when we reached the top, we felt happier then when we crossed a state border. Now we have about 6 miles to go before D.C.

The next few miles where some of the most exciting yet, just due to the fact that they are the last. Then after about an hour we see it. The Washington Monument! That feeling right there will always be with me, after weeks of walking and then to see my final destination. Just a great feeling of accomplishment.

9:28am We reach our final destination, The south lawn of the White House. I look at the the White House and sit down, laughing hysterically. We made it, We walked from Orlando to Washington D.C. before school started! The walk is over, but now comes the major awareness.

Over the course of the next 3 days we have to see Congressmen, Senator Mel Martinez and staff of Senator Bill Nelson. Also go to the Covenant House in Washington D.C. and the Sasha Bruce House to visit and speak. And to bring more awareness of homeless youth by getting the press involved. This is going to be a great three days!

David Ashby
TNB

8 comments:

  1. GREAT JOB DAVID!!!

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  2. CCCCCOOOONNNGGGRRRAAAATTTTTTTTUUUUULLLLLAAAAAATTTTIIIIIIIIOOOOOOOOONNNNNNSSSSSS DDDDDDDAAAAAAAAAAAAVVVVVVVVVIIIIDDDDDDDDDD!!!
    SSSSOO PRRROOOUUUDDDD! melissa

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  3. David,

    I am so proud of you. You have really gone the distance for this cause. I get discouraged when I see the despair and hope on the streets of my town and at times it seems like I could never make a difference. What you have done will make a difference to thousands if not tens or hundreds of thousands of homeless children and adults living on the streets of our great nation. If every family would reach out and embrace just one person showing them the true love of Christ it would soon eradicate the problem. I am taken back to the story of the man and the starfish. As he threw the beached starfish back into the water a passerby noted that they were so many, how could he ever make a difference. He picked up another and threw it back into the ocean saying "It made a difference to that one." You have been a great encouragement to me and my whole street ministry team. We have been blessed to follow your progress over the last 3 months. There have been some real tough times I know, and you pulled through...walking even farther each day than you had trained for. You really are an AMAZING MAN OF GOD. I pray continued blessings for you. Let me know if you ever get to the Northwest. We would love to meet with you.

    Jimmie Christie
    Downtown Crossing Church
    Tacoma, WA
    unkajim@yahoo.com

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  4. An update & photos from David Ashby in Washington, DC! http://bit.ly/16EVRj He's getting to meet with some VIPs!

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  5. Hey David and his gang~

    Way to go!! What an awesome accomplishment!!

    And no matter what, your efforts have created a tremendous increase in the problem of children's homelessness.

    Thanks is too small of a word, but thanks on behalf of the more than 1.5 million homeless kids across the country.

    Keep in touch!

    Diane
    www.hearus.us

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  6. well david you did it. you made it to d.c. wish you the best and hope to hear soon from you. god bless you and take care.

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  7. Congradulations!!!

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