The Windy City

Just two stops at Mendota and  Naperville remained as Southwest Chief train number 4 closes remorselessly on Chicago. It has been an experience of its kind for me, and surprisingly, for many fellow passengers with whom I had pleasure to sit at the table and share. Almost all of them were traveling on this train for the very first time, considering this journey as a lifetime reward. I sat with folks from New Orleans who just celebrated their Golden Jubilee of marriage. I sat with a couple going for a week long drive in desserts. I sat with guys going on tour somewhere, taking this slow option and enjoying tranquility and spectacular views along the way (did you check my photos on Facebook? Look here)...

Amtrak

This is quite a new experience to me, I must admit, though traveling by train is nothing new and - in genera - I like it, as it gives me more freedom to work and move around without missing what is passing by the window along the route...

From West To East

Time to move on. It has been a wonderful time here in Los Angeles with caring and welcoming Fr. Rafal, sisters and the Polish community around the only Polish parish in the City of Los Angeles - Our Lady of Bright Mount. I simply cannot visualize what would happen if I had not know Fr. Rafal before I got my documents and money stolen in Stockton...It is just beyond my comprehension. Where would I go to seek help and shelter? With no IDs and no money! I needed to get to LA to get my stolen passport replaced at Polish Consulate in Los Angeles, but upon arrival to LA where I would go and stay with? How would I move around? How would I get to Polish Consulate? These are the questions I cannot find suitable answers till now...

Close Encounter

My host took me for a ride to San Diego, CA. We visited one of his confreres down there, Fr. Jerzy, who was living in a trailer for a couple of years commuting to church 20-30 minutes every day by car, before establishing his permanent house near the tiny parochial church of St. Maximilian Maria Kolbe and rebuilding and redecorating it. Truly an amazing story of a man of a relentless resolve who, despite so many setbacks and people indifference and/or bad will, never gave up an stayed at this post as the faithful pastor...

Just Like Kiabakari

What a rewarding day today, bright and sunny here in Los Angeles, with temps exceeding 35 Celsius. Feeling so much better in these conditions and range of temps, far closer or similar to those in Kiabakari and Tanzania at large. My general mood is that I feel like a solar panel that absorbs hungrily sun rays after gloomy and dark past days in my heart and mind... Recharging my heart and mind and body with these positive rays of warmth and light. Thanks be to God for today, for my new temporary passport and kindness and swift help of Polish Consulate staff in LA, for my Amtrak ticket for my upcoming trip cross country from LA to Chicago (two days on board of Southwestern Chief train number 4), for Fr. Rafal - my true Guardian Angel here in the only Polish parish in Los Angeles, for his kindness and hospitality and helping hand...God is great and so are His chosen ones I am truly blessed to meet day by day on my North American trail...