Day 7 Vancouver to Portland (23 July)

(Written at the Olsen’s in Portland, Oregon on 24 July)

We woke up after only 4 hours of sleep to get ready and catch the last bus for this part of the Highway.

On the bus we spoke Afrikaans, as usual, and after a while the man behind us asked us what language we were speaking. We explained and a very interesting conversation ensued and kept going till we reached Seattle. His name was Bruce, a middle-aged Canadian English teacher who has a deep understanding of art and society. Rene showed him her portfolio, and he immediately recognized that there was “something from above” in what she was doing. On carefully exploring this we found out that he was of Jewish decent, although his parents were atheists and that he had developed his own understanding of “The Big WOW”. The Spirit started moving and by the end of the conversation he allowed us to pray for him that the Spirit of God would guide him to the Way to his Father - “The Big WOW”. We were all touched so deeply it was hard to say goodbye when we reached Seattle.

In Seattle we got the car and drove to Portland with Sarie (Cecilia’s nick-name for the wise little lady in the GPS). In general we did ok with Sarie, but we had a few little miss-understandings, especially in the final few miles, causing us to circle to Olsen’s house a few times like birds wanting to land…

Dan and Ellen Olsen (my Aunt Miekie’s guest sister from the time when she was in the US and her husband) fed us the most healthy and tasty meal we have had so far on the trip, while we sat on their porch enjoying a beautiful summer evening in Portland. Their hospitality was like coming home and every little need was met.