Mark Wilkerson’s Blog

36 days to go

March 30, 2011

Wilkerson Here:  (OK you caught me.  I am doing this day in advance because I don’t know what my connection will be like.  So jumped ahead and that will give me time to figure it out. )   Thought you might want to read a story about one of the places your pledges will go to help.   Here is a story from Haiti by Cameron Mayhill:  Last August, I was working with a group that came into Haiti. During that trip, my dear friend, Debbie, gave me a gift bag that she wanted me to share with someone. I talked with Melonnie and we agreed on who it should be. I wandered down to the birthing center with Melonnie and found the mom I was looking for. She had just had a beautiful baby boy in our birthing center. Did I mention it births between 90 to 95 babies a month? It is clean and has all the equipment necessary to help moms have successful births. I gave her the bag and she pulled out the blanket. Her smile was so big! She said that she didn’t have a blanket for her child. A simple gift and that is what we need you to help give to moms like these. 

37 days

Wilkerson Here:  How fast the time is going.  Wonder how fast the day would go if my only goal for the day was to walk miles for water (maybe clean maybe not), scrounge for food (make a little spread out to several mouths), worry about my families health and just wonder what will happen.  Wonder how fast the day/days would go if every day was like this one and the next, the same as the last.  We are blessed with clean water, food, medicine and a lot of external stimulation.  How about we take just a few minutes to remember those who don’t share that blessing.  There are people in Haiti who would trade our  worst day and claim it as their best.  Keep passing our web site on–we need your help. 

Training:  Got up very early so I could get in the days training before traveling for 14 hours.   Did a 20 lap swim and ran 3 miles.  All is well except my rear end is an anchor.  Wished it floated better.  Think I am working out how the foot will pace.  Seems I can run till it hurts enough and walk some which calms it allowing me to run about the same distance again before it starts again.  Must be a friction point.  But that’s good as it will force a pace.  Probably won’t pass as many this year but what great inspiration your support was last year and will be again this year.  Because I am so slow, you will up the pennies per person passed?  LOL

38 days

March 29, 2011

Wilkerson Here:  Mark Mullelly got married, Mark Graham is going to Haiti and I am traveling to Argentina.  Seems we have stuff going on.  All this as we have 38 days left to encourage you to pledge and ask all your contacts and friends to get involved.  I would like to build a sense of urgency on our journey.  We are starting to gain a little speed on the contributions but as you see, we have a long way to go.  Will you pray for Run Mark Run?  Ask for Generous contributions and good health for the running team.  The money we raise through you will be put to great use.  I wish each of you could travel (you can) to Haiti, especially the northwest region just to see what your dollars do for people.  With your contribution, you will provide water, food and medical attention to many people for a long time.  Let me suggest you email your entire email contact list and ask them to just take a look at RunMarkRun.com.

Took today off!

March 28, 2011

March 28, 2011

Wilkerson Here:  Mark Graham one of the other runners of RMR is headed to Haiti soon.  He works with a very large youth group and they are going to help.  They will be gathering information to be used to determine the needs of comunities out in the far reaches of the northwest region.  The hope is to partner with organizations and Churches here in the States so that trips of service can better pinpoint the work needing to be done well ahead of time.  Also to provide consistency to the work,  group after group in each village.  Getting to know the people will give opportunities to make lasting progress.  Pray for Mark and his team.  Perhaps a pledge to Mark Graham for his race for clean water,  Mark Mullelly for food or Me for Medical needs?  We are inside the 40 days until race time so pledge now.   Thanks

Training:  Good night tonight, felt pretty good.  Got new orthodics and they seemed to help tonight.  Swam 24 lenghts and ran 3 miles.  After yesterdays workout,  I was ready to quit today when time was up.   Mondays are hard on all counts.   Headed out of the country for a week.  Wondering if I will be able to get swimming in at the hotel.  No biking so maybe only running for a week.

March 27, 2011

March 27, 2011

Wilkerson Here:  Sitting in Church this morning, the topic was “Small Acts, Big Difference”.  Got me to thinking.  As we age, our careers and health start to diminish, is that the beginning of the end?  Or is it the start of a new beginning.  We get so used to doing things a certain way that when stuff hits us that appears to be negative or limiting how do we see it?  Seems to me as we age and no longer can do certain things, because of our experiences, we can do new things.   As we are not as sharp at our careers, we have a chance to do new work.  And as the ability to do stuff that requires strength fades, we can turn to doing things we have never done that requires a different kind of strength.  End or beginning?  As for me, I pick new things to do.  The spirit in me says, when limited, look for the limitless and be sure to do the small acts.  Thanks for your contribution to Haiti.  No matter how small, it makes a big difference. 

Training:  Church this morning, then a Brick day.  Rode the bike (trial bike, yuk) 12 miles, then ran 3 miles.  It was cold but felt good to do.  Got to see Luci, my Granddaughter this afternoon.  What a great day.  Hope yours was, too.