WORDS Michael McVeigh

On his global pilgrimage, Sam Clear’s one constant companion, God, has remained true.

Sam Clear is a 29-year-old Tasmanian, walking around the world to promote unity between Christians since December 2006. Since we featured him in our Spring 2007 edition, he’s walked through Texas, across the US states of Oklahoma, Colorado, Wyoming and Montana, and into Canada where he made it to Edmonton for Christmas. This year has seen him fly to Russia, take the trans-Siberian railway from Vladivostok to Moscow, then continue his walking and praying across Western Russia, Belarus and now Poland. Relying on his feet and body to carry him through icy and inhospitable landscapes, trusting in God to see him through, it has been a remarkable journey so far.
You can read more about his adventures at http://www.ymt.com.au/walk4one/

Who are some of the most memorable people you’ve encountered in your journey?

There are so many interesting people I meet along the way and hear from every now and then that they all remain memorable in some way. I still think though that Adolfo, the young man I met in Panama who had nothing but gave me a space to sleep in his tin shed—where he, his wife and daughter lived—and went and found me food for breakfast will always stay with me as the most heartfelt and touching encounter I’ve had.

What have been the most difficult moments for you?

I had a major difficulty trying to cross out of the USA. They couldn’t decide if I was a missionary or terrorist. It took a few hours to sort it out—Homeland Security offices are quite nice in case you were wondering—and I was allowed to continue.
In Russia I was attacked on the side of the road by two drunk men who were intent on beating me up. Apart from my walking poles being snapped and my backpack chest strap broken I was able to escape with a long run. In Belarus I almost had the same thing happen again but I didn’t let them get close enough to strike.

What have you learned?

Hospitality is beautiful, drink lots of water, be wary of Russian men dressed in black and reeking of alcohol, keep your feet dry when walking long distances, snakes can jump, and trust God in all things.

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