<Back

Padayatra America 2004, #2
By Avadhuta Siromani Dasa and Candrabhaga Devi Dasi
Posted November 19, 2004

April 5–

Still cold at night—35 degrees farenheit. We entered Jefferson County, Florida, and the sheriff came. We explained the program, and he sincerely appreciated it.

The next day, after nine miles, we reached the village of Hosford, and there the sheriff had arranged a program for us at the school to speak to all the kids, maybe 200, about what we are doing. The announcement came over the loud speaker: "Hare Krishnas doing religious pilgrimage. Meet in front at 2:30."

When the kids were lined up, we had a nice talk and answered their questions. It was nice to see how all the townsfolk—teachers, students, and police— were looking at the Lord and hearing our message.

At 3 p.m. we continued towards Bristol, 12 miles. At around 6 p.m. we came to the town, and the local sheriff met us. He had seen us at the roadside camp the previous night and had promised to help.

Because we were in need of grain for the horses and the store would be closed by the time we reached there, he agreed to pick it up for us and have it waiting. Well, not only that but the sheriff greeted us with several of his officials. He had made a nice arrangement for us to stay in town in a fenced lot and donated 300 pounds of oats and several bales of hay.

Sergeant Johnson regularly checked on us throughout the night and the next morning. Meanwhile, we were eagerly distributing information, and the Back to Godhead magazines were flying.

The sergeant and his officers checked on us the whole morning. The sergeant kept saying, "We've got to get you across that bridge."

And we assured him: "Yes, we are always as careful as humanly possible, and then we depend on Krsna for the rest."

He insisted, so of course we accepted their help. Too many duties, and we weren't ready at 9:30 and the three police cars were waiting, waiting. They left, and finally at 11:30 we left the spot heading west on Route 20, with one devotee staying behind the cart to warn the logging trucks.

We saw before us a great hill spanning the horizon. Well, it was bigger than we expected and certainly the biggest bridge that the Padayatra has come upon—1.5 miles long, 15 feet wide, coming up over the Apalachicola River some 250 feet.

And just as we were approaching the beginning, the sheriff's men appeared behind us blocking the whole road. It was glorious. They stopped all traffic for the sake of the Lord. The holy name resounded, and after 30 minutes we were on the other side with an enormous line of cars waiting to pass us. The police were enthusiastic to assist us, and the people in the cars were astonished.

At 2:30 we found ourselves in Blountstown. A gentleman spoke to us. "I saw you on the TV news a few days ago," he said. "It's wonderful what you are doing." We spent the afternoon in a busy parking lot, and literally hundreds were coming and going with mercy.

 Candrabhaga Devi Dasi writes:

I found many inquisitive people in the self-service laundry. As they were waiting for their clothes to be finished they came and inquired—a teenager with a broad religious scope, single mothers, Spanish, Hindus, and a girl named Christina, who says she is frustrated with materialistic religions and is sincerely looking for her path.

In the grocery store a woman named Diane came and touched my arm. "You are dressed so beautifully," she said. "Where do you come from?"

With a pure heart she gave me her last few dollars. I had a book I could give her in my pocket. She appreciated it.

Many of the cashiers had questions, and everybody accepted cards with information. It is at moments like this that I realize that all the austerities I am undertaking are worthwhile."

A small group of devotees from Alachua, Florida, met us at 4 p.m., bringing a feast for Sri Sri Nitai-Gaurasundara and many other offerings. Whether in the middle of a rainstorm or on Padayatra in a busy Blountstown parking lot, we enjoy the company of Krsna's devotees and the festivals where everyone participates in distributing books, flyers, and prasadam foodstuffs to curious onlookers.

The Lord has His plan, and before we get to Mexico there are 1,300 miles of North American roads ahead.

Well, my Lord, step wherever You want. My only prayer is that You may please let me be an instrument under Your will. This Padayatra is Your program, Do with it as You desire. Please bless me with the proper consciousness to live according to Your will. I know that this will be the perfection of my service.

With the blessings of senior Vaisnavas, Padayatra is moving on...

Hare Krsna.

© dipika.org November 19, 2004  

Send articles to news@dipika.org  
Send comments to webmaster@dipika.org 

All rights reserved. Copyright © 2002 - 2004 by www.dipika.org