TRAVELER DECLARES STRONG FAITH IN GOD

Like Mary and Joseph, Robert Jennings has found no inn during his travels.

Home to the native Iowan is a modest tent. And although the road he has traveled has not been without trials, he nurtures a strong faith in God and in mankind.

This Christmas, Jennings, a self-called minister, is looking forward to the new year and renewed hopes of pursuing his lifelong dream of ministering in all corners of the country. And then building a church.

"I'm going down the road of saints," said Jennings, who has been in Cape Girardeau about three weeks.

He didn't plan to stay here long, but those plans changed after he broke his arm in an accident involving his bicycle.

Although Jennings describes himself as a "wanderer," he doesn't see himself as homeless. "Technically, I guess I'm homeless, "he said. "But I have my tent and the Lord is my house."

Jennings travels by bicycle, pulling his camping rig and supplies in a small trailer that has been designed to be towed by a bicycle.

"I'm in no hurry," said Jennings. "I have no timetable."

Jennings has come to like people in the Cape Girardeau area.

"I've had visitors to my tent," he said. "Some people stop by from time to time. We pray and discuss the Bible."

Following the accident that wrecked his bicycle, Jennings received some coupons good for another bicycle and food.

"I don't know who to thank," he said. "They were anonymous certificates."

Two days before Christmas, Jennings had no idea how he would spend Christmas day.

"I'll receive a Christmas basket from the Salvation Army," he said. "I may eat it at my tent or I may eat it somewhere else."

Jennings has spent several days as a bell-ringer for the Salvation Army, working the buckets at Venture Store at West Park Mall and Target Store in Cape West Business Park, usually during the evening hours.

"We offered him shelter during some cold and snow days recently but he refused," said Capt. Robert M. Gauthier of the Salvation Army. "He said he'd rather return to his tent."

"The tent is OK," said Jennings. "It's no split-level house, but it provides shelter, a place to cook my meals, sleep and a place to pray."

The camping rig consists of a 9-by-9-foot American Camping Tent with a 9-by-12-foot canvas tarp stretched over it.

"It's home," said Jennings. "Even during cold weather I keep warm. I learned how to live in the outdoors while I was in the Army."

An Army veteran, Jennings did a tour of duty in Viet Nam. He also attended Iowa University for two years, where he studied psychology.

Jennings has already traveled extensively throughout the western U.S., in Washington, California and Arizona, first as a construction worker, logger and carpenter, and then as a minister.

Jennings' father and a brother are in Washington, where they work as loggers and carpenters.

Jennings' future plans call for a visit to Atlanta, Ga., next summer to attend the 1996 Olympics.

"I've been to World's Fairs, and I want to see the Olympics," said Jennings, who in the past was a boxer.

Following Atlanta, and before he settles down to building his chapel, Jennings wants to go to Washington, D.C., to study the government. "I want to see the government in action," he said.

After that, his goal is to go to Maine and travel cross-country via the St. Lawrence Waterways system to Chicago, to end his Eastern ministry.

"From there I will go to Seattle, Wash., and travel the Sky Line Trail to San Diego," he said.

Then it's back to Olympia, Wash., where he hopes to build his chapel.