How do you do? During the early 1970s, many young people were thumbing their way from one city to another. The odds are fairly good that one of those you saw standing patiently beside the highway with a pack on his back was the man we're about to meet. Oddly, you might have found him almost anywhere in the world. He considered himself a seeker after truth, and found him when his heart and mind and life were unshackled. I guess I don't have to ask if you want a ride. Get in. Thanks. I hope you're not just going down the road to Richardson. Going as far as Whitehorse. Does that help you any? That isn't bad. Almost the first 600 miles out of Fairbanks. Sounds like you're headed for the lower 48. Right on. First destination, Vancouver. First destination? Where after Vancouver? Seattle, then the Bay Area and on down to San Diego. After that, Mexico and the Inter-American Highway through Central America. Ah, where does this expedition of yours stop? The Panama Canal, temporarily. Let me be sure I've got this straight. You are hitchhiking to the Panama Canal? That's it. Fairbanks, Alaska, the Panama. Well, it is January. I can't blame you for moving to a warmer climate. That isn't why I'm going, though. I'm almost afraid to ask. Where are you going from Panama? Israel. If I can find a ship going there. Israel? Yeah. It's none of my business, but why? A girl I knew in Fairbanks is there. If I can find her, I want to talk her into hitchhiking with me to India, you know. No, I don't know. But I'd love to find out. Why India? I want to find a guru and sit at his feet and be enlightened. Now you're way over my head, I think. Now this much I do know, hitchhiking isn't easy, especially in a country you don't know and when you can't speak the language. Have you ever done much hitchhiking? Quite a little. Like where? Well, on my last long trip, I had an airline ticket as far as Luxembourg. From there, I went on my thumb. Holland, Germany, Austria, Yugoslavia, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, and then back through France to Luxembourg. And don't tell me you thumbed your way back to the States. No, I had a return airline ticket. But I hitchhiked home to Chicago from New York. If you could do all that, you can probably make it to India. You know, when I was your age, I rode a freight train from Cleveland to St. Louis and thought I was quite a guy. You hippies amaze me. From Chicago, the Pacific Garden Mission brings you Unshackled, dramatizing true life stories. Pacific Garden Mission was founded in 1877 to give help to the homeless. Oh yes, there were street people then more than a century ago, just as there are now. Their numbers have increased, and so has the scope of help. During the day, the old lighthouse is a place of refuge from the street and the weather. It's also a place to go for serviceable clean clothing and for medical care. In the evening, there's dental care and a gospel meeting. And then for those who want to remain overnight, there are sandwiches, showers, and beds. Morning brings breakfast and some employers who offer jobs. A meal is served again at noon. Counsel is always offered. Now unshackled, and another drama will be broadcast around the earth. We have no idea what, if anything, the Guinness Book of Records has to say about long-distance hitchhiking, but the man whose story we have to tell would surely be a leading contender for recognition. You'll learn what he was looking for and what he found as we bring you the true story of Bill Wellesley on Unshackled. When I was in high school in Chicago, there was a TV program called The Fugitive. It impressed me so much that I began to do a lot of hitchhiking. At the same time, I was intrigued by the hippie emphasis on freedom, love and peace. In high school, the guys gave me the nickname of the Chasco Kid. Sounds more impressive than it really is. Ciasko in the Polish language just means cake. Even so, I later used the name Ciasko wherever I went. I went to college but decided after two years that I didn't want any more of it. It seemed I was just filling time and staying out of the army. However, I had a high number in the draft lottery. The summer after my sophomore year, I worked for the Chicago Park District as a lifeguard. I had no plans for the autumn until a friend told me what he was planning. Going to school in Rome is a real opportunity. But the more I think about it, the better I like it. Well, who wouldn't like it? De dolce vita. I don't expect it to be quite like that at the school I'm going to. Who knows? Anyway, this gives me a destination and a reason for going there. You're going to Rome, too? Why not? You know the old saying, all roads lead to Rome. It's an expensive trip, though. For most people, but not for the Chasco kid. All I need I can carry on my back, a sleeping bag and a backpack. For transportation, I'll hitchhike. Across the Atlantic? By September, I'll have enough money for an airline ticket, with a few dollars left over for emergencies. Hmm. Well, I hope you're right. Nothing to it. I'll see you in Rome at Christmastime. In September, I had my last shave and haircut for four years. Then I started out on my first international expedition. I was in Munich for Oktoberfest and got drunk for the first time in my life. I have to admit that life on the road wasn't one big party. I well remember walking on the highway at night and thinking about home and some of the things I missed, like plenty of food and clean clothes. As I reflected on those things, I really appreciated my parents, but not enough to give up my travels. At Christmas time, as I'd promised, I was in Rome and spent three weeks with my friend. By the time I'd gone on to Spain, Portugal, and France, it was early spring. and time to use my return trip airline ticket to New York. In Chicago, I was expected to look for a job, and I drove a cab for a while. In June, my friend came back from Rome. We found an apartment and lived there with two other guys. At the end of a few months, I owed money to all three. The guys have asked me to find out what you're going to do about your debts. I know, but now you can tell them they'll get their money in a couple days. That isn't just some kind of stall, is it? No, I mean it. I just found out from my mother that I've got a bank account. Are you so rich you've got money you don't know about? It's a savings account they started for me when I was a baby. She says that if I'm in debt, now's the time I need it. My debts cleaned out the savings, and I headed out for the West Coast with $35, a gift from my mother. After Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle, I went up to Vancouver. From there, I went to Fairbanks, Alaska. It was late September and turning chilly. I met a couple who were living in a tent and stayed with them. Days, I hung out at the University of Alaska Student Union. It was there I met Judy. You don't go to school here, do you? No, but it's a handy place to hang around. Are you a student? I'm a student of religious philosophies and of human nature. If you're asking about the university, the answer is no, I'm not a student. I'd like to hear about how you study human nature. Well, I just got back from Kobuk. That's an Eskimo village about 450 miles northwest of here. How long were you there? Most of the summer. What about human nature? Great people. Well, then why did you come back here? Well, for one thing, I just wanted a change. And besides, my sister lives here in Fairbanks. What's next for you? Stay here for a while, I guess. Then maybe I'll go to Israel. What made you think of that? Most natural thing in the world. I've got relatives there. Now, what about you? Me? Um, I guess you could say I'm a seeker after truth. And you haven't found it? Not yet, but I will. Sounds to me like we have a few things in common. Maybe I can help you search. The search wasn't very well organized. We spent a lot of time working with astrology charts. Then there was I Ching. We used pennies for that. Using marijuana, LSD, psychedelic mushrooms, and peyote was all part of the search. Judy got some money from home and started out for Israel. She went the long way, though, by way of Portugal, Morocco, and Greece. Her first letter came from Israel, but it was written in jail. Dear Chasco, here I am in what I like to think is my very own country, but the welcome hasn't been too great. When I first got here, I moved into a shack on the beach with some pretty far out people. The police raided the place and found a hash pipe. You wouldn't believe how tough these other countries are about such things. I'm doing three months in jail, and the pipe wasn't even mine. Neither was the hashish. Judy's next letter came several weeks later and was full of surprises. Wonderful things have been happening, Tosco. While I was in jail, someone gave me a Bible. I read all the way through the Law and the Prophets. That's the Old Testament. Then I started on the New Testament. By the time I reached the end, I knew that Jesus was Messiah. Now, believe it or not, I'm a Christian. When I got out of jail, I went to a youth hostel in Jerusalem, and a black man from New York City took me to meet a lovely couple from the States who have Bible studies in their home. Their names are Rinna and Clifford Jakewith. Now they've invited me to stay with them. It does seem very strange, doesn't it? You're the one who's supposed to be seeking after the truth, and I'm the one who has found it. That's when I decided to leave Alaska and go to Israel. Whatever she thought she had found, I had other ideas. I was very serious about trying to persuade her to go to India, where I would find a guru. I really did want to sit at the feet of such a person and be enlightened. When I left Fairbanks, I had one dollar, some beef jerky, and a bottle of vitamin C tablets. Although it was January, the temperature during my 10 days of hitchhiking to Vancouver never went lower than 10 above zero. And that was in a part of the world where 40 below is common. In Seattle, I stayed for two days with a guy I had met in Greece. When I headed south, his mother gave me $15 or $20. That was the most money I'd seen in a long time. That money made it possible for me to go into a bar in Santa Cruz. There I struck up a conversation with a guy about my own age. Man, you're really living. Me? I'm like a vegetable. You're comfortable though. What do you mean comfortable? Three meals a day, clean clothes, always a place to sleep. Sure, but I'm going nowhere. I'd trade my lifestyle for yours anytime at all. You think you could take it? That's what I have to find out. I need to know if I'm a vegetable by nature or only because of conditions around me. I'll never know until I try to be like you. You're really serious about it, aren't you? Never more serious in my life. Now listen, would you take me on the road with you? I can, sure. But you'll have to make up your mind to take the bad times right along with the good ones. I can do that. You'll see. This is really strange. I don't even know your name. It's Chasco. I'm the Chasco Kid. You see? Even your name suits your lifestyle. What's your name? I hate to tell you. It's Boots. That's a real bummer. Why don't you pick a name you can live with? Like what? Let me think about it for a minute. Something like no other name anybody ever heard, okay? Are you ready for this? A name? Sure, I'm ready. What is it? I hereby christen you Sky Azure Crest. Sky for short. Man, that's perfect. For that, I'll buy you another drink. Sky Azure Crest. Sky and I started south. My intention was to go all the way to the Panama Canal and try to find a ship bound for Israel. I was easily diverted, though. In San Diego, we decided to go on a long detour to New Orleans for the Mardi Gras. I told myself that that was as good a place as any for finding a ship. In Los Angeles, we got a ride with five guys starting out from New Orleans. On arrival, we plunged into five days of revelry. Trouble developed on Fat Tuesday, the big day. We were passing two police officers, and because I was full of wine that total strangers had shared with me, I decided to have a little fun with them. I sang, I've never kissed a cop before, but now I know for sure, uh-huh. That was the wrong thing to do. The cops grabbed me by the hair. After all, there was plenty of it. Then they put handcuffs on me. All right, smart guy. Now, we wait for the wagon. I don't want to lose you, so get down on your knees. Officer, this man hasn't done anything to be arrested for. That's from me to decide, boy, not you. And don't forget, my partner has another pair of handcuffs, and they'll fit you real good, one size fits all. Okay, I better stay out of this, guy. No use both of us winding up in the slammer. That's good advice. You better listen to what your friend tells you. All right. Chasco, if they keep you locked up, I'll come to see you. Boots turned out to be a very loyal guy and a good friend. I needed a friend just then, too, and there was more trouble ahead. We'll learn more about that trouble and of the problems that frustrated Bill's attempts to reach Israel. Now, as Pacific Garden Mission's biggest day of the year is almost here, Superintendent David Saulnier is hoping you'll be able to share in it with us. That biggest day of the year is our anniversary rally, and we expect that this year it will draw a very large crowd. With that in mind, if you do plan to be with us, we suggest you arrive early. The official starting time is 2.30 in the afternoon, Sunday, October 19th, but we think you should be in your place no later than 2 o'clock. Arrive much later and you may find yourself standing. Besides, the music of the Christian Fellowship Band begins at two, and that's something you won't want to miss. Other music will be provided by the piano and organ team of Ralph and Mary Lou Colburn. Our guest soloist is Robbie Heiner. Several converts will tell what they have come out from and how their lives have been transformed. Then comes our speaker, Jerry Falwell, who is making a special trip to Chicago just for the rally. You'll want to hear his inspiring gospel message. The anniversary rally, Sunday afternoon, October 19th, at the Americana Congress Hotel, 520 South Michigan Avenue at Congress Street. Afterward, we'll hold open house at Pacific Garden Mission. When the wagon arrived and I was hauled to the police station, I continued to invite trouble. All right, you with the haystack hair and beard, what's your name? Chasco Kid. That's Kid with two D's, like in Captain Kid. There's only one pirate this town ever recognized, and that was Jean Lafitte. Where you come from, Kid? I'm from Venus. Still trying to be smart, huh? Back to the end of the line, and while you're waiting for the others to get booked, you'd better try to find some kind of identification, because we're not booking you as Kid. During the week I spent in the house of detention waiting for my court date, Skye again proved himself a good friend. For living quarters, he moved in under the Tulane University Library. Then he came to the jail with the toothbrush, hairbrush, and mail he had picked up at the general delivery. On the day of my trial, he showed up in court as a witness. One of the policemen failed to be there, so we came out even on witnesses. The charge is that this defendant called the police officers some vulgarity. How do you plead? Not guilty, your honor. What was this vulgarity, officer? Something about kissing a cop. That doesn't sound very vulgar. Call and swear the defendant's witness. Skye stood up and flatly denied there had been any vulgarity. The case was dismissed. We lived under the library for several days and then hitchhiked to Key West. There I began to realize that the hippie culture demanded its own conformity just as much as square society did. Skye and I parted company there and I began a long and frustrating time of travel. I'll try to telescope that confused itinerary. California, Vancouver, Vancouver Island, and no ship. I thought I might be on the wrong coast, so I went across Canada to Montreal, and still no luck. But then I tried Halifax, without success. At the airport, I was told they had no international flights, so I went on to Gander, but on the way I stopped at Sydney, Nova Scotia, and teamed up with a guy called Good Time Joey. What do you think of the grass, man? It's great. I'm getting higher by the minute. I didn't think you could get anything this good in such an out-of-the-way place. Hey, wow. Sailors bring it ashore, man. One thing I don't understand. Why do we have to go out and walk on the street to smoke it? Hey, my dad won't let me smoke it in the house. I mean, hey, look at that. Fresh-laid concrete. Gives me an idea. I'll just put my initials in it. I may never come this way again, and there ought to be some permanent record that the Chasco Kid was here. There. Very elegant, if I do say so. Yeah! I mean, uh-oh! Here come the coppers! Hey, Chasco, I think you're in trouble! My trouble turned out to be eight days in jail and a $70 fine. After I got out, I was able to earn enough money to pay and still had enough more so that I was able to give Joey's dad $50 to buy something for the kids. Later, although I tried at Gander and St. John's, I had no success with transportation. Finally, I went back to Chicago and worked for two months to earn enough for a round-trip airline ticket from Gander to Scotland. While I was still in Chicago, I was walking up to Old Town and stopped in a bookstore. I browsed for a few minutes when the clerk spoke to me. That Bible you've seemed so interested in is a new translation. Actually, it's a paraphrase. It's easy to understand. But the people who know tell me it is very faithful to the Greek manuscripts. I guess I shouldn't stand here and read for such a long time, but what I'm reading makes good sense. Then take it with you. I'd like to buy it for you as a gift for Valentine's Day. That Bible got me into Scotland. Because I was short of money, the immigration officer was about to tell me I couldn't enter. Then when he examined the contents of my backpack, he came across that Bible. Well, a man who carries that book and reads it can't be too serious a risk. Now, I'm exceeding my authority, but I've decided to allow you to stay on the country for three weeks. Have a pleasant visit, and remember to read the book. When my three weeks ended, I headed out for Israel by way of Belgium, France, Switzerland, Italy, Yugoslavia, and then Greece. There I played the flute on the street for small coins. I found my way to Turkey, riding with the driver who paid my way on the car ferry. Istanbul, and Ankara, and then Syria, and finally into Jordan. I ran into what seemed to be a dead end at the Allenby Bridge that crosses the Jordan River. I take it you have no money. That's right. Then I regret to inform you that you cannot be admitted to Israel. Minimum requirement is $275. If you can raise that amount, you can cross over. I tried twice and was refused both times. Then I cabled home for $300 to be sent to me at the American Embassy in Oman. Each day I went to the embassy and each day the Marine Guard at the front desk shook his head. I slept out in open fields. My only money was small coins tossed to me by the Arabs because one of the pillars of Islam is almsgiving. Walking on a desert road after being refused again at the bridge, I began to question myself as a seeker. I remembered a verse from the Bible that had been said to me again and again by a Jesus freak in Alaska. It goes, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me. When the money arrived from home two days later, I crossed over into Israel and found the address where the Jaquis lived. Cliff invited me in. Judy's away, but she's told us a lot about you. And I've read about you in her letter. Ah, did she tell you that she's now a Christian? Yeah. I was puzzled about it, though. What about you? You mean, am I a Christian? That's it. Well, sure. I mean, I was baptized and I was a baby. I was taken to church. I went to church schools. Well, that's all good, but it isn't what I'm really asking. The reason Judy is now a Christian is that she received Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior personally. Now she's a child of God. That's all it takes? That's a great deal. It means getting off the throne of your life and allowing Jesus to have his rightful place. The Bible tells us, but as many as received him, meaning Jesus, To them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. Oh, uh, Judy told us you're a seeker after truth. That's what I thought until a couple of days ago. Now I'm not so sure. Has it crossed your mind that the one doing the seeking is Jesus? The Bible says the son of man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. Now, if Jesus is the truth, then the truth is seeking you. It didn't all penetrate then, but in the lives of those people, and in Judy's life, I saw the evidence that they had something very important that I lacked. It's there for the having, though, because Jesus said, I am come that they might have life. Since that time, Bill has done street preaching in Chicago. With his wife, Ceci, he has spent two years in Ohio as associate pastor of a Bible church, and two years in Europe doing missionary work. He has also spent two years at the Welcome Home Mission in Key West. And now, after further Bible study, He and Ceci and their children are going back to Key West. And now, you might like to meet the real Chasco Kid, Bill Wellesley. I've found that no religion, philosophy, or way of life can do what Jesus Christ has done for sinful men. The word sin for many is out of date. The fact is, it's never been popular. Still, the Bible, the Word of God, says that we've all sinned against God. And the price that we deserve for sin is death, not just physical death, but spiritual death, eternal separation from God. There's no human remedy for this cancer called sin, but God has provided the remedy, the ultimate and the only remedy in His Son, Jesus Christ the Lord. I found in my own experience that Jesus Christ really is the way, the truth, and the life. He's your only hope. And he's the one that you need to cling to as a drowning man clings to a life preserver. I thank the Lord for what he's done in my life. And again, I'd like to let you know that he who has the son has life. He who does not have the son does not have life. Thank you, Bill. Friend, you too may have eternal life. The council was someone who was concerned about you. Get in touch with Pacific Garden Mission, Chicago, Illinois, 60605. The telephone number in Chicago, Area 312-922-1462. Take time this week to write and let us know that you are listening. And do ask others to listen, and what about a note to the manager of this radio station saying, thank you for Unshackled. Unshackled is produced by Pacific Garden Mission to show through true stories that if your life is empty, it really can be filled to overflowing. Write to us this week. Your letter is much more important than you realize. Pacific Garden Mission, Chicago, IL 60605. And if you need spiritual help now, you may call Pacific Garden Mission in Chicago, Area 312-922-1462. Someone who is concerned is waiting to receive your call. Area 312-922-1462. I'll be back