From Johnny Wells

When I was trying to think of a story that might do justice to Stan I’d loved to be able to describe a far flung adventure where we climbed a hill and watched the sunset on an amazing valley or have seen him in action on a one of the bike tours in the early days of Journeys.

But when I first meet Stan in 2001 as an intern for ten eye opening months with Journeys. My lasting memory of being with Stan will be constantly on route to do something; Stan was almost always driving whilst telling me a story, phone ear piece attached and a big black cup of coffee on the car dashboard adding a layer of condensation to the windshield as we drove.

Without fail his phone would be going off whether due to somebody from the ICA, the church, Journeys, his family or somebody at Songagia just needing to discuss something. It was unusual to always have his complete undivided attention but somehow he was able to keep track of the many balls he juggled. Then somehow like any person as gifted as Stan he had a talent for making you feel very special and important. That no matter how big your problem was when you called it seemed there was light at the end of the tunnel and no doubt it reminded him of something that had happened many years ago and that everything would work out.

To hear of his death brought a tear to my eye as I suddenly realized how I’d never truly taken the time to thank both him and Carol for the love and faith they put in me many years ago when I was searching for my purpose in life. I guess I thought he’d be there for many years to come or that maybe its that without words Stan like many elders just shared in the happiness I gained, when I came back three inches taller from a trip, when I took the less well traveled route of being a mature student or when I returned after seven years to do another quest and continue feeding the seed he’d planted many years before.

If my life can be as half as full and of us to others as Stan I’ll be a very and contented person.

Thanks for everything Stan

Johnny Wells