Listening To The Sun by Gil Roscoe

When Rama begins his mission to circle the earth he has little money, no passport, and a great deal of faith. He leaves his village in India and manages to stow away on a ship bound for the United States. In the suburbs of New York he sets up camp in a forest that borders the Ramapo Golf Course. Rama soon discovers that the forest floor is home to many lost golf balls. He then spends his mornings looking for golf balls and his afternoons selling them back to the golfers. While practicing this occupation he meets Luther and Abby. Abby is immediately charmed by Rama's quest to go around the world. She recruits Luther to help her in a plan to sneak Rama across the width of America.