Cycling to raise awareness and funding for Lakeshore Pregnancy Center. Visit lpcenters.com for more information.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Final Day Report!
Report from The Riders
Day 10
II Timothy 4:7
“I have fought long and hard for my Lord and through it all I have kept true to Him. And now the time has come to stop fighting and rest.” NLV
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” NIV
Ps. 115:1
“Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.”
It was an exciting day. The last leg of our trip and we woke up to rain. Lots of rain. The decision was made to sag a head a bit and try to drive out of it. We then realized we were driving into it not out. Tropical storm Hermine had moved on shore and was here to stay. In the end we were able to ride into Grapevine’s Gaylord Texan Convention Center and were greeted with a warm reception! It was an emotional moment with lots of high fives, hugs, tears and cheering; a fitting culmination to a long, challenging, and very rewarding journey. We wish we could have shared the moment with each of you. Jason was broadcasting on WJQ as we entered, we hope you were able to hear that and share in the celebration!
After drying our eyes, and talking to CareNet staff we again mounted our bikes, headed to our hotel and rode through the rain one final time as a group. Oh, and Carolyn had to take one final tumble but that’s all we will say about that! We changed our clothes and headed out for our “last supper” together at the Cheesecake Factory. It was a great night but a little bittersweet. Many will head out tomorrow so we pray for their safe travel. Thank you all for the prayers throughout this adventure. They have been uplifting and have given us strength beyond measure!
Here are some thoughts about each person on this awesome team…
Barb: Don’t let her size fool you. She may be small but she can keep up with the best of them. She was able to lead the group the day we had a tailwind. She quietly encourages and loves to laugh.
Betty: Where do we start? She whistles, she sings, she amazes and inspires each of us, not just because of what she was able to do but because of who she is.
Bob: Bob was not with us physically but he was surely instrumental for the success of this ride. He arranged for the hotels, the routes, and lent his van to serve as one of the sag vehicles. We are grateful for his generosity and for his encouragement throughout the ride. His presence was missed this year!
Carolyn: Started as a biker but became a sag driver. She was always there with water and encouragement. Her quick wit made our breaks so much fun.
Cliff: Cliff is thoughtful, kind, helpful and when he laughs he really laughs! And when he snores he really snores.
Debbie: She hunted out that one “special place” that would accommodate a large motor home and all of us for each break. She is quiet, helpful and ready to serve and can wrangle a vehicle any tight place!
Derek: Joined us the first day but was pulled away due to the birth of his first child. Congrats D!!! We missed his attention to detail but his presence was with us each day as we pulled out our route maps made to keep us on track.
Don: Is full of stories and fun little quirks. He encouraged each of us and gave everyone that little spark to keep pedaling. His emotions are on his sleeve and we were sorry to see him have to leave a couple days early. He was missed as we rode in across the “finish line”
Jason: Jason was the “voice” of the Ride. He reported in each day and represented LPC so well. He was helpful as he took charge of “airing” up the tires each morning. He loves his family and missed them greatly.
Karen: Pedaled hard and long, with tenacity that is to be commended. She is a lot of fun, good company, strong and is to be admired for her dedication to helping LPC in this endeavor.
Mark: Is focused, driven and tried to keep this crew on track. (Which by the way, was no easy task. He is strong and dedicated to the cause of life and is appreciated for stirring us all up to take on this challenge.
Sherry: Is funny, quick witted and kept us laughing. She is strong and encouraging and somehow found a way, on a cross-country bike ride found a way to “accessorize”. She became a friend and a little sister.
Mike and Val Volkema: This couple trained with us and in the end were unable to make the ride. They too were missed but their support and provision of a vehicle helped in the success of this endeavor. Thanks Mike and Val. You were missed!
That is a quick glimpse into the people who made up this ride. We could say so much more about each of them and what we have meant to each other.
The other part of the team is each one of you reading this. You have encouraged us, prayed for us, called us, and emailed us. You have been such an important part of this journey.
Thank you for that! Go Team!!
We are concluding this blog entry with a poem written by Betty Guerink (our 74 year old rider) that retells our adventure though prose.
Enjoy!
“We started out nine bikers strong,
from Holland, Mich. rolling along.
We want to help clients from LPC
They are even allowing “older” me.
Since I said I’d raise money too,
We trained hard because we are new.
Money was raised and we set out fast,
hoping to arrive in Grapevine, TX at last.
Some are fast, some are slow
we pray for unity; strength to grow.
I feel like the tortoise not the hare
and ladies need men to pump the “air”.
The men have been thoughtful and kind,
saying, “If you are slow we don’t mind.”
Barb and Sherry keep up quite well,
and we won’t mention those who fell.
I, personally, wanted to do better
as the high heat cooled as we got wetter.
Well that didn’t last, there was a storm
but heat and hills have been the norm.
Karen and I have our own style,
we are peddling hard all the while.
Mark as our leader sets a good pace.
he’s quick to say it’s not a race.
But 15-17 mph is not really real,
even though it had some appeal.
Each morning, we eat pretty good,
and each carry snacks as we should.
The two sag ladies are Carolyn and Deb too,
they feed us, cheer us, and guide us through.
There was much to plan and Bob and Derek did fine,
some of our riders are always “online.”
Jason needed to report to the Zeeland station,
we wish we could tell all the nation.
Don regaled us with stories each day,
and Cliff was steady – come what may.
Well, God has been good we know,
words will fail me if I have to show,
How much we depend on God’s grace.
He has kept us, and there are smiles on each face.
As we near the end of our long run,
we also have had laughter and fun.
Well, we were refreshed, lead by Mark,
we worshiped, ate well and Sunday was a “lark”.
Early we do rise ‘cause we can’t be late,
if possible at 7:00 am we are “out the gate”.
Glen and Sue are looking for a wheel,
Barb’s bike has become a big deal.
Oklahoma was HOT we really must say,
after 34 miles, the van was the way,
for Karen and Betty to rest a bit,
best be wise or we’ll pay for it.
Deb and Carolyn made taco salad this day,
and we ate by an old red barn along the way.
We saw Armadillos upside down, big and fat,
while others laid there extremely flat.
Sherry was our "lookout" when dogs did chase,
Pit bulls can really make you race!
In Kirby our rooms were great,
we were slow starting up, we were late.
‘Cause tubes and tires kept going flat,
so far about 10 flats – What is that!
But then we know that folks will pray,
and we hope for another God honoring day.
Glen and Sue joined us at Hugo to eat,
we could all be there, that was neat.
At last we left Hugo, in the rain
this is not for which we did train.
So 5 girls were sitting in the van,
noisy and silly without a single man.
Lots of rain is why we’re sagging now,
our schedule’s really been changed, and how.
Mark had to put the gas cap on tight,
while rain came down with all it’s might.
This is it, this day is the last.
what can I say, “It was a blast.”
It seems tropical storm Hermine,
has met us at the finish line.
God bless our sponsors, and clients too,
With His help, we’ve done all we could do.”
What more can we say? The journey is finished and everyone will make their way home tomorrow. Pray for safe travel and much love as they reunite with family and friends.
We again, thank you all for your love and support. It seems the last total of funds raised is now close to $60,000! We are blessed and indebted to you all! Continue to pray for LPC and if you feel you want to contribute to The Ride...it is not too late!
Day 10
II Timothy 4:7
“I have fought long and hard for my Lord and through it all I have kept true to Him. And now the time has come to stop fighting and rest.” NLV
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” NIV
Ps. 115:1
“Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.”
It was an exciting day. The last leg of our trip and we woke up to rain. Lots of rain. The decision was made to sag a head a bit and try to drive out of it. We then realized we were driving into it not out. Tropical storm Hermine had moved on shore and was here to stay. In the end we were able to ride into Grapevine’s Gaylord Texan Convention Center and were greeted with a warm reception! It was an emotional moment with lots of high fives, hugs, tears and cheering; a fitting culmination to a long, challenging, and very rewarding journey. We wish we could have shared the moment with each of you. Jason was broadcasting on WJQ as we entered, we hope you were able to hear that and share in the celebration!
After drying our eyes, and talking to CareNet staff we again mounted our bikes, headed to our hotel and rode through the rain one final time as a group. Oh, and Carolyn had to take one final tumble but that’s all we will say about that! We changed our clothes and headed out for our “last supper” together at the Cheesecake Factory. It was a great night but a little bittersweet. Many will head out tomorrow so we pray for their safe travel. Thank you all for the prayers throughout this adventure. They have been uplifting and have given us strength beyond measure!
Here are some thoughts about each person on this awesome team…
Barb: Don’t let her size fool you. She may be small but she can keep up with the best of them. She was able to lead the group the day we had a tailwind. She quietly encourages and loves to laugh.
Betty: Where do we start? She whistles, she sings, she amazes and inspires each of us, not just because of what she was able to do but because of who she is.
Bob: Bob was not with us physically but he was surely instrumental for the success of this ride. He arranged for the hotels, the routes, and lent his van to serve as one of the sag vehicles. We are grateful for his generosity and for his encouragement throughout the ride. His presence was missed this year!
Carolyn: Started as a biker but became a sag driver. She was always there with water and encouragement. Her quick wit made our breaks so much fun.
Cliff: Cliff is thoughtful, kind, helpful and when he laughs he really laughs! And when he snores he really snores.
Debbie: She hunted out that one “special place” that would accommodate a large motor home and all of us for each break. She is quiet, helpful and ready to serve and can wrangle a vehicle any tight place!
Derek: Joined us the first day but was pulled away due to the birth of his first child. Congrats D!!! We missed his attention to detail but his presence was with us each day as we pulled out our route maps made to keep us on track.
Don: Is full of stories and fun little quirks. He encouraged each of us and gave everyone that little spark to keep pedaling. His emotions are on his sleeve and we were sorry to see him have to leave a couple days early. He was missed as we rode in across the “finish line”
Jason: Jason was the “voice” of the Ride. He reported in each day and represented LPC so well. He was helpful as he took charge of “airing” up the tires each morning. He loves his family and missed them greatly.
Karen: Pedaled hard and long, with tenacity that is to be commended. She is a lot of fun, good company, strong and is to be admired for her dedication to helping LPC in this endeavor.
Mark: Is focused, driven and tried to keep this crew on track. (Which by the way, was no easy task. He is strong and dedicated to the cause of life and is appreciated for stirring us all up to take on this challenge.
Sherry: Is funny, quick witted and kept us laughing. She is strong and encouraging and somehow found a way, on a cross-country bike ride found a way to “accessorize”. She became a friend and a little sister.
Mike and Val Volkema: This couple trained with us and in the end were unable to make the ride. They too were missed but their support and provision of a vehicle helped in the success of this endeavor. Thanks Mike and Val. You were missed!
That is a quick glimpse into the people who made up this ride. We could say so much more about each of them and what we have meant to each other.
The other part of the team is each one of you reading this. You have encouraged us, prayed for us, called us, and emailed us. You have been such an important part of this journey.
Thank you for that! Go Team!!
We are concluding this blog entry with a poem written by Betty Guerink (our 74 year old rider) that retells our adventure though prose.
Enjoy!
“We started out nine bikers strong,
from Holland, Mich. rolling along.
We want to help clients from LPC
They are even allowing “older” me.
Since I said I’d raise money too,
We trained hard because we are new.
Money was raised and we set out fast,
hoping to arrive in Grapevine, TX at last.
Some are fast, some are slow
we pray for unity; strength to grow.
I feel like the tortoise not the hare
and ladies need men to pump the “air”.
The men have been thoughtful and kind,
saying, “If you are slow we don’t mind.”
Barb and Sherry keep up quite well,
and we won’t mention those who fell.
I, personally, wanted to do better
as the high heat cooled as we got wetter.
Well that didn’t last, there was a storm
but heat and hills have been the norm.
Karen and I have our own style,
we are peddling hard all the while.
Mark as our leader sets a good pace.
he’s quick to say it’s not a race.
But 15-17 mph is not really real,
even though it had some appeal.
Each morning, we eat pretty good,
and each carry snacks as we should.
The two sag ladies are Carolyn and Deb too,
they feed us, cheer us, and guide us through.
There was much to plan and Bob and Derek did fine,
some of our riders are always “online.”
Jason needed to report to the Zeeland station,
we wish we could tell all the nation.
Don regaled us with stories each day,
and Cliff was steady – come what may.
Well, God has been good we know,
words will fail me if I have to show,
How much we depend on God’s grace.
He has kept us, and there are smiles on each face.
As we near the end of our long run,
we also have had laughter and fun.
Well, we were refreshed, lead by Mark,
we worshiped, ate well and Sunday was a “lark”.
Early we do rise ‘cause we can’t be late,
if possible at 7:00 am we are “out the gate”.
Glen and Sue are looking for a wheel,
Barb’s bike has become a big deal.
Oklahoma was HOT we really must say,
after 34 miles, the van was the way,
for Karen and Betty to rest a bit,
best be wise or we’ll pay for it.
Deb and Carolyn made taco salad this day,
and we ate by an old red barn along the way.
We saw Armadillos upside down, big and fat,
while others laid there extremely flat.
Sherry was our "lookout" when dogs did chase,
Pit bulls can really make you race!
In Kirby our rooms were great,
we were slow starting up, we were late.
‘Cause tubes and tires kept going flat,
so far about 10 flats – What is that!
But then we know that folks will pray,
and we hope for another God honoring day.
Glen and Sue joined us at Hugo to eat,
we could all be there, that was neat.
At last we left Hugo, in the rain
this is not for which we did train.
So 5 girls were sitting in the van,
noisy and silly without a single man.
Lots of rain is why we’re sagging now,
our schedule’s really been changed, and how.
Mark had to put the gas cap on tight,
while rain came down with all it’s might.
This is it, this day is the last.
what can I say, “It was a blast.”
It seems tropical storm Hermine,
has met us at the finish line.
God bless our sponsors, and clients too,
With His help, we’ve done all we could do.”
What more can we say? The journey is finished and everyone will make their way home tomorrow. Pray for safe travel and much love as they reunite with family and friends.
We again, thank you all for your love and support. It seems the last total of funds raised is now close to $60,000! We are blessed and indebted to you all! Continue to pray for LPC and if you feel you want to contribute to The Ride...it is not too late!
Monday, September 6, 2010
Report From The Riders - Day 10
Day 10
Psalm 96
“Sing to the Lord, a new song. Sing to the Lord, all the earth…
Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy; they will sing before the Lord…”
We have seen this first hand throughout this ride! The heavens, water, fields, and the cows, horses, goats, (and dogs) in them. The trees, forests, swamps and cypress trees. They have all been singing for joy before the Lord. If they are singing we must join in! Let us rejoice and sing to the Lord!
Today was a long hot, windy, hill climbing, dog chasing kind of day.
We got up early for breakfast and to pack up so we could be on the road by 7 am. We were right on schedule until we discovered that Barb had blown another tire before we had even left. The guys gave it a temporary fix that lasted about 30 miles before it blew again. She actually was in need of a new tire. The chances of finding a bike shop open on Labor Day was slim not to mention the remote possibility of finding one in any of the tiny towns in Arkansas or Oklahoma through which we traveled. The guys literally repaired it temporarily with a new tube and a band aid and it held the rest of the day. Tonight Betty’s daughter and husband joined us and brought Barb her new tire should she need it. The heat was extreme today, in the mid 90’s and of course the breeze was against us. Again we did the best we could and made it to our destination of Hugo OK. Tomorrow Texas! Our final destination and we are ready! We hope to ride in at about 4:00 and are very excited. We hope to get some pictures and maybe even a video clip up tomorrow night.
Memorable Moments:
1. Beautiful sunrise this morning to greet us.
2. Carolyn trying to run interference with the van to ward off the dogs and dumping the water cooler out of the van in the process. (It did remain in one piece and we lost only a bit of water after Karen distracted the dogs away from it.)
3. The cyclist Jason met on the road today that had been on his bike since April picking up any job he could along the way. He is somewhere in a tent tonight. We are NOT complaining about our hotel tonight.
4. Taco Salad for lunch not sandwiches! What a treat!
5. Sherry bought Cliff ice cream tonight, sorry Don!
6. The arrival of Betty’s husband Glenn and daughter Sue. They were really happy to see each other!
7. Dinner at Bruams, great hamburgers and ice cream.
8.. More laughter.
Truly Thankful
1. We are thankful for the coolness and beauty of our first 30 miles. God’s artwork was on display.
2. We are thankful for our SAG wagon drivers. We are so grateful to see them when we need our break, especially when they have popsicles!
3. We are thankful for this opportunity to ride, for leadership who has confidence in us and for people willing to give sacrificially in so many ways.
4. We again, thank you all for keeping tabs on us, praying for us and sending notes, emails and blog comments. Keep them coming.
5. We are thankful we will be going home soon to be with our loved ones and enjoy getting back into our regular routines.
Interesting Facts:
1. Dogs are faster in Arkansas than in Oklahoma.
2. Semis own the road no matter what the state we seem to find ourselves in.
3. If a town has a Walmart that means “it has arrived”
4. Even though it was Labor Day we did not pass one family having a cookout like we would in our area.
5. We laugh no matter how tired we are. Sometimes the more tired we are the more we laugh. Betty calls it “fatigue drunk”.
Things to Pray about:
1. Pray as we get started again tomorrow. That we will have a smooth day of riding so that we may arrive when expected.
2. We pray for safety, wisdom, concentration and good fellowship as we ride.
3. We pray for tail winds, a break from the heat and dry roads and lazy dogs.
4. For the finish line to be all we have hoped it would be.
ONE more day of riding until our final destination! We have grown in so many ways. Beware family and friends…you may have a very different loved one upon their return…watch for how they have grown!
Thought from one of our riders journals; “Nothing, absolutely nothing happens in Gods world by mistake”
Psalm 96
“Sing to the Lord, a new song. Sing to the Lord, all the earth…
Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy; they will sing before the Lord…”
We have seen this first hand throughout this ride! The heavens, water, fields, and the cows, horses, goats, (and dogs) in them. The trees, forests, swamps and cypress trees. They have all been singing for joy before the Lord. If they are singing we must join in! Let us rejoice and sing to the Lord!
Today was a long hot, windy, hill climbing, dog chasing kind of day.
We got up early for breakfast and to pack up so we could be on the road by 7 am. We were right on schedule until we discovered that Barb had blown another tire before we had even left. The guys gave it a temporary fix that lasted about 30 miles before it blew again. She actually was in need of a new tire. The chances of finding a bike shop open on Labor Day was slim not to mention the remote possibility of finding one in any of the tiny towns in Arkansas or Oklahoma through which we traveled. The guys literally repaired it temporarily with a new tube and a band aid and it held the rest of the day. Tonight Betty’s daughter and husband joined us and brought Barb her new tire should she need it. The heat was extreme today, in the mid 90’s and of course the breeze was against us. Again we did the best we could and made it to our destination of Hugo OK. Tomorrow Texas! Our final destination and we are ready! We hope to ride in at about 4:00 and are very excited. We hope to get some pictures and maybe even a video clip up tomorrow night.
Memorable Moments:
1. Beautiful sunrise this morning to greet us.
2. Carolyn trying to run interference with the van to ward off the dogs and dumping the water cooler out of the van in the process. (It did remain in one piece and we lost only a bit of water after Karen distracted the dogs away from it.)
3. The cyclist Jason met on the road today that had been on his bike since April picking up any job he could along the way. He is somewhere in a tent tonight. We are NOT complaining about our hotel tonight.
4. Taco Salad for lunch not sandwiches! What a treat!
5. Sherry bought Cliff ice cream tonight, sorry Don!
6. The arrival of Betty’s husband Glenn and daughter Sue. They were really happy to see each other!
7. Dinner at Bruams, great hamburgers and ice cream.
8.. More laughter.
Truly Thankful
1. We are thankful for the coolness and beauty of our first 30 miles. God’s artwork was on display.
2. We are thankful for our SAG wagon drivers. We are so grateful to see them when we need our break, especially when they have popsicles!
3. We are thankful for this opportunity to ride, for leadership who has confidence in us and for people willing to give sacrificially in so many ways.
4. We again, thank you all for keeping tabs on us, praying for us and sending notes, emails and blog comments. Keep them coming.
5. We are thankful we will be going home soon to be with our loved ones and enjoy getting back into our regular routines.
Interesting Facts:
1. Dogs are faster in Arkansas than in Oklahoma.
2. Semis own the road no matter what the state we seem to find ourselves in.
3. If a town has a Walmart that means “it has arrived”
4. Even though it was Labor Day we did not pass one family having a cookout like we would in our area.
5. We laugh no matter how tired we are. Sometimes the more tired we are the more we laugh. Betty calls it “fatigue drunk”.
Things to Pray about:
1. Pray as we get started again tomorrow. That we will have a smooth day of riding so that we may arrive when expected.
2. We pray for safety, wisdom, concentration and good fellowship as we ride.
3. We pray for tail winds, a break from the heat and dry roads and lazy dogs.
4. For the finish line to be all we have hoped it would be.
ONE more day of riding until our final destination! We have grown in so many ways. Beware family and friends…you may have a very different loved one upon their return…watch for how they have grown!
Thought from one of our riders journals; “Nothing, absolutely nothing happens in Gods world by mistake”
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Report From The Riders - Day 9
Day 9
Sunday was day of rest. We figure if God can rest so can we. He knew exactly what we would need! He is a good God.
We had a big breakfast together followed by a time of singing and devotions. We shared together what this trip has taught us so far. It was a great time of insight, introspection and encouragement.
What this trip has taught us so far…
1. Perseverance, just keep going even when you think you can go no more.
2. Proverbs 2:1-9 - When we take action as God commands us, he then takes action in response. It is a great metaphor for us on this ride. We have taken action by listening to what God has asked each of us to do and in return God has responded. Read it when you get the opportunity. Make note of how many action verb are contained within this passage. Our action promises God’s action.
3. The importance of having men involved in pregnancy center ministry and how much impact that has had on people we meet along the way. Crisis pregnancy is not just a woman’s issue but one that includes men as well.
4. We have been encourages and inspired by people across this beautiful country. They have had a tremendous impact on us and we pray we had an impact on them too.
5. Simple gestures mean so much. If we leave a bit larger tip at a restaurant, share our extra protein bars with a homeless man, pray for a woman sitting at a grave we pass, or simply waving as we pass a child in his yard.
6. Flexibility…we have all learned that our expectations have had to be adjusted and when dong so, know that it is okay. What is God’s plan for us? Not so much, what we have planned for us.
7. How quickly friendships can be formed when God is involved.
Memorable Moments:
1. Beautiful sunrise this morning to greet us.
2. Random naps throughout the day.
3. A drive to Hot Springs for a bit off shopping. (That would be the ladies). They did plan to bike a bit but could find no trails in the midst of a busy town. (Sure they did!)
4. Chicken on the grill, baked potatoes, corn and salad. We ate dinner on the deck overlooking the lake. It was peaceful, relaxing, nourishing, and great fellowship.
5. More laughter.
6. Cliff discovering how to get ice to come out of the refrigerator dispenser.
Truly Thankful
1. We are thankful for the day off.
2. We are thankful for Don’s presence on this team. He has been our comic relief, our story teller, our resident game player and encourager on the road. He flew home today to get back to work. He will be missed as our team member and friend! Thanks Don.
3. We are thankful for this opportunity to ride, for leadership who has confidence in us and for people willing to give sacrificially in so many ways.
4. We again, thank you all for keeping tabs on us, praying for us and sending notes, emails and blog comments. Keep them coming.
Interesting Facts:
1. We have discovered in conversations that as a group we have spent close to $200 on Chammy Butter (similar to Desitin for babies!)
2. A day off is invigorating! We are ready for a new day tomorrow.
3. Hot Springs has multiple water fill stations throughout town where people stand in line to fill there gallon jugs. We decided to fill some of our empties. Fun!
4. The armadillo in the photo is still in that position as we passed him again today.
5. We calculated today that we have consumed over 60 gallons of water, used approximately 220 lbs. of ice, eaten 5 watermelons, about 20 lbs. of grapes and probably 6 or 7 cantaloupes.
Things to Pray about:
1. Pray as we get started again tomorrow. That the rest will have been exactly what we needed to finish well.
2. We pray for safety, wisdom, concentration and good fellowship as we ride.
3. We pray for tail winds, a break from the heat and dry roads.
Two more days of riding until our final destination! We have grown in so many ways. Beware family and friends…you may have a very different loved one upon their return!
Sunday was day of rest. We figure if God can rest so can we. He knew exactly what we would need! He is a good God.
We had a big breakfast together followed by a time of singing and devotions. We shared together what this trip has taught us so far. It was a great time of insight, introspection and encouragement.
What this trip has taught us so far…
1. Perseverance, just keep going even when you think you can go no more.
2. Proverbs 2:1-9 - When we take action as God commands us, he then takes action in response. It is a great metaphor for us on this ride. We have taken action by listening to what God has asked each of us to do and in return God has responded. Read it when you get the opportunity. Make note of how many action verb are contained within this passage. Our action promises God’s action.
3. The importance of having men involved in pregnancy center ministry and how much impact that has had on people we meet along the way. Crisis pregnancy is not just a woman’s issue but one that includes men as well.
4. We have been encourages and inspired by people across this beautiful country. They have had a tremendous impact on us and we pray we had an impact on them too.
5. Simple gestures mean so much. If we leave a bit larger tip at a restaurant, share our extra protein bars with a homeless man, pray for a woman sitting at a grave we pass, or simply waving as we pass a child in his yard.
6. Flexibility…we have all learned that our expectations have had to be adjusted and when dong so, know that it is okay. What is God’s plan for us? Not so much, what we have planned for us.
7. How quickly friendships can be formed when God is involved.
Memorable Moments:
1. Beautiful sunrise this morning to greet us.
2. Random naps throughout the day.
3. A drive to Hot Springs for a bit off shopping. (That would be the ladies). They did plan to bike a bit but could find no trails in the midst of a busy town. (Sure they did!)
4. Chicken on the grill, baked potatoes, corn and salad. We ate dinner on the deck overlooking the lake. It was peaceful, relaxing, nourishing, and great fellowship.
5. More laughter.
6. Cliff discovering how to get ice to come out of the refrigerator dispenser.
Truly Thankful
1. We are thankful for the day off.
2. We are thankful for Don’s presence on this team. He has been our comic relief, our story teller, our resident game player and encourager on the road. He flew home today to get back to work. He will be missed as our team member and friend! Thanks Don.
3. We are thankful for this opportunity to ride, for leadership who has confidence in us and for people willing to give sacrificially in so many ways.
4. We again, thank you all for keeping tabs on us, praying for us and sending notes, emails and blog comments. Keep them coming.
Interesting Facts:
1. We have discovered in conversations that as a group we have spent close to $200 on Chammy Butter (similar to Desitin for babies!)
2. A day off is invigorating! We are ready for a new day tomorrow.
3. Hot Springs has multiple water fill stations throughout town where people stand in line to fill there gallon jugs. We decided to fill some of our empties. Fun!
4. The armadillo in the photo is still in that position as we passed him again today.
5. We calculated today that we have consumed over 60 gallons of water, used approximately 220 lbs. of ice, eaten 5 watermelons, about 20 lbs. of grapes and probably 6 or 7 cantaloupes.
Things to Pray about:
1. Pray as we get started again tomorrow. That the rest will have been exactly what we needed to finish well.
2. We pray for safety, wisdom, concentration and good fellowship as we ride.
3. We pray for tail winds, a break from the heat and dry roads.
Two more days of riding until our final destination! We have grown in so many ways. Beware family and friends…you may have a very different loved one upon their return!
Day 8 Rider Report - Self Creek Lodge
Report from The Riders
Day 8
We are staying at a wonderfully peaceful lodge for the weekend. We began the day with a sit down breakfast in the lodge. Very refreshing!
It felt almost like family. Nice. We realized upon waking this morning that exactly one week ago today we were standing in the LPC parking lot saying goodbye to family and friends.
Due to the fact that the scenery in this area is so beautiful we decided to route ourselves to take it in. Every one got on their bikes around 10 am and began our day of riding.
Memorable Moments:
1. The beauty of this area. Mountains, lakes, animals and good friends.
2. Again with the dogs!!!!! We encountered an entire roadway of loose dogs on the chase. Once again the sag wagon had to run interference and get between the dogs and riders. Don’t people believe in underground fencing or leashes? We are considering tasers!
3. Don treated everyone to ice cream bars on a break. We really are riding hard but Klondike bars have become a favorite break food.
4. We celebrated a birthday today with Sherry. Happy birthday to Sherry (a week early).
5. We watched ourselves on some of the video shot throughout our trip to this point.
6. Don taught us a late night card game.
7. Taking a picture of yet another dead armadillo. (we’ll see if we post that photo)
8. Riding bicycles and having deer cross the road in front of us.
9. Riding behind the motor home through Little Rock and being reminded of Clark and Ellen on a mission to get to Wally World.
10. Cliff prayed before our dinner and prayed for each of us with a specific blessing. Thanks Cliff.
Truly Thankful
1. We are thankful for a day off tomorrow.
2. We are thankful that we have made it this far and ready to take a break so we can finish strong.
3. We are blessed by having beautiful accommodations. Starlight Motel…eat your heart out.
4. A great team of people with great families and friends who pray for them. We all benefit greatly from your prayers!
5. Laughter. Where would we be without it and boy have we done a lot of it.
Interesting Facts:
1. The “hills” on route 70 are vicious.
2. The scenery makes the hills worthwhile.
3. Road kill really stinks when you are this close to it.
4. We still need Derek to help us upload photos. Thanks Derek!
5. Don seems to win at his own games. hummm
Things to Pray about:
1. Pray for rest as we spend our Sabbath off the road.
2. Pray for all who are feeling homesick. It is a long time away from loved ones.
3. Pray for our loved ones as well. They are single parents right now, teens on their own, concerned parents, husbands without wives, wives without husbands, kids without parents. We are praying for you too! You are all loved and appreciated. LPC thanks you for loaning them to us for this endeavor!
Day 8
We are staying at a wonderfully peaceful lodge for the weekend. We began the day with a sit down breakfast in the lodge. Very refreshing!
It felt almost like family. Nice. We realized upon waking this morning that exactly one week ago today we were standing in the LPC parking lot saying goodbye to family and friends.
Due to the fact that the scenery in this area is so beautiful we decided to route ourselves to take it in. Every one got on their bikes around 10 am and began our day of riding.
Memorable Moments:
1. The beauty of this area. Mountains, lakes, animals and good friends.
2. Again with the dogs!!!!! We encountered an entire roadway of loose dogs on the chase. Once again the sag wagon had to run interference and get between the dogs and riders. Don’t people believe in underground fencing or leashes? We are considering tasers!
3. Don treated everyone to ice cream bars on a break. We really are riding hard but Klondike bars have become a favorite break food.
4. We celebrated a birthday today with Sherry. Happy birthday to Sherry (a week early).
5. We watched ourselves on some of the video shot throughout our trip to this point.
6. Don taught us a late night card game.
7. Taking a picture of yet another dead armadillo. (we’ll see if we post that photo)
8. Riding bicycles and having deer cross the road in front of us.
9. Riding behind the motor home through Little Rock and being reminded of Clark and Ellen on a mission to get to Wally World.
10. Cliff prayed before our dinner and prayed for each of us with a specific blessing. Thanks Cliff.
Truly Thankful
1. We are thankful for a day off tomorrow.
2. We are thankful that we have made it this far and ready to take a break so we can finish strong.
3. We are blessed by having beautiful accommodations. Starlight Motel…eat your heart out.
4. A great team of people with great families and friends who pray for them. We all benefit greatly from your prayers!
5. Laughter. Where would we be without it and boy have we done a lot of it.
Interesting Facts:
1. The “hills” on route 70 are vicious.
2. The scenery makes the hills worthwhile.
3. Road kill really stinks when you are this close to it.
4. We still need Derek to help us upload photos. Thanks Derek!
5. Don seems to win at his own games. hummm
Things to Pray about:
1. Pray for rest as we spend our Sabbath off the road.
2. Pray for all who are feeling homesick. It is a long time away from loved ones.
3. Pray for our loved ones as well. They are single parents right now, teens on their own, concerned parents, husbands without wives, wives without husbands, kids without parents. We are praying for you too! You are all loved and appreciated. LPC thanks you for loaning them to us for this endeavor!
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Day 7 post
Report from The Riders
Day 7
We left Wynne, Arkansas with Little Rock our destination. Ten hours later, after biking a total of 102 miles, we reached Little Rock. We got a great start this morning and were on the road by 7:00 am.
Devotions this morning revolved around the Starlight Motel. It became a metaphor for the way life can be at times. While it did have beds and running water it was a bit rough around the edges. We learned lessons of living with less, of enduring less than ideal conditions, and coming out better people in the end. God uses many circumstances in our lives to shape us and the Starlight Motel was one we hope he does not make us repeat. Lessons learned!
Memorable Moments:
1. We are having wonderful conversations that only good friends can have. This must be we are becoming good friends.
2. Today was a day of no dog chasing. Sherry could rest easy.
3. Waking up this morning with the realization that we are indeed starting with a tailwind! Thanks for your prayers. God is the God of the wind.
4. Chivalry is not dead! The men came to the rescue during one of three flat tires yesterday. Sherry was very appreciative.
5. Many on this trip DO NOT start their day without coffee. The motel had none. A group crossed the road to the gas station to bring the team its much needed “fuel”.
6. We ended the day in North Little Rock. The final 10 miles ran along side a Cedar Swamp. It was intriguingly beautiful.
7. Biking for 10 hours followed by a three hour shuttle to our home away from home for the weekend. We thought we would NEVER get there. We traveled through winding roads, up and down, through little towns until FINALLY reaching our destination at 10 pm. Long day!
8. We stopped for lunch at a little roadside fruit stand with fresh peaches, tomatoes, okra and pickled beets. Yum! Neat ladies too.
They gave us a shade tree and the run of their property. They are hoping to see their photo on the blog. Hi ladies!
Truly Thankful
1. Gas stations with running toilets! STILL! They seem to be few and far between. Oh, the toilets my run but you can concentrate on what you are doing due to all the dead cock roaches on the floor!
2. For the smooth roads after a bunch of really rough ones.
3. For tail winds for a good part of the day.
4. Safety again today. No incidents of harm. God is good.
Interesting Facts:
1. Rough roads pop bike tires. Three flat tires today!
2. We discovered yesterday that Cliff needs a wife.
3. The reptiles win the road kill contest. Frogs, lizards and snakes!
4. Don is really good at the game Two Truths and a Lie. Funny the games you play while pedaling your brains out.
5. These roads are very difficult to find “pull offs” big enough for a motor home! Scary!
Things to Pray about:
1. Keep praying for Sherry’s hands. She is experiencing a lot of numbness.
2. Bottoms are getting really sore. Funny thing to pray about but necessary!
3. We will be spending the weekend here at Self Creek Lodge. It looks beautiful! Pray for rest.
We may be back later today to post some more but the team is rushing me a bit to get on the road this morning. We will do a route around Pike County today! Should be fun, hilly (is that a word?) and scenic.
Day 7
We left Wynne, Arkansas with Little Rock our destination. Ten hours later, after biking a total of 102 miles, we reached Little Rock. We got a great start this morning and were on the road by 7:00 am.
Devotions this morning revolved around the Starlight Motel. It became a metaphor for the way life can be at times. While it did have beds and running water it was a bit rough around the edges. We learned lessons of living with less, of enduring less than ideal conditions, and coming out better people in the end. God uses many circumstances in our lives to shape us and the Starlight Motel was one we hope he does not make us repeat. Lessons learned!
Memorable Moments:
1. We are having wonderful conversations that only good friends can have. This must be we are becoming good friends.
2. Today was a day of no dog chasing. Sherry could rest easy.
3. Waking up this morning with the realization that we are indeed starting with a tailwind! Thanks for your prayers. God is the God of the wind.
4. Chivalry is not dead! The men came to the rescue during one of three flat tires yesterday. Sherry was very appreciative.
5. Many on this trip DO NOT start their day without coffee. The motel had none. A group crossed the road to the gas station to bring the team its much needed “fuel”.
6. We ended the day in North Little Rock. The final 10 miles ran along side a Cedar Swamp. It was intriguingly beautiful.
7. Biking for 10 hours followed by a three hour shuttle to our home away from home for the weekend. We thought we would NEVER get there. We traveled through winding roads, up and down, through little towns until FINALLY reaching our destination at 10 pm. Long day!
8. We stopped for lunch at a little roadside fruit stand with fresh peaches, tomatoes, okra and pickled beets. Yum! Neat ladies too.
They gave us a shade tree and the run of their property. They are hoping to see their photo on the blog. Hi ladies!
Truly Thankful
1. Gas stations with running toilets! STILL! They seem to be few and far between. Oh, the toilets my run but you can concentrate on what you are doing due to all the dead cock roaches on the floor!
2. For the smooth roads after a bunch of really rough ones.
3. For tail winds for a good part of the day.
4. Safety again today. No incidents of harm. God is good.
Interesting Facts:
1. Rough roads pop bike tires. Three flat tires today!
2. We discovered yesterday that Cliff needs a wife.
3. The reptiles win the road kill contest. Frogs, lizards and snakes!
4. Don is really good at the game Two Truths and a Lie. Funny the games you play while pedaling your brains out.
5. These roads are very difficult to find “pull offs” big enough for a motor home! Scary!
Things to Pray about:
1. Keep praying for Sherry’s hands. She is experiencing a lot of numbness.
2. Bottoms are getting really sore. Funny thing to pray about but necessary!
3. We will be spending the weekend here at Self Creek Lodge. It looks beautiful! Pray for rest.
We may be back later today to post some more but the team is rushing me a bit to get on the road this morning. We will do a route around Pike County today! Should be fun, hilly (is that a word?) and scenic.
Report From The Riders
We are really tired tonight so this will be very short. We will post tomorrow again. We have arrived safely in Little Rock, Arkansas after biking 102 miles. We then drove to Kirby, Arkansas where we will spend the weekend.
We thank you for all your prayers and we assure you that we will blog completely tomorrow. We will also try to get photos up so you can see all of this in living color.
We will close with our quote for the day...
"You don't have to be crazy to do this, but it sure helps!"
We thank you for all your prayers and we assure you that we will blog completely tomorrow. We will also try to get photos up so you can see all of this in living color.
We will close with our quote for the day...
"You don't have to be crazy to do this, but it sure helps!"
Friday, September 3, 2010
The "used to be" go to guy (that's me)
A post from our used to be go to guy for postings...
I read the blog postings and a few things come to mind... 1.] I am grateful that a few of you stepped up tot he plate when I had a few other things going on. 2.] I wish I were there with you, experiencing the journey in it's joys and challenges as you strive toward the finish.
I miss you guys and desperately wish I were there with you. Honestly though, there's no place I'd rather be in the world right now than right here at home with Kendra and our new baby girl, Ryann Eileen Owens.
So, while I miss you and the road, and I am looking forward to Orlando next year, this has truly been the best week of my life being right where I am, experiencing first hand one of the coolest miracles and embodiments of God's grace that I have ever been a part of. I get all emotional and sappy and teary eyed just blogging about it (this emotional, sappy, teary eyed thing has been a regular occurrence this week for me).
Can't wait to hear the stories of God's grace and sustenance pour out upon your return even more than we've previewed thus far via this blog.
Love you guys, miss you, and praying for you,
Derek
I read the blog postings and a few things come to mind... 1.] I am grateful that a few of you stepped up tot he plate when I had a few other things going on. 2.] I wish I were there with you, experiencing the journey in it's joys and challenges as you strive toward the finish.
I miss you guys and desperately wish I were there with you. Honestly though, there's no place I'd rather be in the world right now than right here at home with Kendra and our new baby girl, Ryann Eileen Owens.
So, while I miss you and the road, and I am looking forward to Orlando next year, this has truly been the best week of my life being right where I am, experiencing first hand one of the coolest miracles and embodiments of God's grace that I have ever been a part of. I get all emotional and sappy and teary eyed just blogging about it (this emotional, sappy, teary eyed thing has been a regular occurrence this week for me).
Can't wait to hear the stories of God's grace and sustenance pour out upon your return even more than we've previewed thus far via this blog.
Love you guys, miss you, and praying for you,
Derek
Ride Report from Wynne, Arkansas
Report from The Riders
Day 6 took us from Malden, Missouri to Wynne, Arkanas, total distance of 116 miles covered.
II Cor. 5: 5, 7-9
“Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose…We live by faith and not by sight…we make it our goal to please him.”
Today was a day when many of us questioned whether or not our bodies were made for this! But by faith and obedience we persevere and make it our goal to please our God.
Memorable Moments:
1. More of the dog chasers. I believe we have dubbed highway 41 as “pitbull alley”. Carolyn had to run interference at one point and drive the van between the dog and the riders. Mission…successful. She was ready to take that dog out. There were 4 different dog encounters today. We are taking up an offering for dog owners across Arkansas to install electric fences!
2. We ate dinner tonight at the local Pizza Hut. They had moldy cucumbers on the salad bar (how does that happen). At one point we were the only customers in the building and yet, they had NO clean silverware. The waitress came to the table asking, “Would ya’ll be mad if I have to give you plastic forks cause all our silverware is dirty?”
3. The Star Light Motel did leave the light on for us.
4. Don picked a pretty white flower and decorated his bike for the day. Beautiful Don, just beautiful. Next year he wants to ride in the Tulip Time parade!
5. Rain is wet. It was a welcome change to the sun and heat, but wet none the less.
6. We “treated” ourselves to McDonald’s. Still hungry after 12 extra value meals!
7. A man yelled, “I saw you on TV!” as we passed through a town in Arkansas (can’t remember the name of the town, they all run together).
8. A beautiful sunrise greeted us this morning and a gorgeous sunset tonight.
Truly Thankful
1. Gas stations with running toilets!
2. Some wider roads on which to ride.
3. A great waitress at Pizza Hut.
4. Friendships that being built.
5. 6 days down!
6. The winds calmed down a bit.
7. Exposure of this event is taking off. Check out this link if you get a chance.
8. Safety and perseverance.
Interesting Facts:
1. Semi trucks not only create a lot of wind but when it is rainy they also spray a lot of water.
2. Internet accessibility is hard to come by in many areas. We will continue to blog as much as possible.
3. The women are caring less and less about what their hair looks like.
4. Armadillos continue to be the popular road kill.
5. Goobertown really exists! (picture coming)
Things to Pray about:
1. Pray for Sherry’s hands. She is experiencing a lot of numbness.
2. Bottoms are getting really sore. Funny thing to pray about but necessary!
3. A long day tomorrow. Please pray for endurance.
4. Refreshment over the weekend during our day off.
We are forever grateful to each of you as you pray for us, send us notes of encouragement and support us financially!
“Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose…we make it our goal to please him.”
Day 6 took us from Malden, Missouri to Wynne, Arkanas, total distance of 116 miles covered.
II Cor. 5: 5, 7-9
“Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose…We live by faith and not by sight…we make it our goal to please him.”
Today was a day when many of us questioned whether or not our bodies were made for this! But by faith and obedience we persevere and make it our goal to please our God.
Memorable Moments:
1. More of the dog chasers. I believe we have dubbed highway 41 as “pitbull alley”. Carolyn had to run interference at one point and drive the van between the dog and the riders. Mission…successful. She was ready to take that dog out. There were 4 different dog encounters today. We are taking up an offering for dog owners across Arkansas to install electric fences!
2. We ate dinner tonight at the local Pizza Hut. They had moldy cucumbers on the salad bar (how does that happen). At one point we were the only customers in the building and yet, they had NO clean silverware. The waitress came to the table asking, “Would ya’ll be mad if I have to give you plastic forks cause all our silverware is dirty?”
3. The Star Light Motel did leave the light on for us.
4. Don picked a pretty white flower and decorated his bike for the day. Beautiful Don, just beautiful. Next year he wants to ride in the Tulip Time parade!
5. Rain is wet. It was a welcome change to the sun and heat, but wet none the less.
6. We “treated” ourselves to McDonald’s. Still hungry after 12 extra value meals!
7. A man yelled, “I saw you on TV!” as we passed through a town in Arkansas (can’t remember the name of the town, they all run together).
8. A beautiful sunrise greeted us this morning and a gorgeous sunset tonight.
Truly Thankful
1. Gas stations with running toilets!
2. Some wider roads on which to ride.
3. A great waitress at Pizza Hut.
4. Friendships that being built.
5. 6 days down!
6. The winds calmed down a bit.
7. Exposure of this event is taking off. Check out this link if you get a chance.
8. Safety and perseverance.
Interesting Facts:
1. Semi trucks not only create a lot of wind but when it is rainy they also spray a lot of water.
2. Internet accessibility is hard to come by in many areas. We will continue to blog as much as possible.
3. The women are caring less and less about what their hair looks like.
4. Armadillos continue to be the popular road kill.
5. Goobertown really exists! (picture coming)
Things to Pray about:
1. Pray for Sherry’s hands. She is experiencing a lot of numbness.
2. Bottoms are getting really sore. Funny thing to pray about but necessary!
3. A long day tomorrow. Please pray for endurance.
4. Refreshment over the weekend during our day off.
We are forever grateful to each of you as you pray for us, send us notes of encouragement and support us financially!
“Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose…we make it our goal to please him.”
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Report from The Riders
Today we left Carbondale around 7:30 am and arrived safely in Malden around 6:30 pm. "The devotional meditation today was from II Cor. 3 and 4.
“ For God, who said, ‘…Let light shine out of darkness, made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”
Today was filled with opportunities to shine in the darkness, and show the all-surpassing power of God in our lives. The first 15 miles of our trip was filled with long gradual hills that sapped energy quickly. The downhill glide on the backside of these hills was refreshing and very welcome! Only to be greeted with the next long grade!
Memorable Moments:
1. Double dog chase. Two dogs came running after us, it was a bit disconcerting but the dogs seem to enjoy herding us down the road!
2. After asking permission to use their parking lot for a break, a woman in an optometrist office in Jonesboro, IL (I think that was the town…maybe it was Anna, IL – they all run together after awhile)anyway, she called her local newspaper about our ride. She came out of the office to inform us that a reporter was on his way. We waited awhile but no reporter. We wanted to press on so we told her we would be heading down highway 146 S and that we break every ten miles. Approximately 12 miles down the road we found ourselves being filmed by the channel 12 news out of Cape Girardeau Mark stopped to tell him about our mission on camera. – “He made His light shine in our hearts”.
3. Just an hour later we found ourselves at the great Mississippi River. (We hope to post some video of that tomorrow). A few of us had to stop at the top and experience a Kodak moment! (one of them included Barb!) Your prayers definitely worked.
4. Just when we were ready to call it a day we came to realize that God was not ready to shut out “the light”. A trip to a local pizza parlor with one of us sporting a Lifewalk t-shirt brought on an amazing story that only God could write. The owner’s daughter (approximately 8 years old) came to our table and introduced herself. The next words out of her mouth in a sweet southern drawl were, “I love your t-shirt.”It was the blue Lifewalk t-shirt that reads, “Serving with the love of Christ”. She asked if we were from a church. After a bit of conversation and explanation of who we were and what we did we promised little “M” that we would send her a shirt. She asked if we could send some for her two sisters as well. Soon her parents were at our table asking questions about the ministry of LPC and The Ride. What a wonderful family. They then told their story. Little “M” has been adopted. The woman’s niece has had multiple abortions but little “M” was not. Her mother however, was not able to raise “M” so her aunt and uncle (the owners of the pizza parlor) choose to adopt her. As we shared together with this amazing family their pastor walked in to pick up pizza for his family. They introduced us and told him about The Ride we were doing. He promised to pray for us and the ministry and on his way out placed a $20 dollar bill on our table saying, “It isn’t much but I want to invest into what you are doing. God bless ya’ll”. We went back to finishing our pizza while little “M” entertained us with an assortment of stories about her life. As we went to pay our bill the owners said, “The pizza is on us. We want to contribute somehow too.” Everyone tonight experienced “His light in our hearts.” To end the evening we had our picture taken with little “M” in front of (get this) a bicycle they had as a decoration near one of the booths! The story does not end here, this amazing couple hopes to adopt “M’s” little sister as well.
Truly Thankful
1. Again Barb made the bridge without incident.
2. We all made it safely through a storm. Rain, hail, and wind – they all came on quickly but we were close to shelter.
3.For all of the wonderful people we have met again today
4.4 days down!
1. Another 8 gallons of water and 6 bags of ice.
2. Top speed today was 21 mph that was Sherry riding away from one of two dogs that ran after us!
3. Karen’s bike is officially nicknamed, “the lead sled”.
4. Hair salon and fitness center – yesterday a petting zoo today a fitness center? Interesting combinations!
5. Semi’s STILL create a lot of wind.
6. Storms can come out of nowhere and hail does bounce off helmets.
7. Barb is NOT wind resistant. The 30 mile hour gusts during the rain storm literally were blowing her backward!
8. Jason can catch up to the group quickly after doing his live phone interview back to the station.
9. People can be really grumpy when they have to go around a group of bicyclist on the road. One thought he needed to let us know this with a few choice words.
10. Armadillos have become the most popular road kill since entering the “Show Me” state of Missouri
11. Average speed of dogs chasing bikers: 16mph average speed of bikers being chased by dogs: Not fast enough!
Things to Pray about:
1. Wind still an issue. Better at times and worse at others.
2. Some clouds today – keep praying!
3. Flat land, cool temperatures, minimal wind, and ongoing safety.
4. That our witness and “His light” will continue to shine!
Overall our day today was very good. The rain storm delayed us a bit spirits are high and we are looking ahead to day 6!
His glory has been evident and we are humbled to be the earthen vessels chosen for this mission.
Keep praying "Ya'll!'
Today we left Carbondale around 7:30 am and arrived safely in Malden around 6:30 pm. "The devotional meditation today was from II Cor. 3 and 4.
“ For God, who said, ‘…Let light shine out of darkness, made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”
Today was filled with opportunities to shine in the darkness, and show the all-surpassing power of God in our lives. The first 15 miles of our trip was filled with long gradual hills that sapped energy quickly. The downhill glide on the backside of these hills was refreshing and very welcome! Only to be greeted with the next long grade!
Memorable Moments:
1. Double dog chase. Two dogs came running after us, it was a bit disconcerting but the dogs seem to enjoy herding us down the road!
2. After asking permission to use their parking lot for a break, a woman in an optometrist office in Jonesboro, IL (I think that was the town…maybe it was Anna, IL – they all run together after awhile)anyway, she called her local newspaper about our ride. She came out of the office to inform us that a reporter was on his way. We waited awhile but no reporter. We wanted to press on so we told her we would be heading down highway 146 S and that we break every ten miles. Approximately 12 miles down the road we found ourselves being filmed by the channel 12 news out of Cape Girardeau Mark stopped to tell him about our mission on camera. – “He made His light shine in our hearts”.
3. Just an hour later we found ourselves at the great Mississippi River. (We hope to post some video of that tomorrow). A few of us had to stop at the top and experience a Kodak moment! (one of them included Barb!) Your prayers definitely worked.
4. Just when we were ready to call it a day we came to realize that God was not ready to shut out “the light”. A trip to a local pizza parlor with one of us sporting a Lifewalk t-shirt brought on an amazing story that only God could write. The owner’s daughter (approximately 8 years old) came to our table and introduced herself. The next words out of her mouth in a sweet southern drawl were, “I love your t-shirt.”It was the blue Lifewalk t-shirt that reads, “Serving with the love of Christ”. She asked if we were from a church. After a bit of conversation and explanation of who we were and what we did we promised little “M” that we would send her a shirt. She asked if we could send some for her two sisters as well. Soon her parents were at our table asking questions about the ministry of LPC and The Ride. What a wonderful family. They then told their story. Little “M” has been adopted. The woman’s niece has had multiple abortions but little “M” was not. Her mother however, was not able to raise “M” so her aunt and uncle (the owners of the pizza parlor) choose to adopt her. As we shared together with this amazing family their pastor walked in to pick up pizza for his family. They introduced us and told him about The Ride we were doing. He promised to pray for us and the ministry and on his way out placed a $20 dollar bill on our table saying, “It isn’t much but I want to invest into what you are doing. God bless ya’ll”. We went back to finishing our pizza while little “M” entertained us with an assortment of stories about her life. As we went to pay our bill the owners said, “The pizza is on us. We want to contribute somehow too.” Everyone tonight experienced “His light in our hearts.” To end the evening we had our picture taken with little “M” in front of (get this) a bicycle they had as a decoration near one of the booths! The story does not end here, this amazing couple hopes to adopt “M’s” little sister as well.
Truly Thankful
1. Again Barb made the bridge without incident.
2. We all made it safely through a storm. Rain, hail, and wind – they all came on quickly but we were close to shelter.
3.For all of the wonderful people we have met again today
4.4 days down!
1. Another 8 gallons of water and 6 bags of ice.
2. Top speed today was 21 mph that was Sherry riding away from one of two dogs that ran after us!
3. Karen’s bike is officially nicknamed, “the lead sled”.
4. Hair salon and fitness center – yesterday a petting zoo today a fitness center? Interesting combinations!
5. Semi’s STILL create a lot of wind.
6. Storms can come out of nowhere and hail does bounce off helmets.
7. Barb is NOT wind resistant. The 30 mile hour gusts during the rain storm literally were blowing her backward!
8. Jason can catch up to the group quickly after doing his live phone interview back to the station.
9. People can be really grumpy when they have to go around a group of bicyclist on the road. One thought he needed to let us know this with a few choice words.
10. Armadillos have become the most popular road kill since entering the “Show Me” state of Missouri
11. Average speed of dogs chasing bikers: 16mph average speed of bikers being chased by dogs: Not fast enough!
Things to Pray about:
1. Wind still an issue. Better at times and worse at others.
2. Some clouds today – keep praying!
3. Flat land, cool temperatures, minimal wind, and ongoing safety.
4. That our witness and “His light” will continue to shine!
Overall our day today was very good. The rain storm delayed us a bit spirits are high and we are looking ahead to day 6!
His glory has been evident and we are humbled to be the earthen vessels chosen for this mission.
Keep praying "Ya'll!'
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