God reminded me not to worry in Manhattan and then Wamego, Kansas about where I was staying the night. He would provide and he has never failed. That said, I did not have to seek much help in Kansas for my reassurance that we would be provided for. Typically, within two or three calls someone offered help. In Missouri, that all changed.
As of our first day of riding in Missouri, we had no places to stay for our entire trip in the state. This is because once again all our riding, followed by spending uninterrupted time in community, and then reading and writing occupied much more time than was required to make phone calls far in advance. That, and I am sole phone call maker. It is time consuming, but sorta necessary. Tom and I stopped before lunch and started making calls. I left messages when no one picked up. We had only written two phone numbers to try (because that was all that was needed in Kansas), but decided I better do a quick google search on my phone for more to call. I don't remember if I was able to reach anyone at that time, but I resolved to try again later.
Tom got his first flat of the trip shortly after a break in Pittsville. I was cruising and lost sight of him around a bend. When I get going I typically don't like to stop because I don't want to lose my groove. But after the hill I was climbing levelled off, I stopped. No Tom. I waited a couple minutes. Still no Tom. I turned my bike around and started walking the other direction. Soon enough I saw him riding up the hill. He had to stop to refill his flat tire by hand pump. We were cautious the rest of the way to Warrensburg, but the tire held.
Not having made any arrangements on approach to Warrensburg, I thought to myself while riding that perhaps we should try to stay in Knob Noster. Maybe we weren't meant to stay in Warrensburg since every single church we called was either unable to help or unavailable to answer the call. I distinctly remember a pastor telling me that he had to leave in five minutes and couldn't help. I also remember asking him if I should try to call the secretary (because in Kansas, if I had been able to talk with someone on the phone, we had found a place to stay) and see if she could help (personally, that is). However, the pastor, in a very negative and discouraging tone replied, "I don't see how that would help." As if to say, "don't try it, we don't have the time or the desire to help you." Other churches simply didn't know how to help us. They tried to figure out what system they had in place to help requests like mine. In my mind, and according to my experience, my request did not require a system, but either a kind stranger (which certainly can be hard to find on short notice) or a church or even a lawn to set up camp. I have three theories on this matter: either I did not convey our needs well, they did not want to help, or they did not know how to help. I was certainly a little discouraged after talking with four or churches and having no leads on where to sleep and though I was unafraid (I believed I would be safe no matter what), I really would appreciate a roof again.
I heard stories of Missouri being less than friendly to Bill (from Topeka) and in my eyes that started to become true for me and Tom as well. I was starting to see Missouri as an unwelcoming, inhospitable place, where the people do not care. But, of course, I should not use my unsuccessful interactions with the people from those churches as the blanket situtation of all Missouri. It was a tempting thought. To get a little angry with them for not appearing to have the slightest care... not even offering ideas as to where we could pitch tent. So, as I said, we even tried to find a place in Knob Noster ten miles east (at least there was a State Park there where we could perhaps camp). However, finally, both of the last two churches I called in Warrensburg helped (churches number 5 and 6). The time was near 5pm. The first church gave us the number of Northside Christian Church, which is ulitmately who we connected with.
I called Northside and spoke with the secretary (Julie) who gave us permission to camp outside their church. After dinner (KFC was less than appetizing, I must say, but it filled the void in my stomach) we rode to Northside. Before we picked the spot for our tent, I decided to talk with whoever I could find to ensure someone knew we'd be there. That's when I first met Shamus and Justin. Vacation Bible School (VBS) just ended for the day and they were actually about to come out and greet us.
The good news was that Justin knew we would be there and told Shamus (just before we met). I shook Shamus' hand first and he asked if we needed anything (I left Tom with the bikes at the back of the building where we expected to camp). I said, "we should be all right" and that we had just eaten, but that was before he mentioned showers. Oh yes, a shower would be nice. It had been a hot day and I felt grungy. And before long, he had shown me the kitchen (and said we could more or less help ourselves) and the bathroom with the showers. I was in awe at the hospitality. I was expecting a lonely night... full of time to be tempted to be bitter about some of my conversations with churches earlier in the day. That would not have been good and I know it.
Praise God for rescuing me from that opportunity to be resentful. And praise God for good men like Shamus and Justin. After Shamus offered me a shower, I thought that it couldn't hurt to ask if we could sleep indoors. And he accepted without hesitation. He wanted to know, of course, what time we'd be leaving in order to warn the appropriate people that there would be strangers sleeping in one of the rooms when they arrived (we were up well before then). Justin left while Shamus was showing me the church facilities and Shamus asked once more (after Tom and I brought our things in) if we needed anything. Not that we could think of.
Before the end of the night, I had the opportunity to meet Cliff (a retired gentleman who worked for a truck manufacturing company) who was at the church to investigate a leaky toilet. I don't think he found it, but I was glad to meet him and share stories and life with him. He walked away for a while and Justin returned. There with Justin was his daughter Hannah and two white plastic bags. They had brought us fruit, granola bars, and Gatorade! Wow! It is these unexpected acts of kindness that blow me out of the water every time... When Shamus showed me the kitchen earlier, the only thing I asked about was whether they had any fruit (because that was definitely lacking in our diet that day). So, I got to visit with Justin too. His daughter was adorable (five years old, starting kindergarden and tying shoes).
Later in the evening, Cliff returned to see how we were doing and showed me where they had a washing machine and dryer. I already hand washed my shorts and shirt with the bar of soap my Mom sent me with. Starts with an N. Nepthah or something? Anyways. The dryer was useful in the morning.
I woke up at 6 or 6:30am and started getting ready. I usually get up before Tom. I take longer to pack. By 8am, we were able to say farewell to both Justin and Shamus and hit the road again. Missouri wasn't so bad after all. Well, those fellas showed me just how great some of the people there are... even though I started out with some negative experiences and corresponding negative thoughts, these guys refreshed me and restored my positivity. God blessed me through them when I least expected it and I pray God blesses them (and their church) greatly and that they may continue to live in a way pleasing in his sight.
We rode to Warrensburg, Missouri on Monday, June 1, 2009.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Friday, June 5, 2009
Warrensburg, Missouri (part 1: My Spiritual Distress Calmed)
Bill (in Topeka) had warned us about Missouri roads (with potholes and no shoulders) and hills. The ride out of the city was a little complicated, but safe. The hills were manageable. Eventually we hit highway 50 and started to make good time.
It's tough to dredge up memories from that ride... it was a while ago and I'm not sure how to describe my mood. God had taught me that my outlook on spiritual matters and the purpose of my journey was causing me distress. That was a cause of unease starting even before we left on the trip.
I had romantic or perhaps utopic expectations (or notions) for my journey. You read stories in the Bible about men who go on journeys and interact with God and their stories all seem so grand. I think that I had a deep-seated fear that I would slip up somehow. How would I know exactly what to do at each stop? I feared maybe I was doing something wrong at times. The Bible describes encounters with God and the movement of the Spirit and I was unsure about how exactly I was being instructed to act. I had made my mission statement, but have never known what I would learn. I defined my ideas for trying to connect with God, but what if I missed something important? I didn't really want my pursuit of God to be so structured and even though I've tried to make it structured (by reading the Bible at various break points or praying for a designated period of time) it certainly hasn't worked out the way I plan most of the time. And I think that's okay.
I am a perfectionist and a planner. God's been slowly chipping away at that part of my personality because some things are beyond my control, but I still have a slight tendency to want things to go perfectly according to plan. That said, I haven't planned out much at all for this trip, which may be a good thing from this perspective.
So, will my trip be just like those experiences I've read about in the Bible? It didn't seem to be going that way. Did that mean my mission was a failure or that I'm missing something? I don't think so. The Bible seems to make these stories spectacular. I hold these stories in high regard. Amazing events and miracles take place. There is little explanation in some parts as to how the "characters" react to said events and miracles (i.e. what are their feelings, how do they view God and what He's doing). Was God's purpose for them all drawn out in bold letters that were easy to follow step-by-step? God's instructions seem so clear in the Old Testament. God certainly isn't guiding me that way. That doesn't nullify my mission. Are the people I encounter and meet on the way coincidence or God-planned? I believe there has been a special connection between me and everyone I've met so far that I don't deem as mere coincidence.
In any case, I guess I've had little foundation for my interactions with God. Unfortunately, the Bible seems to often describe events and peoples' actions without describing their feelings and emotions during those connections to God's wonders. And so, I was expecting my journey to all make sense. It all seemed mapped out pretty well in the Bible. As a result, I was trying to be "hyper-spiritual." I wanted to be able to explain everything that happened from a spiritual perspective. That includes my exposure to the ideas of spiritual warfare, speaking in tongues, prophesying, and seeing spiritual beings (like angels and demons). Trying to explain those things to myself, to logically examine them, sort of hurt my brain and tore a little at my heart. Without being raised with those aspects of faith, I struggled, wondering if something was wrong with me if I didn't understand or practice them. Here are some words I wrote after God calmed my heart about those worries:
"I was afraid there was something I should be doing, but was not. How do I know what to do, what to think, what to believe everywhere I go? I am presented with new ideas and new experiences everywhere. I have so much to learn. When I encounter something new I don't always know how to react.
"Those new ideas can complicate things. My thoughts, my faith, whatnot. I will hold fast to my core. To love God with all my heart, soul, and mind and to love my neighbors as myself. I can do that with relative ease. I believe it and I live it. Then there is a confusion about specific practices, seeing spiritual things, etc. that I simply don't know what to do. I will do whatever God tells me to. I won't be afraid of judgement if I do not believe exactly what others believe. God will show me the truth if/when it is time.
"I fell prey to something my pastor Michael warned me about. I was trying to be hyper-spiritual. I was looking for a spiritual reason for everything. My imagination would run wild as a child when reading the Old Testament. Were those stories how I should be experiencing God now? My heart became pressed to find the source of my frustration. It lie in my confusion about spiritual things I could not see nor had any experience with that kept coming up. Am I doing something wrong if I don't know what to believe in regards to spiritual attacks or angels or demons or speaking in tongues or prophesying? I don't understand those things and it made me feel wrong not to understand.
"Well, God called me back to Him in the last couple of days (because I was struggling with those complicated ideas and torn away from the truths I know). He wanted me to understand that I interact with Him in a different way than anyone else. I am no one's carbon copy. God reveals Himself in different ways and gives different instruction to everyone. I simply go where He tells me and leave my preconceived notions and scared anticipation behind." (6/1 ~1:30pm)
I don't think it's hard to see God's work just about anywhere and I believe we can see His work if we open our eyes to it. Still, my version of seeking His activeness everywhere was both overcomplicated, confusing, and unbeneficial. In the end, I must hold to the foundations built in my heart, seek God's truth, not lose sight of the whole in the midst complicating factors, and trust God has me in hand.
It's tough to dredge up memories from that ride... it was a while ago and I'm not sure how to describe my mood. God had taught me that my outlook on spiritual matters and the purpose of my journey was causing me distress. That was a cause of unease starting even before we left on the trip.
I had romantic or perhaps utopic expectations (or notions) for my journey. You read stories in the Bible about men who go on journeys and interact with God and their stories all seem so grand. I think that I had a deep-seated fear that I would slip up somehow. How would I know exactly what to do at each stop? I feared maybe I was doing something wrong at times. The Bible describes encounters with God and the movement of the Spirit and I was unsure about how exactly I was being instructed to act. I had made my mission statement, but have never known what I would learn. I defined my ideas for trying to connect with God, but what if I missed something important? I didn't really want my pursuit of God to be so structured and even though I've tried to make it structured (by reading the Bible at various break points or praying for a designated period of time) it certainly hasn't worked out the way I plan most of the time. And I think that's okay.
I am a perfectionist and a planner. God's been slowly chipping away at that part of my personality because some things are beyond my control, but I still have a slight tendency to want things to go perfectly according to plan. That said, I haven't planned out much at all for this trip, which may be a good thing from this perspective.
So, will my trip be just like those experiences I've read about in the Bible? It didn't seem to be going that way. Did that mean my mission was a failure or that I'm missing something? I don't think so. The Bible seems to make these stories spectacular. I hold these stories in high regard. Amazing events and miracles take place. There is little explanation in some parts as to how the "characters" react to said events and miracles (i.e. what are their feelings, how do they view God and what He's doing). Was God's purpose for them all drawn out in bold letters that were easy to follow step-by-step? God's instructions seem so clear in the Old Testament. God certainly isn't guiding me that way. That doesn't nullify my mission. Are the people I encounter and meet on the way coincidence or God-planned? I believe there has been a special connection between me and everyone I've met so far that I don't deem as mere coincidence.
In any case, I guess I've had little foundation for my interactions with God. Unfortunately, the Bible seems to often describe events and peoples' actions without describing their feelings and emotions during those connections to God's wonders. And so, I was expecting my journey to all make sense. It all seemed mapped out pretty well in the Bible. As a result, I was trying to be "hyper-spiritual." I wanted to be able to explain everything that happened from a spiritual perspective. That includes my exposure to the ideas of spiritual warfare, speaking in tongues, prophesying, and seeing spiritual beings (like angels and demons). Trying to explain those things to myself, to logically examine them, sort of hurt my brain and tore a little at my heart. Without being raised with those aspects of faith, I struggled, wondering if something was wrong with me if I didn't understand or practice them. Here are some words I wrote after God calmed my heart about those worries:
"I was afraid there was something I should be doing, but was not. How do I know what to do, what to think, what to believe everywhere I go? I am presented with new ideas and new experiences everywhere. I have so much to learn. When I encounter something new I don't always know how to react.
"Those new ideas can complicate things. My thoughts, my faith, whatnot. I will hold fast to my core. To love God with all my heart, soul, and mind and to love my neighbors as myself. I can do that with relative ease. I believe it and I live it. Then there is a confusion about specific practices, seeing spiritual things, etc. that I simply don't know what to do. I will do whatever God tells me to. I won't be afraid of judgement if I do not believe exactly what others believe. God will show me the truth if/when it is time.
"I fell prey to something my pastor Michael warned me about. I was trying to be hyper-spiritual. I was looking for a spiritual reason for everything. My imagination would run wild as a child when reading the Old Testament. Were those stories how I should be experiencing God now? My heart became pressed to find the source of my frustration. It lie in my confusion about spiritual things I could not see nor had any experience with that kept coming up. Am I doing something wrong if I don't know what to believe in regards to spiritual attacks or angels or demons or speaking in tongues or prophesying? I don't understand those things and it made me feel wrong not to understand.
"Well, God called me back to Him in the last couple of days (because I was struggling with those complicated ideas and torn away from the truths I know). He wanted me to understand that I interact with Him in a different way than anyone else. I am no one's carbon copy. God reveals Himself in different ways and gives different instruction to everyone. I simply go where He tells me and leave my preconceived notions and scared anticipation behind." (6/1 ~1:30pm)
I don't think it's hard to see God's work just about anywhere and I believe we can see His work if we open our eyes to it. Still, my version of seeking His activeness everywhere was both overcomplicated, confusing, and unbeneficial. In the end, I must hold to the foundations built in my heart, seek God's truth, not lose sight of the whole in the midst complicating factors, and trust God has me in hand.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Kansas City, Missouri
After taking our bags and bikes into Steve's appartment we headed to a BBQ place for dinner. It was called Pat's (I think) and it was owned by the same family as another nice BBQ joint, but wasn't as expensive. There's one benefit to staying with a local (or, well, someone who knows the area)! I ordered burnt ends, which fortunately weren't too burnt. The BBQ lived up to the hype. I'm not sure how good the meat really tasted because it was so loaded with barbeque sauce. During supper, Stephen some of his story with us (sort of a prodigal son-type story) about his success followed by bad choices and finally, the life he now has in Christ.
We went to an International House of Prayer church service (in a separate building from the 24-hour worship and prayer) around 6:30pm. I was very observant. I heard a lot about IHOP and I wanted to see what I could learn and experience that was new. There wasn't much different in the worship and the service was fairly difficult to pay attention to (especially after a big dinner!). There was a prayer in the beginning about abortion and (I think) Israel that everyone said together. I can't remember what the crowd all said, but I'm sure it's online somewhere. It was against abortion and for Jews to become Christian (if I remember correctly). I nodded on and off for about 20 minutes during the talk, but tried to stay awake. Eventually, I was stark awake as the speaker was talking about Israel. Actually, that's how he started the sermon too. I don't remember what he was saying at this point, but I wrote this down in my phone:
"Is this what we need to hear? Have I less faith if I don't think about the end times? How much should I concern myself with prophecy about the end times? Only as much as what Jesus says to. He told us to love. Why do we care (why do we worry) about what is to come? We do not know. Even the prophets could not know the time of the events to come. So what should we do? We should prepare our hearts and live in the Kingdom of Heaven."
After re-reading that, I think what stuck out to me was the preacher talking about fulfillment of the end times especially in terms of Israel and the middle east. Politics entered the arena a little bit, which always bothers me a little. Listen, I'm not worried about the fulfillment of the end times. They will come when they come and what will happen will happen without me trying to match up events to prophecy. All I can do is live as Jesus taught us and follow him. I have not given enough thought to Biblical prophesy yet and its importance to daily life. Nonetheless, this particular sermon was not edifying to me whatsoever. I will love the people of Israel as much as anyone else in the world.
I could have probably left sooner, as much good as the sermon did for me. Stephen came down from his security perch (he leads some security teams at IHOP) and drove us to the 24-hour worship building. He parked his truck in the back and lead us through the building to the regular entrance. I felt like I was on the "inside" being escorted by Stephen. There were a lot of people sitting and visiting outside. We went into the room and it was fairly unbusy. Still, there was a worship team of probably eight people on stage and maybe 10-15 people in the seats in the crowd. Again, I sat and observed. I tried to think about the words in the songs being sung and thought about the people worshipping up front. Were they able to connect with all the songs they sang for such an extended period of time? I couldn't connect (I was just not in the right state of heart), so we left pretty early. While we were sitting there, a piece of paper caught my eye. This paper had some ground rules about the worship room. You couldn't take your shoes off and you could only dance in designated places. Also, you could pace, but it couldn't interfere with people trying to get in and out of seats. I can understand the need for rules, but some of them seemed goofy or unnecessarily restrictive. I guess if something repeatedly (or often) interferes with others' abilities to worship it should be addressed. But I digress.
We left IHOP and went straight back to the appartment. Stephen addressed the ant problem (a recent infestation... it rained and they were coming in the cracks) with his spray as he had done before. Those ants were crawling everywhere. I hope it hasn't gotten worse. I ended up talking with Stephen about spiritual gifts because he had brought up prophesying earlier. It was useful for me to get a more full explanation of what he meant, instead of assuming I knew what he was talking about. He said that it is all meant for the encouragement of people. I sure don't know how it works (as with so many things spiritual), but I believe it happens. It's important not to lose sight of what spiritual gifts are intended for. Some of them are really outside my realm of understanding and experience, and thus I was frustrated as I encountered stories about them and tried to understand, but couldn't. Stephen said that he wants to know God's voice. He wants it to be so familiar to him that it's like picking up the phone (without caller ID) and being able to identify the caller just by voice.
I went to bed late trying to update my blog. I sacrifice some sleep, but I will appreciate it later as I am able to capture more memories in words.
Tom and I woke up around 7am and Stephen woke up at 7:30am. Steve left 10 minutes later and we were out the door shortly after. We had no plans for places to stay in Missouri, so we would be making a lot of calls that day trying to make arrangements. It turned out the first two days were our toughest to find any help at all, which was very, very discouraging.
We drove to Kansas City, Missouri on Sunday, May 31, 2009.
We went to an International House of Prayer church service (in a separate building from the 24-hour worship and prayer) around 6:30pm. I was very observant. I heard a lot about IHOP and I wanted to see what I could learn and experience that was new. There wasn't much different in the worship and the service was fairly difficult to pay attention to (especially after a big dinner!). There was a prayer in the beginning about abortion and (I think) Israel that everyone said together. I can't remember what the crowd all said, but I'm sure it's online somewhere. It was against abortion and for Jews to become Christian (if I remember correctly). I nodded on and off for about 20 minutes during the talk, but tried to stay awake. Eventually, I was stark awake as the speaker was talking about Israel. Actually, that's how he started the sermon too. I don't remember what he was saying at this point, but I wrote this down in my phone:
"Is this what we need to hear? Have I less faith if I don't think about the end times? How much should I concern myself with prophecy about the end times? Only as much as what Jesus says to. He told us to love. Why do we care (why do we worry) about what is to come? We do not know. Even the prophets could not know the time of the events to come. So what should we do? We should prepare our hearts and live in the Kingdom of Heaven."
After re-reading that, I think what stuck out to me was the preacher talking about fulfillment of the end times especially in terms of Israel and the middle east. Politics entered the arena a little bit, which always bothers me a little. Listen, I'm not worried about the fulfillment of the end times. They will come when they come and what will happen will happen without me trying to match up events to prophecy. All I can do is live as Jesus taught us and follow him. I have not given enough thought to Biblical prophesy yet and its importance to daily life. Nonetheless, this particular sermon was not edifying to me whatsoever. I will love the people of Israel as much as anyone else in the world.
I could have probably left sooner, as much good as the sermon did for me. Stephen came down from his security perch (he leads some security teams at IHOP) and drove us to the 24-hour worship building. He parked his truck in the back and lead us through the building to the regular entrance. I felt like I was on the "inside" being escorted by Stephen. There were a lot of people sitting and visiting outside. We went into the room and it was fairly unbusy. Still, there was a worship team of probably eight people on stage and maybe 10-15 people in the seats in the crowd. Again, I sat and observed. I tried to think about the words in the songs being sung and thought about the people worshipping up front. Were they able to connect with all the songs they sang for such an extended period of time? I couldn't connect (I was just not in the right state of heart), so we left pretty early. While we were sitting there, a piece of paper caught my eye. This paper had some ground rules about the worship room. You couldn't take your shoes off and you could only dance in designated places. Also, you could pace, but it couldn't interfere with people trying to get in and out of seats. I can understand the need for rules, but some of them seemed goofy or unnecessarily restrictive. I guess if something repeatedly (or often) interferes with others' abilities to worship it should be addressed. But I digress.
We left IHOP and went straight back to the appartment. Stephen addressed the ant problem (a recent infestation... it rained and they were coming in the cracks) with his spray as he had done before. Those ants were crawling everywhere. I hope it hasn't gotten worse. I ended up talking with Stephen about spiritual gifts because he had brought up prophesying earlier. It was useful for me to get a more full explanation of what he meant, instead of assuming I knew what he was talking about. He said that it is all meant for the encouragement of people. I sure don't know how it works (as with so many things spiritual), but I believe it happens. It's important not to lose sight of what spiritual gifts are intended for. Some of them are really outside my realm of understanding and experience, and thus I was frustrated as I encountered stories about them and tried to understand, but couldn't. Stephen said that he wants to know God's voice. He wants it to be so familiar to him that it's like picking up the phone (without caller ID) and being able to identify the caller just by voice.
I went to bed late trying to update my blog. I sacrifice some sleep, but I will appreciate it later as I am able to capture more memories in words.
Tom and I woke up around 7am and Stephen woke up at 7:30am. Steve left 10 minutes later and we were out the door shortly after. We had no plans for places to stay in Missouri, so we would be making a lot of calls that day trying to make arrangements. It turned out the first two days were our toughest to find any help at all, which was very, very discouraging.
We drove to Kansas City, Missouri on Sunday, May 31, 2009.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Shawnee, Kansas
Bill and two of his daughters droves us to (and through) Lawrence, Kansas after Tom and I were ready. It was probably after 1pm and we had some 30 miles to our destination that evening. Immediately after taking my bike out of the van I noticed my first flat tire of the trip. I guess it's fortunate I wasn't riding when it happened. Bill helped change and pump the tire and bid us farewell.
The first half of the scenery for our ride was gorgeous. We stopped in a park and ate some fruit (and I made a call or two, which is not preferred over reading scripture or catching up with Tom, but it's necessary). Eventually, the highway was four lane again and we hit some steep hills on approach to Shawnee. We took highway 7 south and navigated to Ja'Zan's neighborhood. I didn't call Ja'Zan to update her on our location or ETA, but she had expected us to arrive while she and her family were at a city-wide workday for their church (in conjunction with 10 or 11 other churches). That said, Ja'Zan told us to come in and make ourselves at home. What amazing trust! She later told me a couple things regarding that: "when it comes down to it, none of that stuff is really mine" and jokingly, "if you could have taken a TV with you on your bike, good for you!" On a more serious note, she said that she had just read the scripture about welcoming strangers because you don't know if you will be entertaining angels. Somehow, her soul was at peace with inviting us in.
It ended up that we did not arrive before they came back from their service in the city. Ja'Zan showered us with hospitality. She had welcome baskets and two rooms set for us! We ate some chicken and salads (one was the typical leafy kind and one was a concoction of fruit) for dinner that night (great work, Chuck!). Tom and I learned about the project they worked on during the day (furnishing and finishing some rooms at an old appartment complex where they are now helping people get back on their feet) and I shared my testimony (about the trip) with Ja'Zan. We got to meet two of their kids, Wyatt and Holly and learn about their lives. Ja'Zan also shared about her daughter, Ellie, who is off in California trying to get her book published (a fantasy-type book, I think) and adjust to life in a new environment. All in all, I thought they have a beautiful family and I was blown away by their example of openness and love to me and Tom. Ja'Zan also bought my some cough suppressant before bedtime. That has been useful. After my sore throat subsided (it started in St. Francis and improved by Bennington) a cough settled in, but it's getting better now!
We had pancakes for breakfast and we to the church service at 10am. The service was nice and I loved worship and seeing the programs they have for the kids there. Based on what Ja'Zan told me about their missions programs (that's what she does with the church) they are very strategic and have a well-coordinated effort to spread the kingdom (especially in Thailand, India, and South Africa). While at church, I couldn't help but think "what if everyone in the church came alive?" The guest pastor asked how many people had helped in the city-wide service day. A small portion of the church raised their hands. What if all these people had raised their hands? How marvelous would that be... That's not to say that they are not "alive," but if everyone was proactive in some way about spreading the kingdom and glory of God I cannot imagine the wonders that would result.
After church, Ja'Zan gave us a tour of Shawnee and the Shawnee Missions Park (which looked like a spectacular recreation spot). We had grilled cheese and ham for lunch and then hopped in the Expedition to go to the Missouri side of Kansas City. They took us through the Plaza and we got to see some of the city. It was beautiful.
We arrived at Stephen's appartment complex around 4pm. He was outside waiting. I didn't know what to expect (we'd gotten his number from a friend, John, from school). We said a too-soon-goodbye to our new family in Shawnee and went upstairs with Stephen. He is a 29 year-old from Georgia (with the accent to prove it). He was dressed in blue jeans and a white t-shirt, with aviator sunglasses, and a tattoo on his right arm. He looked like one cool dude. And his heart turned out to be a tender one. He was very cool and collected and had a lot to share about his walk with the Lord.
We rode to Shawnee, Kansas on Saturday, May 30, 2009.
The first half of the scenery for our ride was gorgeous. We stopped in a park and ate some fruit (and I made a call or two, which is not preferred over reading scripture or catching up with Tom, but it's necessary). Eventually, the highway was four lane again and we hit some steep hills on approach to Shawnee. We took highway 7 south and navigated to Ja'Zan's neighborhood. I didn't call Ja'Zan to update her on our location or ETA, but she had expected us to arrive while she and her family were at a city-wide workday for their church (in conjunction with 10 or 11 other churches). That said, Ja'Zan told us to come in and make ourselves at home. What amazing trust! She later told me a couple things regarding that: "when it comes down to it, none of that stuff is really mine" and jokingly, "if you could have taken a TV with you on your bike, good for you!" On a more serious note, she said that she had just read the scripture about welcoming strangers because you don't know if you will be entertaining angels. Somehow, her soul was at peace with inviting us in.
It ended up that we did not arrive before they came back from their service in the city. Ja'Zan showered us with hospitality. She had welcome baskets and two rooms set for us! We ate some chicken and salads (one was the typical leafy kind and one was a concoction of fruit) for dinner that night (great work, Chuck!). Tom and I learned about the project they worked on during the day (furnishing and finishing some rooms at an old appartment complex where they are now helping people get back on their feet) and I shared my testimony (about the trip) with Ja'Zan. We got to meet two of their kids, Wyatt and Holly and learn about their lives. Ja'Zan also shared about her daughter, Ellie, who is off in California trying to get her book published (a fantasy-type book, I think) and adjust to life in a new environment. All in all, I thought they have a beautiful family and I was blown away by their example of openness and love to me and Tom. Ja'Zan also bought my some cough suppressant before bedtime. That has been useful. After my sore throat subsided (it started in St. Francis and improved by Bennington) a cough settled in, but it's getting better now!
We had pancakes for breakfast and we to the church service at 10am. The service was nice and I loved worship and seeing the programs they have for the kids there. Based on what Ja'Zan told me about their missions programs (that's what she does with the church) they are very strategic and have a well-coordinated effort to spread the kingdom (especially in Thailand, India, and South Africa). While at church, I couldn't help but think "what if everyone in the church came alive?" The guest pastor asked how many people had helped in the city-wide service day. A small portion of the church raised their hands. What if all these people had raised their hands? How marvelous would that be... That's not to say that they are not "alive," but if everyone was proactive in some way about spreading the kingdom and glory of God I cannot imagine the wonders that would result.
After church, Ja'Zan gave us a tour of Shawnee and the Shawnee Missions Park (which looked like a spectacular recreation spot). We had grilled cheese and ham for lunch and then hopped in the Expedition to go to the Missouri side of Kansas City. They took us through the Plaza and we got to see some of the city. It was beautiful.
We arrived at Stephen's appartment complex around 4pm. He was outside waiting. I didn't know what to expect (we'd gotten his number from a friend, John, from school). We said a too-soon-goodbye to our new family in Shawnee and went upstairs with Stephen. He is a 29 year-old from Georgia (with the accent to prove it). He was dressed in blue jeans and a white t-shirt, with aviator sunglasses, and a tattoo on his right arm. He looked like one cool dude. And his heart turned out to be a tender one. He was very cool and collected and had a lot to share about his walk with the Lord.
We rode to Shawnee, Kansas on Saturday, May 30, 2009.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Topeka, Kansas
I went to bed the night before somewhat believing that we'd be okay the next couple days. That night I had my third big pang of fear so far this trip. The first occurred the night before I left, when the difficulty of this journey was made more clear (because I would start the first day sleep deprived and saying goodbye to my family was too fast). The second occurred before leaving for Cope as the desolation between Byers and St. Francis was described in horrific detail (well, it wasn't as bad as I pictured it based on conversations). The third time was due to the uncertainty about the big city (Kansas City), which was accentuated by the falling through of arrangements for a place to stay there. Nonetheless, I tried reassuring myself that I was in God's hands and all would be okay. Before I fell asleep I thought about God's provision for all His creatures (e.g. the birds) and thus how much more He would provide for me and Tom.
Before we rode, it felt appropriate to pray. I was aware of Tom's fear at that point too. I prayed aloud and we left. Tom and I spent a lot more time on breaks than usual on the way to Topeka. I guess for that reason, it was a blessing the roads were flat and we had a tailwind all day. We averaged over 15 mph and only had maybe four hours in the saddle. We took the route out of Manhattan that Zach advised and got on highway 24.
There were a few bad hills early and traffic was heavy (which was foreign at that point because we'd been so isolated for so long). We stopped at a closed gas station and made calls. We snacked. We left. Our next stop was Wamego. I turned on my phone after we went inside the McDonalds. This was when I started to ask Tom about his spiritual mission for the trip. My fears that I was in this alone, that I was seeking God and Tom was not, were made foolish. I need to stop assuming things and getting worked up about those things I really don't know. Tom is quiet and not easy to read. If I want to know something, I need to not beat around the bush and just ask.
I was just starting to get some meat out of the conversation when I received a phone call! It was Ja'Zan in Shawnee, Kansas returning a call from that morning. Praise God! She was so excited to welcome us into her life and her home. Simply amazing. She gave us directions to her home and told us to make ourselves at home when we arrived (she was expecting us to beat her there since there was a big city-wide service project going on that Saturday that her family participated in). Unfortunately, I got to business right after talking with Ja'Zan instead of continuing the conversation with Tom. I called the only church we had reached prior to that day in Topeka, the Faith Family Life Center. Dean (from Cope) recommended we call that church because of a connection he had to the pastor there. I spoke with the pastor (Phil) while in Junction City the day before and I received no indication at that time whether they would be able to help. When I called again in Wamego, the secretary, Vicki, answered warmly and said that they had found someone to take care of us for the evening. In a matter of minutes, any residual fear from the night before was blown away. How great is our God!
We took two hours for lunch in Wamego instead of the usual one trying to make phone calls to the upcoming cities' churches. There was nothing new. We left and made good time. Our next big stop was in St. Mary's, where we were going to relax in a park and make... you guessed it, more phone calls (you see, we really were trying to give as much advanced notice as possible. It just hasn't worked out according to our plans). As I was taking some pictures of historical artifacts in the park, a man approached Tom and asked him what we were doing. Tom's response was that we are riding to the east coast on a spiritual journey! I was so impressed that Tom was straightforward in telling this man about the spiritual side of our mission when just a couple days before I hadn't believed in Tom's commitment to the spiritual mission at all.
So, we met Karl. I got to learn about Karl's sons and his interest in biking. I learned about his job and his men's ministry at church. It was awesome to share our story with him and to hear about his walk with the Lord. Our common interest in living in a relationship with Christ should bring Christians (even strangers) closer together like this all the time. I felt encouraged by Karl. Karl prayed for us and even helped Tom on the route planning (as I made more phone calls, der). Before we parted ways, I asked Karl if there was anything we could pray for him for. And he did share some things he's going through that we could pray for. On the next leg of the ride, I remember being full of joy and wonder at God's amazing ways of bringing people together. In my rejoicing, it was easy to pray for Karl and for others I have met on this journey.
Time flies when you're having fun. We reached Topeka. It was a scorcher (up to 92 degrees?). No worries, I drank a lot of water. Topeka was scary riding. The highway was fast and furious with cars. I'm glad we didn't get hit. We went north on Topeka Blvd and found the church. After going inside we sat and waited with Vicki and a young man named Jamon (and his three nieces) as arrangements for the evening fell into place. The first family Tom and I were supposed to stay with ended up having to cancel. So, Jamon's mom was going to take us in (but she lived all the way back in Wamego). Jamon's mom was going to feed us dinner, however. Vicki made a phone call to some people, ultimately choosing to call Bill and Michelle. She knew that Bill had experience bicycling and thought it would be a good fit. Bill agreed to have us (and it didn't seem to take much convincing).
Bill drove to the church and waited for us to finish our dinner (chicken and salad, yum!) before taking us and our bikes to his home. What an interesting home! The first thing I noticed was his son, Solomon, playing with his BB gun in the backyard (it looked like a young boy's dream - a place for adventure and imagination) and a really cute black puppy. We brought the bikes in the yard and took our bags in the house. Bill's wife Michelle did not seem phased at all by our presence even though she couldn't have known for long that we'd be staying there. This house looked like... uh, I don't even know how to describe it. Maybe eclectic. It was free from rules. There was creativity bouncing off the walls. The atmosphere was relaxed and cool.
Tom and I took showers and Bill drove us and two of his daughters (Isabelle and Arynne) to the worship service at church. It was a good experience. I was drowsy (so the message did not stick with me extremely well), there's no denying that. That makes the passage about the spirit being willing, but the body being weak (Matthew 26:41) so much more real to me. Bill played a soprano sax on the stage and that was sweet. Afterwards, several of those in attendance prayed for me and Tom. God has used those such prayers as such great encouragement for me on this journey.
We stayed up a while that night just hanging out. The family definitely had a special relationship. They were not your typical family... they were just so open and playful with one another. It was a lot of fun. Bill and Michelle have definitely instilled many great values in the lives of these youngsters. Bill gave me and Tom a lot of advice on our upcoming travels. He shared some of his stories (he's ridden great distances across this country about six times) and encouraged us to buy new tires in the morning (which we did, thanks to him driving us to the shop and waiting for us to get ready) and lose some weight (from our packs, that is). Bill also volunteered to ship the unnecessary gear (he had us take a gander at our loads and think about whether we really needed some of it) back to my parent's house. The time we spent there was invaluable. We tuned our bikes up and got some great advice and new parts (the tires and a little valve converting piece for pumping our tires). I don't know how things have worked out so well for me and Tom. In regards to the people we've met, the safety we've had, and lack of major issues.
One thing that Michelle suggested is that I look into is the Messianic Jew explanations of the New Testament and Jesus. She said it can shed new light on a lot of different passages that meant something very different in context than what we have interpreted them as. It should be interesting. I will definitely keep it in mind.
Before we left the house in the morning, the youngest daughter, Isabelle, annointed us and Michelle prayed for us. Bill drove us to Lawrence (halfway from Topeka to Kansas City) to save us some time since we went shopping for the spare tires and were far behind schedule.
We rode to Topeka, Kansas on Friday, May 29, 2009.
Before we rode, it felt appropriate to pray. I was aware of Tom's fear at that point too. I prayed aloud and we left. Tom and I spent a lot more time on breaks than usual on the way to Topeka. I guess for that reason, it was a blessing the roads were flat and we had a tailwind all day. We averaged over 15 mph and only had maybe four hours in the saddle. We took the route out of Manhattan that Zach advised and got on highway 24.
There were a few bad hills early and traffic was heavy (which was foreign at that point because we'd been so isolated for so long). We stopped at a closed gas station and made calls. We snacked. We left. Our next stop was Wamego. I turned on my phone after we went inside the McDonalds. This was when I started to ask Tom about his spiritual mission for the trip. My fears that I was in this alone, that I was seeking God and Tom was not, were made foolish. I need to stop assuming things and getting worked up about those things I really don't know. Tom is quiet and not easy to read. If I want to know something, I need to not beat around the bush and just ask.
I was just starting to get some meat out of the conversation when I received a phone call! It was Ja'Zan in Shawnee, Kansas returning a call from that morning. Praise God! She was so excited to welcome us into her life and her home. Simply amazing. She gave us directions to her home and told us to make ourselves at home when we arrived (she was expecting us to beat her there since there was a big city-wide service project going on that Saturday that her family participated in). Unfortunately, I got to business right after talking with Ja'Zan instead of continuing the conversation with Tom. I called the only church we had reached prior to that day in Topeka, the Faith Family Life Center. Dean (from Cope) recommended we call that church because of a connection he had to the pastor there. I spoke with the pastor (Phil) while in Junction City the day before and I received no indication at that time whether they would be able to help. When I called again in Wamego, the secretary, Vicki, answered warmly and said that they had found someone to take care of us for the evening. In a matter of minutes, any residual fear from the night before was blown away. How great is our God!
We took two hours for lunch in Wamego instead of the usual one trying to make phone calls to the upcoming cities' churches. There was nothing new. We left and made good time. Our next big stop was in St. Mary's, where we were going to relax in a park and make... you guessed it, more phone calls (you see, we really were trying to give as much advanced notice as possible. It just hasn't worked out according to our plans). As I was taking some pictures of historical artifacts in the park, a man approached Tom and asked him what we were doing. Tom's response was that we are riding to the east coast on a spiritual journey! I was so impressed that Tom was straightforward in telling this man about the spiritual side of our mission when just a couple days before I hadn't believed in Tom's commitment to the spiritual mission at all.
So, we met Karl. I got to learn about Karl's sons and his interest in biking. I learned about his job and his men's ministry at church. It was awesome to share our story with him and to hear about his walk with the Lord. Our common interest in living in a relationship with Christ should bring Christians (even strangers) closer together like this all the time. I felt encouraged by Karl. Karl prayed for us and even helped Tom on the route planning (as I made more phone calls, der). Before we parted ways, I asked Karl if there was anything we could pray for him for. And he did share some things he's going through that we could pray for. On the next leg of the ride, I remember being full of joy and wonder at God's amazing ways of bringing people together. In my rejoicing, it was easy to pray for Karl and for others I have met on this journey.
Time flies when you're having fun. We reached Topeka. It was a scorcher (up to 92 degrees?). No worries, I drank a lot of water. Topeka was scary riding. The highway was fast and furious with cars. I'm glad we didn't get hit. We went north on Topeka Blvd and found the church. After going inside we sat and waited with Vicki and a young man named Jamon (and his three nieces) as arrangements for the evening fell into place. The first family Tom and I were supposed to stay with ended up having to cancel. So, Jamon's mom was going to take us in (but she lived all the way back in Wamego). Jamon's mom was going to feed us dinner, however. Vicki made a phone call to some people, ultimately choosing to call Bill and Michelle. She knew that Bill had experience bicycling and thought it would be a good fit. Bill agreed to have us (and it didn't seem to take much convincing).
Bill drove to the church and waited for us to finish our dinner (chicken and salad, yum!) before taking us and our bikes to his home. What an interesting home! The first thing I noticed was his son, Solomon, playing with his BB gun in the backyard (it looked like a young boy's dream - a place for adventure and imagination) and a really cute black puppy. We brought the bikes in the yard and took our bags in the house. Bill's wife Michelle did not seem phased at all by our presence even though she couldn't have known for long that we'd be staying there. This house looked like... uh, I don't even know how to describe it. Maybe eclectic. It was free from rules. There was creativity bouncing off the walls. The atmosphere was relaxed and cool.
Tom and I took showers and Bill drove us and two of his daughters (Isabelle and Arynne) to the worship service at church. It was a good experience. I was drowsy (so the message did not stick with me extremely well), there's no denying that. That makes the passage about the spirit being willing, but the body being weak (Matthew 26:41) so much more real to me. Bill played a soprano sax on the stage and that was sweet. Afterwards, several of those in attendance prayed for me and Tom. God has used those such prayers as such great encouragement for me on this journey.
We stayed up a while that night just hanging out. The family definitely had a special relationship. They were not your typical family... they were just so open and playful with one another. It was a lot of fun. Bill and Michelle have definitely instilled many great values in the lives of these youngsters. Bill gave me and Tom a lot of advice on our upcoming travels. He shared some of his stories (he's ridden great distances across this country about six times) and encouraged us to buy new tires in the morning (which we did, thanks to him driving us to the shop and waiting for us to get ready) and lose some weight (from our packs, that is). Bill also volunteered to ship the unnecessary gear (he had us take a gander at our loads and think about whether we really needed some of it) back to my parent's house. The time we spent there was invaluable. We tuned our bikes up and got some great advice and new parts (the tires and a little valve converting piece for pumping our tires). I don't know how things have worked out so well for me and Tom. In regards to the people we've met, the safety we've had, and lack of major issues.
One thing that Michelle suggested is that I look into is the Messianic Jew explanations of the New Testament and Jesus. She said it can shed new light on a lot of different passages that meant something very different in context than what we have interpreted them as. It should be interesting. I will definitely keep it in mind.
Before we left the house in the morning, the youngest daughter, Isabelle, annointed us and Michelle prayed for us. Bill drove us to Lawrence (halfway from Topeka to Kansas City) to save us some time since we went shopping for the spare tires and were far behind schedule.
We rode to Topeka, Kansas on Friday, May 29, 2009.
Manhattan, Kansas
I was refreshed after Bennington. It was well with my soul. For a day I forgot any concerns I had at all and just enjoyed the ride. It was a beautiful one. Everything seemed to be lightened by splendor and majesty. It was like a painting. Picture perfect everywhere. The sun was shining and the colors of everything so brilliant and clear.
We rode 40 miles to Junction City before lunch. It was by no means very difficult. I think my muscles have developed since week one. I took the day breath-by-breath enjoying God's glorious creation. Tom and I stopped in the park at 6th St. and Washington (in Junction City) and relaxed for an hour. I could not have enjoyed the day more.
We continued north from the park into Ft. Riley. My grandpa was stationed there in 1956-57 and my Aunt Karen was born in Junction City. I have never been on a military base and I really had no idea what to expect. Some folks in Bennington warned us that we might not have access to the base because of increased security after 9-11. So, I called in advance and made sure it was permissable. Fortunately, we were able to enter after showing our state IDs. The base was beautiful and the people were buzzing around. It was sort of utopic from my perspective. Some people in a dog park, military personnel driving past us (each appeared to be on a quest or mission - even if that be just going home), families with their kids on playgrounds... everything was peaceful and serene. The army helicopter flying overhead didn't disturb the scene either. Everything seemed in its place.
When we made it through the base, we entered construction and traffic like we hadn't experienced since Denver. That should have been nerve-wracking, but I ignored the danger and pressed on. Traffic got even worse when we were inside Manhattan. We got honked at (in an aggressive, not playful manner) for the first time since Denver and there were no bike lanes or shoulders. We pulled over and called Teresa (my friend Jeff's girlfriend who just graduated from Kansas State) who gave us directions to campus and later to her house. We struggled for a while to get there, but arrived around 4:30 pm and settled in waiting for her roommate Zach to come home from work (he does research at his school regarding his major, animal sciences).
Zach was very hospitable. He's the youngest host we've had at 22 and he took great care of us. It was good to learn about him, his school, and his family's farm. We went out to eat at Pat's Barbeque, which was one of the more Manhattan-y places in town (you know, a place that is distinct in the city, not a franchise) according to his girlfriend. He bought us fried pickles as the appetizer and later at home he gave us access to his fridge (which Tom couldn't make use of because it was mostly full of beer and margarita mix ;) ). Zach was super friendly and I was glad to have met him.
The only thing I regret now is that I believe I short-changed Zach. Not in a financial sense, although he certainly gave me and Tom more than could be expected in that realm too. What I mean is, I did not engage him in any kind of spiritual conversation. I was afraid to breech the subject because I thought it might be awkward. Well, for crying out loud, I told him about a fairly personal (and awkward) health problem my youngest brother was having at the time. If that wasn't too much to bring up, why should a spiritual topic be. I don't know if he knows why we were riding our bikes across the country. I could have asked him how he was doing with his faith or if he needed any prayer. I will call him ASAP and tell him I'm sorry I wasn't open about that part of my trip with him and see what happens from there. I shouldn't be afraid to declare what I believe and why I live each day even if it might be awkward.
Zach bid us farewell and left for work early in the morning. Tom and I left late. I had to try to make phone calls to try and find a place to stay in Topeka and Kansas City. At that point we had no place to stay in the upcoming days. No plans whatsoever. We thought we'd have a place to stay in Kansas City for sure because a girl from church has parents there, but that sadly fell through (by the way, please don't worry about it Libbey. It was beyond your control and God still provided for us!). The night before, I felt a pang of fear about not having anywhere to stay in a big city. I did not want to get caught in the wrong part of town at the wrong time of day. Tom and I decided to try and stop in Shawnee, Kansas for Saturday night and Lee's Summit, Missouri the next night, so I got some phone numbers and we tried calling them in the morning. I left a lot of messages. I guess churches weren't really open that early. We were ready to leave around 9:30 am.
We rode to Manhattan, Kansas on Thursday, May 28, 2009.
Note: Did you know that Kansas is the number one producer of wheat in the US? I didn't. Thanks, Zach!
We rode 40 miles to Junction City before lunch. It was by no means very difficult. I think my muscles have developed since week one. I took the day breath-by-breath enjoying God's glorious creation. Tom and I stopped in the park at 6th St. and Washington (in Junction City) and relaxed for an hour. I could not have enjoyed the day more.
We continued north from the park into Ft. Riley. My grandpa was stationed there in 1956-57 and my Aunt Karen was born in Junction City. I have never been on a military base and I really had no idea what to expect. Some folks in Bennington warned us that we might not have access to the base because of increased security after 9-11. So, I called in advance and made sure it was permissable. Fortunately, we were able to enter after showing our state IDs. The base was beautiful and the people were buzzing around. It was sort of utopic from my perspective. Some people in a dog park, military personnel driving past us (each appeared to be on a quest or mission - even if that be just going home), families with their kids on playgrounds... everything was peaceful and serene. The army helicopter flying overhead didn't disturb the scene either. Everything seemed in its place.
When we made it through the base, we entered construction and traffic like we hadn't experienced since Denver. That should have been nerve-wracking, but I ignored the danger and pressed on. Traffic got even worse when we were inside Manhattan. We got honked at (in an aggressive, not playful manner) for the first time since Denver and there were no bike lanes or shoulders. We pulled over and called Teresa (my friend Jeff's girlfriend who just graduated from Kansas State) who gave us directions to campus and later to her house. We struggled for a while to get there, but arrived around 4:30 pm and settled in waiting for her roommate Zach to come home from work (he does research at his school regarding his major, animal sciences).
Zach was very hospitable. He's the youngest host we've had at 22 and he took great care of us. It was good to learn about him, his school, and his family's farm. We went out to eat at Pat's Barbeque, which was one of the more Manhattan-y places in town (you know, a place that is distinct in the city, not a franchise) according to his girlfriend. He bought us fried pickles as the appetizer and later at home he gave us access to his fridge (which Tom couldn't make use of because it was mostly full of beer and margarita mix ;) ). Zach was super friendly and I was glad to have met him.
The only thing I regret now is that I believe I short-changed Zach. Not in a financial sense, although he certainly gave me and Tom more than could be expected in that realm too. What I mean is, I did not engage him in any kind of spiritual conversation. I was afraid to breech the subject because I thought it might be awkward. Well, for crying out loud, I told him about a fairly personal (and awkward) health problem my youngest brother was having at the time. If that wasn't too much to bring up, why should a spiritual topic be. I don't know if he knows why we were riding our bikes across the country. I could have asked him how he was doing with his faith or if he needed any prayer. I will call him ASAP and tell him I'm sorry I wasn't open about that part of my trip with him and see what happens from there. I shouldn't be afraid to declare what I believe and why I live each day even if it might be awkward.
Zach bid us farewell and left for work early in the morning. Tom and I left late. I had to try to make phone calls to try and find a place to stay in Topeka and Kansas City. At that point we had no place to stay in the upcoming days. No plans whatsoever. We thought we'd have a place to stay in Kansas City for sure because a girl from church has parents there, but that sadly fell through (by the way, please don't worry about it Libbey. It was beyond your control and God still provided for us!). The night before, I felt a pang of fear about not having anywhere to stay in a big city. I did not want to get caught in the wrong part of town at the wrong time of day. Tom and I decided to try and stop in Shawnee, Kansas for Saturday night and Lee's Summit, Missouri the next night, so I got some phone numbers and we tried calling them in the morning. I left a lot of messages. I guess churches weren't really open that early. We were ready to leave around 9:30 am.
We rode to Manhattan, Kansas on Thursday, May 28, 2009.
Note: Did you know that Kansas is the number one producer of wheat in the US? I didn't. Thanks, Zach!
Bennington, Kansas pt. 2
As I rode today, I realized that I did not do the Bennington Bible Church community enough justice in my last post. Here's some more:
Without reservation Carolyn loved me and Tom. There were no questions asked and we were accepted in their church. Her support for my mission reaffirmed in me the importance of this journey, even if I did not really have a clue what I was doing. She is definitely one of the sweetest women I have ever met.
What set Bennington Bible Church apart? Why did it feel different? I think it was the immediate acceptance of me, a stranger, and the care that everyone I met had about my life. It was outstanding. Not only did they love me, but they loved the Lord and I could see that in their commitment to reading scripture, praying, and worship. Their community (the contingent I saw anyways) was a beautiful sight to behold in their pursuit of growing relationships with God.
A comment that was made after Carolyn, Pat, Tom, and I had pizza for dinner was that "this is what being Christian is all about." About fellowshiping, loving one another, and loving God. It was an awesome time.
On our last morning there, Becca and Pat made us breakfast. They woke up early (I wanna say food was being cooked by 6:30 am) and served us. I wanted to get a picture with Pat in it too, but she politely declined on account of not being ready. I had a sudden urge (maybe a moment later) to tell both Pat and Becca that they might not have been "presentable" for a photo op, but they were certainly beautiful in God's eyes exactly as they were that moment (and they were beautiful to me too :) ).
Without reservation Carolyn loved me and Tom. There were no questions asked and we were accepted in their church. Her support for my mission reaffirmed in me the importance of this journey, even if I did not really have a clue what I was doing. She is definitely one of the sweetest women I have ever met.
What set Bennington Bible Church apart? Why did it feel different? I think it was the immediate acceptance of me, a stranger, and the care that everyone I met had about my life. It was outstanding. Not only did they love me, but they loved the Lord and I could see that in their commitment to reading scripture, praying, and worship. Their community (the contingent I saw anyways) was a beautiful sight to behold in their pursuit of growing relationships with God.
A comment that was made after Carolyn, Pat, Tom, and I had pizza for dinner was that "this is what being Christian is all about." About fellowshiping, loving one another, and loving God. It was an awesome time.
On our last morning there, Becca and Pat made us breakfast. They woke up early (I wanna say food was being cooked by 6:30 am) and served us. I wanted to get a picture with Pat in it too, but she politely declined on account of not being ready. I had a sudden urge (maybe a moment later) to tell both Pat and Becca that they might not have been "presentable" for a photo op, but they were certainly beautiful in God's eyes exactly as they were that moment (and they were beautiful to me too :) ).
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