Gloritrek Friends:

(This posting requires a nearly immediate response!)

Greetings from Taiwan!

I just wanted to let you in on a once in a lifetime opportunity!  Thanks to a connection Jon Ralls has made with a bike clothing manufacturer (and there really are only a few who make the real-deal stuff), we have the opportunity to create our own Gloritrek kits (bike clothes).  And, because we've got this awesome co-worker with mad graphic design skills, Chad Edwards, we've got a really cool bike jersey!  It would be completely wrong of me NOT to offer YOU an opportunity to get your own Gloritrek jersey!

If you want a bike jersey, at $65 USD or $2000 NTD (New Taiwan Dollars), NOW would be the time to reply to this e-mail!  I know that sounds really expensive, but if you haven't priced top of the line jerseys lately, and not the kind you would buy at Dick's, then you'll know this is a really good deal.  Sizes range from XS to 4XL.  But, these tend to run smaller than US sizes.  So, I normally wear a L, but in these I need a size bigger, a XL.  And, if you don't want skin tight, you can go 2 sizes bigger!

Gloritrek cycling caps are also available!  Embroidered with the logo on gray, with yellow side panels (Team Expansion on one side and Psalm 96:3 on the other in a blue print).  Those are $15, or $500 NTD.  They are being made in CA!

Gloritrek T-shirts, in gray and navy blue, will be available later, at about $12.  Made in Joplin! Thanks Biaka!

Gloritrek wristbands, like our "Jesus Loves You" bands, will be available in several colors at about $3 per band.

Of course, any money Gloritrek makes will go to Team Expansion and the trek toward unreached peoples.  However, to make money we'd need to charge more for the item than it actually costs, and in the case of the bike jerseys/hats -- we're not!

In the US you can send a check right away to our amazing forwarding agent, Kathy, and put "Gloritrek jersey" in the memo line.  If you are in Taiwan -- just hand me cash, and I'll get you a receipt.  

Team Expansion

℅ Kathy Murrell

PO Box 51

Bement, IL  61813

217-678-8258

I will place the order next week, March 18th, because they take nearly a month to get done.  Sorry, no orders after that for the bike jersey!  When we receive the shipment of jerseys, we'll make sure you receive yours ASAP, if I have your mailing address! :-)

Sorry, but you only have until the weekend to let me know on the bike jerseys, and the rest will be on the Gloritrek web-site soon.  LASTLY, please pray for Brenda's family, as we just received news that her Uncle Bob passed away.  There are times when it's tough being a missionary, and today is one of those days...

All for God's Glory Among the Nations,

David & Noah Atkin

datkin@teamexpansion.org  / gloritrek@gmail.com

It has been a while since we posted an update about Gloritrek.  So, here are a few things we're working on.

First, and most pressing, is getting dates scheduled along our route.  Even with Emily and several other people assisting, not to mention a mission organization, this is proving to be a challenge.  On any given day we receive e-mails that are an encouragement, and others that discourage.

Kevin & Cindy Grindstaff (the couple on the right in the picture), from Malvern, OH; have been a great encouragement to us!  Is it that I've known them longer than I've known Brenda?  Or, is it that they've been here to Taiwan and seen what we do first-hand?  Or, is it that their daughter is leaving for the mission field soon?  Kevin & Cindy have accepted the challenge of coordinating our last week of Gloritrek from NE Ohio to NYC.  They even drove our proposed bike route, taking note of churches  along the way!  I wrote Cindy recently, and said,

"I believe I could write a book based on the varied responses from churches -- some are amazingly encouraging, and others are much less.  "Sorry, the timing of your visit isn't convenient!"  As if there really would be a convenient time between programs and sermon series to talk about unreached nations.  I wonder if it speaks to the overall health of the church, or more to the known/unknown factor.  That is, we tend to not trust those whom we don't know.  With Gloritrek, this is something we've had to get over real fast -- trusting in people and churches we've never met!  Do we always look with suspicion on strangers, even Christian strangers?  To me, that's really sad!  Perhaps that's why we see the admonition in Hebrews to "entertain strangers."  To be sure, we're not angels; but we do have a unique message which we believe comes from the Lord (BTW, "angel" does literally mean "messenger").  Truly, if it wasn't for the belief that God is sending Noah and me, we wouldn't be doing Gloritrek. After all, I've never put much stalk in visions, so why start now?  Except, like Jonah to Nineveh, our God has a message we're compelled to share; and if we turn our backs and run away not only will we forfeit the opportunity to see God do amazing things among the nations, but we'll continually be looking over our shoulders for some big, old fish to swallow us whole!  Sorry to ramble, Cindy!  Thanks much!  You are a real blessing to us!  Wish I could bottle your spirit and sprinkle droplets on churches from coast to coast, we'd already be set.  Kind of like Lucy's bottle of healing ointment in the "Lion, Witch and Wardrobe."  :-)

Second, we are getting ready to print Gloritrek t-shirts and wristbands!  Chad Edwards, another great encouragement to us, has done a fantastic job on our designs for Gloritrek.  We'll be posting examples on the site soon, with instructions on how to purchase.  We are praying you like them and buy them!  Remember, any money given goes to Team Expansion and the mission of reaching the unreached nations! 

Third, training is going well for Noah and I.  We've done some longer rides, including 60 milers.  We'll be doing another long ride over Easter break.  Just last week, on the 60 miler, I had to dodge traffic twice, with one near miss involving a bus!  Yikes!  Oh, how we need your prayers for safety!

What am I asking the Lord for, more than anything else right now, "Peace!"  "Don't be anxious about anything...!" says Philippians.  I have a long way to go in that department!  :-)  Thank you for praying!