Day 18 - June 5 - Santa Rosa to Tucumcari, NM

Day 18 - June 5 - Santa Rosa to Tucumcari, NM (62 miles)

Don't know that we've ever had a more difficult 100 KM ride!  The wind was against us the whole day - sometimes gusting to 20 MPH.  Our average speed was about 10 MPH.  We were all glad to ride into the La Quinta Hotel this afternoon, at about 2:00 PM.

Brenda sent me this text, which really gave me encouragement -- A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough groundshall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” (Isaiah 40:3-5 NIV)

This is our hope and prayer, that God's glory will be revealed among the nations -- even if it means we ride through the desert!  BTW, we went over 1,000 miles -- nearly 1/3 of the way, in just 2 1/2 weeks.

Tomorrow the wind is suppose to be in our faces again -- and the next destination is Vega, TX, 78 miles away.  Please pray for tail breezes!  

Thank you for praying!
Dave, Luey & Andy

Day 17 - June 4 - Moriarty to Santa Rosa, NM

Day 17 - June 4 - Moriarty to Santa Rosa, NM (83 miles)

We had a nice tail breeze and averaged nearly 15 MPH, in rolling terrain.  We reached Santa Rosa by about 2:00 PM, and was sitting outside a gas station eating a snack.  A man pumping gas said, "You should go to the Blue Hole and cool off."  Sounded like a good idea, so we went.  The Blue Hole is a small pond that is more than 80 ft deep, and the temperature is 62 F.  Luey & Andy wouldn't jump in, but I did.  Wow, was it cold!  My leg muscles instantly seized up though, but it was fun!

Dean, from Moriarty, called ahead to Santa Rosa,and lined up the Fuch Ranch for us to stay at in Santa Rosa.   Diane Fuch, came and got us at the Blue Hole in one of their pickup trucks, and took us to their ranch.  The Ethan & Diane Fuch's ranch is huge, but because of the severe drought, they've had to sell most of their cattle.  They've only had 3.5 inches of rain in the last 3 years.  Diane organized a dinner gathering of about 30 people, and invited me to share with them.  It was a great evening.  Later in the evening, Ethan and their sons got home from a rodeo camp in CO.  It was great meeting these real cowboys!  And, we slept in the bunk house!  How cool is that!

Jesus is the "Water of Life," and as I reflected on the situation in NE New Mexico, I was reminded of how nothing survives without water.  7,126 UPG's living in drought conditions without Jesus -- how urgently they need to hear!

Thank you for praying!
Dave, Luey & Andy

Day 16 - June 3 - ABQ to Moriarity, NM

Day 16 - June 3 - ABQ to Moriarity, NM (40 miles)

We tackled that big mountain today, and with no saddle bags to weight us down, we were able to reach Moriarity in under 4 hours, before noon -- which is always our goal.

We are staying with the Schwebach family, who own and operate a farm, growing all kinds of vegetables.  In fact, in this area, their produce is famous!  The four children:  Nathan, Ellysia, Dominic and Adelaida are a lot of fun, and very talented!  Dean & Ive, have lead a house church for many years, so we have a lot in common with the simple church structure we use in Taiwan!

What a blessing a home filled with love is!  What a blessing Christian hospitality is?  We even had fresh milk straight from the cow with our cookies!

I'd love to write more, but it is time for dinner and it smells delicious!  I'll post some pictures with this tomorrow!  We'll be on a cattle ranch in Santa Rosa!

Thank you for praying!
Dave, Luey & Andy

Day 15 - June 2 - Albuquerque (Rest Day)

Day 15 - June 2 - Albuquerque (Rest Day)

I wrote a nice long blog update yesterday, but apparently forgot to click "Publish."  Still learning.

We had a wonderful time with Ron & Joy Hunter.  They were awesome hosts.  They even helped us set up a place to stay in Moriarty, and also volunteered to drive our bags over the mountains.  What a blessing!

On the Lord's Day, we also shared at the Hoffmantown Church, with Ron & Joy's large SS class.  Afterward, we visited a mega-church, Calvary Church of ABQ.  Luey & Andy were amazed!

Later, we joined with Ron & Joy's daughter, Jennifer, and her family.  We had strawberry shortcake!  It was a great day.

As I typed the original blog, I related what Paul said "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Phil 3:13b-14)  But, what if what is ahead is a big old mountain?  From whom will we draw our strength?  The same God who made that mountain can also provide all that we need to face the road ahead -- without FEAR!  How hard it is to not to be afraid?

Thank you for praying!
Dave, Luey & Andy

Day 14 - June 1 - Grants to Albuquerque, NM

Day 14 - June 1 - Grants to Albuquerque, NM (85 miles today / 866 total miles )

Today was a long day!  The welcome to ABQ is "9 Mile Hill," which lives up to its reputation!  Three flats today, one for each of us!  We all struggled at times today -- not sure if it was the altitude or too much Chinese food last night.  Also, we fought a cross wind most of the day, which turned into a head wind at times.  There are forest fires north of ABQ, and we saw the smoke rising from there most of the day.

Speaking of hard days, there will be those days when your resolve is tested  -- especially in missions work.  Can we give up when the lost have yet to hear?

We are being treated wonderfully by Ron & Joy Hunter, which came through a contact with Ted & Bev Skiles.  Ron is retired from the FBI!  Tonight they took us out to a wonderful Mexican restaurant, and for dessert we had sopapillas -- a first for Andy & Luey!

Tomorrow we will attend Hoffmantown Church, with the Hunters.  It is a mega-church and I will be sharing with a large SS class.  We are looking forward to a day off!  We did lots of climbing this week, with one more day on Monday, to Moriarty, NM.  After that, it's pretty much downhill to Texas!

Noah and Emily made it safely back to Central Illinois this afternoon -- even the bike made it!  Special thanks to Chuck & Kathy Foreman, for hosting Noah while we made travel arrangements!  What a blessing they are to us!

Brenda is finished with teaching at MCA, and will spend the next few days getting the house and church ready for us being gone over the summer.  She will then fly to Portland to see friends, and then on to Tulsa to meet us there in two weeks, Lord willing.

Thank you for your prayers, as they really are sustaining us during these long days!

Blessings!
Dave, Luey & Andy

Day 13 - May 31 - Gallup to Grants, NM

Day 13 - May 31 - Gallup to Grants, NM (66 miles)

Mid-way today we crossed the Continent Divide.  Last night, I Skyped with Brenda and she asked, "Why does it always seem like you're going up hill?"  Well....we finally got to do a little downhill today!

We made good time today, sometimes cruising at 20 mph, aided by a tail breeze from the Lord.  We did, however, have 4 1/2 flats today.  I had one (my 2nd).  Luey had 2 1/2 (he rode the third into Grants before it went down), and Andy had a flat before we ever left Gallup.  So glad Luey is an expert at changing flats!

The vistas along I-40 are really spectacular.  Reaching the top of another hill, we are almost always rewarded with a grand landscape in front of us.  Our God is an amazing God!  What diversity in God's creation! Reminds me of the nations -- what diversity there too!  Our God is the Creator of all!

Tomorrow we have about 80 miles into Albuquerque.  And, thanks to Ted & Bev Skiles, our co-workers in Taiwan; we now have a place to stay and a church to visit.  I'll say more about that tomorrow.

Thank you for praying!  As we had our first "close call" today.  We actually had to ride  in the slow lane on the interstate for a 10 mile stretch.  Two 18-wheelers passed us side-by-side and doing 75 mph.  Thank you, Lord!

Blessings!
Dave, Luey & Andy

Day 12 - May 30 - Holbrook, AZ to Gallup, NM

Day 12 - May 30 - Holbrook, AZ to Gallup, NM (94 miles)

We're smack-dab in the middle of the Painted Desert.  From Holbrook we left at 5 AM for a long day in the saddle.  We made good time today, despite the nearly 1000 ft of ascent; bolstered by a strong westerly breeze pushing us along.  We stopped several times near the AZ/NM border to take pictures of the cliffs.  We stopped again at the NM welcome center and spent several minutes talking to motorists.  Nine hours of riding today.

I had my first flat tire today, Luey has had 4, and Andy leads with 5 flats.  I made it through CA and AZ without a flat!  Not bad, I'd say, since we've now ridden 1,180 KM / 621 miles.

We appreciate your prayers, as we have experienced several times the Lord providing in special ways; either through people or weather conditions.  Like today, the wind was at our backs most of the day; and it didn't really get too hot until our last hour in the saddle.  In the mornings, we are down-right chilly!

However, if you are praying for us, will you also remember to pray Luke 10:2 with us?  My watch alarm goes off every morning at 10:02, and I am reminded to pray to the "Lord of the Harvest" for laborers to be sent into the harvest fields.  Otherwise, why are we spending hours in the saddle each day?  I fully expect to see God move in amazing ways -- we've already begun to see it!

The other night I closed my presentation by saying, "We know that heaven will include every tribe, people and nation.  Revelation gives us a glimpse of it.  The only question is -- will it happen that the nations all hear in spite of you, or because of you?  God can do amazing things through those who trust him and step forward in faith.

So, pray for us -- YES!  But even more, pray for the 7,126 UPG's who have yet to hear the Gospel!

Blessings!
Dave, Luey & Andy

PS - Emily made it safely to PHX this afternoon, and will spend a day with the Foreman's, before Noah and Em return to Central Illinois.  Thank you for praying for them too!