Day 37 - June 24 - Florissant, MO to Carrolton, IL

Day 37 - June 24 - Florissant, MO to Carrolton, IL (46 miles)

It was hard to leave the Edward's abode!  I can't explain it, but there is a special bond with POM's (Parents of Missionaries).  It's like we get each other, and can share things with them that few others will understand.  Anyway, we were blessed beyond measure!

We crossed the Mighty Mississippi this morning, and it felt great -- like we'd crossed a big hurdle!  Andy and Luey were amazed by the breadth of the river.  Hey, we're east of the Mississippi!  And, tomorrow we will go over 2,000 miles!  Many ask, "How do you do it?"  Each morning I pray, "Lord, give us today our daily bread."  We ask the Lord to provide all we need as we step forward in faith.  And, the Lord has been faithful to provide.

Because the Kingdom belongs to the Lord -- "thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory;" we can ask in the name of  Jesus!  Thank you, Lord Jesus, that we have been chosen to carry the message to all nations!  What a privilege!

Tomorrow it is on to one of our favorite churches -- First Christian, in Beardstown, IL!  They have been partnered with us since we left for Taiwan.  And, Lance and Kim Hampton, our old co-workers, are serving there now.

Lord willing, Noah will be rejoining us tomorrow.  Please pray that his knee (or, tendon) holds up to the miles.

Thank you for praying!
Dave, Luey and Andy

Day 36 - June 23 - St Louis (Ferguson, MO)

Day 36 - June 23 - St Louis (Ferguson, MO - Worship Day)

Today has been an awesome day as we worshipped with the Ferguson Christian Church, a church in the north suburb of St Louis.  The church has just recently moved back into their church building as two years ago a tornado ripped the roof off on Good Friday.

This morning I shared with the SS classes about the "Story Behind Gloritrek."  It's really about trusting God.  So, one kind sister came to talk to me between services with tears in her eyes.  She is a single mother.  I have some experience in being raised by a single mother -- so I am praying for her and her son.  During worship I spoke on "God's Passion for Unreached Peoples."  Because Ferguson Christian Church has been partnered with Chad and Alicia, in Taiwan, they were already familiar with the "10/40 Window."  Also, Larry and Nancy Doggett, long-time missionaries to Africa are members of Ferguson.  Larry still teaches at St Louis Christian College.  One of their daughters, Jenny, and her family, are also missionaries in Mexico, and were with us this morning!  A beautiful family!

At the end of worship the congregation gathered around Luey, Andy and me and prayed for us!  Very moving!  They also received a special offering for Gloritrek!  What kindness and generosity!  Then, we had a wonderful fellowship dinner.  We went away full in every way!

Bob and Jeannie then took us to downtown St Louis and the Gateway Arch.  Luey and Andy were really amazed by its size.  What a unique place it is!  We had a great time by the river!  No sooner than we arrive back at the Edward's home, and the black clouds rolled in ominously and it began to dump rain!  I am sitting on the back porch and the sound of the rain, thunder and lightning is truly deafening!

Tomorrow, Lord willing, we will cross the Mighty Mississippi, and enter Illinois!  Our 8th state!  Lord willing, Noah will rejoin the Gloritrek team in Beardstown on Tuesday!

Isn't it wonderful to be a part of the family of God!
Thank you for praying!
Dave, Luey and Andy

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Day 35 - June 22 - Rolla to St Louis, MO

Day 35 - June 22 - Rolla to St Louis, MO (72 miles)

It is the Lord's Day morning here in St Louis, and we are being hosted by Bob and Jeannie Edwards, the parents of our terrific co-workers in Taiwan, Chad and Alicia Edwards.  It was Chad who designed our t-shirts, bike jerseys, bikes and produced the videos (promo and Noah's).  I'm sitting on the back porch, listening to birds sing as I type this -- "ti how la!"  (that's Chinese for "too good!")  Luey is eating cake for breakfast!

Yesterday was a great day, made much easier by the Edwards!  They e-mailed us early in the week and asked if they could drive out of St Louis and meet us, as it was proving difficult to find a route to N. St Louis -- over the rivers and thru the woods.  No sooner did we meet up with the Edwards, and the Lord opened the heavens and it began to dump rain.  How many times has that happened on this trip!

We went straight-away to a local bike shop and replaced a couple tires!  2000 miles must be the limit for road tires carry saddle bags!  We also found tire liners -- a sheet of plastic that goes between the tire and the tubes that is suppose to be puncture proof -- "ti how la!"

Last night we had a wonderful dinner -- St Louis style barbecue pork chops, and then were forced to watch the Cardinals play!  In between these, we made a call to wish Cordelia Kurtz, from Fisher, IL; a happy 100th birthday!  What a sweet sister in the Lord!  I was her pastor years ago before we made the move to Taiwan!  Cordelia is a woman of strong faith and a true prayer warrior!  We also did a two-day interview with a radio station in Central Illinois.  It will aire on Monday and Tuesday, morning and evening, on WGNJ, Great News Radio!  You can also listen on-line:
http://www.greatnewsradio.org/?page_id=5.

Thank you for praying!
Dave, Luey and Andy

Day 34 - June 21 - Lebanon to Rolla, MO

Day 34 - June 21 - Lebanon to Rolla, MO (57 miles)

We got an early start this morning from Lebanon for two reasons:  1)  to beat the heat, 2) to get an early jump on the hills.  In 57 miles we climbed more than 2500 ft.  It was a really nice morning, and we were encouraged by David and Cammie, from Springfield, who drove by us on I-44 honking and waving!  Cheered on, we arrived in Rolla after only 2 flats (both mine -- #12 and #13), at about 11:30.

We were welcomed by the Christian Campus Fellowship at Missouri University of Science and Technology.  The campus minister, Allen Scofield, is a graduate of Central Christian College, in Moberly; and knows many of our Team Expansion co-workers in Taiwan!  It was great hearing his testimony, and how the Lord is blessing their ministry!

Tonight we have been welcomed by the Chinese Fellowship that meets every Friday evening at the Greentree Christian Church, here in Rolla.  They treated us to a wonderful dinner at a local Asian restaurant, and now we are at the church.  Worship will begin soon, and I will have opportunity to share with them in Chinese!  What doors the Lord is opening for us!  What a blessing!

Tomorrow we are on to St. Louis, and the Christian Church, in Ferguson.  We will be staying with Chad Edwards' parents -- and they have a pool!  :-)

Pictures will come tomorrow!
Thank you for praying!

Dave, Luey and Andy

Day 33 - Springfield to Lebanon, MO

Day 33 - Springfield to Lebanon, MO (35 miles)

As we mentioned in the last blog, David & Cammie live way south and east of Springfield.  So, this morning we loaded the bikes in the back of David's truck and headed toward I-44.  First, we stopped at David's favorite breakfast restaurant!  We didn't know exactly how far it was to Lebanon; we only knew that we were east of Springfield.  As it turns out, we were only 35 miles away from Lebanon.  This was good news, since the last three days have been longer than we'd like to average.

We arrived in Lebanon and went straight to Walmart to pick up a few essentials.  While there, Terry, the preacher at Southern Heights Christian Church, called me.  "Do you have plans for lunch?" he asked.  We rode about a mile, and joined their Prime Time group for a fish fry and coconut creme pie, in a park, by a pond!  It was a beautiful setting and great group of senior citizens!  Just another example of how God is opening doors for us!

Tomorrow we head to Rolla, and the opportunity to speak to a Chinese Fellowship group at Greentree Christian Church.

Missouri is full of hills, but they are more of the long and steady climb variety, rather than the short and steep variety.  Going down a hill, for sometimes several minutes at a time, is a wonderful thing.  I'm not pedaling, but I'm flying along as gravity does its thing!  Sometimes, a tail-breeze will push us along in a similar fashion.  I mention this because when we think about the daunting task of reaching 7,126 UPG's it would be easy to become overwhelmed and feel powerless.  We may think that WE are doing all the work!  Not so!  ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty." (Zech 4:6)  Jesus reminded us to pray, "For thine is the Kingdom, and the power and the glory; forever and ever.  Amen."  No.  The harvest belongs to the Lord!  He will provide all we need to accomplish the task!  As for us, what must we do!  Get in the saddle, and set out in faith!

Thanks for praying!
Dave, Luey and Andy

Day 32 - Joplin to Springfield, MO

Day 32 - Joplin to Springfield, MO (73 miles / 1750 + miles)

We officially went over half-way today!  We estimate Gloritrek to be 3500 miles, so it's all downhill from here!  Okay, not really, but it sounds good!

Thank you, MO, they allow bicycles on the interstate, and so we rode along I-44, plus 1 Gloritrek teammate:  Ted Skiles!  Ted rode halfway with us, so round-trip ended up going as far as we did!  We are relieved to say he arrived back in Joplin safely -- as Ted and Bev will soon celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary!  As long as Ted was with us we didn't have any flat tires.  After he left us we all had flats -- 4 in all!

As we rode closer to Springfield I was thinking, "Oops, I didn't map out how to get to Parkview Christian Church."  Then, in the distance I saw several riders in neon green shirts -- a welcoming party from PCC -- waiting to escort us to the church!  What a blessing!

PCC, a great example of a small church doing big things around the world!  They have people all over the place!  That evening, a great crowd showed up to spit watermelon seed at the missionary!  :-)  It was a beautiful evening outdoors, and a great group of folks!  Here is a small church doing it's part to reach UPG's!  And, they can ride bikes too!  And, spit seeds!

We were hosted by David & Cammie, who live on a ranch way south and east of Springfield.  Cammie is Rene Malaise's sister (Rene has been our web guy for 15 years).  Marjorie, Cammie and Rene's mother is celebrating her 91st birthday, and when I walked in to greet her, she said, "I know your mother!"  Cammie thought Marjorie was loosing it, until we remembered that Marjorie had volunteered at Pleasant Meadows, in Chrisman.  Yes, she does know Elaine, my mother-in-law.  We had a great time talking about my mother-in-law!

Speaking of family, how cool it is to be a part of the family of God!  What a blessing!  We are daily blown away by how God is providing for us and how our message is being received!

Thank you for praying!
Dave, Luey and Andy

Day 31 - June 18 - Vinita, OK to Joplin, MO

Day 31 - June 18 - Vinita, OK to Joplin, MO (65 miles)

Today we left our 5th state, our 6th state and entered our 7th state!  We took about a week to cross Oklahoma, and about an hour to cut through the corner of Kansas and now we're in Missouri!  We were on state highways all morning, and despite several flat tires, arrived in Joplin in the early afternoon.

We were nearly run off the road in Joplin by an old guy in a pick-up truck, leaning out the window and speaking to us in Chinese!  It was Ted Skiles (missionary in Lotung, Taiwan)!

We went to College Heights and then to the campus of Ozark Christian College.  Our hosts were Coach Chris and Dawn Lahm.  How generous and thoughtful they were to us!  I hope to see them again in Taiwan -- maybe at our Sports and English Camp!  :-)

College Heights had me for supper and to speak to their 9:38 group -- missionaries in training -- what a wonderful group!  And, then, they hosted a gathering in their chapel for anyone to attend!  I wish we could clone CHCC, and what they are doing around the world with UPG's!  They have partnered with Team Expansion in several projects!  If there were 7,126 churches like CHCC, there wouldn't be any UPG's left!

Several familiar faces came to the evening program at CHCC:  my Uncle Donald Atkin (hadn't seen him in 20 years), old golf buddies -- Boyd and Blaine Cornwell, Phoebe Reese (from grad school days at LCS), Craig and Emma Thompson (past co-workers from Taiwan) and Ted and Bev Skiles (serving in Lotung at the Home of God's Love orphanage).  What a great crowd!  What a blessing!

Please, please, if you want to adopt a UPG, go spend a few days with College Heights and then go talk to Team Expansion!  You'll not regret doing any of the above -- all for God's glory among the nations!

Thank you for praying!
Dave, Luey and Andy

PS - I know what you might be thinking!  You may say, "CHCC is a mega church, they have a Bible College in their backyard, of course they can do more in the area of missions!"  I don't believe that's the reason for their success!  I believe it comes down to two things:  vision and passion!  CHCC has both, and Jesus said, "I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given!"