We've come a long, long way!

Looking back at where we've been, my heart is filled with thankfulness towards the Lord who helped us through the desert areas at temperatures of 90's to 110F, and over those long high passes with 8 to 10 % grades. We have all gone over those...the young and the old, the strong and fast, and the much slower and determined ones did it too, crawling painfully up the passes in the searing heat! Each of them has earned my respect and love because of their determination and endurance under much hardship.
I have tested and encountered the limits of my physical abilities, but also explored the limitlessness of how high my soul can rise, soar and fly.... I have discovered one can be strong despite being vulnerable... I have seen the most unlikely people do the seemingly impossible ... because they set their hearts on it, believed in God and themselves and had the greatest positive "I can" attitude!!!

We are happy to welcome 60 new faces to the tour, with excitement, hospitality and generosity. I sincerely pray that we all can accept each other without judgement. None of us relly know what another person has to deal with, also healthwise, so who has the right to judge?
"Be kind to one another, because each person has his/her own struggle and is fighting his/her own battle!"

The ball park in Grand Rapids with about 8,000 attending the celebration service.
Arnie, our beloved friend, determinedly hobbling up the incline on his crutches at the ball park in GR. He injured his achilles tendon after traversing the mountains and had to get an operation. His courage and great attitude earned him the respect of us all while he was riding with us!!
You'd never hear a word of complaint from him! Always flashing the greatest smile, even if he looked ready to faint.
Dinner and Peloton in the CRC Woodlawn at Calvin.
Jerry and Linda Dykstra will be joining us on their for the next 2 weeks!!
Below is Snane Claiborne, the speaker at the celebration in GR, and I. What a message! Straight talk about our responsibility to live as real Christians towards doing something real for the poor, without being judgemental or hypocritical. Well worth listening to, this young man!