Rev's Final Reflections

Byron Center, MI

Written by Rev

As we pulled off the ferry and arrived into Ludington, my excitement exploded like a geyser. I was ecstatic to be back in Michigan even though I knew that we had about 3 hours left of traveling. It was a blessing to be back in what us Michiganders call the mitten.

I am now sitting at my parent’s home at my desk, typing on my laptop trying to figure out what to write about a 52 day trip that was 8,603.1 miles long and covered 28 states. This is going to be tough.

There were many things that stuck out to me along the way and if I were to name them all; it would take forever to write. So this is going to be in summary and if you want to know more, feel free to email or ask me in person.

Leaving Michigan in the freezing cold and then having 5 days of rain caused me to wonder if I was ready for this all. Soon and very soon it became evident that this trip must happen as God worked marvelously in many different ways. God works in many ways and before this trip I thought I had seen it all. I was wrong.

There were times when I was discouraged and God provided a beautiful day, a smile or wave from a stranger, an air mattress, places to sleep, places to eat, a text from a person back home with a verse in it, or a conversation with a stranger about justice or a prayer from a stranger. God is good.

It was amazing to see the country that I live in: the United States of America. There is a song that is title, “America the Beautiful.” I was wondering how true this was as we planned to cover most of the climates in America. Everything from desert to mountains, to plains, to hills, to grass, to forests, to many bodies of water; God created them all and they are beautiful. It gave me a whole new appreciation for God the Creator. It was absolutely amazing to see two oceans as well as the different land changes as we traveled. Our biggest temperature change in one day was from almost freezing to 100 degrees! The mountains were beautiful, the plains were beautiful, and the trees were beautiful, each body of water was gorgeous, the snow was amazing and the hilly and curvy roads were excellent.

I was meditating on Matthew 6:24-35 as we journeyed along and this passage talks about worrying. Jesus says in verse 26, “Look at the birds of the air….and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much valuable than they?” This caused me to really focus on two aspects: first, how valuable I am and second, how God will take care of me.

First, how valuable I am. I am not being arrogant, but the same God who created his world, the trees, grass, scorpions, the Colorado River, the Mississippi River, the plains in Oklahoma and Texas, the cacti, the desert, the wooded forests in Oregon, the lakes in Minnesota, the mountains in California and Tennessee—He also created me. Wow! That is absolutely breath-taking to me. Also in that verse, Jesus implies that the God who created those birds, who were meant for flight in every way by the way that they were intricately created, also created you and me and we are more valuable than they are. We are more valuable than they are because we are made in His image as Genesis tells us. That is amazing!

Second, God will take care of us because we are more valuable than the birds. As I often do, I told my mother not to worry, but I found out that I am quit the worrier as well. On this trip, I worried countless times at where we would sleep and where we would eat and if we would have enough money to finish the trip. I was completely wrong by worrying. By worrying, I was not trusting God to provide for my every day needs. He proved Himself over and over again to me that He would provide for my every day needs; everything from providing a gas station when needed, to a place to eat and then a place to sleep. There was no need to worry, God was and is in control. God is good.

I also was amazed at how God worked in people along the way. For those of you who think that God is not at work in the people of America, you are completely wrong. God is working, in marvelous ways. I have seen it first hand. There were so many ways where we were either given money, given a place to sleep—for however long we needed it, given food, had a great conversation with strangers that gave us complete encouragement, etc. The list goes on. God is working in powerful ways and I cannot wait to see the work that He will continue to do in America.

This experience has strengthened my faith immensely. As I have stated before, I have worried and not done as much praying and trusting in God as I should. But I have learned and now as I live my life back at home, I continue to rely and place my trust in God, knowing that He will provide for my everyday needs.

Another aspect of this trip that impacted me was relationships. If you followed our blog you know that we stopped and visited with countless of relatives of Vikings. It was awesome. It was great to listen to both of his grandparent’s stories about their childhood. Viking had heard these stories time and time again and it was awesome to see that. It challenged me to appreciate my grandparents and to visit them more frequently and to listen to every word that they say and to ask them stories about their childhood.

Viking, we made it my friend. I owe an incredible amount to Jonathan. He let God work in him about injustice and that was shown to me at a campfire in my back yard and then a 3 hour breakfast at IHOP 6 months later. Yes there were disagreements and roadside arguments where we didn’t see eye to eye on things. But with patience during frustrating times with peace from the Holy Spirit, we overcame them. I appreciated the ministry partner that came with this awesome ministry. We have been friends for about 3 ½ years now and this is by far the craziest thing that we have done together—I think. No, it is. It all started with a dream, then God working, then God working more and more in our lives and providing immensely for this trip. I am so very thankful for this opportunity and I hope one day that I can tell my nephews and nieces, children, grandchildren and whoever else about this ministry that I took with my best friend. This trip will never be forgotten by me. Thank you for your patience, kindness and understanding through all of this. I thank God for you. Thank you.

As for me, I will be leaving July 15 for a mission trip with the youth group from my church to Biloxi, MS for one week. Then I return for a week and half, and then headed to the east coast with my girlfriend’s family. Then a two week break and seminary starts for me. I will be attending Calvin Seminary in Grand Rapids to achieve, Lord willing, my Masters of Divinity and continue my work as the Youth Director at my church. If your interested, I do have my own blog and the web address is: http://ponderinglifeandthebible.blogspot.com/

I still sit here and really can’t imagine that I actually circumnavigated the United States of America—on a 49cc Honda Ruckus. Wow. Amazing isn’t it? But the fact that I did this isn’t about me. It’s not about me doing this to just to say “Yeah, I did it”. It was for those who aren’t free. It was for those who can’t speak up. It was for those who are victims of beatings, sex slavery, and the like. It was for God’s glory. God allowed me to do this and all glory goes back to Him for what He did in my life and those who we came into contact with.

I want to thank you all who have supported us during this trip. Whether it was in the form of money, prayers, a place to stay, a prayer on the side of the road, a simple conversation, showing interest in our bikes, etc. Thank you all. I cannot describe in words how amazing it was to have support of people all over the country. Thank you.

May God bless all of you who read this.

To God be the Glory.

“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn His face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26

A Viking's Final Blog Reflection

Hudsonville, MI
Written By Viking

Most of our personal reflections will be saved for the upcoming book (not sure if that's a joke or not), but while it is still fresh, I wanted to express some of my thoughts in a final personal blog post. I will be primarily reflecting on the lessons God taught me through the experiences of the summer.

First, though, a short reflection on the magnitude of the trip. Honestly, looking back, this trip seemed very short. Maybe for those who have kept up on the blog or Facebook can better appreciate the distance we covered, but being on the scooter, it seemed like a minor trip. The few times that the reality of the trip hit me was when I was in familiar places like Washington D.C. or the west coast; places I've driven to before.
I decided to look online at some distances, just to grasp how far 8,500 miles is.
If, as the crow flies, we were to start from my home, Minneapolis, MN, and ride to London, England, we would ride just over 4,000 miles.
Moscow, Russia? Just under 5,000.
Santiago, Chile? 5,602.
Beijing, China? 6,288 miles.
Dhaka, Bangladesh? 7,686 miles.
What about Johannasburg, South Africa? We could have come within a day's ride of Johannasburg, with that city being 8,922 miles from Minneapolis.
Soo... don't tell Rev, but I think we could circumnavigate the globe (24,901 miles) in one summer.

Doing something that is unprecedented is pretty wild. We missed out on likely being the first people to play speed scrabble in the inner gorge of the Grand Canyon, so the scooter trip was an adequate compensation. Even so, just as my Marine Corps career is quickly fading in my memory, so shall the 'glory' of this trip. However, the lessons and observations from this summer will never fade, as they are taught through God's unfading Word. "All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever." I Peter 1:24-25


"On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate." Psalm 145:5

There were so many times this summer when the beauty of the creation we were passing through was so moving that I would just fill my lungs and yell. There have been three times in my life when I was captivated by the Lord's creation, but this trip increased that number exponentially. Some sights (Grand Canyon, Glacier) were expected but other sights and experiences (Yosemite, rapids, Cascades, desert buttes, plains) were extra blessings that we basically stumbled upon.
All of this served to increase my awe and admiration of our creator God. If I were commissioned to make the most beautiful landscape my mind could conjure, it would be so very.. lame.. in comparison to the majestic beauty that God creates in every square inch. On the side of the road in Arizona, I was running around, astounded at how fine the red sand was, and how the wind had sculpted it into a beautiful waving desert floor. It's easy to drive right on by, even on a scooter, but our tailbones and the setting sun compelled us to stop, and God had a special blessing in store for us. That 'simple' sand is beyond my finite imagination, and it serves to direct my eyes and my praise toward God.
I also appreciated a difference in personality between Rev and I. I don't know how to express it, except that Brady notices a lot more of nature. Almost always. I was pretty excited when I saw two badgers that he actually missed. I have a tendency to put my head down and push forward, but it was good to stop and enjoy what we were traveling through. I am grateful for that difference between us.

"Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable." Isaiah 40:28


"The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth." Psalm 145: 14-16, 18

I don't know that I told anybody but Rev, but I left on this trip with just enough funds to pay for gas. No food, no places to sleep, just gas. We finished the trip with an overabundance of funds. If you've kept up with our trip, you know how my first scooter died in New Mexico. You also know how the Lord's guiding hand was in that entire experience. The Lord upholds all who are falling. It didn't really hit me until Harriet began acting up in Washington, and I was able to see Rev's reaction.. our attitudes always initially improved when trials arose. (That's not a normal human-nature reaction, but an assurance of the Holy Spirit's presence in our lives) When Harriet was hurting, Rev knew that was from God, based on the events that led to it. And when it was Harriet's belt, Wilberforce's entire engine, a tornado warning, the loss of an ipad, a desperate need for an air mattress, a place to eat, or a place to sleep; we called on God. To watch him answer in such clear ways was so empowering and strengthening for my faith and trust in God's provision for the largest and smallest of the needs of my life. The trials became exciting times for us because we knew and trusted that God was going to provide for us in some way in which only God could receive the glory.

"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21

Well I've begun and cut several paragraphs out of this reflection now. I want to keep it short, for your sake, and so that I don't try to smash 52 days worth of God's work into a sound-byte. So, I have just two more things.

What's in store for Viking?
In September I will be returning to Minneapolis to continue my arduous task of upper-education completion. I view it as a necessary evil, so maybe you could pray that I see and seize the opportunities for harvest in that world and during this season of life.
Prior to the summer's end, however, I have a couple... opportunities. (There isn't a word in the english language to describe my level of excitement) On July 17 at 6pm at Whitneyville Bible Church I will have the opportunity to share from God's word and to provide a 'debrief' of our scooter trip. Unfortunately Rev will not be there with me, as he will already be gone on another trip, but he will have an opportunity later in September. It would be a delight to have you at one or both of these opportunities that we have been blessed with. We assure you that your faith in God's provision and power will be strengthened.
A few days later I will be flying to Haiti to spend some time with Haiti Bible Mission. (this is the beyond words part) To be on a foreign mission field, to see how God is going to use the experience in my life, to see how God is going to use the ministry in the hearts of the people of Haiti.. pray that I don't die from overdosing on inexpressible joy. After that, there's still a month of summer left, and I can already see God arranging many more blessings for that time. God is good.

Rev.
"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." Proverbs 17:17
A year ago I was trying to convince Brady to go on a scooter trip with me. The logistics and justification of the trip was ridiculous, and I am not surprised or disappointed that he couldn't go on the first trip. However, as I completed the trip, I began to see the potential of a successful ministry trip. I could think of only one friend who would actually go with me, or who I could maybe tolerate for the duration of the trip. So I told Rev he was going with me. Of course, this length of trip is unheard of, so it remained a dream for a while. As you now know, though, the trip became a reality, and God blessed it richly.
This trip did not happen without our fair share of disagreements and roadside arguments. Or even arguments as we rode down the road. If that surprises you, take a close friend or spouse, travel for 52 days with them, only be alone for bathroom breaks (some of them) or showers, throw a meaningful, important ministry into the mix, and let us know how it goes. If you're still speaking at the end, you did great.
However, these disagreements were necessary. In some ways, our ministry was made more effective through our differing ideas, or just being more open with each other ultimately served to strengthen our friendship. I am grateful that we never did stop praying together, and I am blessed that prayer for each other also never stopped, even as we prayed before we parted ways in Grand Rapids.
I am grateful for Rev's willingness to embark on an adventure only a person who enjoys suffering could come up with. His patience as I occasionally misled us with poor navigation and his graciousness as we stayed with relative after relative of mine did not go unnoticed. As far as lessons go, I learned more lessons in regards to relationships on this trip than anything else. I feel that this trial by fire has served to invaluably prepare me for future ministry relationships, as well as personal relationships that God may bless me with.
I'm not sure where God will lead Rev and I as we are geographically separated, but Brady, I will never, ever forget this summer. I will always rejoice at how God was able to use us for two months, and I will love you and cherish the invaluable friendship that God has blessed me with. Here's to writing the second and third verses of World Traveler!

Thank you all for your support, for your interest in our ministry, and for upholding us with your intercessory prayer. We pray that your knowledge of Jesus Christ grew through this blog.

"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen." II Peter 3:18

A Call To Action (Part 4)

This is the fourth in a series of five blogs. (They will be interspersed among the others) If you don't read any others, please read these. This is the heart and soul of our summer.

In Part 1, we saw that there is a problem in the world. In Part 2, we saw that God is not silent about his heart for justice. In Part 3, we saw that God has a command to followers of Christ to take action on behalf of the oppressed. Now, in part 4, we would like to offer tangible opportunities for involvement in the work to stop human trafficking.

First, we would like to offer up a small disclaimer. We are not experts in this area. Our suggestions are not professional counsel. We have simply researched this problem, we have been convicted to take action against it, and we are offering suggestions based on what God led us to do in our own lives.

The informations we shared in Part 1 only begins to scratch the surface of the problem of human trafficking. The first action we would suggest is to become more informed about slavery in today's world. Or, in keeping with the routine of the four 'gets', get informed. You can do this by reading books, attending conferences, or watching documentaries. On the right column of the blog we have several resources that would serve to expand your knowledge about trafficking. A critical aspect of this becoming informed is being exposed to the reality of this problem. If you can, read accounts of rescued or escaped slaves. Read about the girl from Mexico who was chained to a post in a Texas backyard. Read about the 15 year old slave in suburban Detroit who was assaulted in unspeakable ways for two years. Read about the women in east Asia. Read about the Millions of slaves in India trapped in bonded labor, working to pay off unpayable debts. These are not easy accounts to stomach, and they shouldn't be. On our trip we witnessed the damage of numerous natural disasters: fire damage and smoke, hurricane winds, flooding, avalanches, and tornadoes. It is so easy to see the damage on the television and continue sipping our coffee, but when we rode or walked through the damage, it hit us in an entirely different way. As you become informed, you will begin to see the problem in a new way, and the urgency and seriousness of the problem will become clear.

The second 'get' is get involved. Fortunately, there are many organizations that are working in the fight against trafficking. These are found on a local, national, and international level. There are many different skills and fields of work that can be used and offered to anti-trafficking organizations. There are also a multitude of un-skilled volunteer opportunities that are critical for organizations to continue to operate. These organizations can be found around the United States. If you do have an interest in getting involved with an organization by volunteering your time, we would be thrilled to be in contact with you and point you in the right direction.

The third 'get' took some creativity, and it is get your wallet out. Or, in other words, offer financial support of faith-based organizations that are working in the world to fight for the oppressed. Again, there are multiple organizations doing great things, and they are all dependent on the support of donors. This summer journey was not and is not a fundraiser. We simply desire to highlight the problem and what God has to say about it. However, if you are feeling led to support an organization with the financial blessings God has given you, we do have a webpage set up at firstgiving.com where you can support International Justice Mission. (If the link doesn't work, simply search 'moped justice mission' at first giving.com) They are a faith-based organization that we met and prayed with on this trip, and who we prayed over for the duration of the trip. One donation we would suggest, based on our summer trip, would be donating one cent for every mile we traveled. One cent times 8,500 equals $85. Or a tenth of a cent per mile. Or a dollar per mile. That's just a suggestion. Feel free to contact us if you want to know more about the work IJM is doing, or you can investigate their website at www.ijm.org

The fourth and final and overwhelmingly most critical 'get'.. is get on your knees. Pray for the victims, pray for the traffickers, pray for those who are working to bring justice to the oppressed. Pray for God to strengthen the hearts of the victims and liberators and to call the evildoers to account. God hears our prayers. Trust us. If you don't trust us and our testimony to God's faithfulness, trust in the truth of Psalm 10:17-18
"O LORD, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more."
God is also specific in Isaiah about his desire and design for fasting in our lives.
"Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?" Isaiah 58:6

As we mentioned earlier, there are many different skills and career fields that are needed in the work to fight modern-day slavery. We cannot predict how much God is moving in your heart, but it would be no surprise if you too saw the severity of this problem and the need to become involved. This work is not confined to investigators and lawyers. There are many other needed fields, including but not limited to: nursing and medical professions, political science, journalism, public relations, Bible/theology, linguistics, social work, and business.

As God lays on your heart a concern for this problem, making others aware of the problem comes easily. All you need is a moped. Okay, you obviously don't need that, and you don't even need to be a trained professional, fully immersed in the fight against injustice. We have both applied the four different 'gets' in some way, but that's all. And now we've gone on a trip, with the desire to bring more people alongside us to make waves in the work to rescue people from slavery. If we met you on our trip, we prayed for you before we met you, and we prayed for you after we met you. We pray that God's passion for justice radiates through the passion he bestowed upon us. We pray that God is doing a great work in your heart to continually draw you closer to him, as he continues to do in ours.

God's Command to Believers (Part 3)

This is the third in a series of five blogs. (They will be interspersed among the others) If you don't read any others, please read these. This is the heart and soul of our summer.

In Part 1 we saw that there is a serious problem in the world today. In Part 2 we saw that God is not silent about this problem and that he has revealed his heart for justice in scripture. Now, in Part 3, we will again see from scripture that God has a plan and purpose for believers in the work against evil and the care for victims of oppression.

"Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked." Psalm 82:3-4

"Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body." Hebrews 13:3

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others." Matthew 23:23
Jesus seems to have held justice and mercy in high regard. He, at the very least, commands that they, along with faithfulness, not be neglected.

"Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause." Isaiah 1:17
Early on in our trip a gentleman saw our shirts that read, "Seek Justice" on the front in bold letters. He said that message was all wrong, as we are not to seek reparation against wrongdoing. I knew what he meant, but I also knew that the Bible is not commanding us to seek revenge on behalf of the oppressed when it calls us to seek justice.
This gentleman forced us to think more about these verses and how we are to seek justice.
If you read Isaiah 1:17 or Psalm 82:3-4, God is not calling us to fight evil, to seek revenge against evildoers, or to enact vengeance upon them. Our call is focused on the victim. The call is not to go in with guns blazing, but to separate the oppressed from the evil and to look after them and their needs. I think that human nature, and maybe especially American nature rubs against this thought. It's difficult to read the gut-wrenching accounts of slavery and forced prostitution and not want to react aggressively, even violently, against evil. Or maybe that's just because half of our team was in the Marine Corps. Either way, God tells us in Deuteronomy 32:35-36 that vengeance and recompense is his.
"Vengeance is mine, and recompense, for the time when their foot shall slip; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and their doom comes swiftly.' For the LORD will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants, when he sees that their power is gone and there is none remaining, bond or free."
We have a call to love the oppressed. We have a call to rescue them from the wicked that they are enslaved to. We have a call to be mindful of those who are being mistreated around us. We are not to be silent. I love this! We are to be ambassadors for Christ, acting on his behalf to seek justice for the oppressed in the world. How can people say that being a Christian is boring? It's the greatest adventure! This will be emphasized in part 5, but it must be mentioned that this work to rescue physical victims of slavery should not.. it cannot be separated from the gospel. It cannot be separated from sharing with victims about the opportunity for spiritual, everlasting freedom. We cannot presume to know how to best incorporate these together, as we have not been a part of victim rescue or aftercare, but we can pray that opportunities abound for utterance of Christ's love to ALL people, including victims of trafficking and the traffickers.

Heeding God's call.. having a voice in the fight against trafficking is not as difficult as you may think. In part 4 we will look at ways in which we can work to be involved in the fight against trafficking.


"He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8

Down the stretch They Come

July 6 - Day 52
Lake Michigan
Written By Viking

This will be brief. It will be brief because we are less than 20 minutes from port in Ludington, MI. Early this week Rev and I decided that taking the car ferry across Lake Michigan was the wisest decision for our travel back to Grand Rapids this week. As a result, this will Lord-willing be the final day of travel on our journey, as we should be in Grand Rapids by noon.

We left Fargo, ND early Monday morning and enjoyed a very efficient day of travel across Minnesota. There was a noticeable spike in our energy levels, as the reality of our final week began to set in. We enthusiastically sang patriotic songs, we were aggressively honked at, and we did plenty of laughing and smiling. On Monday afternoon we arrived at a wonderful home to enjoy an evening of dinner and fireworks. Rev and I were also able to look back over the trip just a bit to recall the myriad of ways in which God has been providing for us in this short season of life. We trust that our testimonies of God's provision are empowering and encouraging, but we also inevitably leave homes full of encouragement and motivation to press on.

Press on we did, as Tuesday morning saw our longest single stretch of the trip, 92 miles. That's no stopping, whatsoever. No stop signs, no traffic, nothing. For nearly three hours. Strangely, though, neither Rev or I were overly fatigued by this stretch.

Rather than giddiness, Tuesday was a day of deeper reflection for me. Stirring up the lessons God has been teaching me on this journey the night before, I was beginning to see areas of my life where already my increased trust in God's sovereignty and provision are being further tested and expanded. These are experiences that give pause, but always end in a smile that stretches from my soul. No matter what I may desire or hope or pray for, I know that the plan that is absolutely best for my life will prevail. What a comfort.
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

I am finishing this blog at a restaurant in Ludington, MI where I ate on my first scooter trip last summer. We have 100 miles left to Grand Rapids, where it all began 52 'short' days ago.

Although our travel should conclude today, we humbly plead that you not abandon your loyal following of this blog just yet. Several of the most important blogs are yet to come, including personal reflections from both Rev and I.

Please pray for still continuing opportunities to proclaim the message of Christ's love for sinners and for justice. We are hoping for some media attention at this conclusion to aid us in our purpose, and we would ask for prayer that our message could be clearly related through those mediums, and that God will be greatly glorified.

"For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen." Romans 11:36

Rain Drops Falling

July 3--Day 49
Fargo, ND
Written by Rev

We left camp in the morning. During our travels we experienced raindrops. Raindrops were excellent, yes excellent. When I lived in Grand Canyon National Park, there was not a drop of rain for a whole month and a half. When I felt the rain drops, I rejoiced. Call me crazy, but when it hasn't rained for some time, I get excited about it! It has seemed like forever since we experience rain as well. We have been thankful that it hasn't rained very much, since the first five days were brutal. But after our Alabama 10 minute rain storm, we haven't had a drop of it. So to say the least, I was extremely thankful and had a huge smiled on my face because of the drops that fell and hit us. What a blessing it was. Seriously. Praise the Lord.

Nothing much exciting happened during our travels to Fargo. We stopped at Viking's grandparents, which was a great experience! His grandpa told us stories about riding a train to Washington with just a little bit of money and his grandma's energy energized me to keep going on this journey. What a blessed stop it was!

We departed their house with a few pictures and then arrived in Fargo in the early afternoon. After hanging out and getting to know one more Stockeland family, we relaxed all evening. Relaxation has become a necessity in this trip. We have found out that it is extremely exhausting, so any chance we get we take time to rest. Praise the Lord for rest.

I mentioned to Viking that I would like to golf in Fargo. I usually golf about once a year, so I am by far from being good. Last year I golfed a decent amount and I find it to be very restful; that is when I hit straight shots and do decently well. It just so happens that Viking's brother has a membership at a local golf course, so he took Viking and I. It was a blast. My best shot of the day was a chip right into the hole. It was probably the best shot of my life. After it happened, I just stared at it and kept asking, "Did that really happen?" Yes it did! I was pumped.

We then relaxed some more at the pool and then hung out for the rest of the day. Such a blessing that rest is.


We spoke at Brookdale Baptist Church this morning in their Sunday school for about 10 minutes. It was great to be there and to be able to speak at another church this morning. This is the last church that we will be speaking at for the trip, but it is not over. We still have a great distance to travel back to Michigan and Lord willing talk with many more people that we come into contact with.

God has been extremely blessing us with some amazing people to talk with that we randomly meet. This trip has been a huge blessing to us in so many ways and we thank you all for your support through emails, prayers, texts, calls, and encouragement. God is good.

God sure has been raining blessing upon blessing down on Viking and I. We are so very thankful for all of these blessings.

To God be the Glory.

How Many More Mr. Rogers?

June 30 - Day 46
FaHoCha Bible Camp (east of New Rockford, ND)
Written By Viking

When I was a young child, before I knew how to tell time, I figured out a way to understand how far we were from a destination on a trip. I was a fan of Mr. Rogers, and I knew approximately how long his show was. So, I would lean forward and ask, "Dad? How many more Mr. Rogers until we get there?" My dad would mentally break the trip down into half-hour segments and give me an estimate. I would be satisfied, as the trip was now manageable in my mind.
Today, I looked at the map as we were riding and saw a stretch until our next stop. I thought to myself, "Oh, that's only three more mouthfuls of sunflower seeds." Or one Mr. Rogers.

Yesterday was a slow morning. It was a blessing to have a home to ourselves to move around in, so we took advantage of that. I think we finally hit the road around 9am, but we traveled 70 miles right away, biting off a significant chunk of our day. We pressed on across Montana. Nothing much to report. We met many more bugs.. and we cleaned them off of our faces at every stop.

Just when we were nearing the 700-mile marker on Montana's Highway 2, we saw a most wondrous sight, North Dakota. If you've never been to North Dakota, sell your shoes, buy a pair of snowshoes, and come visit in June. My father grew up here, and he told me of a time when they played king of the hill on a snowdrift, but they eventually had to stop because the power lines started showing. Right now, North Dakota's weather is anything but cold. Rev and I rode into Williston, ND with temps in the high 90's and a humidity level at an extreme only North Dakota could produce. Williston, ND left such a strong impression that we visited twice, eventually deciding to spend the night there. All campgrounds were full. A great man had offered to buy us a hotel along the way, but all the hotels were booked, as well. There's oil in Williston, and everyone's after it. However, our friend explained what we were doing, and a hotel clerk said she would call her pastor. A short time later the pastor of a Williston church was showing us a plot of grass where we could pitch our tents. What a blessing!

We quickly pitched our tents and securely staked them in before the gnats and mosquitoes flew off with them. We knew we had to find some relief from the heat and bugs, so I suggested the American Legion ball field in Williston. I know you're dying to know how I knew about this field in the first place, so I'll tell you. In 1968 the North Dakota Babe Ruth League state championship was held in Williston. My dad's team won. Yesterday morning I asked my dad if he remembered where it was in town. He didn't for sure, but then said, "Oh, wait! You've been to that stadium before." He said it as if I should remember exactly where it was. Having been somewhere around five years old and definitely still in my Mr. Rogers stage, my way around Williston had faded. However, I asked my dad, "Do you know what else happened that year?" His immediate, matter-of-fact answer was, "I got a haircut." That's exactly what I was thinking of!! My father got a haircut on June 19, 1990! Rev could overhear the conversation, and he immediately realized that my unusual memory is genetic.

Anyway, we DID go to the stadium, we DID watch a Babe Ruth League game, and Rev DID find yet another baseball with the name Babe Ruth on it. We then played some catch, went to a Dairy Queen with no a/c to cool down, and went back to our tents. We lay there in our sweat for a while, but a cold front did come in, and we had a comfortable nights sleep.

This morning was a rapid scramble to pick up our campsite, again before mosquitoes made off with any of our belongings. A few diners and gas stations later, and we found ourselves on the east side of North Dakota. On the way, Brady received his first bee sting while riding a scooter. No tears were shed, and he handled it with much grace. He just showed me his hand and said, "A bee just stung me." At the same moment he was stung we were riding across a road that had been paved up with dirt due to the immense flooding that has been happening in central North Dakota.

I called my father to tell him where we were, as this is the area where he grew up, and he mentioned in passing, "You'll go right past FaHoCha." (When I learn what it means I'll let you know) FaHoCha is a Bible camp that my father spoke at when we lived in North Dakota. The Stockeland name is very highly thought of, so Moped Justice Mission was able to ride that wave into camp and enjoy a meal.

Shortly after arriving I discovered that something was missing from my crate. My baseball glove. I quickly thought of the time that it had likely happened. 98% of the time Rev rides behind me, but there was a stretch of very bumpy dirt road in a town 20 miles back when I was in the back. Bumps make things fall out. A staff member graciously allowed me to save an hour by letting me use her vehicle to go look for it. Based on the way this trip has been going, you would almost expect me to go to that road and find 32 baseball gloves laying on the ground. However, there wasn't a glove. I snooped around a little, but it was gone.

It seems that when something is taken from me or somehow removed from my life, it has been because God has been working to free me from something or to free me up for something. A glove may seem minor, but it represents a lot for me. So anyway, it looks like Rev and I are done playing catch for the summer, but we had a lot of fun. No regrets about bringing them, even if it was lost.

Some open bunk beds were offered to Rev and I at camp, and we have graciously accepted the offer, along with the use of the shower. The evening chapel time was such a blessing. I remarked to Rev that it was great to sing praises at the top of our lungs. He added, "Yeah, and with other people." The challenge by the speaker to make prayer a more critical part of your life did not fall on deaf ears, either.

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

Good doesn't mean easy. Good doesn't mean comfortable. Good could require making a wrong turn. Good could require a scooter breaking down. Good could require losing a baseball glove. God is good. All the time.

Thank you for your prayers. Despite the fantastically rural area we are traveling through, God has been opening many opportunities for utterance. I think we've had opportunities at nearly every stop we've made this week. We have been sweetly blessed by so many people. Our cup runneth over, and people are continuing to pour blessings upon us and our ministry. THANK YOU for your prayers, and for striving to finish strong with us.