Happy 1 Week Anniversary, R:WT 09!

Hey friends and family and anyone else who decided to take a couple minutes to read this. First of all, thanks so much for your support and prayers. Seriously, thanks SO much! It’s so amazing and humbling when I think of all the people scattered across the country who are thinking and praying for us often.

Hate that I’m just now getting around to blogging because that means it’s going to be pretty tough to choose what to write about. Drew just asked me a few minutes ago what the highlight of the trip is for me so far, and I didn’t know what to say...the entire experience is incredible! Every single thing. One of the first things that comes to mind immediately is my team. These people are amazing. All of them. Everyone comes to the team with their own story and tons of passion, and the collision of all of these lives in this crazy journey is pretty cool. It feels like we’ve known each other for such a long time, but it’s just been a week. I’m so glad, though, because I still want to know everyone so much better and make more memories like the ones we’ve made already.

Today we’re crossing the border from California to Arizona. Already we’ve seen so many types of places and met all kinds of people, and there’s so much more to come. We started out at Long Beach and spent a few days taking in the amazing (that’s the best word I can think of, even though it scratches the surface) Pacific coast...beautiful weather and views of the Pacific Ocean. Then Tuesday we ventured away into the mountains...huge mountains. And yesterday entered the desert (with a high of 104 degrees), which will be home for quite awhile. But the great thing about all of the tough weather conditions is how much it grows us individually and as a team. Everyone is so extremely encouraging, and I think we’re so aware of our need for each other and for God’s strength and provision. I so can’t wait to see how God grows each one of us...what we learn about ourselves and about God.

One thing that was a little unlike I was expecting is what our time is like while we’re on the bikes. I guess I anticipated that we’d we spending a lot of time talking to each other, but when you’re biking on narrow or busy roads or just concentrating on pushing forward, that’s not so easy to do. So you’re left with lots of time alone...which is totally a blessing in disguise. During those times, I get the opportunity to take in my surroundings and spend lots of time in prayer. While you guys are praying for me, know that I’m also praying for you by name and also for the people we encounter. I also get to think about the stories we’re changing on the other side of the world. Marsabit, Kenya, the community that Ride:Well ‘09 is specifically partnering with, is hours away from any cities. Girls walk miles each day, multiple times a day, to fetch water that isn’t even really clean. The work that Blood:Water does allows those children to have water and health needs met right in their village, so they have time to go to school which equips them to go on to make a big difference in their communities. So I think about those kids...and their families...and how the miles we spend on our bikes is an opportunity for us to give them back hope for a future and not just a hope to make it through the day. (Check out the Marsabit link on the site to find out more specifics about the work that is being done in that community.)

I’m so not done sharing all I want to share, but I just realized that this blog is getting pretty long, so I’ll give you guys a break for now. It’s kind of tough sometimes for us to anticipate the next opportunity we’ll have to blog, but please keep checking out the team blogs, since usually someone on the team has posted something new. I hope you are all encouraged by our stories and will take the chance to continue sharing it with people you know. And be reminded that small things make a big difference. It’s so crazy to me to think that $1 gives 1 African clean water for 1 year.

Thanks again! Love you guys!
-Erin