OHIO!

"Lord, you have brought light to my life; my God, you light up my darkness."

-Psalm 18:28

"The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like complete darkness. Those who follow it have no idea what they are stumbling over."

-Proverbs 4:18-19

"Either we are overcomers -- or over come!"

-Warren Weirsbe

Thanks to Jane Clifton (Ohio) and Bill Goodling (Pennsylvania), I now have license plates from Ohio and Pennsylvania. The only two states I don't have are Idaho and Wisconsin. We still have two days to travel so there's still hope.

I just had a massage from Paul Gudde who is married to my niece, Lori. Paul is a massage therapist and works and lives in Columbus. I could have used Paul every other day on the bike ride, maybe every day! He, Lori, and their son Carver are here with the mob in Xenia, Ohio for the night. It's another family reunion! We are at the home of Jim and Joyce Goins. For those of you who don't know, Jim is one of Margaret's brothers.

We had a great supper this evening and, as usual, most of us ate more than we should have. So you will have some idea of who's who, take a look at the photo of the crew around the table. I'll go around the table clockwise, beginning with the little guy on the corner, Carver Gudde, Joyce, Jennifer Goins (trying to hide), Margaret, Jim, Jonathan, Jane Clifton, Katie, Carly, Lori and Paul Gudde (Lori is doing the hiding thing too). Lori and Jennifer are Jim and Joyce's daughters.

Today was another travel day. To be in good shape for the trip I ate a healthy breakfast of Carman's chocolate peanut butter ice cream and a banana (dairy and fruit). After breakfast, we figured out how to pack the Explorer so Katie could sit in the back seat without being under suitcases and laundry bags. Finally, around 8:30 we pulled out of Dwaine and Sarah's driveway, headed directly west on the Pennsylvania Turnpike through West Virginia and into Ohio. We drove from Red Lion, Pennsylvania to Xenia, Ohio, about 470 miles. I really believe it's easier to pedal a bike for a whole day than ride in a car for that long.

It's July 2nd already and in two days we'll be back home. It's been a long time since we've been home and I'm ready to be there. Tomorrow we'll see Todd and Summer Anders and their crew and finally on the 4th of July . . . we'll be home.

On July 9th I'll be headed to Monticello, Utah to help with Vacation Bible School at First Baptist Church. Pastor John Williams and the church family in Monticello are very special to me and I'm excited about seeing them again. Please pray for me and a crew of eight or nine others as we travel and serve from July 9th through 22nd. V. B. S. will be held July 13-17 in the mornings. Sometime July 22nd I'll be home again. Then I can hang around for a while.

So . . . your prayers are appreciated. They work too. Many of you have told me through email, texting, commenting, and over the phone that you've been praying for us. Some of you have called and prayed with me over the phone. If you could continue praying as we travel and as we go to Utah, I would be most grateful. Thanks so much.

"Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. I always pray for you, and I make my requests with a heart full of joy because you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again" (Philippians 1:3-6).

Pray without ceasing.