I’ve just finished reading Barb’s final blog and I’m tempted just to say, ‘scroll down and read hers’. She echos my thoughts and sums up the trip very well. Thanks Barb, you did great.
We arrived in Chatham late Monday morning. The border crossing was backed up and by the time we hit Woodstock Sunday evening, Ralph had enough driving so we stayed overnight at my sisters and carried on in the morning.
Now it’s Wednesday. I’ve been fortunate that I don’t need to get back to a job asap. All of that will wait another week while I slowly readjust to life and my role as wife, mother, friend, cook etc.
Like Barb, when I wake up I wonder how many kms (while, she still thinks in miles) do I need to bike today? And then I remember, it’s over. The biking part of the trip is over. No more purrel everytime I make a sandwich or wash my dishes. When a transport truck honks, it doesn’t mean my supper is ready and that I should go and grab my dishes and stand in line. Laundry gets done in the washing machine, not with my clothes on in the shower. I am now responsible for cleaning more than 22 square feet (approx sq footage of my tent). I can actually sit down on a toilet seat…no more squatting. The alarm at 5 a.m. is now a thing of the past. My bike, the mode of my transportation for most of the summer, now sits forlornly in the garage. How does one adjust to all these changes?
My summer usually consists of swimming in the pool, camping, long walks and maybe a few sprint triathlons (just to mix it up). So in some ways, I feel as those I didn’t have a summer. The leaves are changing colours, it’s time to clean out the flower beds, close up the pool. I won’t even think of trying to even out the tan lines created by wearing bike shorts all those days.
I’ll carry with me forever the friendships made on this 9 week tour. It’s amazing how close you can become in such a short time.
I’ll be forever grateful for the prayers and encouraging notes that made my recovery time speed by. The fact that I could finish the tour (and not be ‘sagged’) will always stand out as a testimony that God hears the prayers of his people and that miracles still happen.
To all the people that worked behind the scene for almost 2 years to make this tour a reality….thank you. I won’t even begin to list names, because I’ll surely forget someone. To the cooks, nurses, sag drivers, kitchen & pantry and gear truck drivers….thank you. To Jen who made sure everything was organized in camp, to Billy D (the only biker in leather on the tour) who was there whenever you needed water on climb up a pass and the one who made sure the gear truck stayed tidy, thank you. To Ed who mapped out the route and our accommodations …to his wife, Denise for her willingness to travel along with their two young children and live in a nomad existence for the summer….Thank you. To the churches that fed us, organized our mail, hosted celebration services…thank you. To our billets (hosts) your generosity to us was amazing. To the many people that prayed daily for our safety, thank you. To the many people that donated monies so that we could meet and exceed our financial goals, thank you so much for participating in this very concrete way.
So how do I address the issue of poverty now? I’ve lived out of two laundry baskets for almost 9 weeks (and some of the items I took with me I didn’t even use). My walk in closet haunts me, our fully stocked pantry makes me cringe and the excess rooms, not needed in our home embarrass me. Why am I blessed when others struggle to stay alive? If this tour instills me a heart of gratefulness for what I have and extinguishes the fire in me to want more, than I believe it was worth it.
Not everyone is called or has the gifts to go on a ‘third world’ serve project, but I can attack the issue of poverty in other ways. I can recycle my outer plastic bags of milk or LCBO bags so that they can be cut into strips, looped together and crocheted into mats for mission fields. Children who would otherwise sleep on bare floors sleep on these mats. I can donate unused clothing or items to women shelters or local thrift stores, and the list goes on….the local food bank, etc, etc. Maybe one day when retirement is a reality for Ralph and I, we will be able to volunteer with the CRWRC on a work project. For now, I’ll strive to be more aware, to be grateful and open to change.
This past summer approx 200 people answered the call to cycle across North America to raise awareness and funds to help eliminate global poverty. The motion has started; can we continue to build momentum? I pray that the answer is yes.
Till we meet again, Cynthia
We arrived in Chatham late Monday morning. The border crossing was backed up and by the time we hit Woodstock Sunday evening, Ralph had enough driving so we stayed overnight at my sisters and carried on in the morning.
Now it’s Wednesday. I’ve been fortunate that I don’t need to get back to a job asap. All of that will wait another week while I slowly readjust to life and my role as wife, mother, friend, cook etc.
Like Barb, when I wake up I wonder how many kms (while, she still thinks in miles) do I need to bike today? And then I remember, it’s over. The biking part of the trip is over. No more purrel everytime I make a sandwich or wash my dishes. When a transport truck honks, it doesn’t mean my supper is ready and that I should go and grab my dishes and stand in line. Laundry gets done in the washing machine, not with my clothes on in the shower. I am now responsible for cleaning more than 22 square feet (approx sq footage of my tent). I can actually sit down on a toilet seat…no more squatting. The alarm at 5 a.m. is now a thing of the past. My bike, the mode of my transportation for most of the summer, now sits forlornly in the garage. How does one adjust to all these changes?
My summer usually consists of swimming in the pool, camping, long walks and maybe a few sprint triathlons (just to mix it up). So in some ways, I feel as those I didn’t have a summer. The leaves are changing colours, it’s time to clean out the flower beds, close up the pool. I won’t even think of trying to even out the tan lines created by wearing bike shorts all those days.
I’ll carry with me forever the friendships made on this 9 week tour. It’s amazing how close you can become in such a short time.
I’ll be forever grateful for the prayers and encouraging notes that made my recovery time speed by. The fact that I could finish the tour (and not be ‘sagged’) will always stand out as a testimony that God hears the prayers of his people and that miracles still happen.
To all the people that worked behind the scene for almost 2 years to make this tour a reality….thank you. I won’t even begin to list names, because I’ll surely forget someone. To the cooks, nurses, sag drivers, kitchen & pantry and gear truck drivers….thank you. To Jen who made sure everything was organized in camp, to Billy D (the only biker in leather on the tour) who was there whenever you needed water on climb up a pass and the one who made sure the gear truck stayed tidy, thank you. To Ed who mapped out the route and our accommodations …to his wife, Denise for her willingness to travel along with their two young children and live in a nomad existence for the summer….Thank you. To the churches that fed us, organized our mail, hosted celebration services…thank you. To our billets (hosts) your generosity to us was amazing. To the many people that prayed daily for our safety, thank you. To the many people that donated monies so that we could meet and exceed our financial goals, thank you so much for participating in this very concrete way.
So how do I address the issue of poverty now? I’ve lived out of two laundry baskets for almost 9 weeks (and some of the items I took with me I didn’t even use). My walk in closet haunts me, our fully stocked pantry makes me cringe and the excess rooms, not needed in our home embarrass me. Why am I blessed when others struggle to stay alive? If this tour instills me a heart of gratefulness for what I have and extinguishes the fire in me to want more, than I believe it was worth it.
Not everyone is called or has the gifts to go on a ‘third world’ serve project, but I can attack the issue of poverty in other ways. I can recycle my outer plastic bags of milk or LCBO bags so that they can be cut into strips, looped together and crocheted into mats for mission fields. Children who would otherwise sleep on bare floors sleep on these mats. I can donate unused clothing or items to women shelters or local thrift stores, and the list goes on….the local food bank, etc, etc. Maybe one day when retirement is a reality for Ralph and I, we will be able to volunteer with the CRWRC on a work project. For now, I’ll strive to be more aware, to be grateful and open to change.
This past summer approx 200 people answered the call to cycle across North America to raise awareness and funds to help eliminate global poverty. The motion has started; can we continue to build momentum? I pray that the answer is yes.
Till we meet again, Cynthia
4 comments:
Cynthia... Just wanted to let you know I enjoyed reading your blog throughout the tour. It was well done. My heart did skip a beat when I found out you went down outside of Denver. But was glad to hear that you were able and willing and eager (almost) to get back on again at Sombra.
Take care. Your's in Christ Rev. Richard Bodini (a Chathamite from First CRC) Saskatoon SK
Cynthia, I wanted to let you know what a pleasure it was getting to speak briefly with you when you stopped for lunch on 8/26 at the stop hosted by East Palmyra CRC. I had been following the tour for the entire time speaking each week with the rider we sponsored, Bill Vanderlinde. Even though I had been following the tour, I was not prepared for how overwhelmed I would be when I saw all the riders and the support staff. My wife and I came to Sampson State Park in the evening to visit with her cousin, Richard Rienstra and his wife. We sat in on the peleton and that experience was fantastic. Hearing the praise and feeling the fellowship evident among all the riders really impacted me. I became a bore for several days as I would explain the tour to anyone unfortunate enough to stop at my desk at work. In closing I pray that you make a smooth transition back to your normal activities. I am sure you don't remember me so if you look at Barb Mellema's pictures for 8/26 you will see the picture you took of me.
In His Name
Gerald A. Zegers
Cynthia, I just had a chance to read your final reflections and it gives me shivers. I relate, especially about the what next... and how God can use this to open our eyes to all the blessing we DO have. May God bless you and provide opportunities for you to continue to bless those around you in and through your life.
Hugs,
Eritia
Hi Cynthia.
Here we are, two years later, and I end up at your blog as one thing led to another. I hope all is well with you.
Just read your final comments and note that I felt the same way upon my return home. I felt I had no summer too, yet, I really had the summer of my life, just a completely different type of summer. Very strange, like being in a time warp or coma and coming out of it at home two months later!
I spoke with Barb M last week upon receiving my semi annual Dordt phone call. She is doing well and planning to go cycling in Holland next May. You may already know this.
Shelley is using my bike more than I have since 2008. I need to do better there.
Say hi to Ralph from me and whom ever you run into like Paul and Theresa.
Blessings, Randy DeWolde
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