Crossing into Okie Territory

Greetings friends. Today, we finished the rest of our trek in New Mexico, sailed through northern Texas, and then headed into Oklahoma. Today was the second cold and overcast day for the trip. Dad was kind of bummed because he was not expecting cold this soon on the way home, but luckily rain held off for the most part. We stopped in before Amarillo, Texas so Dad could get warmed up from being out in the elements on the bike. (He has been roughing it this ride - sunburn, blisters, peeling skin, cold wind, debris from dust devils, and even a close shave with a few fly-by birds!)

Dad saw a handful of bikers from New York with Harley's who were heading east as well. As we began to leave the gas station, Dad told us that he wished he had asked them if they would like a Bible. Mom and I had decided that we would pray for it to happen. If God wanted to allow it, we would see them again. Sure enough, about an hour later - they had went ahead of us and stopped at the same gas station, again! Dad offered them each a Bible, they declined with at polite "No thanks, partner" and a smile. We were glad we at least had the opportunity and even though they declined, were thankful to chat with them for a little while about their travels.

We passed another huge cross in Texas and got a quick video with Dad riding beside it. We thought it was an awesome scene and wanted to share it with all of you.

After driving today, we stopped in Clinton Oklahoma and had time to check out the Route 66 Museum! It was pretty awesome to see all of the history behind the stretch of road that goes from Chicago to Santa Monica, California. I was amazed to learn about its construction and all of the different ways it affected the American culture for decades. Tomorrow, we actually will be traveling on the ACTUAL route 66! Much of it is bypassed now by I-40 which goes for a long ways across the Midwest, but tomorrow it will be the real deal - we're excited to journey on a small piece of history.

A side note of celebration - Mom wanted to inform you all that recently a young woman who was referred to RETA (by Planned Parenthood no less) chose to keep her child and did NOT choose to have an abortion! Praise God! Another baby has been saved! During this trip we have felt that it was very much opposed by the enemy. But God is showing His work and His saving grace in so many ways. All of us feel that this trip has been an episode that has taught us perserverance, comittment, and truly tested our will. God has been strong where we are weak. At some points it has not been easy at all, this was most certainly not just a vacation! But we are incredibly thankful for this opporunity and have been blessed with the conversations and interactions we have had thus far.

As we make the final leg home, your continued prayers and support to the cause of RETA is invaluable to us. In our current day, people are hurting and looking for places to bring peace and healing. Mom and I heard on the radio today that a local Texan pastor over the weekend received seven suicide calls. Seven. Please join RETA and all the other extensions of God's grace in such a time as now.

His grace truly is enough. Blessings to you all...

(Pictures: Dad and the gang of bikers from New York and Colorado, Mom and Dad in the Route 66 museum diner, Dad and I outside the museum in Clinton, OK)