death valley rider tom - post ride ramblings.

Another Season of Riding- Finally

2011-03-19T06:10:00.000-07:00

Well I guess you all may wonder where in the world I have been if you check this blog from time to time. It has been a long cold winter, but we are only a few days away from Spring. So much to look forward to in 2011. Ty, our son (video and blog poster for Death Valley Ride)will be getting married in June. Roxana and I will go to Dallas later this year to take care of our Grand Kids, while Kari and Josh go on their 10 anniversary get away. Big house, swimming pool , lots of toys to play with , and spoil the Grand Kids.
I tore my bike down to start the Spring cleaning yesterday. Bike is done now I just have to do luggage rack, saddle bags and seat, sweat.
With so much pain , war and tragedy in the world right now, I still say," life with out God is a world gone mad". Wishing all of you the peace that passes all understanding. It has been a very rough winter for me and I take great comfort in knowing that God hears and helps all who call on Him with a sincere desire to mean business for change. It all starts with a servants heart. Jesus gave us the original pattern in His life , death, and Resurrection.
Here is a toast to Ty and Tori for there up coming wedding. T&T have fun preparing. Roxana is my rock, and we both survived the winter with no colds or flu. We are grateful for good health. Peace, bro. tom

April- We are getting there.

2010-04-21T20:42:00.000-07:00

Well we are about 3" behind seasonal norms for rain fall. It has been very chilly but I hope you all have been getting outside and enjoying Spring.

Last Sunday was 36 degrees at sunrise. Not the most ideal temp to get on your "scooter". I took off and met up with a friend and about a dozen other riders near Goshen. We then rode on down to the annual "Blessing of the Bikes" in Nappanee, IN. Last year we rode in rain all day. Rain is OK, not fun but manageable. Cold is not fun, and cold rain is miserable. So all in all this year at least we got to see the sun all day. It got to the mid 50's by the p.m. so we all got to take at least on layer of clothing off. Leather is worth every penny you pay for it to keep the wind out, and it wears like iron.

When we arrived the Nappanee Fire Dept had their big rig in the park with our Flag suspended from the top. I then observed a field full of bikes. Can you believe it. 694 other bikes showed up for the event. All shapes and sizes, all ages , and all kinds of bikes. It was great. The event is sponsored every year by ABATE (region 1) and the Christian Motorcyclist Association. Tribute was paid to all who serve or who have served. We also remembered our POW/MIA's. Never forget. Congress wrote them all off in the dead of night in 1992 as killed in action, body not recovered. What a disgrace.

We were all encouraged to remember that often times in life the journey is more memorable than the event we ride to. Reflecting on my trip to Death Valley last year with Roxana and Ty I can only say Amen to that. It will warm up and I wish you all a blessed Spring. Until May, stay safe and enjoy each day God gives you. desert rider tom

Spring Is Right Around The Corner

2010-03-05T05:55:00.000-08:00

Spring will get here this month. If not on the thermometer, at least it will on the calendar. Just 15 more days, not that I am counting.
It is time to start uncovering the motorcycle and getting to the annual clean, wax and dream of summer days, as the temperature in the garage moderates.
The annual RETA fund raising banquet is next Friday March 12. It will be an exciting banquet I am sure, with all of the hard work the planning committee has invested. I am more excited because of this years special guests. My son Ty, his very charming special person Tori, and my daughter Kari,from Dallas, will all be present. Kari has been the editor and producer of the RETA newsletter for some time. Roxana sends her the information and Kari gets in her computer and makes the newsletter become a professional piece of communication information. Good job Kari. Many supporters of RETA know Kari has been doing the newsletter but never had the opportunity to meet her. Here is their chance.Our good friends and tremendous neighbors, Mike and Peggy Judson, will also be at our table. another close friend, Dave Parson (Hoover) will help fill up our table, he is a riot. Between Ty, Mike and Dave our table could be a little rowdy. I will be pick up Kari and the kids ( Asa and Quinn) at the Fort Wayne airport next Friday p.m.. (Josh will come to IN. of Sat). I will then make a dash to our home, get the kids settled with two great sitters,then Kari and I will be off to the banquet. Ty, Tori and Roxana may be there before us. I will have a table set up for those that followed the Death Valley Ride last May. A music video will be looping showing slides of our trip. So many have asked about the trip , now they can get a glimpse. I would jump on the bike and do it all over in a heartbeat.
For those of you that have put off even a small trip to an unfamiliar area of our country, do it this summer. You are not getting any younger and you do not know what you are missing. There are so many cool people out there on the back roads and small shops in our great country. It will restore your faith in the USA. Forget the politically correct persons that insist on bashing America every time they get a chance. They are the minority, they just have great control of the liberal media, which seems to make them larger than life. Well I know life( John 14:6) and it ain't them. I have many irons in the fire right now and standing still is not part of that. No replies to my 500 mile Indiana fund raiser so it may just be Roxana and I on my "scooter".. I can't make people care, or take risks, or get out of their comfort zones. Just get out of the way and I will let you know how it went. Sounds harsh, not really, just tired of begging people to want to get involved and go for a ride and in the process have some fun. I do not wish to get to the end of my days and say " I wonder what it would have been like if I would have.... you fill in your own "wish I would have" blank. God did not give us the spirit of timidity, it is in the Book. Want to help get the woods and trails ready for guests to visit this summer? They come to relax , unwind , walk,jog, swim, or just read a book and veg . Contact me. The great "out back" needs a lot of tender loving care. You could get some sun, have some fun and I promise the coyotes are only out there in the woods at night on their way through as they hunt. In 16 years I have seen their tracks, but only witnessed live sitings only two times. They do not like people and seldom move during the day. Huh, they are kind of like street gangs. Just a thought :)
Don't rust out, wear out, that is my motto. Any ideas on website development out there ? Let me know. Any book writers out there? Let me know. I am writing a how to booklet on being your own general contractor for your log home . I would like to market it on my own website along with other peoples products of interest to my audience. Any marketers out there? I am willing to meet with any of the above persons and discuss what you may be able to bring to these projects. Next month I hope the rain has washed away all of the salt and we hear the rumble of bikes going down the road. Until then, I wish all of you a great end to winter. desert rider tom

New Year , Possibly a new ride !

2010-02-05T12:03:00.000-08:00

Greetings All:

Wes Culver is a great friend. He and his wife Val have been long time RETA supporters. Wes, on top of running a real estate business is now in the Indiana House of Representatives. The following information is from Wes.

The State of Indiana is going to kick off, this summer, a tourism "500 Mile Theme route.
The State hopes for a May kickoff. Great timing right at Indy 500 time. Each year the State will plan a 500 mile route to expose people to the great things Indiana has to offer in parks, businesses, great places to eat etc. etc.

This year the Theme is "Transportation", which will be museums (car/trains),drive-in theaters, drive-in restaurants, historic cars/train sites and other things to be added.

Next year the State of Indiana is planning a Southern route.

Many riders have told me that they wished they could have taken off and gone on the Death Valley Ride fund raiser last May. Many have also said that if I plan a local ride they would consider riding and raising funds for RETA. Well here we are. This is not for the fair weather riders. We would ride the route on the dates planned, rain or shine. The route is 506 miles and involves 10 hours and 40 minutes of riding time, not including stops. This is not all that far. I rode 635 miles on the first day last year on my way to Death Valley. If I can do it anyone can.

I would like to entertain the idea of opening this to any type of transportation, in keeping with this years theme. Train drivers, you may have a hard time on the roads. :)
Cars , vintage or other, trucks, motor homes etc. If you know some one that wants to help save babies and help mothers, fathers and grand parents and would be interested in raising money for the 500 mile RETA ride, please pass this information along. I can't wait for the State to release the details. In the mean time, check out the route and get your ride ready. We could have a great fund raiser for RETA and have some fun on the way. Email me if interested in helping or participating in any way. Steve you can drive your cool VW.
Desert Rider Tom
email: trpinski@msn.com
P.S. Send me an email and I will forward the "rough draft" 500 mile route to you.

New Year New Decade

2010-01-06T11:55:00.000-08:00

Well the Christmas and New Years holidays are over as we settle in to the cold grips of winter in northern Indiana. Perhaps it is a time to reflect a little on the past and look forward to the future.
I was cleaning up the garage a bit this morning. Sweeping up the salt and sand that had fallen off of our cars. I then turned the heater on a did a little mopping. Yes, you might say I am a little over the top in keeping the garage clean, but what would you expect from someone who loves to detail cars?
As I was working it dawned on me that I had not added stabilizer to my motorcycle gas tank for winter storage. I opened the side door added the stabilizer and " fired up my scooter". Man, did that sound good. Oh memories of last summer started dancing in my head. I looked down at the odometer and it read 23,747 miles. I looked up the mileage I started the 2009 riding season with and realized I road 9,010 miles in the summer of "09". It seemed like the fall was so busy with some place to go almost every weekend that I had the feeling that I did not get to ride that much. I guess the 4,907 miles to Death Valley, in May, helped my riding mileage a little.. :)
Not resting on my past performance my mind started to think about bike trips for the summer of 2010. A friend of mine is a Indiana State Representative and he was telling me about a tourism promotional that may happen next spring and summer. It would be a route of 500 miles around the State of Indiana, set up to go through many small towns. The kick off may come at the Indy 500 prior to race day. Stay tuned I am thinking about doing another fund raiser for RETA (www.retaforlife.com) and inviting any and all on the 500 mile loop. I really don't care what you ride or drive. It is all about the journey. The route will change each year to take in more Indiana cities, towns and points of interest. This might be the start of an annual event. If interested in riding or planning give me a call. 574-825-1449. I wish all of you a very happy and prosperous new year. God Bless..... tom

What Matters Most

2009-12-05T22:25:00.000-08:00

Last Thursday Roxana and I went to Dallas to spend Thanksgiving with Josh Kari Asa and Quinn. Ty went to Michigan with Tori to spend Thanksgiving with Tori's family at her grandparents home.Though we were all over this great country we shared what really matters. Thankful for family, a great Country and a living God that has granted up good health. What else really matters?

The weather was great in Texas. Last Saturday I helped Josh put Asa and Quinn's swing set and play platform back together in their new backyard. 68 degrees on Sat.so you know I just had to swim one lap in their pool even though the water was 57 degrees. Man did that hurt. Kari has again transformed their new house into a home. Asa and grandpa K watched the Incredibles,fun. Little Q took right to grandpa K with outstretched arms. She knows class.

Roxana's mother Janet had back surgery yesterday. She is feeling pretty rough with a lot of post op swelling and pain controlled by meds. Roxana is in Muncie. I am listening to CMT ( Country Music Video), couldn't sleep. As I reflect on the things to be thankful for I am so blessed to have Roxana as my wife of... going on 30 years. Each day is a gift from God what we do with it and how we handle it is up to us. This Christmas may we celebrate the birth of King Jesus. The Way,The Truth, and the Life... Those of you that followed the Death Valley Ride, stay tuned. I am up to planning something for local riders to participate in next year. Looks like it may be a 500 mile trip around Indiana. Waiting for Spring :)

29 th Anniversary and trip to H D Museum

2009-11-02T07:11:00.000-08:00

Roxana and I celebrated 29 years of marriage over the weekend. We drove to Milwaukee on Saturday and spent the night at the Iron Horse Hotel. Check it out online. It is a good mixture of a Hotel designed for bikers and the art and class that we also appreciated. It was unfortunate that we could not ride the scooter to Milwaukee but 42 degrees and 15mph winds would have been ugly on the bike. The Harley Davidson Museum is just one block north of the Iron Horse. On Sunday morning we got up and drove down town to a micro brewery restaurant for breakfast. We had a great omelet and some great coffee. We then set off to the Museum. I really enjoyed seeing the free enterprise system that was still alive and well when Mr. Harley and Mr. Davidson built their first motorized bike in a 10 x 15 foot shed, behind the house.
It makes my garage look high tech. I was encouraged! Though my car detail business has suffered greatly during this recession, I believe that Pro TEK Enterprises will rise from the ashes of a business that most can not afford.There are those out there that are totally detailing cars inside and out for $80. They can probably make a living, but have lowered their wage to a fuzz above minimum wage. Their choice, but I do not accept mediocrity as the "change we can believe in". Roxana has stood behind me in all of my jobs for 29 years. Some say ride it out a few more years and retire. Well I don't see that as a good fit. There are too many areas of ministry that I wish to support. I will not settle for mediocrity when it cost Jesus everything to give me the freedom that I truly enjoy. He died for us I will live and work for Him. Roxana is the rock on which my marriage stands. She has more love and grace for others than any person I know. With God's help and her strength and encouragement something will be created in the log garage at the Konopinski household that will bring glory to God and a service or product the world needs. Need something put together? Need something marketed that the world needs? Call me. 574-825-1449 I am open for suggestions. I do not wish to be involved in multi level marketing, other than that I will keep an open mind. Call me if you would like to brainstorm about a new venture. I am going to call this my "10x15 Project". I have the inspiration, and I am not afraid of perspiration and I have persistence. It is still a free country, Live like it! That is a partial motto of HD. I don't necessarily agree with the next two words, but it ends with LET'S RIDE.Call me.

Costa Rica- Motorcycles and American Roads

2009-10-04T08:13:00.000-07:00

Roxana and I got back early last Sunday morning from a week in Costa Rica. One of my friends has a condo down there and graciously "gave us the keys" for a week. What a country. Such a mixture of beauty. Tropical flowers, palm trees and coffee plantations. From San Jose to Escazu (where we stayed) the houses all had bars over all of their doors and windows and wire on top of their fences. Many houses that were not in gated communities had razor wire on top of their fences. Theft is a way of life in CR. According to our cab driver, Nicaragua has so many people entering Costa Rica that work longer hours and for half the money that jobs are really scarce. Costa Rica only has 5 million people in the entire country so the thousands of immigrants, both legal and illegal are a real drain on the CR economy.ALL of the stores have 24/7 guards and the large mall in Escazu has heavily armed guards with automatic weapons. I felt safe, really. Gas is $4.00 a gallon and many of the cars and trucks are diesel. Very efficient clean diesel but our government will not even admit that is possible. With such high gas prices motorcycles and scooters are every where. I even saw on construction worker with a folding ladder strapped to the back of his motorcycle one morning.

There are no road or street signs in Costa Rica. Everything is known from how many meters from the main land marks in any given city. If you go to CR do not rent a car on your first trip. You will get lost! The roads and streets are filled with curves, hills and there is no such thing as people staying in their lane or not turning in front of you. You don't speed up. Every drivers move is determined by the closing speed of the on coming car or the vehicle next to them. They seem to get along quite well with this system. HOWEVER, after going to Death Valley CA this summer on my bike I can tell you that my worst experience on American highways is better than any road or street in Costa Rica. Great to visit CR but I am glad to be back in the USA.

It Must Be Fall

2009-09-08T06:13:00.000-07:00

The leaves are turning and starting to fall off the trees. Our swimming pool is closed for the season. Ty is off to Asbury Theological Seminary to begin work on his Master of Divinity degree. The nights are cool and the rain is colder than summer when riding on my motorcycle.I am grateful for the very busy summer we have had. From Indiana to Death Valley California and back in May. Kari, Josh, Asa and Quinn here for a great summer visit. Ty was home for the summer working at the golf course and grateful for the job.Attended the AECC convention in INDY. Took a trip to KY to visit ATS and move the last bit of Ty's things down there. Almost every weekend involved going some where. It was all good, but did not leave a lot of time to ride, that was not so good. Oh well, sometimes you have seasons like that. Re staining the east side of our log home before cold weather sets in. The mowing season is winding down, just in time to get the snow blower ready to go. Trip to Chicago this coming weekend Ty and I will be going to see U2. We will all be with Roxana's aunt Dottie in Wheaton.U2,what can I say? They just keep cranking out good music. Better to wear out than rust out! My car detail business is pretty much on hold for now. The economy has forced most of my customers to take care of their own cars. I understand. I am thankful for my security job with a great grocery chain here in northern Indiana. Roxana continues to stay busy at RETA and we are adjusting to being empty Nesters once again. We are thrilled to be getting to know Tori Killingsworth, Ty's very special friend. I wish her a good year as she is the ARD for her dorm as she finishes her senior year at IWU, business major. She is such a sweet young lady with a warm heart. So special in this day and age. Looking forward to my next bike trip. Unknown at this time where and when, but there will be another trip. Have a great fall season. Thought for our nation, Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people. Proverbs 14:34 Christians revival will only start with us, II Chronicles 7:14. Pray hard then get to work.

Indy "Scooter ride"

2009-08-02T22:16:00.000-07:00

Rode down to Indy Friday on my bike. Just like going out to Death Valley, Roxana followed me in the Vibe. Her laptop would not fit in the pack or my saddle bags so we took both vehicles. Beautiful weather both ways. We attended the A.E.C.C. national convention. It was good to see everyone again and catch up on what has been happening in each others lives. Also, this weekend I could not help but think of all of those that are now on the road to Sturgis South Dakota. It would be good to go there one time. We will see. Ty is on his way home from Dallas. He should be in around 01:30 or 02:00 this morning. He had a great time visiting Josh, Kari, Asa, Quinn and his girlfriend Victoria and her mother and father. Hard to believe summer is winding down. Where does it go?

Check out my new video post.

2009-07-02T06:09:00.000-07:00

Scroll to the bottom of the blog copy and paste the video by Faith Hill "A Baby Changes Everything". Watch the entire video, you may be surprised to realize who may have been one of the first candidates for abortion, had that option been available "back then". Thank God it wasn't and He is still alive.
Special thanks to CMT for providing such a great site for accessing some of my favorite music videos.
desert rider tom

Happy Birthday America

2009-07-01T09:35:00.000-07:00

It is great to live in the United States of America. Our nation has many beautiful places to see and appreciate. May we never take this freedom lightly. I fear that the honest hard working person today often gets discouraged by the leadership in Washington telling everyone that they will take care of us from the cradle to the grave. Well that may be true for some in our country that do not wish to work and feel the world owes them a living,but for the working man and woman there is no bail out coming. We don't want one. We just want the Government, to get out of the way and once again encourage the free enterprise system that rewards hard work.
Honesty and moral values are not just three old tired out words. This fourth of July give a big thank you to those who have worked so hard at their jobs to give us all a day to remember, freedom is never free. In God I trust. America this is something you will,hopefully, once again awaken to. After all of our collective humanistic and self serving ideas have fallen to the love of social experimentation. May we repent of our arrogance and call out to the God of the universe to forgive us for taking so much for granted and thinking we could build our own Babels. Answer: New Testament John 14:6 & Proverbs 14:23 "In all labor there is profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty."

It is finally getting warm in Indiana

2009-06-19T11:57:00.000-07:00

Greetings to all that may stop in from time to time. I am going to use this blog to communicate with many of you that I do not get a chance to talk with on a regular basis. I am totally amazed that one can still get on a motorcycle and drive across this great nation without asking the government for permission. In a world where those in Washington seem to care more about winning the next election than they care about the people that sent them there, we really should not take any freedom lightly. A peaceful fund raiser for life crossing this great land was one I will never forget. I am thankful and I remain convinced that some day the long nightmare of abortion in our country will be over. The 14th amendment is for unborn children and that is what needs to be repeated over and over again until the Supreme Court and our "leaders" get it. Dads have a great fathers day and for all of the dads that have lost a child due to an abortion, may you seek the forgiveness, grace and comfort that only can be found in Jesus Christ the risen savior of all mankind. Amen. desertrider-tom

2009-05-19T06:04:00.000-07:00

Desertrider- tom

Yesterday was my first day back to work. I certainly wish the "outwest" heat would have followed us home. I just wanted to thank all of you that prayed for us while we were on our "mission trip". I wish I could sit down some time and share the killer weather and crashes that happened just ahead of us or just behind us on our journey. What are the odds of that being just luck that we were not involved? Considering the number of situations it could not merely be attributed to luck, no way. Roxana and Ty were the greatest support team anyone could have. Long days, intense sun and endless miles and they never complained. I was comforted many times by seeing that little white Vibe in my rear view mirrors. After extremely hairy traffic situations I would give a thumbs up that I was ok and they would blink their headlights that they were ok and we would contiune on. Though there are still many that said they would support the ride with a donation and so far have not showed up. You can still make that donation. I think it will be forever unknown (at least in this life) what the over all impact of this trip was. From the great people here in Indiana and Texas to virtually all over the US. I thought for over a year this would be a great fund raiser, I guess I should just know that God will sustain RETA in the future just like He has in the past,with or without any meager effort that I may exert.God's ways are not always "my way", but I am so glad He let Ty and Roxana and I see that touching lives is what it is all about. Oh yeah, for the skeptics that said "it was too many miles,not enough time, I was too old, my bike wouldn't make it, I would just say, "Oh you of little faith". If we ask our Dad, He will do it. And yes I would do it all over again in a minute. Until the nets are full. desert rider- tom

From Roxana

2009-05-15T12:30:00.000-07:00

Over a year ago, Tom felt called to make this trip. He has planned, prepared, recruited a team of helpers, and done everything he could think of with the purpose of raising donations for RETA, increasing awareness of abortion, and most importantly, sharing the hope available to everyone in Christ. Now that we are at the end of this journey and have arrived home, I want to write a few words in closing. Thanks Ty, for doing a great job keeping those who visited this blog up to date on our experience.
This trip has been quite an experience as I knew it would be. Each of us agreed that our favorite part was arriving at our destination and burying a bag which represented all women, men, and families hurt by abortion. So much work went into this and it was wonderful to have closure at our destination. It was an appropriate and heartfelt act for us. There were other memorable moments:
I’ll never forget:
• How difficult it is to follow my husband on a motorcycle through bumper to bumper big city traffic. Thank God Ty was much better at it than I!
• A conversation with a former truck driver, now a cook for the last 7 years at a truck stop just outside Death Valley. A House of Prostitution is connected to the back of the building with a large sign recruiting customers (legal in Nevada). I will never forget him reading the Bible we gave him as we drove away. Priceless.
• A 60 something year old man in Galena, Kansas. He answered questions from
Tom regarding the town 37 years ago when Tom was a student at nearby Ozark Christian College and graciously accepted a Bible. He immediately started looking at it and flipping through the pages.
• Giving a Jesus Film to a grandmother and her granddaughter who thanked me and said they would watch it while traveling in their SUV.
• Fixing peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for two panhandlers during a truck stop and leaving Bibles with them before we said goodbye.
• The joy of making this trip with my family and the honor of doing it to help RETA. (Kariann, although you weren’t along in person, we knew you were praying and I love you for checking in with us every day!)
• Spending time along the way with Roy (a friend of Tom’s for 40 years!), and new friends, Anne, Carl, and Peter. It was great having four motorcycles riding together for a few days.
• God’s protection on several occasions. Your prayers for safety were heard…..on several occasions, what could have been a bad situation…..wasn’t! Thank you so much for your prayers!
• Conversations with people who asked about the signs on our vehicle; conversations informing people about partial birth abortion; conversations about our country and concerns about it’s current leadership.
• Receiving a picture message from my RETA family, the staff I love to work with….you all are the greatest!
• Leaving Bibles, Jesus Films, and a few dollars for a tip along with a note in each room where we stayed for the cleaning staff.
• How proud and thankful I am for Tom, my wonderful husband of almost 29 years who feels passionate about his God, his country, his family and “the unborn and the not forgotten” (which includes all members of all families hurt by abortion). I have never been more proud of him, more thankful for him and I have fallen in love with him all over again….:)
Thank you for “joining us” on this trip and thank you to those of you who have sent a financial gift. We so appreciate each and every donation. DVR T-shirts are also available for purchase by calling the RETA office at 574.522.3888. Please join us at Cici’s Pizza behind Applebee’s in Goshen on Tuesday, May 26 5:00 – 8:00pm. RETA receives a percentage of all proceeds that evening if you write RETA on the back of your receipt and we get to meet you!
I am sincerely grateful for your partnership and there are no words to express how thankful I am to God for everything He is, was, and forever will be to me personally and to all who know Him!

Roxana

Video Sign-Off

2009-05-15T11:58:00.000-07:00

Home Again!

2009-05-15T10:19:00.000-07:00

Well, the end is here. After two more days of traveling and dodging stormy weather, we have arrived back in our humble home in Middlebury. Apologies for not writing the last few days, we have had sketchy internet connections. Wednesday, we passed through the center of Missouri and stopped for gas right outside of St. Louis. The Missouri natives at the gas stop were quite friendly. Several people came up to Dad and Mom and asked about our travels. One gentleman from Connecticut, who had stopped for gas, was coming back from Death Valley too! He was a photographer for the NHL and was on vacation. He asked Dad about the cause of his ride and Mom gave him a shirt. Another man, a St. Louis local, was given a shirt as well and proceeded to buy Dad a water. A real kind gesture. We decided to end our travels early for Wednesday because we saw rain to the North and another system was coming behind us. Dad had had enough of that and we decided to retire just outside of St. Louis. Sure enough, Wednesday night - I looked outside our window and the rain was pouring. We were glad to be warm and dry. Thursday, we got up early and drove until we arrived home at around 8PM. Truly, I must say your prayers were so invaluable on this trip. I saw a news article online last night that showed tornadoes had passed through the area we had just traveled from on Wednesday. God was truly guarding Dad the entire journey. Now looking back - 13 days, 4,907 miles, many conversations and gas stops later – we smile and thank God for His grace. We do not know what kind of change we made, but we pray that our hearts were and will continue to remain obedient to Him. Thank you again, we leave you with a video send-off and a couple pictures from our travels on the home stretch. (Pictures are: a video drive by of dad riding in Illinois, us after finally crossing the Indiana state line, and us after pulling into the driveway at home)

Back to the Beginning

2009-05-12T20:00:00.000-07:00

Wow...today was a crazy day. So much happened during our travels through the rest of Oklahoma. Dad started out with drizzle and clouds with a slightly warmer air, around the mid 60s. Before we left Clinton, OK - a couple from southern California, Patti and Tom Lovejoy saw our car's sign and asked Dad about our ride. They began to talk with us out in front of the hotel and we discovered that Patti was the director of a ministry at her church that worked with young mothers! They were a huge encouragement and we were honored to have met them. As we headed out on the Oklahoma turnpike east of OK City, the lady at the toll booth asked if we had experienced any hail. She said that many people who had been traveling the same route we were on had seen quarter-sized hail only a few hours beforehand. We had dodged the storm....at least for a while. Later this afternoon, it started to rain, no check that - downpour. We had caught up with a storm system that was heading east at a lazy pace of 45mph. As soon as we saw the lightning come near us, we knew we should seek shelter for Dad. We stopped at a restaurant in Miami, OK and waited the storm out. After a great dinner, we continued northeast and drove into Galena, Kansas and drove on the actual historic Route 66! Dad had a history with Galena, as he and a buddy of his hung out downtown there about thirty years ago. We asked a local about the whereabouts of the town and found out that the writers for the movie "Cars" had used Galena to get some of their inspiration for the characters and location of the movie. My nephew Asa, absolutely loves that movie - so we took the opportunity to take some pictures. During our time hanging out in Galena (which almost seemed like a ghost town on the stretch we were on) we met a man named Mike who was working on his truck. Dad and I talked with him for a few minutes and Dad gave him a Bible. He took it and shook both our hands as we headed down the road. It was a touching moment when we saw him thumbing through the Bible. A similar picture of our buddy Roger in Nevada. We really hope God speaks to them in some way. They were both loners and seemed to be searching for something. I pray they find Jesus. Tonight, we are staying in the same motel we visited our first night of our trip in Springfield, Missouri. Its crazy to think that we have covered so many miles. We will give you a final tally at the end of the journey. See you all soon!

Crossing into Okie Territory

2009-05-11T21:50:00.000-07:00

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)

Day 9 - Tumbleweeds and Rat Bikes

2009-05-10T18:49:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone – I write you this evening from our hotel room in Santa Rosa, New Mexico. After a steady day of traveling with nothing but clear skies and 80s-90s, we are nearly 500 miles closer to home. Dad wanted to get an early start this morning because it possibly could be one of our last days of good weather, now that were heading steadily more NE – with rain and cold as more of a possibility. So a little bit after 8 MST, we headed eastbound from Williams, Arizona. One thing I do love about the Southwest interstate – a 75 mph speed limit!! You can cover a lot of terrain at that pace! Any Eagles fans out there? A little before noon, we stopped to re-fuel in Winslow, Arizona – which is mentioned in “Take It Easy”. The town of Winslow was not much to look at, but then again, it was a girl in a flat-bed Ford that caught Don Henly’s attention. We continued on and right before we crossed into New Mexico, we were due for another gas stop. This stop was different than any of our previous ones, however. Dad was approached by a Native American man who tried to sell him a ring. He said he wanted to sell it to Dad so he could buy food because he was hungry. Dad offered to make a sandwich for him and another friend who came to chat with us as well. We talked about life and during our conversation, found out that one of them had just been released from prison about six months ago and was trying to get a fresh start in life. Before we left them, we gave them two Bibles and wished them well. We don’t know what will happen with those men, but we pray that God will put people in their lives that can show them the truth and love of God’s. Later this afternoon, we were driving on I-40 and saw a huge Dust Devil move across right across the interstate about a half mile ahead of us! It was amazing to see such a powerful force so close. They are mostly harmless, yet the Dust Devil can move a lot of debris and cause almost zero visibility. We noticed there were a lot of motorcycles on the road today. I spotted a gang in downtown Williams when I went for a run this morning and we saw about five more groups today at various gas stations. We saw a group with Michigan plates, one of which had a kick start. Dad called their kind of ride “rat bikes” because they are the kind that aren’t washed. The rough and unkempt look is pretty hardcore in the biking world. You learn something new everyday…. We plan on being in Oklahoma by tomorrow evening. Blessings to you all!

Making the Turn

2009-05-09T22:55:00.000-07:00

Hello friends, we left Pahrump (still can't get over that name) Nevada early this morning with nothing but blue skies. We are already starting to feel the cooler air, it was only in the 80s today through eastern Nevada/Arizona. Before leaving this morning, we again left a copy of the Jesus film and a couple bibles for our housekeepers. Dad struck up a conversation with a husband and wife at breakfast who were certified NRA trainers. They talked about the freedoms of our country and how it is important to voice the rights for citizens.

We then traveled around Las Vegas and bypassed the city limits into Arizona. After only about five hours, we stopped at Williams, Arizona. We then took the opportunity to go north one hour and see the Grand Canyon. Words cannot describe the amazing scene that one sees when you come upon the one mile deep, 4-18 miles wide gap in the earth. I believe that this is a place that everyone should have an opportunity to see it one time in their life. It is an incredible example of seeing God's wonder and admiring the beauty of His creation.

We are heading on to New Mexico tomorrow. Apologies for such a short report, we will be updating you more shortly!

{Attatched are photos of the Bibles and videos we have been leaving behind, as well as a closer look at the bag that contained the memorial stones we buried in Death Valley.}

Thanks to Jamie Bradberry!

2009-05-08T17:55:00.000-07:00

Day 6 and 7 - Valley of Redemption / Homeward Bound

2009-05-08T09:17:00.000-07:00

Hello friends. Apologies again for the mess up with Day 5. I had posted the blog as a draft, which does not post on the website. Yesterday was the triumphant conclusion of our venture to the West. We headed out from Las Vegas around 10 PST after sleeping in a little while and getting some breakfast. However, before leaving we met a really sweet lady who was working in the lobby of our Best Western. She had such a joyful spirit and talked to us about our travels. I was so humbled by her servant's heart. Dad gave her a Jesus film and a tip and wished her well.

Once we headed out on the road, we began to see true desert and mountain terrain. Up until this point, the landscape had been pretty desolate - but this area took the cake. We made a pitstop at Lathrop Wells and talked to a man named Roger for about twenty minutes, a trucker of 35 years, who has been to 48 states, all the Canadian provinces, and Mexico! I gave him a Bible before we left, and he had already begun reading it after we said goodbye. I pray that he finds God, he was such a kind hearted man and reminded me of my Grandpa Everett - the type of personality that never met a stranger.

About an hour later, we arrived in Death Valley National Park. At the basin of the valley, it was a hot 105 degrees and the arid air literally took all moisture from your mouth. Just standing in the Valley made you feel dehydrated. It was a crazy feeling. We went on top of Zabriskie Point, which was a surreal experience. Over looking all of the mountains and standing there without any noise - it is the feeling of complete stillness. There was hardly any wind, no animals, no noise. Period. We understood why it was called Death Valley for that very reason. After traveling on the road through the park, we passed through Furnace Creek which has an elevation of -260 feet. There was a resort there which is supposedly very expensive. Why anyone would want to stay there? - I don't know. Then the highlight of the entire trip.

As we headed out of the National Park, Dad buried the stones representing the six families directly affected by abortion which were given to us. We had a burial ceremony and said a prayer for closure on the entire purpose of our trip. It was an awesome experience. We felt that in that act, we made a point to our government. Understanding that our ultimate authority comes from God, this action was an act of committing this battle to Him. In a culture with a relativistic morality, we must hold to the clear definitions of what is good and what is evil. How can we have a menu-style conscience, choosing that is evil to torture adults, but it is excusable to abort an unborn infant? Why not have the same convictions for all life? Forgive me for being political, this from my (Ty’s) heart and you can agree or disagree. Regardless of party, we as people have to face these questions and must be able to articulate our answers. Additionally, if we carry the name of Christian, we are committed to live by principle. Not radical, not hateful, but also not compromising. So often I hear Christians, yes Christians - talk about the political issues of today and are muzzled by fear. Jesus warned us that we would face persecution. I pray that we will not let fear stand in the way of loving the way Christ loved. Not by appeasing and being silent but by showing people what kind of world is possible
with God.

Forgive me for preaching. I did not mean to go on a rant. Today we are taking a day off from the road and staying in a city that is in the middle of the Nevada desert – Pahrump. A very funny name and apparently is the fastest growing city in Nevada (from Dad’s research). Our video at the basin of Death Valley is posted below. If you are able to see it, Dad’s red armband is to remember the lives of those who have been affected by abortion and Christ’s healing redemption.

We will be heading east again bright and early tomorrow beginning our journey home. We miss you and look forward to seeing each of you soon!

{Our pictures: Us at Zabriskie Point and burial ceremony at the basin of Death Valley)

Day 5 - Long Day, Long Blog

2009-05-07T07:50:00.000-07:00

Hey everybody, sorry for the late entry - yesterday was a very, very long day. We headed out of Lordsburg, New Mexico around 8 in the morning. It did not take long before we started the first of many "experiences" to mark the day as one for the record books. We needed to head out on 70 West toward Globe, Arizona - however, we missed our turn by going into the wrong lane and lost about half an hour. But that was minor. Throughout the AM, our tour was beautiful! We saw amazing landscape and took several pictures. Also, Mom and I found an oldies station (there was a point when there was only one faded spanish channel, haha) and decided to take a video of the convoy in front of us. We posted the video here - hope you enjoy it. The music is convenient for a motorcycle trip. Everything was going great, until we hit Globe Arizona where we ran into stand-still traffic due to road construction. For the riders, open sky and 103 degree heat, surrounded by rock caverns was a lot to muster. Yet after about 20 minutes, we started moving again. Then....the nemesis of our trip so far. Phoenix. As soon as we entered into the city limits, our motorcycle caravan became stretched. The traffic was pretty thick, especially for 1:30 in the afternoon. Then Dad and I missed our off ramp because of being in the left lane, four over from the exit. So after going out of our way a couple miles, we found 60 west again and attempted to get through the city. I then had to say a prayer and ask God for self-control.As we were going with the flow of traffic, a man who looked like Ace Ventura in a green pick up flew up on Dad's tail. He had a temper-tantrum like a five year old and I witnessed him yelling in his cab. I slammed on my horn, because I was right next to Dad and was upset he endangered my Dad's life. What was funny later, was that we ended up passing him because he went into the right lane and got stuck behind slower cars. On the east side of Phoenix we came up on a wreck that had happened only a few minutes prior. Dad was a trooper and we successfully got through the city without an accident, a heartattack, or any fist fights, haha! After what seemed like an eternity of Phoenix suburbs, we caught up with Roy, Carl, and Peter in Wickenburg, about twenty miles outside of the city. Toward the end of the day, close to Kingman they ended up parting ways. They had other commitments and wanted to see the Grand Canyon today. It was awesome to journey across the Southwest with them! We all really appreciated their fellowship and it was a pleasure to have them with us for a good portion of our trip. We hope to see them again in the future. Dad, Mom, and myself stopped at Kingman Arizona for dinner (which took us on the historic Route 66 for a little while!) and to plan where we would stay for the night. Dad wanted to press on a little further and do some night driving. We were deciding between Boulder City or Henderson, which are both just outside Las Vegas. So we went on ahead into the desert night after fueling up. About an hour and half later, we passed through security and went over the Hoover Dam! It was amazing!! Even at night, it is a definite sight to see. Dad led the way and decided to head all the way into Las Vegas for our stop last night. I saw the enourmous stretch of lights and the over-whelming architecture from a distance of the Vegas strip with more hotels, casinos, and restaruants then a person can count. To think, that the entire sea of lights in Las Vegas is powered by the Hoover Dam is incredible! So we stayed in the Best Western down a ways from the Las Vegas high life. We arrived at almost 11 PM PST. So, my apologies for the delay, but after driving in three states yesterday, we were all pretty tired. We look forward to today as we have arrive in Death Valley. We plan on getting there in the noon-day sun, the hottest time. We will be making a video there today as we spend some time focusing on the purpose of this entire journey - Life. Where it comes from. When it begins. How it is used. What is revealed in it. Who is the source of it all. Thanks friends, we make the turn around today! See you soon!

{Our pictures include: Joshua trees in Arizona, traveling through cliffs around Globe, the biker posse, the guys with Dad and I, and Dad night riding across the Hoover Dam}

Apologies for the late arrival on this blog entry - we experienced some difficulty in the posting yesterday.

Day 4 - Light in Darkness

2009-05-05T20:41:00.000-07:00

Hello once again everybody. Our place of residence for tonight is Lordsburg, New Mexico. We are still not quite out of NM since today we made a pit stop to see the Carlsbad Caverns before we continued westward. Wow. Words cannot describe the amazing sights of the enourmous caves 800 feet below ground that we saw today. The bunch of us split up into two groups, the two couples on a self-guided tour while Roy's friends Carl, Peter, and myself joined a ranger-guided group on a special route through the cave. At one point on our tour, they turned off all the lights and asked us to be completely silent. I have never experienced something so errie yet amazing in my life. I placed my hand an inch in front of my face and I still could not see it. Never again will I be able to think of "the Abyss" or "the pit" the same way.

All three of us had an opportunity to share some of our joy with someone today. Mom left behind two more copies of the Jesus film with some coffee money for our housekeeping lady and was able to give her card for RETA to a lady we met here in Lordsburg. She and her husband live in Portland, but were originally from Marion, Indiana! It was such a small world, we talked this evening a bit about how the campus of (now Indiana Wesleyan University, then Marion College) had changed since I am now an alumnus....weird. During my tour at the caverns, there were two women talking in front of me on the trail. One of them had just suffered the loss of her husband and was traveling west to "find her way" as she said and was going to see some friends. I saw her in the parking lot before we left and felt prompted to give her a copy of the Jesus film. I caught up to her and and told her that I felt like I was supposed to give her the film, but more importantly, I wanted her to know that I would be praying for her. She was taken aback, but thanked me and took the video. Then later this afternoon, we stopped in Deming, NM for gas and a hispanic man came up to our car asking for money. Dad was quick to answer, "I've got something even better." He gave the man a Jesus film and a Bible. The man grinned big and thanked Dad. We are thankful that the video came en espanol for our Spanish speaking friends.

Our plans are to ride out at 8 AM (10 AM Indiana time) and travel about 8 hours until we get to Las Vegas. Then it will be only a short jog on Thursday for our arrival to Death Valley! Pray for our opportunity to minister to the people around Las Vegas and continued protection as we near our destination. God has been so faithful and gracious in our journey up to this point. Farewell friends, see ya in
Nevada!

{Our pictures are of the Carlsbad caverns, our bike group passing through the Guadalupe mountains, and the "Four horsemen" bikers riding into the New Mexico sunset}

Day 3 - Go West Young Man

2009-05-04T20:59:00.001-07:00

Hello all - I am writing you from our hotel's lobby here in Carlsbad, New Mexico! Roy, Anne, and Dad headed out this morning around 9 AM leading us out of the Dallas city limits. We passed through some pretty hectic traffic going through Fort Worth, Arlington, and the outskirts of Irving. After a while, we rode into our first leg of blue skies and sunshine for the entire trip!
Before the end of today, we hit 94 degrees and Dad was a little pink in the face from soaking up the rays. But he was loving it and it was a welcomed companion in contrast with rain and 50 degrees of Missouri and Oklahoma. We stopped just West of Albeline, TX for gas and a quick bite to eat for lunch today at a gas station. Roy and Dad struck up a conversation with a gentleman talking about politics and the current state of the United States. Shortly thereafter, the gentleman started talking about things we had heard on the radio regarding biblical prophecy. I saw that as an opportunity. We kept talking for a little while and before we left the station, I gave the man a couple of our "Hope for the Highway" Bibles. I told him that it was the source of hope for us, regardless of how bad our country gets or how corrupt the government becomes. He smiled and thanked me with a firm handshake.
Tonight, two of Roy's friends from Boulder, Colorado joined us for dinner and will continue with us until Death Valley! We now have four motorcycles and a car for our Ride for Life caravan! This is awesome!
We plan on being in Arizona tomorrow after we will be dropping Anne off at the El Paso airport. Unfortunately, she has to fly back home to NY for work and cannot continue the rest of the way. It has been a joy to travel with her and we wish her well until we hopefully can journey together again! We will be stopping by the Carlsbad Caverns tomorrow morning for a quick tour and then were off once more. Blessing to you all!

[Note - Our pictures are of Dad soaking in the rays today in NM and during our lunch stop at the gas station with the friend we made today.]

Day 2 - Hello Dallas!

2009-05-03T21:07:00.000-07:00

Greetings from the Lone Star state! We rolled into Dallas just before 5PM CST after a very wet and cold day of riding. When we woke up this morning, we were welcomed with a steady drizzle and overcast skies. Throughout the day as we finished our time in Missouri and the majority of the ride in Oklahoma, it was scattered showers and cold wind. Dad was greatful for the newly purchased long underwear we purchased at Walmart last night in Springfield; it helped a little bit with the rough elements for today's leg of the road. And Dad wants to say a special thank you to Mary Drinkwine for his neckwarmer - it has been worth its weight in gold!
Before we left our hotel, we left behind two movies, the Jesus film and one on Mary Magdalene. We also left behind some words of encouragement and a few Bible verses on the mirrors, written with dry erase marker. In our travels we have come across many people who are struggling and are in a rough spot with this economy. (Matthew 11:28 and John 16:33)
Today was definitely an adventure on the interstate. If you would, continue to be praying for a watchful eye and defensive driving in the miles to come. God has been so faithful at keeping us protected thus far and we are incredibly thankful! Our friends Roy and Anne joined us this evening in Dallas and will be adding another motorcycle, which means a larger convoy. However, it definitely does make the bikes easier to see, so there is strength in numbers. Today, we saw two more pretty bad accidents, one of which was a semi truck in a ditch! That was quite a sight. Something humorous today, Dad saw lady in an SUV blaze pass him going 80 mph - while texting on her cell phone!! And we wonder why they are passing laws against cell phone use while driving...
Tonight, we had the blessing of eating dinner with our family, Kari and Josh,(along with their little ones - Asa and Quinn) who live in Carrolton, just north of Dallas. Their neighbors, David and Linda, and our new riding partners Roy and Anne also joined us. It was a great time of fellowship and a perfect way to close out a long day.
Well, that's all to report for now. Thank you all for your prayers - they are invaluable! We head out tomorrow for Carlsbad, New Mexico!! Until then friends.

Day 1

2009-05-02T19:51:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone! A few hours ago, we settled into our hotel room at the Best Western in Springfield , Missouri. 635 miles and 13 hours later, we pulled into our home for the evening. Dad was a trooper today, starting out at 6AM this morning he fired up the Harley in a chilly 42 degrees. But he bundled up with his leather and hammered on down the road. We heard certain weather reports that there was a chance for rain, but we trekked today without seeing a drop (only an occasional bug splatter ). Our journey consisted mainly of driving and re-fueling today, yet we had a few conversations with some people during our times to rest and eat. We met a man around Terre Haute who was filling up his car at a gas station who had just finished running the Mini Indianapolis Marathon. He had his running gear on and looked pretty tired. This mini-marathon was his 13th consecutive year running! What an accomplishment. Right before heading into Illinois, we stopped for lunch at a Pizza Hut where Mom gave away our first copy of the Jesus film to our waitress. As we prepared to leave, I noticed the two billboards in the Pizza Hut parking lot. One was for OptionLine, a national hotline which refers women to local pregnancy centers like R.E.T.A. – and the other was an advertisement for motorcycles! What a coincidence…..hmmm  Out on the highway, we saw numerous sights. About four billboards with just the word “Jesus”, a huge metal cross the size of a small corporate building, tons of cop cars, a really bad accident with a truck flipped upside down, and dozens of fellow bikers; many of which gave Dad a wave. Periodically throughout today, Mom and I noticed many people reading our car’s signs about the Death Valley Ride. Some had puzzled looks about them, others gave us a nod of approval, and one gentleman gave us a thumbs up. We all pray that in the days ahead, we will have more opportunity to converse and fellowship with people. Today was pretty fast-paced as we had many miles to cover, but it looks like today was our longest one day trip. I’m thankful for that because our neighbors here at the hotel are awesome and I would have loved to have talked to them for a greater length of time. They are part of a group of 29 people traveling together for the Osarks Bowling tournament this weekend. We talked a little while when we came in tonight and they were hilarious! A bunch of people with hearty laughs and large smiles. Well, we’re getting ready to turn in. Only a seven hour day tomorrow and then we’ll be in the Big D, or Dallas for our fellow Yankee friends (ha ha). Blessings to everyone - stay tuned for more adventures to come! --Just a note: To anyone trying to comment on our blogsite: 1. Go to the “be a follower” box on the right hand side. 2. If you do not have a Google account, create one (its free) or if you do, simply use your username and password for your Google account. 3. Sign in with that ID info – and leave your comments! 4. [If you have a blogspot account, you can use that info as well.]

Ready to Ride

2009-05-01T06:02:00.000-07:00

Well...the time is almost here. The Death Valley Ride for Life will officially kick off in less than 24 hours from now. Dad, Mom, and I (Ty) have been anxiously anticipating this day for over a year now. Since Dad (Tom) first thought up the idea, we have been continuously praying and seeking God's guidance in whether or not it would become a reality.....and here we are. Mom (Roxana) has been amazed at the amount of encouragement, prayer, and support we have received from numerous groups of friends and supporters of this cause.
As we make final preparations, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of you who are coming alongside us in this effort. We pray that we will be empty vessels and open to the Spirit's prompting. Our desire is to bring the healing power of Jesus Christ to those who are feeling pain as a result of abortion or any other choices which have left them numb in this world. We hope to reach out to people who consider themselves unworthy of God's love.

Will you please join us?

"Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death." -- Romans 8:1-2

If not you,who? If not now, when?

2009-04-21T08:11:00.000-07:00

It is not yet clear to any of us how successful this ride will be as a fund raiser, however, the older I get the more I realize it is not about me and my meager efforts. It is merely about being faithful to my family, my country, my fellowmen and God. I do believe He has a plan. He just wants us to show up and say "here I am”. Hope you show up, however that may look… Donations, prayers, volunteer at RETA, an advocate for the unborn and the not forgotten. May we extend grace to people that have been harmed by previous abortion(s) and offer hope and healing to all that have been touched by the effects of an abortion. There are educational programs for new moms and dads and support for grandparents. Help keep the lights on at R.E.T.A. They are on the front lines in the war to save the unborn and give support to each person that comes in the front door. Let them hear from you today. tom

Thanks

2009-04-21T05:05:00.000-07:00

To the DVR Team thanks for all you have done! Tom and Janele for stepping out of your comfort zone to do something new. Man, is that refreshing to hear," we have never done something like this but we will do our best". You did.. To Lindsey, your art work speaks for itself. Thanks for bringing that creative side to our team. To the countless friends and dedicated family members, that have encouraged me and shot up more than one prayer for the DVR, no way it would have happened without you.Stay tuned,drop back often during the trip and post trip. This site is to keep all of our friends informed. I made it myself so don't blame Ty.

Join the DVR4life Team

2009-04-20T05:10:00.000-07:00

Less than two weeks until the Death Valley Ride begins. A penny a mile will go a long way to help RETA continue helping through all seven of their free programs. Please help me help RETA.

2,578 miles one way,round trip= 5,156 miles or $51.56 at a penny a mile.

That is a reasonable request for any family,group or business to save lives and support those seeking RETA's help. thanks- tom