While we were here this year, it was raining and cold, but that didn't stop the church congregation from coming out for a time of worship and hearing about us. Each person I met in this church wanted to truly invest in each of us through prayer and conversation. We talked and laughed over dinner, then the pastor's family brought over massive containers of delicious ice cream (including Huckleberry, which I have been waiting for for months now!) after the service. Of all the amazing people we met at Harrison Baptist Church, one girl in particular, Jakayla, proved to be the most inspiring person of all. At only 12 years old, she single handedly raising $1,200.00 for the Venture projects that we're biking for. She spent her year telling people about the Burmese refugees so she could give us a check when we passed through. Not only did she raise money for the cause, she saved enough money to mail order her own road bike so she could begin training for a Venture tour. Due to the fact she's so young, it'll be years before she can actually participate in a tour, but that hasn't slowed her down.
The following morning was the most difficult ride I have ever experienced on a Venture tour. We woke to continuing rain and frigid temperatures. Jakayla showed up at the church bright and early with her new bike and was ready to ride the 30+ miles down the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes with us. She rode in cotton clothes that just absorbed the freezing rain water and did nothing to block the wind, while we were struggling in proper cycling gear. I was absolutely amazed by this girls perseverance and positivity! Oh, and she left us all in the dust on the trail. Give it a few years and she'll be one of the best cyclists and passionate person a Venture tour has ever had the privilege of having on a team.
I'll keep it short, but we ended up having to pull the team off the road before they really got that far up the Thompson Pass climb because the conditions were just too dangerous. It was foggy, rainy, and temperatures were only in the upper 30s at the top of the pass. Several of us had to get in the van even earlier because we physically couldn't keep going. I couldn't feel my hands or feet enough to even break, which is something other participants were experiencing, too.
We arrived safely in Thompson Falls, Montana though. Some of us rode the rest of the day in the van while others decided to bike the last 7 miles of the ride at the bottom of the mountain and into town.
Here in Thompson Falls we have been given the opportunity to rest and relax. The girls have the whole parsonage to ourselves and the guys have a great host home right out of town. I think we're all extremely thankful for warm homes and the chance to sleep and have a little alone time.
I'm off to go seek out a coke at the gas station down the hill from the church we're staying at. Here are a few pictures form the last couple of days. Enjoy!
Blessings,
Sara
Exploring Spokane during our day off
Our Spokane exploration lead us to a beautiful hotel with this ballroom. So, naturally we had to dance.
Our hosts in Spokane, Jacob and Whitney Kuhn, helped to organize a dinner with their church so that we could share about our cause and tour. It just so happens that a member at their church works with Burmese refugees in the Spokane area. Several of them came to the dinner to talk with us and share their experiences with us. Their stories were hard to hear, but it was confirmation that we were biking or a real reason. This little girl in particular recently moved here from a refugee camp (much like the ones the Venture community centers are in). She captured my heart and attention right away, and when I asked her name I learned it was Sara, too.
One of our hosts, Jacob, with some of the Burmese refugee kiddos.
The ride from Spokane, WA to Harrison, ID was gorgeous!
When it's cold outside, you do what you have to to get warm. It just so happens that the skate ramps at the park we stopped at for lunch were pretty warm. This is the result-- cyclists lounging on them like they're couches.
And again...
John and Verlaine Stein in Harrison, ID-- two of my favorite people in the world.
We met this dog across the street from the church/parsonage we're staying at here in Thompson Falls, MT. I can't remember his name, but he was one of the sweetest dogs I've ever met (even though he looks a little wild-eyed here).
Playing on the railroad tracks in Thompson Falls with Shelby.
The parsonage overlooked the little town of Thompson Falls. It was foggy, rainy, and cold today, and it was wonderfully relaxing to just sit here on this couch and watch the fog and rain move across the mountains. This is Kira in the picture. She sat here for a good while in silence and I thought she just looked so peaceful sitting there so I had to snap a picture without her knowing.
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