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June 6, 2010
Day of Rest! Today we are relaxing in a hotel in Pagosa Springs, CO. Sleeping in a bed was a nice change of pace and the riders were in serious need of a day without riding. After nine greuling days of battling hills and 100 degree heat, the guys are beyond relieved to have this day as a chance for some good restation (rest and relaxion).
Last night we had one of the coolest conversations of the trip so far (the coolest in my opinion). After dinner we ran into a couple of men that were pilots and were in town for the night. We asked where they were from and the conversation grew from there. I talked to one of them for about an hour and I’m not sure I’ve ever been quite as inspired. Steve Wolford was born in Africa and spent most of his life there, helping his parents who were missionaries in Congo. Both of the guys were pilots for a private owner and Steve has spent a lot of his life doing mission work in Eastern Congo, flying supplies to the secluded villages and transporting doctors and dentists. His story was exactly what I needed to hear. It’s strange that there is so much good in the world, but it gets shadowed by all the bad. We never hear about people like Steve on the news. We don’t even really here about the terrible things that are still going on just outside Rwanda and in other parts of the world. I used to think money could fix the world’s problems. However, we usually end up making the people that need our help even more dependent, rather than taking the time to actually go and show them how to do things necessary to living a healthy life. It’s cool to talk to someone that spends his life helping people in a literal sense, giving up his time and not just his extra cash.
One story Steve told us was about an African tribe member he brought to the states. After seeing the incredible wealth of our country, he told Steve it was too easy to die in America, both physically and spiritually; physically because all of the food we eat and spiritually because you don’t need God here. The first part of his statement was a little funny, the second part is much too true. We live in a place that lets us forget what we actually need too often. I don’t think people like Steve’s friend need me as much as I need people like him. We usually don’t recognize our greatest flaws until a total stranger is able to pin point them.
Traveling across this beautiful country I am proud to be from a place where we have so much. But too often we take it for granted. We live in a place of great opportunity. Let’s use those opportunities to help the people in the world who have true problems. Let’s be proactive and not just reactive.
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’-Matthew 25:40”
Colorado is beautiful and I’m looking forward to seeing more of it as we travel through the mountains tomorrow. The guys will be daring Wolfcreek Pass, a 30 mile mountain that will most likely be the hardest test of endurance in the whole trip…just another day though!
Press On,
Jordan-FAA
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