Thursday, July 20
By the grace of God, we have reached Day 5 (out of 11) of biking and Day 7 (out of a total of 14 for the whole trip, including driving. We have biked 528km with about that many before we hit the Southern border with Mozambique. Tomorrow, Friday, is our one day off of the trip. So far, very good.
Progressions:
Yesterday morning, the Northern Synod, of Livingstonia, headquartered in Mzuzu (right next to where I spent a month “shadowing” Rev. Henry Mvula in 2000), gathered Synod leaders, pastors, business owners and hospital personal (part of our Bike fundraiser is to be a catalyst for people within the Northern Synod to donate on behalf of medications that the hospitals in that region can not afford to have available for their patients) for a prayerful, encouraging Meet & Greet, during which they passed the bucket on the spot for donations.
Then it was off, and back down toward, Lake Malawi, again, as we had to come inland due to the lack of tarmac along the Lake for approximately 150km that includes small fishing villages and streams that have no bridges.
Today was a beautiful sunny-hot day biking and being baked on a road that was well-surfaced except for the many sections that weren’t, (e.g. threatening potholes or sections under repair with hard-packed dirt and rocks). Got off early as we had to pedal 112kms to reach tonight’s destination in the Central region that is Nkhoma Synod where Deb and I have been serving on the Mission Campus outside of the Capitol city of Lilongwe.
There have been so many pastors and their families and church leaders who have provided meals and overnight accommodations for us; we are so grateful to them.
Impressions:
What does one think about while biking kilometer after kilometer?
- There are different types of road surfaces — the inch-high rumble strips that warn of upcoming Trading Centers along the road or of one-lane bridges that have dislodged several of my fillings. Then, there are the small bumps and potholes that are bothersome but not dangerous. Finally, there are the crater-sized potholes that can do major damage to bikes, bikers, and car suspensions.
- When I was a kid, we used to pump our arms up and down so truck drivers would pull their air-horns. Here, I am like a big truck — young children playing outside yell and scream for my attention in village after village. In return, I usually wave; or give them a Homer Simpson, “Woo hoo,” or, if they are walking on my side of the road, I will hold out my hand for a little side-five with those brave enough to slap five with a strange old white guy on a bike.
- When teens or young men pass me on their bikes, pedaling their hearts out, I take their exuberance as an opportunity. Since they decided to pass me, they basically offered to be my wind-breaker, allowing me to tuck in behind them and be pulled along in their airstream. More often than not, they deplete their energy leading the way, and motion for me to go on ahead.
- Expect the unexpected — drives meant to take 2 hours guaranteed to take 3; a 5-hour drive that took 8 hours. Unexpected connections being made, like between Mr. Chifundo, the Director of a Mission in Nkhoma, that serves 1700 elderly and disabled, working with Deb as our support team and connecting so brotherly with second-year pastoral student, My Hamilton, who is my biking partner — they are the same age with small kids the same age and wives back in Nkhoma who are becoming friends.
- We do feel God’s empowerment, protection, and grace. Thank you for your prayer support, following our stories and donations.
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