Let’s talk about the pedaling…
We are in Pennsylvania and 254 miles from the Statue of Liberty. It is hard to believe we are getting that close to the end of our pedaling. I know we haven’t posted much about the pedaling. We like to talk more about the people and the ministry. But pedaling has been a big part of this journey, also. We have pedaled about 2000 miles, so far. Not as much as we had hoped. I had overestimated how many miles we could pedal in a week and still make it to our speaking engagements. We have personally struggled with that and have prayed more than once for God to help us keep our attitude and spirit in alignment with His purpose for this journey. (It’s not about the miles, it’s about the message.) We have been able to make all the miles since Indiana. But more important, we are not missing any ministry opportunity since we left Gig Harbor on May 17.
We haven’t talked much about the aches and pains. You can’t expect to spend this much time cycling without a few aches and pains. Generally speaking, riding a couple of thousand miles on a bike is good for your physical health. We are definitely building the muscles we are using. It’s the joints and ligaments that are taking the beating. Darla and Grant will feel it in their wrists and neck. I feel it in my shoulders and elbow. It has never been so bad that it has kept us from getting back on our bikes the next day, though.
As I said, we are in Pennsylvania. It is the most challenging terrain since Snoqualmie Pass. Very hilly and the roads are not ‘bike friendly’. I was mentioning this in the church we spoke at last night. When you are following Jesus with the intent to do something for the Kingdom, expect a big mountain early on the journey. It is a time when we are still weak and unseasoned. Three days after we started we hit Snoqualmie Pass. We were still breaking in our bikes, figuring out the RV and the rain didn’t help. It was a struggle to get over the top but we finally made it. And you should expect another big mountain near the end of the journey. It is almost as if there is an unseen force taking one last attempt at stopping you. Well, we are not worried about any ‘unseen force’. Greater is He that is in us than any ‘unseen force’. The hills of Pennsylvania are one of God’s most beautiful creations. We are blessed to be able to enjoy their beauty at varying speeds between 4 and 25 miles per hour.
Please keep us in joyful, victorious prayer. We have chosen our finish date as Sept 12. The 11th is just too crazy in New York. Our intent is to pedal to Battery Park at the end of Manhattan and see if they will let us take our bikes over to the Statue of Liberty.
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Hello family, Awesome to see how far you have made it since you were at my Church (Grace Church in Middleburg Heights Ohio)! I love your analogy about the mountains in our journey with God. My mountain is the alcoholism of my husband, his bacslidden-ness from God, and the despair that seems to want to pull me down because of this. Yet, I cling to Hope and the Courage to go on, in His strength, because HE IS ABLE - MORE THAN ABLE!! And we see so little, while He sees with forever eyes…. I was so grateful to hear your story at Grace, and to take that Hope and Courage with me. I have listened again to your message on CD, and continue to be blessed by it and by your courage in your journey. May God bless you and your family and keep you safe as you continue across America, and continue to meet so many of God’s children - what an awesome trip you are taking! God Bless!
Denise Crowley
Berea, Ohio
PS - please continue to pray for ***, my husband. I so covet your prayers!
Wow, you guys only have about two weeks left from when you started from our church, Riverview Community Church, in Kent, Washington on May 18th. Where has the time gone? I still love your motto “It’s not in the mileage but in the message.” That is something we can all abide by every day. I can’t wait till you are on this side again and can give us a full report. My continued prayers with you all.
Keep on ‘truckin’
Gayle Terry
Tukwila, WA
Wow, your mission is powerful, your goal is divine, and your message is truth and hope and courage for all those you encounter. May God provide you the strength and perseverance to complete the last few days as you said yourself, greater is He that is in you and than he that is in the world. God Bless and have a safe trip back home to WA after an incredible celebration at the Statue of Liberty.
Phil
Ever since we attended the Luis Palau Festival with Bob in Portland, I’ve been trying to put into words just what an experience that was for Cindy and me. This is what I was finally able to come up with. We were sitting under a makeshift tent on lawn chairs surrounded by huge fifth wheels, trailers, big name bands, including Mercy Me, Toby Mac, Chris Tomlin and others. We were backstage thanks to some passes Bob was able to obtain, only two. We noticed a hand written sign that read: “Bob’s Bus”, and decided to sit there. People who didn’t know us said we could but we may have to move once the other guests arrived. It turned out that we were the other guests. I thought of the Cross and the hand written sign they nailed to it. We looked up and saw Bob wheeling towards us, all alone, no fans, no band members, just a humble man carrying his cross with him. As we sat there the bands would appear with fans around them, signing autographs, taking pictures, talking to reporters. Yet no one came to this makeshift tent and the man in his wheelchair. Luis Palau did finally show up and Bob asked if it wouldn’t be too much of a bother to have his picture taken with Cindy and I, it was something Cindy really wanted, to meet this man of God who touches so many of our youth’s lives. He graciously permitted it. Then as all the other bands took their turn on stage to the roar of the crowd, Bob’s turn finally came. They helped him to the stage, he didn’t stumble from the weight of his cross, but courageously carried it with him to the center of the stage. In front of 100,000 people, Bob shared his cross and his victories over sin. He told a story of Hope and Courage that left the crowd silent and sometimes tearful. The power that this simple man had over these children of God was amazing. He touched their souls and lightened their burdens as he told of his journey. And when it was all over, they wheeled him back off the stage to a tiny space behind a table at the side of this huge gathering. There he sat with his buttons and cards, giving them to anyone who passed close enough for him to reach. A little donation jar with a picture of his family on their bikes was also there, although he would tell everyone they didn’t need to give a thing. He was the one giving. We stood behind him and watched as this man of Jesus continued to touch people’s hearts. When the last button was given away, he rolled on back to his room where in a few hours he would get back on a plane and return to his family to continue their journey of Hope and Courage. What an honor it was to be with him that day, and to see how God takes a humble servant and turns him into a King. Thanks Bob and Darla, Grant ,Nicole, Chanel, and my sister Jeanne for all you’ve been doing these past months. The world is becoming a better place because of you, and Cindy and I are better servants by just being a witness to your work
Tom
Dear Mortimer family,
we are so inspired by your journey and your newsletter. We have kept you in our prayers ever since you were at RCC in Kent in May at the very start of your journey. We wish you strength, courage and more good experiences while you are entering the final leg of your journey.
The message is loud and clear and Your “Hope and Courage” along with pastor Brett’s message has given me so much courage.
Our prayers are with you on the final stretch!!
Nick, stacie and Adriaan
Seatac, WA
Hi folks,
you’re still with us in our hearts and prayers. Don’t think of this as coming to the end…you’re coming to the beginning! The beginning of an awesome ministry; one the whole world can relate to and believe in.
Love you all,
Ed and Geri Sparks
Hey you all…i have been absent from writing for awhile, due to many life happenings. You are doing an amazing job and i know life and things happening have a way of getting us down, but you are all strong and you are going to make it through those hills and you will be there at the statue of Liberty on the 11th and we will all be celebrating with you!!!
love, sunni*
Dear Team Mortimer,
Thank you for your wonderful updates. Thank God the route from Philly to NYC is pretty flat. We got to hear your phone conversation in church today and were blessed. We can hardly wait to see you when you get back. May this last leg of the trip be filled with joy as God has provided many conversions along the way. We love you and God is so faithful!
Jim & Joani
Happy Labor Day! We loved hearing your voice during our Fox Is. church service yesterday! Did you hear all the clapping we kept adding?
We have been so blessed as we have read about your adventures all along the way this summer, and we are joyfully praying for you all along the way too!
I’ve been wondering how the aches and pains department was going, and appreciate your honesty as well as perservence to keep going in all circumstances.
You guys are going to be pretty “buff” when you get back to the Pacific Northwest. But I’m sure the Lord has strengthened so much more than just your skeletal muscles.
I think the main lesson I have taken from your writings has been to SLOW down from marching (somewhat blindly) ahead in my goal-driven days and let the Lord show me people who would be blessed by a smile, a kind word, or even a prayer.
thanks for sharing the love of the Lord with all of us- we love you and appreciate you!
Amy Small
Gig Harbor
Hey all,….well to my dismay, I realized that I hadn’t left any comments since the begginning portion of your trip,…how traumatizing that must have been. But I take great comfort in knowing that you were able to see me in person @ the reunion. LOL!!! Oh brother,….who was that?
Anyways,…I continue to pray for you all. Dr.Teeny asks about you on occasion also :-D. I can’t believe this adventure is almost over. When you first told me about this one I thought you were all crazy (ok,..honestly?,…I thought you were crazy a long time ago) So I can’t even begin to imagine what the next adventure/journey God has in store for such an awesome family & the wonderful gifts of sharing Gods word that God has bestowed on you. I’m very proud of you all for your achievements & accomplishments. I’m very proud to be part of this Looney family ;-P. I wouldn’t change a thing.
Lots of Love-Chantele
P.S. Sweetpea,…I belive we have a date when you get home! XOXO
Hi Team Mortimer,
Congrats on getting closer to your finish line. Hopefully, You’ll find a smooth (not too hilly route) across PA. I took the G.A.P. between McKeesport, PA to Cumberland, MD and then the C&O Canal Towpath to Washington, D.C. I’m nearing the finish line of my trip also. I’m about 400 miles away from Americus, GA. Taking a couple of nights off the road in the Columbia, SC area.
In HIS Draft,
Rev. Hans
Dear Mortimor family,
It is truly awesome that the destination of (this) journay is nearing an end. I remember that first mountain you crossed, several months ago, as you needed to get a ride into Moses Lake for your speaking engagement at our church but then back tracked to Ellensburg to continue your pedaling. The message that God has placed on your heart is so wonderful and powerful, and despite those hills there are so many lives that have heard that message and been touched in a special way. May you be on God’s wings the last few miles of your trip and we will be praying with you on that day of celebration! Thanks again for your message of Hope and Courage!
The Lord’s blessings on all of you,
Claudia