The Adventures of the Traveling Nomads: 09/01/2010

27.9.10

McKinnon Update

Yesterday the McKinnon church voted on calling a full-time minister to their pulpit. I wish I could say that there was a satisfying outcome. Unfortunately nothing has been decided due to no single name receiving 70% of the votes. We go back to praying that some decision will be made. We also begin to pack. We are searching for a house now but do not know when we will find one that works. It is best that we are packed and ready to go.

Something will be decided on eventually.

With or without a full-time pastor we have decided to continue on, with the Lord. Perhaps having a full-time minister is a comfort we are not meant to have right now? After all there are many groups of Christians lacking proper church buildings and full-time ministers. Over the past few weeks a sense of urgency has been growing within us. There are things to be done. People that we would like to spend more time with but can't due to being so far away. Ultimately, we have connections with people who are hurting and lost, who need to hear about Jesus Christ. We are humbling praying that God might use us for his purposes when we move up there.

So yes, we are still feeling a bit frustrated, confused, and weary (weary of comforts getting in the way). Time to go read a few Psalms.

Psalms 121: 1-2
I lift my eyes to the hills, where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

Psalm 127: 1-2
Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.

Psalm 131
O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high;
I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.
O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forevermore.

23.9.10

The world of cycling

The world of cycling is something I am completely removed from. I have never participated in this sport and never watch it. Moving to Australia has changed that slightly. Here cycling is big. When a man goes through his mid-life crisis here, he buys a road bike instead of the Harley everyone in Indiana seems to purchase.

This bike was on sale for $8,999

You can easily drop the same amount of money on a road bike and gear as you can on a Harley. Carbon fiber, single gears, special paint, tyres, it adds up pretty fast. And that is only the bike. You also seem obligated to by toe clips, those special clickety-clack shoes, and a spandex outfits.

Here in Geelong there are heaps of cyclists. On Saturday and Sunday mornings they get into their little packs and ride every where. They all sport some kind of spandex outfit with words and colors that I'm sure mean nothing. Surely not everyone in Geelong has a sponsor...right?

There is a group of guys at church that go riding. Brandon has joined the club. He bought a bike off eBay for, thankfully, a fraction of what they are new. I can pick the bike up with one hand. I'm sure the top bikes boasts that you can pick them up with your pinkie.

Real cyclists train in snowsuits!

Thankfully Brandon has not given in to the spandex yet. That will be D-day. Seriously why do you have to own a spandex riding outfit when you're only going out on the weekends? I think they should all wear snowsuits and snowboots. Wouldn't that be better training for them? More wind resistance in training will give you better performance on race day (which most people don't even participate in) when you strip down to your synthetic skin. My idea does not seem to be too popular, sadly.

This and several posts to come are due to the fact that the UCI Road World Championship is coming to our smallish town next week. We will be inundated with around 300,000 spectators, athletes from over 40 countries, and a gazillion bikes. Everyone in this state is going to suddenly think they can ride a bike with clips. I for one will not pretend. I have never ridden a bike with toe clips. If I did, I'm sure I would falling over like one of those fainting goats.

Currently the population of Geelong is a little over 200,000. The population will only more than double next week. Yeah, it is going to be a bit tight.

The race is going through and around Geelong. The race will pass about a block from our house. I am actually getting pretty excited about this whole event, even though I am clueless about cycling. Pretty cool that such a huge event will be held close to our front doorstep.

Mapping out the hub locations

From the beginning of next week until Sunday there will be time trials, races, and festivities. There will be 15 countries who will set up cultural hubs through our town. Portugal's hub is down the street from us. The girls and I pulled out a world map and charted the locations of all the hubs. My goal is to visit everyone of them next week. They are a little excited to visit Spain's hub because they might hear some people speaking Spanish. Supposedly Italy is know for the festivities they bring to any sporting event. We will see how the US of A holds up to them.

We will keep you updated on all our expeditions over the course of next week.