The 2001 bike trip ended on the second day in Mukwonago.  Upon entering the town there is a long down hill 4 lane road that becomes two lanes at the bottom as it passes through a very narrow underpass.  While riding through the under pass a large 18-wheeler passed the bike riders and it was one of the most dangerous places we passed during the weeklong trip.
 Mrs.Hilger , the vehicle driver for the first 3 days saw the incident last year when we passed through the underpass. She had been praying about safety for the bike riders when we would have to ride through the underpass this year. The third morning  (Wednesday) of the 2002 trip was when we were scheduled to ride into Mukwonago and through the under pass. Mrs Hilger reminded us of the danger and told us she would be praying for us.  Forty minutes into the trip we entered the outskirts of Mukwonago and to our surprise the road was under construction. The four lanes were two with yellow barrels and a drop off on our right side. I was at the end of the line.  Mr. Sladkey made sure we were all together while in the town.  As we were 1/3 the way down the hill a Beacon Moving truck started down the hill and I quickly calculated that it would pass the bike riders in the underpass!  But the truck did not pass me.  Instead it slowed down and stayed behind the bike riders until all were through the underpass. Only after all riders were through the under pass did the driver pass us.  With the Beacon driver holding back traffic behind him all bike riders were protected from other vehicles while in the under pass.  That Beacon truck driver was an angel and an answer to prayer.

Unanswered Prayer: Burlington WS

Two churches hosted the 2001 bike trip.  (The second night in Mukwonago and the third night in Deerfield.)  Both church experiences were very rewarding for the group.  Mr. Sladkey, with the help of the huddle club, decided to follow the 2001 route in 2002.  One reason for the decision was the wonderful experience gained at the two churches.  He wrote a letter to the two churches in March asking them to host the group again. The Deerfield church responded in the affirmative.  When leaving the church this year (2002) they said they hoped to see the group next year. The church in Mukwonago was a different story.  They had just lost their pastor, his wife was the youth pastor, and they did not feel they could host the group in 2002.  Mr. Sladkey contacted a number of churches in close vicinity of where the bikers were going to ride.  Every other church contacted responded negatively.  Mr. Sladkey prayed and still no church came forward to host the group.  By June Mr. Sladkey was very concerned that he would not have a second ministry opportunity for the group.  Someone suggested that he contact a nursing home in Burlington to see if the group could visit them.  Mr. Sladkey contacted the nursing home and they responded in the affirmative.  A date was set for 3:00PM on Tuesday to meet with the Alzheimer’s patients there.
 Monday night of the 2002 trip the group developed their program, which consisted of a game, singing and then one on one time with each of the residents.   Mr. Sladkey’s scheduling was perfect because we arrived at the nursing home at 2:40, sweaty after a 45-mile ride.  But Mrs. Hilger  had prepared and had clean Blue 2002 Bike hike T-shirts ready for us, which we had worn the previous day.  We changed shirts and went into the nursing home.
Friday night during the sharing time with the parents Mr. Sladkey asked the group two questions.  What was your biggest challenge and what was you most memorable moment?  About half said the nursing home experience was their biggest challenge and it was the most memorable experience.  God knew where the group was to be even though the leadership did not know!

Waukegan Soccer game.

The afternoon break on both trips stopped in a park in Waukegan IL.  There was a soccer game being played when the 2001 group arrived in the park. There were 4 to 5 Hispanic boys’ ages 10 to 13 playing.  The group joined the game and at the end there were about 10 Hispanic boys playing.

The year of the 2002 trip no boys were in the park but one leader went into the neighborhood found one of the boys from the 2001 bike trip game. Told him there would be another soccer game.  The Hispanic boy rounded up another group and the soccer game was on.  As the bike riders were leaving the Hispanic boys called out; “ we will see you next year”.