PJ's Memories

The following is my memories of the 2006 FCA bike trip.

     1. How the Lord prepares our way in life.
           4 weeks before the bike trip, no church had
responded to Mr. Sladkey's letters for church participation
on Tuesday night.  If  someone hadn't responded, the group would
have stopped at a nursing home in the afternoon and camp out Tuesday
night. The Lord gave an individual with FCA background a heart
to contact Mr. Sladkey and worked out the Tuesday night
church reception.  Without that contact we would have been
camping at 5:30AM when the thunder storms came through.

    2. The wonderful weather the entire 6 days for riding,
even in the light rain it was not cold.

    3. The group melding together as a team as the week
progressed.

    4. The leader for the day, how serious they took their
responsibilities.

    5. Willingness to laugh when goof up rather than get up
set.

    6. The friendliness of the church people we visited.

    7. Learning the pleasure you get when you hand some one
a card and they show real interest in what you are doing.
 

Mr. Sladkey's Memories

Nothing is too hard for the Lord.  Jeremiah 32:17b

Jesus is certainly all I need. 

 

Ethan saying my ears are bleeding

Mrs. B rocking with the girls

Dan and Bryan ‘discussing’ golf etiquette

Zander picking up the lock in the road for me and my lock collection

Dan vs. the stick, I think the stick won because it caused him to crash.

Ryan meeting his Deerfield host family and being “the man”

Eric getting his cable caught in his disc brake and going directly over the handlebars

Tony, Ryan, Kelly and I on the golf course.

Kelly making our first two putts

Kelly almost hitting the golfer coming the other way

Lauren, Elisabeth, Ryan, Taryn, Eric, and Zander being the mapster with the yellow jersey on.

Thinking of Mr. Cleary, Mr. Aldaba and Mr. Snyder taking the tour of Mukwanago getting a history of the town from their host family.

Trading bracelets every morning

Learning the motions for the song that represented our verse from Taryn and Kelly

The L from left shoulder down to waist.  The double fist, the sideways open hands, the palm up hands, the double fist again, the hand over your head, then make a book with your hands and then reaching for an 18 year old, dot, dot, and reaching for a 2 year old.

That is:  The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.  Psalm 18:2

PJ making me laugh in the Ha Ha game. 

Mr. Snyder playing the Ha Ha game.

3 years of biking and Lauren’s helmet stayed crooked the whole time.

The Greek restaurant.  I ordered tacos.  Mrs. Aldaba shocked us all by paying

The crosses we received from the Mukwonago church.

The diversity between the ‘older’ Mukwonago church and the ‘students’ at the Deerfield Church.

Listening to Lauren and Elisabeth give their testimonies.

The order of the songs

PJ seeing Eve and Allison in the mornings

Tony always asking “do you need help”

Doing a rhyme with Taryn and Eve involving Tony’s name.  Something about Tony likes baloney and rides a pony, but Tony isn’t phony.

The candy bar game that Lauren won.

Holding onto the rope for the group.

I was so worried about people praying out loud this trip, but everyone was great.

Praying in a circle with everyone praying in the Deerfield church at breakfast time.

Mrs. Chandler and Mrs. Cocallas teaming up for the 4^th(?) time in a row.

Using Teams this year with the Responsibility list posted in the back of the truck

Breaking the tents down on Friday morning and there was earwigs everywhere.

Eating tacos, foil wrap, 3 musketeers, gluten free cookies, bananas, sloppy joes, rice cake sandwiches. 

Enjoying the kids playing soccer at the park in Waukegan IL

Watching Zander try to get Tony’s Frisbee down from the tree.

Zander’s tire blow out.

Riding behind Bryan when he had his rain coat on and not being able to hear anything because it was so loud.

Kelly golf ball going through the golf cart of someone else on the course

Ryan sleeping at a rest stop.

PJ waking himself up at a stop because he farted.

PJ likes sandwiches that are PJ and baloney

 

Thank you adult leaders for your gift of time to the FCA Bike Trip.  Your presence was invaluable.

Thank you to my wife and kids for supporting this big adventure every year.  It is much more than just a week away from the family and I appreciate your faithful support. 

Thank you Kathy Miles and Jane Kulinski.  You both are awesome.  You did so much work on your end that we can never think of repaying you.  Your choices of host families were perfect.  Your enthusiasm for us and our endeavor gives life to us.  Thank you. 

Thank you seniors.  You did a great job of leading.  We will miss you next year.

Thank you prayer partners.  Think of it:  we had more than 250 people praying for this trip.  You are the unnoticed hero’s of our trip.

Student riders.  Your church service was wonderful.  I couldn’t be more proud of you.

Your companionship during the ride, and your positive attitude is inspirational.

Thanks to my mom and dad.  PJ you are my hero.

 Most of all, thank you Jesus.  You are Holy.  You are all knowing.  You keep us in your hand.  You are to be praised.