The $1 donation

January 14, 2009 | posted by Lars under reflections, united states | Comments (4)

I wrote this in my journal on Sunday about our time at Rutba House, but am only now getting to post it because of a combination of our internet access and schedule.  For a bit of context, though names have been changed, Jamaal is a child at Rutba House, Zane is a lifetime Walltown resident, and Rutba One is one of two houses Rutba folks live in.  More will come about our current affairs - and there is much to share! - soon.

I have to tell the story about Zane, and with it the story of Claire.  This evening, after supper, Jeff walked into Rutba One, as he had several times before throughout the weekend.  Zane is a slave - to alcohol - and his master makes him shoplift and steal things like Super Soakers to give to Jamaal.  This time, he came bearing no such gifts, but he was drunk; and this time, the conversation turned to the guests - us - and our journey, which was incredible for Zane to comprehend.  He kept asking, “‘ey… ‘ey… how you gettin’ there?” and whether it’s farther than Colombia, and warning us that there’re a lot of crazy people out there.  At one point, though, when the concept connected with him, he said, “‘ey… man…” as he dug around his pockets to pull out three crumpled ones.  “I ain’ rich,” he said, “but take this,” as he offered me one of them.  “You’ll need it.”  I took the dollar and thanked him for it, trying to fathom this gift.  Not two days earlier, Jon & I had played the receiving end of a similar situation with our host Claire, who handed us each a sum of cash, insisting, “you might need to get a hotel room… you know, with his leg and all.”  Accepting these gifts are humbling reminders of the economics of providence, which have supported us both serendipitously and lavishly already, less than a week into our journey.  We are provided for - and that, well - and we are reminded of Christ’s words, “freely you have received, now freely give.”  May such abundance always flow through our lives.

How to ride pain free…

January 14, 2009 | posted by Jon under united states, updates | Comments (5)

Unfortunately, I don’t really know the answer to that subject quite yet.  It has been a frustrating process dealing with one thing or another since Day 2 of our trip, but I can say things are on the upswing and I’m learning an incredible amount about bike biomechanics. 

I hitch-hiked into Durham last Friday with some pretty bad pain in both of my Achilles tendons.  I spent Saturday morning trying to find bike shops that knew what they were talking about fit-wise, and luckily I found one.  The Bicycle Chain of Durham, NC gave me a free bike fitting complete with all kinds of gadgets, but it really just lowered my seatpost. 

While at Rutba House I also did a fair amount of icing and Aleve-eating to help myself out.  On Sunday, Lars, Rutba House members, and I went to a church service at St. John’s Missionary Baptist Church in Durham.  During the service, both Lars and I were called up unexpectedly and prayed over by the pastor and others for healing and safety.  We have yet to find out if the pastor knew about our trip….

Leaving Rutba on Monday made me quite nervous, but I was able to ride the 80 miles to Asheboro without any tendon pain.  However, both of my knees started acting up during the ride due to a seatpost that was too low.  So now I am back to the process of adjusting my seatpost, taking Aleve, and rubbing Flexall on both of my knees to be able to ride relatively pain free.  The pain comes and goes, and it hasn’t gotten much worse or subsided, so I’m just waiting it out.  I’d appreciate your prayers and thank you for the concern many of you have shown thus far.  I’m hopeful about the situation, because I know that it takes a while to get used to the rigors of bike touring, and because we have built in a number of rest days.  Lastly, I guess semi-hopefully, I have 8,000 more miles to figure out a comfortable riding position…..I just hope I find one before I get to Paraguay.

Rutba House

January 13, 2009 | posted by Lars under united states, updates | Comments (8)

God is good! Last night, we rolled into Asheboro, NC looking for a place to set up our tent, but after a stop at the library, we were being hosted by a doctor and his wife just outside of town! We’re glad to be keeping up the no-tent record, given that night temperatures are dipping into the 20s.

Anyway, it’s been the better part of a week now since our last substantive update, but we’ve been off the bikes for much of that time, at Rutba House in Durham, NC. Rutba House is a Christian intentional community in Durham committed to “a new way of life in community.” Rutba was formed almost six years ago in response to the hospitality several of the members received in Iraq when a vehicle in their CPT delegation convoy wrecked on a piece of shrapnel in the desert, near the town of Rutba. Even though the U.S. had bombed the hospital there just three days earlier, a local doctor treated their injured and refusing payment, asked only that they tell the story of what happened in Rutba.

So this small community in North Carolina has committed themselves to sharing this hospitality and becoming part of the community in the Walltown neighborhood of Durham. They recognize that this will take time, so they’ve given their lives to it, and mean to live their whole lives out in that community.

Now, everything we learn about progress assumes upward social mobility - that people should work for higher social class, marked by more opportunities in terms of employment and lifestyle - but folks at Rutba are turning this on its head, saying we don’t need the world at our doorstep if we have neighbors there, and Christ as our center. This is radical, I think, but most fully in the true sense, of getting back to the root of “community.” This “downward mobility” is in effect a statement of submission to the community, “You’re more important than my personal fulfillment. In fact, you are integral to my fulfillment in Christ.”

This commitment aside, Rutba is a pretty “normal” when it comes to intentional communities. You don’t have to be a hippy or a tree hugger to live there - in fact, as one of the members, Susan, said, “anyone could live here and it would feel normal.” With two married couples and three under five years old, the community is growing fast; Taize songs are punctuated with bowls of Kix cereal, and the running commentary of the four year-old keeps everything from fasting to long church services in perspective.

More to come on Jon’s health and on generosity, hopefully tonight. We need to get on the road to Charlotte.

In the news…

January 9, 2009 | posted by Jon under press, united states | Comments (2)

The Mennonite Weekly Review Article:

http://www.mennoweekly.org/2009/1/12/humble-way-travel/

The Intelligencer Journal Article:

http://blogs.lancasteronline.com/potholes/2009/01/07/local-cyclist-departs-for-paraguay/

The EMU article by Jim Bishop:

www.emu.edu/news/index.php/1827

Short Notice Guests

January 8, 2009 | posted by Jon under united states, updates | Comments (12)

Yup, since heading out on Tuesday, that’s what we’ve become.  It has been both  strange and exciting to leave the circle of support that showed up to see us off in the cold rain Tuesday morning.  Strange that you can so quickly leave that feeling of support and community, but exciting in that you can find it again in the most unexpected places.  So far such support has come through very well for us.  Tuesday night we slept in the now-retired day care center in the basement of the Scott’s household from Charlottesville, and yesterday night we slept in the Warren’s RV on a beautiful 35 acre farm near Farmville, VA.  Mr. Warren actually drove 20 min or so to pick us up at the gas station (which is where we got caught in the dark) and took us back to the family farm (much thanks to Aaron Trimble for that contact).  Tonight we plan to stay in the farm house of a lady I actually just met about 20 min ago here at the Clarksville Library.  We’ll let you know how that goes :).  All of these people have no reason to host us, no reason to completely open their homes and hearts to us, but they do, and for that we are grateful, and give thanks to God for keeping us safe and looking out for us on our journey.

Besides incredible hospitality, the ride has been mostly good.  The first two days we rode into some cold rain, but we kept our heads up, and it made us appreciate the sun we had today.  Additionally, I’d like to ask for your prayers for my Achille’s tendons, which are acting up again.  It is a recurring problem that I had when biking across the US, and right now they are over-stressed from a newly heavy load and the rigors of bike touring.  So I will try to get them some rest in the next couple of days, and then see how I’m doing.  It is a hard thing to accept this early in the trip, especially when considering what all we have left to ride through, but I’m trying to stay positive and get some rest.

Well, there you have it, update one of many-with a small insight into my all too literal Achille’s heel….

P.S. Lars is doing just fine….he’s a beast

Two weeks (& email subscriptions)!

December 24, 2008 | posted by Lars under preparation, updates, website | Comments (3)

With less than two weeks to our departure (it’s at 9:00 am, January 6 at the Virginia Mennonite Conference Center, for those interested), Jon and I are trying to tie the final strings on the preparation for this thang while also taking time to step away from the crescendo to be with family and friends for the holidays (so this update comes from snowy Michigan).

People have been asking about a way to subscribe to our updates by email, and I’ve finally patched something together that should do the trick.  Just enter your email address and follow the link sent in a confirmation email, and you should be sent an email whenever we post something new on this website, thanks to a WordPress plugin I found.

That’s it for now, have a blessed and restful Christmas.

Americas 2009 in “The Mennonite”

December 10, 2008 | posted by Lars under press | Leave a Comment

Young men bike to Paraguay 2009, raise funds

by Bikemovement Americas

HARRISONBURG, Va.—For BikeMovement Americas 2009, Lars Åkerson and Jonathan Spicher will bike from Harrisonburg to the Global Youth Summit and Mennonite World Conference Assembly in Asunción, Paraguay, July 2009.

Åkerson attends Harrisonburg (Va.) Mennonite Church and the Early Church, both in Harrisonburg. Spicher attends Community Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg. Jon studies biology (pre-med) at Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, and Åkerson graduated from EMU last year.

They will begin the 7,000-mile trip in January 2009 and will update an interactive Web site along their route. People are welcome to join the touring group for sections of the ride.
A map of the route, which passes through the southeastern United States, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Paraguay, is available at http://americas.bikemovement.org.

BikeMovement Americas hopes to raise $30,000 to help emerging young leaders from around the world attend the summit in Paraguay. AMIGOS (MWC youth committee) has raised more than $75,000 toward this goal, but $30,000 remains. More information is at http://americas.bikemovement.org/give.

MENNONITE YOUNG ADULTS ‘ON THE WAY’ BY BICYCLE TO PARAGUAY GLOBAL ASSEMBLY: GROUP TO RAISE FUNDS FOR GLOBAL YOUTH NETWORK

November 5, 2008 | posted by Lars under press | Comment (1)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MENNONITE YOUNG ADULTS ‘ON THE WAY’ BY BICYCLE TO PARAGUAY GLOBAL ASSEMBLY:

GROUP TO RAISE FUNDS FOR GLOBAL YOUTH NETWORK

November 4, 2008—As a part of BikeMovement Americas 2009, several Anabaptist young adults will bike from Harrisonburg, Virginia, USA to the Global Youth Summit and Mennonite World Conference Assembly in Asunción, Paraguay, from January to July 2009. Throughout the two-wheeled pilgrimage the group will seek to learn from and serve those they encounter, and to connect with Anabaptist congregations and service workers along their approximately 7,000 mile route through the American continents. “We hope that our journey will encourage and add to an intercultural conversation about discerning and living Christ’s call with integrity,” says project co-coordinator Lars Åkerson, of Harrisonburg, Virginia.

As they travel, the group will update an interactive, dynamic website to creatively document conversations, stories, and photos of their experiences as an invitation for broader conversation and dialogue. Persons are welcomed to join the self-supported touring group for sections of the ride—whether for a couple of miles or a couple of days. “Biking together is a great way to build relationships, and it’s exciting to have the opportunity,” comments project co-coordinator Jonathan Spicher, a Lancaster, Pennsylvania native and a student at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. A map of the group’s route, which passes through the southeastern United States, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Paraguay, is available on their website:  http://americas.bikemovement.org

Beginning in January 2009, the group hopes to arrive in Asunción six months later in time for the fifteenth Mennonite World Conference Assembly and second Global Youth Summit, July 10-19, 2009. The youth summit’s focus is “Service: Live the Difference,” while the Anabaptist assembly at large will “Come together in the way of Jesus Christ,” with Philippians 2:1-11 as the theme text.  More than 220 young adults from 28 countries gathered for the first Global Youth Summit along with nearly 7,000 who attended the general assembly in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, in 2003.

Working with AMIGOS (the world conference youth committee) BikeMovement Americas hopes to raise $30,000 in the months leading up to the ride to help emerging young leaders from around the world attend the summit in Paraguay. Over the past three years, AMIGOS has raised over $75,000 toward this goal, but $30,000 remains to meet its goal for providing grants.

Details about how contributions can be made toward either AMIGOS or the BikeMovement Americas riders are available on the website at http://americas.bikemovement.org/give.

###

Contact:

Lars Åkerson

americas@bikemovement.org

(540) 421-3709

http://www.americas.bikemovement.org

download the press release: .doc

JOVENES MENONITAS “EN CAMINO” POR BICICLETA A ASAMBLEA MUNDIAL EN PARAGUAY: GRUPO A RECAUDAR FONDOS PARA CMM AMIGOS

November 5, 2008 | posted by Lars under press | Comments (5)

PARA PUBLICACIÓN INMEDIATA

JOVENES MENONITAS “EN CAMINO” POR BICICLETA A ASAMBLEA MUNDIAL EN PARAGUAY:

GRUPO A RECAUDAR FONDOS PARA CMM AMIGOS

4 Noviembre 2008 — Como parte de BikeMovement Americas 2009, unos jóvenes anabaptistas biciclarán desde Harrisonburg, Virginia, USA a la Cumbre Mundial de la Juventud y Asamblea Mundial Menonita en Asunción, Paraguay, empezando en Enero y llegando en Julio 2009. Durante toda la peregrinación en dos ruedas el grupo tratará de aprender de y servir a los que encuentren, y a conectar con congregaciones y misioneros anabaptistas por el viaje de aproximadamente 11200 kilómetros a través de los continentes de América. “Esperamos que nuestro viaje alentará y aumentará una conversación intercultural sobre discernir y vivir con integridad el llamado de Cristo,” dice coordinador del proyecto Lars Åkerson, de Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Mientras viajan, el grupo realizará un sitio web dinámico y interactivo para recordar las conversaciones, las historias, y las fotos de sus experiencias como una invitación a conversación y dialogo más amplia. Personas están bienvenidas a unirse al grupo autoestable para una parte del viaje—sea unos kilómetros o unos días. “Viajar juntos en bicicleta es una buena manera para construir relaciones, y me anima tener la oportunidad,” comenta coordinador del proyecto Jonathan Spicher, de Lancaster, Pennsylvania, y un estudiante en la Universidad Menonita del Este (Eastern Mennonite University) en Harrisonburg, Virginia. Una mapa de la ruta, que pasa por los Estados Unidos sureste, México, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panamá, Ecuador, Perú, Bolivia, y Paraguay, está puesta en el sitio web http://america.bikemovement.org.

Empezando en Enero 2009, el grupo espera llegar en Asunción después de seis meses por la decimoquinta Asamblea del Congreso Mundial Menonita y la segunda Cumbre Mundial de la Juventud, 10-19 Julio 2009. El foco de la cumbre de la juventud es “Servicio: Viva la Diferencia,” mientras la asamblea anabaptista en general celebra que “Sigamos juntos el camino de Jesucristo,” con Filipenses 2:1-11 como el texto temático. Más de 220 jóvenes de 28 países se juntaron para la primera Cumbre Mundial de la Juventud y casi 7,000 asistieron la asamblea general en Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, en 2003.

Junto a AMIGOS (la comité de la Juventud de CMM) BikeMovement Americas tratará recaudar $30,000 en los meses antes del viaje para apoyar a líderes jóvenes emergentes de todas partes del mundo a asistir la cumbre en Paraguay. En los últimos tres años, AMIGOS ha recaudado más de $75,000 a esta meta, pero $30,000 queda para llegar al objetivo de proveer las becas.

Detalles en como se puede donar a AMIGOS o a los ciclistas de BikeMovement Americas están disponibles en el sitio web: http://americas.bikemovement.org/give.

###

Contacto:

Lars Åkerson

americas@bikemovement.org

+11 (540) 421-3709

http://www.americas.bikemovement.org

descargar el comunicado de prensa: .doc

Bikes, BINGO, and Beyond

October 27, 2008 | posted by Jon under preparation, updates | Leave a Comment

Over Fall Break Lars and I decided we were going to set out on a practice run for our trip. Destination: Lancaster, PA. We planned to attend my church, Community Mennonite Church of Lancaster, and make some announcements, maybe talk to some conference leaders, and just do some publicity in general. It turned out that that plan was never realized. After leaving late on Friday we only rode 30 miles to the Getz Farm (est. 1796) north of Forestville, VA. The Getzs’ were very hospitable and gave us their yard to sleep in as well as a wooden spoon we used to cook our pasta that evening. Sitting around the MSR Dragonfly we realized were weren’t going to make the remaining 170 miles the next day. So, being flexible, we changed our route. We were headed to Washington, D.C.

The following day was 100 crowded and busy miles, and we got onto the Metro with all of our belongings just as it began to get dark. We ended up at the WCSC house that EMU owns, where Becca Yoder and Co. were more than hospitable, giving us food, clothing, and a warm dry place to sleep. The following day, Sunday, we spent visiting a church plant in Anacostia that Lars’ aunt and uncle attend. We were greeted warmly by many there and we also received a plate full of food just for showing up. “I’m glad you’re here,” was a common phrase used in church that morning. After church we had lunch with Lars’ aunt and uncle, and left there with stomachs full of pupusas and a bike map of Washington, D.C, which we used on our way home. We had dinner than night at a hip coffee shop/bookstore/restaurant called Busboys and Poets with some friends before coming back to the WCSC house to make cookies as a way of saying thanks for their hospitality. We ended up going to bed at 2 AM or thereabouts.

Monday morning we left the WCSC house around 10 and rode mostly on bike trails for a good 30 miles. They were wonderful trails, and it was an adjustment “rubbing shoulders” with traffic again after such nice paths. We put in 84 miles that day, and ended up in the town of Amissville on Rte. 211, sleeping at the Amissville Volunteer Fire Company’s fairgrounds. It was BINGO night at the fairgrounds, and we learned just as much about Amissville culture as we did about BINGO variations. They didn’t let Lars leave without at least 2 hamburgers, one of which I ate the following morning for breakfast.

Tuesday we were on the road by 9 AM with two daunting climbs ahead of us: crossing over Skyline Drive and Massanutten Ridge via the New Market Gap. We slowly but surely made it up over these hills and had very enjoyable rides down the other side; fall colors are especially enjoyable cruising at 30+ mph. After a jaunt of Rte. 11 south of New Market, we up the 60-some miles by riding into Harrisonburg, sprinting to try to beat the light cycles, glad to be back home.

Overall it was a good trip. I think it has a lot to teach us about the much larger trip that is ahead of us. First, things won’t always go as planned, and we’ll have to be flexible. Second, hospitality will present itself in the form of clothes to wear other than bike shorts, hamburgers from BINGO night, or the phrase “I’m glad you’re here.” And third, we cannot go where God is not.