Day 6 Morning

Lovely morning in Whitecourt. Weather seems to change on a dime these days, but yesterday we had a tailwind most of the day ... so far, it's calm and sunny. Thanks all for reading this blog. We checked two days ago and saw that since Cycle for Life Kenya, in early May, just under 5,000 stops have been made on this blog. Really cool. Trucks and cars keep honking as they roar by us on the rode... that is also good. Only one "honker" seemed irritated that we took up a bit of space on the right lane yesterday. I think Christians need to be interruptible .... that is what this ride is about. Interrupting ourselves for people who live lives of desperation. Got a note two days ago from Nepal saying that the highest cause of death among women ages 15 to 49, is suicide. And they said that is largely caused by despair. AIDs and relentless poverty is part of that despair in many lives in Nepal. And in many other countries. This ride is intended to bring hope to some of those lives, and our evidence is that it does. A widow in Nepal, last September, whose husband had died of AIDS, and who, herself, now has AIDS, told Kathy and me after a meeting about the SAKRIA AIDS project, that "you are the reason we are alive here". SAKRIA makes sure they have access to the daily medication ARVs, to a Support Group, and to Income Generation Loans. That is what Cycle for Life Kenya and Alberta is about. Bringing awareness, and raising funds ... so that people like the widow and the widows of Nepal and of Kenya, and of many countries where MCC works, can live, can keep their children in school. This is a big big big deal. One driver did not want to give us a bit of extra space on highway 43, but all the others move easily aside as they pass, and honk their support. (Have been making phone calls the last two evenings... some generous responses last night and we are now with pledges, at 224,000 for AIDS. Let's see if we can reach 230,000, yes?!!!!!)