By Henry Downes
As we get to the end of another FCBA summer, and think of returning home to our normal lives, I’ve been reflecting on those things which make the Bike Adventure such a unique and special experience.
Tag Archives: fcba
Strength
By Mike Scotty
The Fuller Center for Housing’s mission is giving people and families the impetus to strengthen their financial foundations and giving them the resources to sustain that strength through a livable home – a place to put down roots. A home gives all beings a sense of security that allows them to successfully manage the other endeavors that bring success and satisfaction to their lives.
It’s about the people
Written by: Kim Eisenbarth
I joined this version of the Fuller Family in West Yellowstone, on Sunday for the next two weeks. The past three days have been among the most challenging of my Fuller experience. (and this installment will make the 13th week I have had the privilege of riding with these folks).
Uphill Climb
By Mike Rutherford
Today we ventured out of the Arizona Desert and up to Williams, AZ, the gateway to the Grand Canyon. We were looking at 60 miles of headwinds leaving Peach Springs and the group wasn’t thrilled with dealing with the headwinds yet again. Thankfully, the route was a little more forgiving with less climbing, calm traffic, and it seemed the wind wasn’t quite in our faces. After the 65 miles of headwinds we turned east and joined I-40 to climb to Williams.
Journey with Family
By AJ Haney
Today’s ride was challenging in so many ways; the distance, the elevation, and mostly the wind played a major role in being successful in completing the journey.
First Day Back After a Two Year Absence
By John Johnson
I really missed this group. Sometimes when you’re away, you get so busy with life that you forge tto breathe. From the day you see familiar faces and start seeing new ones, the FCBA renews your soul. It’s easy to start being a part of the group, even if you’ve been away.
A Note on Servanthood
By Courtney Fields
Today is our last riding day with Dave and Diane Maidts, and I’m thankful that I was able to experience two weeks with this awesome couple. Not only did they share their love story with me, but they showed me servant leadership. Diane is a veteran rider, and she has the best listening ear. If we’re having dinner with a church, she is the first person you’ll find chatting away with someone she just met like they were lifelong friends. And Dave, he may seem quiet, but he’s playful, insanely smart, and incredibly helpful. After a long day of supporting, Dave goes above and beyond by working until every single thing is unloaded into the church.
Glorious Scenery and Incredible Kindness
Written By: By Dan Sheridan
Today we arose to a delicious breakfast provided by John, and elder at the Woodinville Unitarian Universalistic Church. My favorite was a crockpot full of steel-cut oatmeal and raisins. What a wonderful way to start our day!
At our devotion Ryan shared the Rag Man story, written by Walter Wangerin. This always touches our hearts and helps us to understand our mission of changing lives as we cycle across the country.
We started our day with a challenging climb followed by a beautiful downhill. We rounded a curve on a country road and saw beautiful Mt.
Rainier in the distance. It was a day of incredible views, which only got more beautiful as the day went on and we drew toward the Cascade Mountains.
After our first snack stop we climbed a long hill, with grades as steep as 13%, followed by a joyous downhill on a curving wooded road. Soon after reaching the bottom we arrived at our second snack stop, which was near a rushing river.
We cycled through the beautiful town of Index and followed the river through the gorgeous Sky Valley until we came to the beautiful town of Skykomish. With incredible generosity, school superintendent Thomas Jay invited us all to his daughter’s 6th birthday party, held at a park a mile from the village. This park is in a valley along the Skykomish River. Thomas, his wife Lena and their older daughter Rebekah teamed up with Jennifer and David Childs, Ashley Church, and Lynne Kelly to make us a delicious picnic dinner.
We are staying in the gym at the school in Skykomish. It’s a gorgeous old building with 60 students making up grades preschool through 12. We heard of the challenges of living in this rugged land, including a school that was flattened by an avalanche (fortunately, on a weekend) and a highway that was washed away soon after Jennifer and David drove across it.
Each time a community takes us in and feeds us, it allows us to devote more money to our mission of giving people a hand up to a simple, decent home. We’ll always be grateful to the kind people who open their hearts to us along our journey.
Dan and ShellyContinue reading
Why I ride
Written by: Gary Schroeder
I’m sure there are as many motivations to participate in the Fuller Center Bike Adventure as there are riders who participate. For me, I’ve found the reasons I joined my first ride—the reasons I keep coming back— have changed the more I experience the work of the Fuller Center for Housing first hand.
33 new perspectives
Written by: Kaleigh Willie
Washington State is my home; I have struggled through Seattle traffic and looked up at the space needle more times than I can recall.Continue reading