Tag Archives: fcbalife

New Mexico FCBA Life

Posted on

Written by: Monica Busby

4:46am: I hear my name being called out, I jumped up out of my bed hearing Lou’s concerned voice, “Wake up Monica!” I got 14 minutes left to get my luggage ready for the trailer crew. I woke up two hours earlier with my head pounding and couldn’t go back to sleep til 3:30am; I had signs of altitude sickness along with my own cough and sore throat from the day before. I also had withdrawals not having my FCBA crew sleeping in the same room (we all had our own rooms at Las Vegas Highlands University).

Continue reading→

Living the dream

Posted on

Written by: Brenda Heathcoat 

Today was an awesome day. Last year when I started the summer adventure I had the same problems with my bicycle and feet, though this year I was better prepared mentally. The ride this morning—I couldn’t have asked for a better day. While I did not sleep well and woke up with a headache, all those things that can ruin your day, I pressed in prayer this morning before anybody had gotten up. This helped me to prepare for the day because I knew it was going to be challenging.

Continue reading→

Working as a team

Posted on

Written by: Steve Maliszeski

Another week—week four—has come to an end and brings with it both a rest day in Santa Fe, New Mexico and the great month of July!

Every day of riding brings out both the good and bad in the world and ourselves. But this trip has shown me the determination of individuals and the resiliency of the human spirit.

Continue reading→

Making dreams happen

Posted on

Written by: Karen Powers

So much of the Fuller Center Bike Adventure is about dreams. During our orientation meetings way back at the beginning of June, I remember being struck by the number of fellow riders who said that it is their dream to ride their bike across our country. I admire the courage, determination, and grit they have shown these past four weeks in working to make their dreams come true. These riders’ dreams, in turn, help others’ dreams to come true: individuals and families who dream of owning their own home or making much-needed improvements upon the home they already own. I think it’s pretty cool when you can use the fulfillment of your own dreams to help others’ dreams come true.

Continue reading→

Seeing God’s creation

Posted on

Written by: Russ Schulz

I am not fond of writing, so I will ramble on with thoughts.

The last two days of gorgeous Colorado, with mountains, trees, snow and clouds, have been beautiful and inspiring. As I rode and got tired and worn out, I thought about how awesome God made our bodies. We push and punish ourselves, and the next day we mostly recover and go again.

Continue reading→

A Crescent Moon

Posted on

Written by: Jessica McClain

After my sophomore year of college, I spent two months working in Peru. For the first time in my life, I was exposed to radically different people, different places, different cultures, and a different view of poverty. It was completely life altering, and forever changed the way that I look at the world.

Continue reading→

What are we riding for?

Posted on

Written by: Joseph Kelly

I am new to FCBA just this week. I arrived in Santa Barbara last Saturday to ride down to San Diego. My sister did the cross-country route last year and dragged me into the adventure and the mission. After stops in Oxnard, Northridge, Huntington Beach, and Vista, we are ready for our final ride into San Diego and I have a better idea of why we are riding! 

Continue reading→

Living a better way

Posted on

Written by: Ruth Waite

It’s my turn to write again! We’ve been on the ride for nearly four weeks now. I am a lot stronger than when I began the journey, and I can do things I couldn’t do previously.

Two days ago, we rode along a bike path through Silverthorn, CO. The bike path ended at the Dillon reservoir—9,017 feet elevation. To get from the river level to the top of the dam required going up a bike path with lots of switchbacks. There was even a little sign to show that it was steep, just like the steep road signs.

Continue reading→

Life-Changing

Posted on

Written by: Naomi Reyes

Where do I even begin.  This journey has held nothing back.  Coming in with zero experience on a road bike, I was so nervous.  When I arrived at the Santa Barbara church, I muttered under my breath, “What am I even doing here.  I have no idea what I’m doing.”  I felt unsure about everything I knew about myself and my mind just started racing between thoughts of, I won’t be able to do this, people will think I’m so dumb, I do not belong here.  Regardless, I unpacked the car, alone, dragging out the time before I had to finally commit. Continue reading→

Everything is Sound: an ode to scenery

Posted on

Written by: Magdalene Kennedy

I sometimes nap in the van as it rumbles along towards the next rest stop. There’s no particular rhythm to its gentle jolts—at best it could be described as white noise. A random assortment of tiny hums and grunts that cradle my drowsy brain.

Continue reading→