Pennsylvania and her rolling hills

I can't believe it is already day 8. I feel like I have known the people I'm with a lot longer. Our time in Kensington was humbling and amazing. We worked alongside Shane and Katie Claiborne and Mike with the Simple Way Ministry. Our service day was spent helping them move office locations so it involved a lot of lifting and carrying beds, boxes, and office supplies. It was hard work but it felt so good to do whatever we could. We left Kensington, PA and biked around 100 miles to Hershey where the Hershey Community Church of the Nazarene housed us, feed us, and took us to chocolate world. I think I am giving all these people we meet along the way the name of road angles. On the Appalachian Trail there are trail angels. These strangers are so giving and they don't even know us. It just shows me more and more the working of God's family. From Hershey we were introduced to Pennsylvania's hills with a 57 mile day that took us to the historic Gettysburg. Today we got a double doozie. We had hills and rain. I don't think the sun has been out much the last three days. It was a hard 75 mile day for me. My legs felt weak and my knees sore as my body is trying to get used to biking day to day. The route took us over the Appalachian Trail. Memories filling my mind of some of 5 Alive's days spent in these mountains. I am thankful that I am able to do something similar but also something so different now. We had two main climbs that were 3 1/2 - 4 miles each. Patty Griffin songs of Rain and Up To the Mountain filling my head. Both very appropriate today. At times we rode through fog which helped because I couldn't see how much climbing was ahead. Not knowing if the water dripping off of my face, arms, and legs was from rain or sweat. Probably one of the hardest rides I have done. I tried catching glimpses of the mountains when the fog parted. This is such a beautiful state!! I rode most of the day alone as I tried soaking everything up. We have now ridden a little over 300 miles. Tonight we are in Everett, PA sleeping on a pew in a sanctuary. The pastor and some of the congregation cooked a delicious meal and hung out with us. Tomorrow is another mid 70 mile day with quite a few big climbs. Everyone has done such a good job and are all troopers! Again so blessed by this opportunity, the message of this ministry, and the people sharing it with me.

Please check out the fullercenter.org/bikeadventure and read the blogs our group posts daily. There are also pictures on The Fuller Center Facebook page.

Keep is in your prayers!

Leah

Hebrews 3:4

The Beginning

The journey has begun! This is my third day in Atlantic City. We met and had orientation yesterday. We checked in, got our orange t-shirts and orange Fuller Center jerseys. I couldn't believe this was actually happening. At times wondering what I got myself into. Other times so excited that I'm actually living this out. It was fun meeting everyone I will be living, fellowshipping, biking, and experiencing this ride and ministry with for the next nine weeks. Crazy. The riders are from all over - from Alaska to Georgia, from Ohio to California, and from Kentucky to Australia. I spent the rest of the night going over orientation, playing games and sharing a meal with this unique group of people. As I looked around at each of them it makes me smile knowing that not only do we all share a passion for biking, we all share a passion of serving. This is truly an amazing ministry.
This morning was an early morning. We had our first group ride at 6:30am. We biked 11.5 miles along the boardwalk in Atlantic City. We were met by the seagulls and few patrons as we enjoyed the beautiful Atlantic Ocean. Tomorrow we will be dipping our tire here as we start our cross country ride.  As we passed people their questions started of who we were and where were we going. Their reactions priceless as they wished us luck. We quickly prepared for our first day of building after the ride. We shuttled to a home in Atlantic City where we would be spending our day. There were about 30 Fuller Center participants there along with Atlantic City Long Term Recovery Group workers. We  spackled dry wall, sanded, painted, hung drywall, and spackled some more. It was hard work but it felt so good! A news crew from New Jersey came and talked so some of the riders. We didn't complete the house but made a lot of progress. I feel so good about this ride. The other riders are great! I love hearing about their life and their stories. Everyone is extremely friendly! This is going to be an amazing ride! Tomorrow we leave Atlantic City and head around 55 miles to our next destination. Hoping to get a good night sleep for our last night in Atlantic City. Prayers for the team, for those who are anxious, and for our safety. So thankful for the Atlantic City Long Term Recovery Group - Volunteer Center for hosting us these last two nights!

Hebrews 3:4

Free Spirit and The Number 40

The days are quickly passing by and the bike ride is right around the corner. I don’t know how I exactly feel about it. I am extremely excited but at the same time hoping to get everything finished here in Bowling Green before it is time to head north. Graduation marks one big step of getting things done! I will finally be done with this phase of my education and life. As far as other aspects of training I’ll start with the physical aspect. I have been trying to accumulate as much biking time as possible – which it is at times challenging. I daily long to be on my bike and I have to remind myself that there are still things here that need to be done before leaving and I will spend plenty of days on my bike in the next few months. I am appreciative of any amount of time I spend sitting on the bike seat (saddle). That is one of the most important parts of training I have been focusing on. My goal is to have biked at least 1500 miles before I leave. I have said this before but I have been blessed with friends to bike with. I have a variety of styles of riding I have been trying to balance out. A dear sweet friend of mine who has ridden across the US about six years ago has helped me to slow down my pace – not only to just to enjoy the ride and the surroundings, but also to allow me to get even more saddle time. I have other friends who push me to go a little harder and get my heart rate up. I have been able to do some long rides including one century and another one coming up the end of the month. I realized the other day as I was biking a “Pedal the Park” ride in Mammoth Cave National Park that through hiking and biking I have done in Kentucky I have seen so much of this state and appreciate its beauty! I never would have seen this had it not been for these passions. This makes me excited to know that I will see so much on this upcoming bike ride of not only the countryside, but also the people!

 Mentally and emotionally I have been trying to prepare myself the best way I can. This is such a huge part of the ride. All of the day in and day out of biking, working, meeting, and new people all along the way. At the ride I mentioned in Mammoth Cave it started out in the pouring rain. It was one of those days that I wasn’t feeling 100% about biking. I was worn down from the business of the week and mentally couldn’t encourage myself. Thanks to my buddy Paula and her insistence of going and doing this ride, I went. I’m so glad I did because yes it was uncomfortable at first getting soaked and having fun pedaling up the long grueling uphills and slowly dodging the huge puddles on the downhills. I thought there are going to be a lot of days that are going to start like this. Just as I had to experience on the Appalachian Trail – you have to come to a place where you say, “This is the life I am choosing to live now and I will embrace whatever comes my way. I’d rather be doing this than something else.” So, I’m thankful for the uncomfortableness of the beginning of the ride yesterday because it only helped me mentally prepare for days to come.

Spiritually I am getting more and more excited. I have come up with a word through a graduation gift that has attached itself to my heart, becoming my theme and special word for this trip. “FREE SPIRIT.” This word truly signifies what I am longing for on this ministry adventure. I have joined an amazing small group that has been great! Through this group I am seeing more and more depth of my relationship with God.  I am praying for a simplistic mind, inner strength, a deeper bond with God, with other riders, and friends I will meet along the way. I am also praying for a deep brokenness from God to allow me to see, to live, to love better than I have ever before. It is scary to pray for brokenness, but at the same time, through brokenness comes  growth. I pray that I can be broken of my need to be so busy. A busy life has been an idol of mine for a long time. I pray that I can slow down enough to cherish both big and small moments that I tend to miss when I rush through life. I want to see Him through everything I do from pedaling 1000s of miles to swinging hammers, to serving, and to anything else that needs to be done.

As I was praying and talking with friends about my fundraising the number “40” was mentioned. As most of you probably know the number 40 is a very significant number all throughout scripture.  It is used over and over to show the fulfillment of God’s promises. I continually try to have faith that I can not only complete this journey, but also reach the amount of $3600 I need in order to be able to complete the ride. With fundraising I have raised $2,000 so far. I still lack $1600 in order to make the entire ride across the US. As of now I am covered to bike from Atlantic City, NJ through Souix Falls, SD. So, here comes the challenge. If 40 friends donate $40.00 I can complete my ride all the way to Astoria, OR. If you are interested in donating to help me make it the rest of the way there are several ways you can donate. The Fuller Center is a 5O1(c)(3) organization meaning that donations are tax-deductible. The Fuller Center will send a receipt and donation recognition for any amount $10 or over. There are several different ways you can donate. 

·         One option is through a check. You can make your check payable to “The Fuller Center” with “bike – (my name)” in the memo section of the check. The check can be mailed to:

                The Fuller Center for Housing

                Attn: Bike Adventure

                701 S. Martin Luther King Blvd.

                Americus, GA 31709

·         Another option is going to http://www.fullercenter.org/bikeadventure/meettheriders#Leah_Spurlin . Once you are here you click the orange button that says, “Sponsor her ride.” This is an easy step to make an online payment where any donations given will go directly to The Fuller Center.

Some of you have asked how you can stay in touch with me as I am riding. All the trip riders will rotate in posting to a trip blog that will be found at www.fullercenter.org/blogs/bikeadventure. I will also be posting as many personal blogs at leahspurlinblogspot.com. I will post a message on Facebook whenever I update a blog

I will be leaving Bowling Green on May 28, 2014 to head to New Jersey. Please continue to pray now throughout the ride for not only me, but the team and also the families we will be meeting and helping along the way! I know this experience will be both challenging and amazing! I’m excited to share this experience with you!

“For every house is built by someone, but the building of all things is God.”

Hebrews 3:4

Join My Ride - Prayers and Fundraising

I know people have asked how they can help be a part of this ride. There are several routes you can take.

One way is through donations. I have to raise $3600.00 (a dollar a mile). The overall group goal we have is one million dollars. The money goes to various Fuller Center projects throughout the US and the world. None of the money will go towards me, but strictly to the ministry. If you are interested in donating you can go to this website: http://fullercenter.org/bikeadventure/meettheriders. Once on the website, you can scroll down to my name/profile and click on “sponsor her ride.”  This is a secure website and the funding goes directly to the organization. All donations are tax deductible.

The second way you can join my journey is through prayers and support. There will be a lot of learning, praying, training (mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually), and preparation that will go into this ride. Prayers for training and even throughout the ride would be appreciated.

I hope you can join my ride and see all the things God is about to do through my learning and growth as well as the way this team will serve. God bless and hope you join the ride!

“For every house is built by someone, but the building of all things is God.”

Hebrews 3:4

Small Treasures

3/28/2014

I have been very blessed to have a wide group of friends that are willing to bike with me, to help me, to put up with my random bike times because of my busy schedule.  Today the first part of my ride was with my friend Beverly. We left earlier in the day and took off on a familiar country bike path. I’m trying to get as many miles as I can while also sharing great fellowship. Round one resulted in a good ride with a few sprinkles. The temperature finally got above 50. My last ride was when it was 45, windy, and overcast. Today I gladly enjoyed 60s and sprinkles. I rode 12 miles, had a delicious chocolate milk, and improved my mean voice of yelling “no” to an approaching dog. I am beginning to think they are listening now. Lately when I yell at them they stop and some even go home.

The second part of my ride was to be with some gentlemen who have also been very helpful in trying to prepare me for this ride. This section of my ride was going to be a new route. I love new routes! We were destined to bike to Gold City, KY. It was slightly warmer for this section. The gentleman that I biked with is a strong rider and what I would consider a quiet soul. We rode most of the ride in silence. It was very nice and reflective. The route had some hills. I was familiar with some of the roads until we entered Simpson County. Yes, the hills were more challenging but a weird part of me enjoys those hills.

When I worked in Montana with the Forest Service there was a coworker who taught me something valuable that I still think of and use even today after 7-8 years have passed. We were on our first hitch of the season (meaning it was the first time we went back into the back country for an extended period).  Of course coming from Alabama to Montana it takes a little bit to get acclimated to the higher elevations. I was also not in ideal shape. As we were climbing up the mountain he kept pushing and hiking as fast as he could. I was gasping for air and stopping along the way. When I caught up with him I asked why he was hiking so fast. He said that was the only way he knew how to get in shape. To push now will only result in preparing your body for these types of climbs so in the future you can more easily take on the climbs and enjoy them.

So, with that quick digression, I think of that advice whenever I start training for anything – whether a hike or biking trip. I love the challenging hills because I am able to push myself. Yes, it is hard and legs burn, but every time I take on a hill I know I will be stronger and be able to take on the next one with a little more ease.

We twisted and turned on these country roads past small ponds and staring cows. Fourteen miles later we arrived in Gold City, KY. A place I would probably never visit or notice if not for this ride. This is why I love biking. Our goal of ending at a mom and pop gas station was amazing. We stopped as locals were extremely friendly, all of them knowing each other. One sign hanging on the wall said, “We don’t call 911 here” - right next to a picture of a gun. I stopped a moment and took it all in. Small treasures like this store made my day today. The ride, the newness, the rawness and simplicity of this small town – I am glad I got to experience it.

The ride back was great probably because it was mostly downhill. The sun came out and that always makes days better. The more we rode the stronger my legs felt. Hopefully the days will continue to get warmer and I can get back on the roads on a more consistent basis. The ride is approaching quick. I am getting more excited for it. I’m sure some of it is a little bit of nervousness. I hope that I am ready in time.

Hebrews 3:4

Bike Roots

BIKE ROOTS

Eleven years ago I was able to break away from the fast pace of life and go on an extended adventure through the woods. There is not a day that goes by that something doesn’t remind me of that period in my life. I’m so thankful that God allowed me to hike on the Appalachian Trail. I didn’t know if I would ever get to live or experience anything similar to that again.

I moved to Bowling Green, KY almost six years ago. It is odd to think I have been living in Kentucky that long. The longer I am here, the more and more I love the Bluegrass State. I was able to find a church home right away through State Street United Methodist Church. I quickly found a group of young ladies that took me under their wings and introduced me to a thing called road cycling.  They invited me to come along on some of their bike rides through the neighborhoods every morning around 5am. For some reason I agreed. I took my heavy mountain bike and joined their group, always being the last person struggling to keep up. I look back on those mornings and I cherish them deeply! I learned quickly one of the reasons I was always left in their dust was because all of them had road bikes. Little did I know that the difference in bikes would matter that much. Over the years I graduated to a hybrid bike and eventually got a Trek road bike.

The morning neighborhood rides evolved into longer rides over the country roads of Warren County. It didn’t take long for me to realize that I caught the bug and road biking became a new passion for me. Two years ago I was able to take my first “tour” – a 7 day, 460 mile ride through North Carolina (Mountains to Coast) bike ride. It was an eye opener to so many things and made me hunger to learn more (so I would hurt less) and possibly one day bike across the United States.

This vision of a long bike ride is finally becoming a reality. This summer I found a bike ride that will allow me to combine road biking and ministry. What an amazing way to share Jesus with others! I will be participating in a bike ride across the United States through an organization called the Fuller Center for Housing. This organization was founded by Millard Fuller, one of the co-founders for Habitat for Humanity. One way this non-profit organization ministers here in the United States is through this bike ride adventure. I will be joining 45 other cyclists from all over the United States and some from different countries. Some of those 45 cyclists will be doing sections along the route while the others will be joining me biking the entire route. We will be starting from Atlantic City, NJ and biking through 15 states, traveling about 3,600 miles and ending in Astoria, OR roughly a little over two months. We will be averaging about 75 miles a day and taking about 8 days off building, remodeling or repairing homes along the way.

I am really excited for this ride but also know the amount of time and effort it will take to put into the training. One of the things you have to focus on for an experience like this is the mental preparation. On the Appalachian Trail there were so many strong hikers that would average hiking about 30 miles a day. Ironically, those hikers were some of the first to quit because they couldn’t mentally handle the day to day life, the rain, the pain and the small things that could mentally drive you crazy. My prayer is that when I start this adventure  I can be in shape physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally so when it is time to perform – whether through biking, building, or just living with others - I am at my best.

God Bless!

Hebrews 3:4