Hello Mark, Chuck, Eric, Redwine and Clay!!!

Congrats on making it into Arizona! As you were thanking the crew, I thought of 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 which talks about our spritual gifts!

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.

As we saw your crew, I thought of 1 Corinthians 12:14-26

So the body is not one part but many. If the foot should say, “Because I’m not a hand, I don’t belong to the body,” in spite of this it still belongs to the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I’m not an eye, I don’t belong to the body,” in spite of this it still belongs to the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But now God has placed the parts, each one of them, in the body just as He wanted. And if they were all the same part, where would the body be? Now there are many parts, yet one body. So the eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” nor again the head to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, all the more, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are necessary. And those parts of the body that we think to be less honorable, we clothe these with greater honor, and our unpresentable parts have a better presentation. But our presentable parts have no need [of clothing]. Instead, God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the less honorable, so that there would be no division in the body, but that the members would have the same concern for each other. So if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

You are all working together and doing your part! We are all connected! What you are doing effects the rest! We thank all of you for doing your part as we are all praying for you!

The Casazza Family of Atlanta, GA

Keep it up, Mark. I enjoy following your journey via the daily video blog. Be careful on those highways…man, you are braver than I to traverse those kind of roads. If you think about it you sometime, let all of us cycling geeks out here know what kind of Trek you are riding…how it is set up and how it rides.

God bless.

Luke

Loving the video blog………it looks dangerous on those highways!! BE CAREFUL and I pray a protective hedge around you (especially as those big semis are flying by!)

A big shout out to the CREW for taking such good care of you. Thanks guys!! Keep up the good work……Mark’s “precious cargo” to us and we so appreciate you keeping him nourished, physically, mentally and spiritually!

God bless you ALL,
Bekah’s Mom (Hoosier Cloud)

Brother Mark,

So glad for tail winds yesterday. You seemd strong after the 40 miles. Great news as you head into your first concert off of the bike. I would imagine you will stand by the piano rather than sit.

Thanks crew for loving on Mark. Please spoil him as often as possible.

Each of you have a great part in this effort. Stay strong!

Love,

Steve Biondo

Mark,
What an inspriration you are. My son and I are praying for you and your safe journey to the Eastern seacoast. I can’t wait to hear the songs that you come up with after your journey. I pray for your team that is right there with you also.
God Bless,
Gena and Matthw Bukur

Go, Mark!! Hope you have a good reserve of energy–you’ll need it when you head up Yarnell Hill this weekend. I’m thrilled that you’re doing this for orphans and widows. They really need it. Wish I was on the route but I’m south of you. Oh, well…. Go, go, go!!

Mark,

God Bless You! Thanks You for bringing this problem to light.
We just saw you coming thru Aguila this morning at your fuel stop… surprised you even found it!
The blogger talking about Yarnell Hill is not joking!… It’s uphill from here bro.

Take Care and Safe Journey, we’ll be following you and telling others.

wuf
Aguila Arizona

Mark,

Please be careful out there, push but don’t push yourself too hard. You only have one body here on earth and we would dearly miss you if you push too hard!! My children can’t wait to see you on Monday, so stay safe and be careful. God bless you and you are in our prayers as you go through the Az. heat, make sure you take plenty of breaks. My oldest son Zach is praying to meet you after the concert in Prescott, he looks up to you and wants to be a singer like you. He is writing songs already and play the guitar, he is 14!!

Your friend in Jesus Christ - The Wamplers

Looks like you have a good team of guys taking care of you! My prayers are with them also! I truely want to thank you for taking the time out to do these video blogs during this tour. you have a lot going on right now and to be doing these, just makes them even more special to those of us who cant be with you each day in person. Keep going, your doing great brother! I wounderd for a minute there with that big ol yawn as soon as the camera came on! ride on brother!
In Christ,
Mel

Mark,
I am a new missionary with Back2Back Ministries in Monterrey, Mexico. For those of you who will read this and don’t know this is where Mark took his trip and one of the ministries that the James Fund supports. I can’t tell you how inspired I am in reading about your days of biking. I am excited to tell the teens here that live with us and go to school and the children at the children’s home-” guess what God’s love is doing for you. It’s sending a crazy guy on the road on a bike to ride across the country to raise money for you.” My husband and three boys moved down here from Indiana this past January and we feel blessed to be apart of this ministry. It’s not easy though, I can relate to those days of you riding into the head winds. God is so good though, that even though those days seem so long, my memory is quick to bring up the joys that God has allowed me to experience. Yesterday was mother’s day here in Monterrey, my boys lavished me with love and it was great. But God also floored me and the other moms on our campus as 15 preteen girls from Casa Hogar Douglas (a children’s home less than a mile from here) came and sang to us a traditional mother’s day song. They were so joyful and gave us so much as I thought many of those girls could have felt miserable today for not being able to spend the day with their mothers. That is just like God to give us strength to give of ourselves when Satan was planning to bring us down. Mark, on your bad times, think of these kids, Jorge, Alexandra, Joel, Gabbi, Monica,etc. What a joy to think of all that God is doing and going to do through your hardship as you ride. Praise God. Praise God for your obedience in offering yourself as a living sacrifice to God as your act of worship. Thank you Jesus for what you are doing.
I blog too about the goings on of the ministry here. Feel free to check out http://www.hufferfamily.blogspot.com
Praying for you.
Cathy Huffer

Mark,
My name is Christy Ross and my husband and I recently(In January) moved to Monterrey, Mexico to work with Back2Back Ministries. I just wanted to let you know how much we appreciate your heart in serving orphans and widows. We are excited about what you are doing and look forward to reading your blogs! We are praying for you.
God Bless and Have fun!!
Christy Ross

Great Job Mark! I thougt you said that you were glad not to have to ride on show days! Just goes to show ya that you did the right thing. Hope you had a great show and keep on keeping on Mark. Talk at you soon and stay safe and we’ll be praying for lots of blessings for you and the James Fund! God is Good!
Tim