Wow Mark 110 miles!

Like the song said “Keep holding on your gonna make it through”

Thank you so much for sharing why you are doing this.

It was a nice reminder of why we all are doing what we do for these kids and prompts us to ask ourselves are we doing all we can do for the Orphans, Widows and Adoption!

Our thoughts and prayers are with you always! hang in there!

With Love and prayers,
Tamee, Caden and Arianna Shea

OH my, now that was a hill. Mountain. something much bigger than I could pedal up! (((HUGS))) to ya brother!

Mel

YOU ARE AN INSPIRATION…..when I grow up I wanna be like YOU!!!!! Keep holding on….stay strong……..you’re doing it!!!

In HIM,
Sarah
(& Bekah)

PS: Bekah prayed for your tires last nite…how are they holding up?

A very BIG “Awesome” to you all! As others have said, what an INSPIRATION” you are! Thanks for the re-focus; the orphans. Your video calls me to remember what we all need to do as Disciples;

1. To Love God First! (Matthew 22:37-40)
He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important commandment. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments.”

2. To Love Others! (1 Timothy 4:16)
Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

3. To Care for widows and Orphans! (James 1:27)
Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

The Casazzas of Atlanta, GA

Mark,

Wow, what a touching story! Thanks for sharing it with us.

It looks like you had some uphill riding yesterday. I’m sure God was there helping you pedal all the way. Keep up your great and faithful work!

“And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me’”. Matthew 25:40

Praying for you daily.

God bless you, Kate, your crew and everyone close to you!

Blessings,
Chrissy A.
Illinois

Hey Mark, finished my ride for the Police Unity Tour, nothing better than riding through our great country and listening to good Christian artists rock on. Keep up the good work, It is funny how we see so much negative on TV and so little positive. You are an inspiration to many and I wish I could ride a leg with you, but from the videos it appears you are an animal on the bike. Nice to see another “older guy”, never say “old guy” showing the young guys how it is done. God Bless. Keep it up, our Life Groups is praying for you. KEY WORD “CHAMOIS BUTT’R, lots of it. Keep safe, Love YA Fish

It is always amazing what we can accomplish when we have God’s hand on our back helping us along. Rock On!!!

Mark-
Thanks so much for sharing your story about the orphans in Mexico. Thank you for taking ACTION to be part of the solution!!!

Here at Family Christian Stores Home Office we were blessed to meet 2 adopted children today. We witnessed The James Fund changing the lives of orphans. The James Fund through Bethany Christian Services assisted 2 families in adopting children. One little boy was an 18 month old child- his parents were just gleeming with joy that he has brought into their lives. He was a special needs child, diagnosed with congestive heart failure. No one wanted a child with physical challenges like this. The Lord led this family to adopt him and by God’s Grace, they were now told it is just a heart murmur. PRAISE GOD!
The other girl was 14 years old. She was given an opportunity to come to America and be raised by a loving family.

Thank you to ALL who support The James Fund. Together we can help children that have no choice and show them the Love Of Our Heavenly Father.

Across America let our voices be heard on behalf of orphans and widows. We are so blessed you are carrying the message Mark and team.

May God continue to use you for His Glory.

Happy trails my friends! You are NOT alone- together we stand

Love-

Marilyn Sullivan

OK - writing this note thru tears is hard.

Simply said - your act of sacrifice and commitment to the cause of the orpahn and widow is a powerful example of Godly character.

Press on my brother.

Steve

Mark,
Thank you for your daily blogs and the great stories we hear from your heart on the road. Thanks also to your entire team that puts this together for you and watches over your needs.

I was reading from the writer Gallaway on Adoption. He says, “When Christ receives a soul into His love, He puts upon him the ring of adoption. Adopted! Why then, we are brothers and sisters to all the good of earth and Heaven, we have the family name and the family dress; and the Father looks down upon us, robes us, defends and blesses, and the insignia of eternal glory is our coat of arms.”

Blessings to you all!
Shari L

Greetings Mark,
Crying this AM after listening to you talk about the orphange in Mexico. My husband and are I are praying about adoption as an option for us and I felt like God was speaking to me as I listened. I too was adopted and I want so much to give back to a child the wonderful gift I was given. Thank you for pressing on for these wonderul children.
“Never Be Afraid to Trust an Unknown Future to a Known God”………………I look at that everyday and know that no matter what the day holds, God has us in his care and I know I have a future because he Lives. Blessings to all of you ….Love, Jen

Mark,
You continue to inspire me through your perseverance through all you’ve been through and accomplished in this bike tour. You are a blessing! Thoughts and prayers are continuing for you from here in the Great White North (Canada). We love you! KOKD, my friend! (((hugs)))~Helen

Mark,

You’re showing us a way of truly ADVOCATING for the fatherless and widows. Not just writing a check and going on with life - but you are REALLY ADVOCATING…as you both raise $ and raise AWARENESS.

you are a man of God,

Andy Lehman

Hi Mark

Your doing a great thing in God’s name. I have enjoyed watching the videos of your ride. Todays song was especially meaningful to me. Remember on tough days that you will always be challenged if your doing God,s work. On 5/31 I will be leaving for the Ukraine.The group that i am with will be doing Christian camps for 8-18 olds, one week a camp for widows and working with orphans and street kids. We will be there until 6/27.I have been planning for this trip since the end of Feb. Along the way I have been challenged and still am. On 5/16 I had to have surgery,and my passport is not here yet after 12 wks, but with these challenges have been many blessings and confirmations that this is what God wants me to do. I have also been a foster mom in the past and hope to be again soon. This subject of orphans and widows is near to my heart. I raised two wonderful daughters by myself, with God’s help so i never was really by myself. Thank You God!
Thank you Mark for doing this.
catherine

Hey there-
I can’t tell you enough how much we are rooting for you and supporting this in everyway that we can- so I guess, I’ll just keep telling you!!:-) If I had a million dollars, Id give it to the James Fund-I really, really mean that.
I don’t think that many people know exactly how they can help .Even if they could and wanted to, so by this ,you are getting the awareness out there and your helping more than you realize. Way to go!
I’m sitting in the library since my computer is so slow, so sometimes I watch your blogs here. And as you’re talking about your visit to mexico, I look over at Emily and she’s asking the attendant for books on Mexico. I knew why she was asking , It just made me cry because I know and see the impact of what your doing is having on others, especially the children. It may not be emtional for anyone but me. Its just amazing. I know how much they love you and it means the world to me that they are seeing what your doing for those kids and working so hard for the Lord and that makes them want to help too. ~Thanks!~
We are rooting for you all the way Mark. Always remember that God is good and faithful.
May he continue to bless you , your family and ministry.
In Christ-your friends,
The Ross Family

Hello Mark! It’s John and Debbie Foster from Arizona. We have been following your trip every day and man- you are an inspiration! I am happy to see that a couple other riders are able to meet up with you. We emailed Chris at FCA Endurance and hopefully you’ll have more company along the way. We are so proud of you and honored we could help you along your ride. I am thankful for those coffee shops you can stop at. I see you have some aero bars on now and I hope your knees and seat are holding up well! Have fun and we know that God is blessing you everyday. You are awesome!

Mark,

We just wanted to say how much we appreciate what you are doing. We are direct recipients of a grant from the James Fund to adopt our little one from China. We will be leaving in about 3 weeks to get her, thanks to wonderful efforts like yours!! God has used you and others to do a marvelous thing!

Josh, Amy & Katelyn Fisher

Mark, totallly awesome for sure! My daughter is a missionary in Nicaragua….she is they working with the kids that live in a dump area…she is teaching them how to have hopes and dreams through art….she is stationed out of the Outer Banks in NC. reddawndesigns.com…she is amazing like you! God will meet your needs as he has met hers…and he will provide for those little ones close to his heart!
from a local cyclist to another………keep riding brother!
sandra

Hi Mark,
Our family loves to hear your updates on HISRADIO in Greenville, SC. We can’t wait to hear about you and Rob riding together soon. Keep up the great riding and we will be praying for you daily. May God bless you continually in your journey.

Chris, Regina, Noah and John Thomas Broome

Praying for you! I am not able to listen to the blogs due to a computer audio problem but I am following as best I can! Can’t wait until you get to Ohio!!!! GOD BLESS!

Mark, We think you are great! What a break through yesterday, looks like you found your groove! We really noticed the energy bestowed on you,a solid,clean,inspirational ride? Wow! well you looked good! We are praying for your safety,health endurance.You are doing such a great thing! Maybe some media attention would be helpful?Hope we can help.We will try,stand by. Love always,The Altieris’in So.Ca.

Thanks so much for sharing the Mexican orphanage story with us! My father is from Mexico and each year when we went to visit family, he would also take us to an orphanage to visit and minister to the kids there. I have often wondered what happened to some of them. Maybe one of them is your friend at the James Fund! Thank you again for giving so selflessly. The rides look wonderful, but I know what it must take to do it! I continue to pray for your safety and lots of westerly winds! Jen Hudnall
PS…Are you wearing sunscreen on your face? You should be, to protect it from all those UVA andUVB rays! Just the nurse in me…worring about you!

You just are truly amazing. God is so blessed to have you in His kingdom! What you are doing is beyond awesome. 110 miles so far? Wow!!!
Love you,
Teri