MEET THE NEIGHBORS

 Meet Dwight in Imperial, Nebraska 

I arrived early this morning in Imperial, Nebraska.  With 42 miles pedaled by 9 am, I would use the extra time to finally rid myself of my 3-second tent.  (Cool tent.  You just lay it on the ground in the shape of a square and then grab the middle of it and pull it up and presto!  It rises into a full-sized tent.  In. Three. Seconds.)  The problem, however, wasn't the time-saving tent set-up but the cost of parking it in RV campgrounds.  In most campgrounds, needing electrical for my batteries moves me to a full-cost electrical set up and that can run anywhere from $35 to $60 a night.  Ergo, I could crash in bottom-feeder motels for the same price. So, on this morning I entered the local hardware store.  "I need a box cutter thingy and a box to stuff my tent into it."  When the clerk told me he couldn't help me, Dwight came up with a solution.  Hey, Gene, we just got them office chairs--he could use one of those boxes.  So, I'm out in the back of the hardware store cutting this big box down to size when Dwight comes back with an even better solution.  Hey, let's just stuff your tent into a empty screen box.  (See picture above.)  So, he spent about 20 minutes working with me.  How can I pray for you, Dwight?  I'm an Anglican priest and I can pray for you tomorrow while I pedal."  He looked dumbstruck.  Never been asked that before.  No, I think things are good.  Perfect.  So I told Dwight I'd pray for his life to continue to be blessed by God.

Meet Brian in Kimball Nebraska.

The name on the motel sign looked suspicious: "King's Inn," it read.  I noticed a small cross over "King's" and a crown of thorns over the "Inn."   Hmmm.  As I entered, there stood big Brian, the man in charge.  As I took in a 360 of the room, I noticed Christian symbols, and framed biblical quotations on the walls. When I pointed this out to Brian, here's what he said.  "Someone gave us money to buy this motel.  So now we rent it out to people in "transition" mostly.  You know, people with addictions, folks out of work, people in a bad place.  We offer them low-income rent until they get back on their feet.  That includes professional counseling, developing a plan of action, and required church attendance."  I was astounded by this explanation.  But this charity motel is probably operating at a low-budget level.  I'll be lucky to have AC in my room.  Yet, when I walked into my room, it smelt fresh and clean, a little piece of candy was on my pillow, the bathroom and sink were immaculate and little bottles of shampoo and soaps and washcloths were neatly arranged.  And about the door of every room in the motel was the driving force of their ministry:  "Come unto me you who labor and heavy-laden and I will give you rest.  And of course, the PW for wifi was "matthew1128."  Prayers for your ministry, Brian!