It's late afternoon and we're about to leave for the state park where there will be a potluck dinner and celebration service. It was so good to sleep in a normal bed last night, even though we do enjoy our tent. This morning we attended Mountain Springs Community Church, then had lunch at Pat's home. In the afternoon Diane stayed "home" and slept while Pat took Tyler Buitenwerff, Len Riemersma and myself downtown to check out the temple square, center of the Mormom religion. Pictures below are of the auditorium where the tabernacle choir has its concerts, and of the outside of the temple. I could have taken more photos but to tell you the truth, the whole place creeped me out. Everywhere in the square were smiling Mormons talking about their faith and sounding like orthodox Christians, even as they spoke about the "restored gospel of Jesus Christ" and spirit sons and daughters and how we all had divine natures, etc. Point is, they are doing all they can to convince people that they are Christians in the traditional sense of the word, while the truth is that they are not. Instead of the Bible being their only infallible rule of faith and life, the Book of Mormon has priority and they accept the Bible "only insofar as it is translated correctly" - meaning that Mormon Joseph Smith edited various parts of the Bible to suit his personal beliefs. That is not to judge the Mormons we met as persons - that's not my right or job - but to say that there is something very deceptive about the way they present themselves to outsiders; I admit that the biblical image of wolves in sheep's clothing comes to mind. It was all very interesting but very disturbing and sad at the same time. Yet God loves Mormons too, of course, and so we should pray for them that they might come to see that the one and only gospel of Jesus Christ is contained in the Bible, and had no need of being restored by Joseph Smith.
On a lighter note, for those of you who are American Idol fans, you will be interested to know that the place where we are staying is in a suburb called Murray City, and this is the home of....well, you can figure it out from the picture below.
So now we're back from the celebration service (I wrote the above early afternoon), because Pat has graciously invited us to stay an extra night and bring us back to camp by 6 tomorrow morning (a 40 minute drive for her) so that we don't have to set up the tent at all this weekend. We had an awesome pot luck dinner, a wonderful outdoor celebration service. We also had our first taste of rain during the day, just a very brief rain shower that was followed by a beautiful rainbow, reminding us that God was watching over us also on this journey. The pics below are of the cyclists eating, the rainbow over the park where they (not we) are staying. and just a picture of the surrounding area.
Before this day ends, of course, we want to thank Pat for her hospitality. She is a Dykshoorn, and we know from many years of experience that Dykshoorns (at least the Abbotsford crew) are gracious and hospitable and wonderful people, and we thank God for them! So here, for her family, is their beloved sister, niece, and cousin, to say hello.
Good night, one and all! Tomorrow it's back to some serious climbing. It's the only day for which no elevation chart was available, because at the time Ed Witvoet drove the route this particular section of road was closed due to snow. That should tell you something...And of course there are no stats today.
On a lighter note, for those of you who are American Idol fans, you will be interested to know that the place where we are staying is in a suburb called Murray City, and this is the home of....well, you can figure it out from the picture below.
So now we're back from the celebration service (I wrote the above early afternoon), because Pat has graciously invited us to stay an extra night and bring us back to camp by 6 tomorrow morning (a 40 minute drive for her) so that we don't have to set up the tent at all this weekend. We had an awesome pot luck dinner, a wonderful outdoor celebration service. We also had our first taste of rain during the day, just a very brief rain shower that was followed by a beautiful rainbow, reminding us that God was watching over us also on this journey. The pics below are of the cyclists eating, the rainbow over the park where they (not we) are staying. and just a picture of the surrounding area.
Before this day ends, of course, we want to thank Pat for her hospitality. She is a Dykshoorn, and we know from many years of experience that Dykshoorns (at least the Abbotsford crew) are gracious and hospitable and wonderful people, and we thank God for them! So here, for her family, is their beloved sister, niece, and cousin, to say hello.
Good night, one and all! Tomorrow it's back to some serious climbing. It's the only day for which no elevation chart was available, because at the time Ed Witvoet drove the route this particular section of road was closed due to snow. That should tell you something...And of course there are no stats today.
2 comments:
Great to hear that you had a decent bed to sleep in. All the best for the coming week. Here it is windy now as well as rainy and a cool 12 degrees or so. I don't know about Holland! We are expecting the Bomhofs here this morning and plan to take them for lunch to somewhere warm with a fireplace going. And pea soup. You both look great in the pics. We love reading about your trip.
Chris and Jeff
Hi there! Could you please pass along our regards to Wiebo and Erna Maarhuis for us? (Ralph and Gertie) Please let them know we have been keeping an eye on them through Margaret's computer. Wishing them (as well as all the bikers) health and best wishes on their journey. Sending our prayers to all.
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