Sea to Sea Mini Reunion in High River

Before I registered I was praying about whether I should do part of the 2013 ride or use vacation time to help in disaster relief. I signed up to ride believing it was God's will, but a disaster came to my area, too. This past Saturday, a group from Emmanuel CRC in Calgary arrived at High River CRC willing to work in the disaster relief ongoing in High River.  World Renew has partnered with Samaritan's Purse as part of an operation to help the 10,000 residents in a town of 13,000 whose homes and businesses are flooded.  Here's most of our group before our assignments.

Pete DeBoer, 2005 C2C, his daughter, Christine, and I found our way to a home owned by a wonderful man named Frank. With other groups of volunteers, we spent the day cleaning out his basement. There was no time on the bike that day, but did I ever get a strength and cardio workout! In case you're wondering, Christine and I were every bit as filthy as Frank and Pete, but had just dumped our hazmat suits on Frank's garbage pile.

 

Back at the previously flooded High River church, we were inhaling dinner served by folks from Emmanuel, when who should walk in the door but Doug Schoon also from the 2008 ride! It was fun to have a mini reunion.

My employer, like many others in Calgary, is also sending out buses of volunteers during the work week, so I will be doing this again on Wednesday. But for now, I'd better hop on my bike and do some hills as yet another black sky threatens!! Much of southern Alberta needs prayer especially as severe storms continue to pound the area.