Thank you for your question, Sandra.

Question: how is Arvid doing? How is he feeling?

Arvid’s answer: I am feeling good. No physical deterioration thus far. I am putting out consistent effort for the terrain and wind conditions. I am not pushing any limits. The temperature is rising steadily as we head south and will no doubt become an issue. It is currently 30 degrees Celsius

Food intake is good. All systems are go. Fluid retention is a non-issue thus far. I have no injuries, chronic pain or saddle sores.

The 6-7 hours off bike time (in a 24 hour period) seem to be adequate for recovery.

The crew is looking after me well.

Thank you for your prayers. All is going according to plan. Please continue to pray for us.

Dear Jesus, thank you for this great day and thank you Grampa won’t get hurt on his bike ride. Thank you God for the MCF kids. JB

An early morning and here we are leaving La Porte, Iowa. After pedalling 364 km yesterday we ‘camped’ at an abandoned service station.

…and there is room for the grandkids

Possibly for all of the children from MCF

After spending some quality time around Acadia, supper time rolls around and we get ready to enjoy a meal together.

After supper, everyone heads to the gym to hear stories and learn more about the work that Mully Children’s Family (MCF) does in Kenya and the contributions Arvid has made through his ultramarathon rides and steadfast committment to tell the organization’s story.

First to the podium, Engineer and Author Paul Boge shares stories of his encounters with MCF, with Arvid Loewen, and takes time to underline the commonalities between Hutterite Comunities and the kind of family and community MCF really is.

Arvid’s son, Paul, shares what it’s like to to not only be challenged but inspired by having Arvid as a father and important person in his life.

Having already ridden a few hundred kilometers that very day, Arvid delivers a powerful message about persevering in faith in the callings we have, when the challenges are both big and small.

Arvid calls the children forward, and shares an idea: that the ability of people to work together as communities and families is like a wheel–where the hubs, spokes, and rims all work together to create a strong and true wheel.

Ndondo Mulli shares a bit about being a part of the continuing story of Mully Children’s Family and how her parents, Charles and Esther Mulli, undertook a journey step by step in faith to create and bring into existence an organization that has rescued tens of thousands of children from Kenya’s streets and given them a new lease on life.

Ndondo remains on stage to help Faith translate, but it turns out Faith’s English is more than up to the task. She shares her own story, beginning with the pain of a life on the streets, moving through a process of recovering hope and ultimately being transformed by the care of MCF and finding faith in God.

After hearing hearing these stories, members of the community form a choir and respond in song, singing a number of beautiful songs.

Following the music and the conclusion of the service, everyone breaks out into groups to chat over coffee and snacks.

Children from the community are surprised to learn that Arvid’s carbon-fiber road is light enough that they can lift it on their own.

After a long day of having fun, breaking bread, and telling stories, the crew get ready to say goodbye and goodnight. It has been a wonderful day, and tomorrow will see the resuming of Arvid’s ride to Florida!

12:15pm: We have journeyed through Minnesota and it is now in our rear view mirror. The second state, Iowa, welcomes us! Fields of Opportunities.

Day Three (of the second leg) is treating us to fantastic conditions, zero wind, mostly overcast and 25 degrees.

Thank you for your question, Stan.

Question; what are the top 3 funniest moments in your cycling adventures we may not have heard or read about?

Arvid’s answer:

1. In one of my earlier events, support crew member Bettie had heard that I liked my 🍉 sliced in rings. Unfortunately, while slicing it, the watermelon slid off the counter and crashed to the floor breaking into 4 pieces. Ever resourceful Bettie put the watermelon puzzle back together with duct tape and served me a perfect ring slice of watermelon.

2. Upon completing RAAM 2008, we took a hotel where I immediately went to sleep. An hour later I awoke in a panic that I needed to get back on the bike. Ignoring the fact that I was not wearing my cycling clothes, 😉I grabbed my bike and was almost out the door before Ruth stopped me.

3. On my first 1000 km bike ride, I bought some instant pudding. In my haste to devour it fast, I dropped a spoonful of it on the bike seat. Without thinking I licked it off. Definitely not one of my brightest moments.

Right after arriving at Acadia Community, Arvid and his entourage are welcomed to cool down and enjoy chips, watermelon, coffee, and ice cream. Yum.

After enjoying a quick treat and chance to get out of the heat, it’s time to check out Acadia.

Arvid decides to take a quick breather while members of community take the grandkids and their parents around for a tour of the colony.

One of the unbelievable sites – an ENORMOUS facility site used to store some of the finest and most sought after potatoes in Manitoba.

After learning a lot about daily work and life in the community, we headed back to welcome Ndondo (Biological daughter of Charles Mulli) and Faith, who has spent many years at Mully Children’s Family (MCF).

As the sun moves across the sky and things cool down a bit, the grills heat up to get ready for supper!

Part 3 coming soon!

After a very productive day of cycling 400 km yesterday and sleeping in a Walmart parking lot in New Ulm, Arvid was back in the saddle at 5am. It is now 7am and he has just pedalled past Mankato (55km) Lots of traffic and lots of construction and detours at the moment.

Dear Jesus, help the kids get money. Help Grampa not be scared in the dark. Help Gramma not be scared in her bed. Help Grampa not be tired. -T