Letter

Last summer, I was given the opportunity by God's grace to be a part of the Sea to Sea Bike Tour. What you may not realize is the lasting effect it has had on my life. In the past year, God has taken me on a spiritual journey through roads and paths I had yet to venture. I struggled for awhile after the summer wondering what God wanted me to do with my life, feeling a tug, knowing he was calling me into new waters.

God has been continually molding me and preparing me for this moment and has instilled in me a strong purpose and need to "uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed".

Earlier this year, I went to MissionFest in Toronto for the Friday night concert but God had something planned more for that evening. There he put in front of me an opportunity to be a part of the YWAM (Youth With A Mission) Justice Discipleship Training School (DTS). I had never before considered something like this, as I'd always thought this was something that only younger youth became involved in. During the weeks to follow, I felt God's strong call that this was where he wanted me to be. I believe God has prepared my heart and has called me to share of the love and grace he has shown me and to use my gifts to help those who are victims of injustice.

This DTS that I will be attending has a very special focus of giving attention to the various social injustices in the world, ones that weigh heavy on my heart.

* 2 children per minute are trafficked for sexual exploitation
* Over 27 million are enslaved around the world
* Over 13 million are orphaned due to AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa
* 3 Billion People do not have access to the Gospel

"Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked" Psalm 82:3-4.

Field Assignment
I will be gone from September 26, 2009 to February 20th, 2010. The time will be split between the lecture phase, which is based on a plantation in Barbados and then heading off on outreach to South America to apply what we have learned. I ask that you continually keep me and the 19 others on my team in your prayers as at times things will be very intense and emotional. I also covet your prayers that I may be open and flexible to new experiences and used in ways I never imagined I could be.
　
With all large mission trips, however, there are also many costs and I am hoping to fundraise $3000USD for the outreach portion of my trip. Please take the time to pray and consider if you feel lead to donate. Cheques can be made out in my name, Stephanie Webb and sent to 252 West 32nd Street, Hamilton, ON L9C 5H6.

"With God all things are possible" - Matthew 19:26.

Thank you.

In Christ Alone,

Stephanie

Embrace AIDS Shines with New Website

It’s here, it’s live and it’s shining. iEmbraceAIDS.com is a new website created by the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee to provide young adults with a way to get involved in the rally to embrace people living with AIDS.

AIDS is a disease that’s been ravaging the world for over 25 years – and it affects everything. In many developing countries AIDS is the main reason people aren’t getting enough food to eat, enough money to live, or the education they need. To make matters worse, a family affected by AIDS is pushed further into poverty causing members of that family to make decisions that put them at greater risk of getting this disease. In 2007 alone, 3 million people contracted HIV, 33 million people were living with it, and over 2 million people died of AIDS-related causes – three quarters of these deaths happened in Sub-Saharan Africa.

miEbraceAIDS.com was created to help a new generation be a light at the end of the tunnel that is the AIDS crisis, and shine the light of Christ around the world. The site includes a variety of options for young people to do their part to learn about the disease, raise awareness with their friends, and be part of the solution.

The site will launch on December 1, 2008 (World AIDS Day). Visit http://www.iembraceaids.com/ to find out how we can “all shine together, all over the world, to bring AIDS out of the darkness.”

(Newsletter article from http://www.crcna.org/site_uploads/uploads/crwrc/ea/shine/SHINE%20newsletter%20article.doc)

The Story of Melchizedek

This past week I decided to check out a friends Bible Study after having met a few of those in the group last month when 11 of us went to the Heaven's Rehearsal concert in Toronto. (It was really good by the way).

They usually meet for 6pm to have dinner together (each one taking their turn preparing) and then at 7pm one of them leads the study. Well, what a wonderful, special surprise I had when I realized what section in the Bible we were going to be discussing. The story of Melchizedek.

Many of you might be thinking, okay, so who's that? What's so great about that story?

Well back on the tour I had the priviledge of hearing many stories from Pastor Len while riding together. One of the stories that Len was excited to share was the story of Melchizedek. In fact, he had decided that it would be his mission during the summer to tell each new rider he rode with the significance of this story.

Sadly, I had forgotten about this story (as many events have boggled my mind since) so imagine my excitement when Shawn (who was leading) began having us read the chapters related to Mechizedek. As weird as this might sound, I was excited that I had had the priveledge of already learning the significance and was excited to watch as others started to put the pieces together the further we read and discussed about Melchizedek and the High Priest of that time.

As Pastor Len, notes it is not a story that is spoken of much which is unfortunate because it really is interesting. Len has kindly forwarded on his notes to me for my files and so that I may share it with you. It is a bit overwhelming in some ways so if you have any questions or thoughts PLEASE leave me a comment. I hope you enjoy!

The Story of Melchizedek
(Genesis 14, Psalms 110, Hebrews 4:14 - 5:10, Hebrews 7 and Hebrews 8)

This unfamiliar account of this is sadly neglected in Christian circles everywhere because so few take the time to explore its inner meaning.

(Genesis 14) A long time ago when Abram was slowly establishing himself in his new land there was a skirmish between rival lords. 5 of them had been subjugated to an alliance of 4. The 5 decided to go on strike and refused to pay tribute to the 4. After all, they had been under their control for 12 years. The 4 led by Kedorlaomer weren't going to give in so easily so on their warring expedition they decided to do battle. The 5 were easily conquered and led as captives as far north as Damascus which could be as far as 100 miles away.

Abram got wind of the battle and decided to take action because his nephew Lot was among those taken away (v. 13-17). Abram gathers his own army which consisted only of his family and servants and marched in pursuit. He catches up to the enemy, defeats him, and begins his return home. As Abram makes his way he nears a small village named Salem.

Here he encounters two prominent figures. The first is the king of Sodom (one of the 5 defeated kings) and the second is the King of Salem - Melchizedek. Seemingly Abram stands between these two dignitaries and is compelled to make a decision. The first king, Sodom, offers Abram all the goods or booty of the victory (v. 21). Mechizedek on the other hand only brought out bread and wine to offer some nourishment (v. 18). It was a very natural and neighborly thing to do. What Abram does is truly remarkable. Instead of accepting King Sodom's offer which could have been quite lucrative, he bows down to Melchizedek and offers him 1/10 of everything he had (v. 19-20). And then even rebukes the King of Sodom (v. 22-23).

The question is why? Anyone in their right mind would have been glad to accept Sodom's generous offer - it would have made Abram rich. It was especially significant because just prior to this God had promised all the land to Abram. God even said he would be great and the land would all be his as far as his eyes could see. It would be very logical to assume that God's hand was in this whole rescue and now the rewards of the covenant promises were coming to pass. Except the one making the offer was the king of Sodom and there is no way he could be part of God's plan. Instead Sodom represented the lure and trap of the world. It was exactly opposite of what God wanted of Abram. The other choice was Melchizedek. And for reasons only hinted at in the story, Abram surmised that since this was a High Priest of the Most High God, he had better give credit and honor and recognition to him rather than take it for himself. It was the perfect choice.

But that is only half of the story. Now we need to know who is this Melchizedek, where does he come from, and what does he represent?

Uncharacteristically, Melchizedek is introduced with no biography or background (Hebrews 7:3). Every major OT person has a lineage and place of origin, yet Melchizedek is presented without these important details. The significance of this is explained in Hebrews. Melchizedek, whose name means "king of Righteousness", is High Priest of the Most High God. He is the king of Salem which is the Hebrew word for Peace. Salem is a small village which later becomes the city of God – Jerusalem. All of these details along with his sudden appearance and then sudden disappearance are all part of the scene now presented with Abram and the king of Sodom.

Abram who had won a substantial victory is now presented with a choice. Either he is made ruler of the land by the world (Sodom) or he humbles himself before the High Priest of the Most High God. The first is attractive and luring but would reject giving credit to God. Abram was supposed to receive all the covenant promises from God and not through his own personal victories and conquests. Sodom tempted Abram to claim kingship, but Melchizedek blessed Him after Abram presented him with an offering.

The key to all of this is the phrase “after the order of Melchizedek”. In this world we have two orders – man and God-man. The first is God’s creation through Adam and Eve the parents of humanity, sadly, this order fell into sin. In order to save this order God introduces another order, another man who is above and beyond the confines of human falleness. This second order has to be connected to the first man (human) yet beyond man by being sinless. We all know that this second order is completed in Jesus Christ who is both man and God. A man who is not affected by the fall and thus is qualified to save the order of things.

What we need to see is that the introduction of this second order is not Christmas but actually foreshadowed in this amazing story of Abram and the battle of the kings. The sinful order (Sodom) is on one side of Abram, and the other is Melchizedek the High Priest of the Most High God. Melchizedek who miraculously, supernaturally, appears on the scene is the entrance of the new order. Some will even say he was Jesus himself. Whether he was actually Jesus or a type of Jesus is supported in the Psalms (110:4), where it says “you are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek”. This means Jesus followed the unexpected order of priesthood. All the priests of the Bible were from the line of Levi. But Jesus didn’t follow that line, rather received his qualification from a different order namely Melchizedek.

So what we have is Abram standing between man and God-man and providentially he recognizes is only course of action. He chooses to give his allegiance to the God-man and thus receives the blessing. He is now qualified to represent the father of God’s people and enter into the covenant relationship. Later when Jesus came on the scene he fulfilled the promise and now offers to all of us the privilege of being part of this new order. We are no longer just human but we are adopted into a new order – a royal priesthood after the order of Melchizedek.

Now how cool is that!

Starting Over

So after 2 months of just plain, boring rest, I began Physio this week for my knee(s). I went to see the same Doctor as Art Smit a couple of weeks previous who gave me a prescription for several sessions.

On the whole it seems a lot of what was agitated in my right knee has healed but there are still a few areas and muscles that are still tight causing mild discomfort. There is still very minor swelling (I didn’t even notice :P).

My physiotherapist started me up on a few exercises to strengthen my hip flexor and rotators and the glutes, plus another muscle that I cannot remember the name of.

Well, let me say it’s official. I have lost every bit of strength in my leg muscles from this summer. I cannot believe how tired (and sore) I am getting from these simple exercises. It’s so sad, lol. But I know it’s the beginning to preparing my body for next years season and well to just be able to bike in general.

It’s been extremely hard to put aside my athletic activities while I let my body rest and heal over the last couple of months so even though I know how tough it is going to be to get back into working out I’m also extremely excited for it.

But I’ll admit it’s no wonder why so many people give up all the time. It’s amazing how quickly your body loses shape once you stop (only 2 weeks!!). It seems like you are always starting over.

Challenged to Grow

One of the things I talk about when asked what I enjoyed about the summer is usually about the community, the closeness, the support and encouragement. As well as being challenged in my faith and surrounded by others who live their lives for Jesus. I knew it would be something that would take some time finding again. I didn't really have any groups I was a part of that could get together and discuss various scripture. I talked with my cousin and she told me about a group that she goes too so last night I went and checked it out with her.

I really enjoyed our opening worship. Instead of songs or anything you would typically expect at the start of a study we ended up going out into the Dundern Castle park, separating ourselves from each other but close enough we could still see everyone and we spent about 7-8 min. in reflection on things we were thankful for and how they made us grow.

There were a number of things that came to mind but during that time and discussion later a couple of things hit me. Before the tour I had prayed that the upcoming summer would help challenge me and strengthen me to grow in my faith. Though my belief in God never wavers, I was struggling with being exactly who God wants me to be. I was finding my faith life and my walk was nearing more a luke warm level then the on fire faith I really did (and do) want to have.

Looking back I realized that though I am still not where I want to be that God did put many situations and people in my path that challenged me and help me to grow. Infact, I now feel that the issues with my knee were a great helping factor. Continually working on the fruit of the spirits; especially Patience!

During the morning service at Hope CRC in Brantford, Dirk and I put together a presentation on the Sea to Sea. I really wanted to share so much and really allow the congregation an insight into what we experienced. It was kind of funny though; I think Dirk's presentation was just over 2 minutes, mine was about 8 minutes :) and the offering that we were presenting through was about 4 minutes :) Oops, lol. Though after the service I got a lot of really encouraging feedback and comments of appreciation so I think in the end it went really well.

I've included below what I had to say (though yes I realize it will make this blog that much longer, I do hope you enjoy it).

Wow! What a summer!
Even now it is still hard to believe that after over a year of anticipation we have already completed the 9 week tour and have been back into the “so called normal life”.
There is so much I wish I could tell you, so many stories and memories to share but I could be up here forever.
So where do I start? What do I say that could sum up the most amazing summer in only a few minutes?
Over the last few weeks I’ve been asked numerous times, how was it? And I find myself only being able to say a couple descriptive words at best. It was Amazing! Life changing, Exhilarating! Unbelievable and absolutely God breathed.
So here is my chance to elaborate and I find myself not knowing where to begin.

In the beginning, so much of it was about biking. The tour found itself to be much harder than many even imagined and found themselves mostly focusing on just getting through the day. Not only that but taking the time to get to know everyone both young and old as well as trying to get into a morning routine. It was so funny to watch, some mornings, all the running around as people tried to get out before the fierceness of the sun shone high.
As a couple weeks went by it became more obvious that the real reason why we were on this tour was not coming out as much as many hoped or liked. We had been given these Sea to Sea cards that we could hand out to people along the way and we were really encouraged to take the time to stop and talk with anyone and everyone about why we were out there on the road riding in some days over 100F and where we were headed.
It was amazing how many people were extremely interested in what we were doing and many cyclists found themselves receiving donations right there along the way! Some days we would see how many cards we could hand out, tapping on windows of cars while we were stopped waiting for a light to change. Telling the wonderful staff at cafes that we would fill up entirely, some often giving us free food or drinks! Just stopping along the side of the road to talk especially when someone shouted, “Hey what’s going on?”

In the evenings we would have what we called Paleton meetings, where we discussed the happenings of the day, the weather, Ed would go over the route for the next day, and a few other things but what was really special to listen to was when we started to tell stories of various God moments because there were so many of them every day. God’s providence – we would say. How someone had a close call but through God’s providence it ended up not being that close. Riding through a neighbourhood on the way to Chicago where only less then a week before had been hit by a tornado! We come back and hear of how much rain you all had but God had us traveling in a sun bubble! In the end I think we had maybe 5 days of rain the entire summer, most of which stopped within the first few hours of the day!
There were stories of complete strangers coming up asking if they could pray for us and sometimes in their prayer focusing on exactly what we needed right at that moment. God was constantly putting people in our paths that touched us and used us to touch them.

I am so thankful that God chose me to be one of the 220 cyclists this summer. He used me and pushed me in ways I’ve never been pushed before. Over and over again he pushed me to learn patience, to be an encouragement to others, to be positive and to be happy with each day whatever may come.

As most of you know I found myself immediately faced with having to deal with my knee troubles but at the same time even though there were definitely some hard days, I always felt your prayers and knew that it was through God only that I was able to finish each day. Not by my own will or strength but by him.

In the end, entering into the 4th week, I did have to take a number of days off to let my knee heal but from that I was able to experience the tour in other ways that I never would have had the chance too, being on the bike the entire time. Seeing behind the scenes, spending time with the kitchen crew ladies, our media people, our SAG volunteers and yes, even though I did wish I could be biking, I am very thankful for those days as well.

I had promised myself that once we hit Michigan I would bike every day no matter what but God had other plans! From the moment that I received my knee brace, that my mom had to FedEx to me while staying in Dordt, I was able to ride pretty much everyday (except for a few missed km's those first few days getting back into it)!! I was so thankful and I know that it was because of all of the prayers back home. I couldn’t believe that I got to ride almost the entire last 4 weeks as well.

A number of things that also stand out from the summer were the views. Out west is like riding through a National Geographic magazine. It is so different then here and it is absolutely beautiful…sure after awhile we did get pretty sick of all the sage bush and craved for shade from a maple tree back home but still it was amazing all the same. The mountains to the desert to prairies to the lushness of the East. God sure is one amazing artist!

We also were able to enjoy the many Celebration Rallies held along the way. Each one quite different from the next but each powerful in its own way. Our own in St. Catharines having it's own God moment, where it poured right up to the start of the Rally itself and out shone a rainbow!

The community was one of my favourite parts. How the young and old mixed, supported each other, laughed with each other and encouraged each other. There was never a day I didn’t feel the support from those in camp and am so thankful for the many friendships made.

One of the most amazing days was riding into Jersey City that final day. It was an experience like no other. Escorted through three different jurisdictions, police cruisers closing down major interstates and intersections for us to ride straight through. It was hard to not feel like a celebrity but thinking how weird that was because all you were doing was riding your bike. Along the way we got tons of honks in support, people clapping and cheering us on, many not even necessarily knowing what we were about – us trying to throw out as many cards as possible - litterly, lol. It was so cool to ride into Liberty State Park and see the Statue of Liberty for the first time, then lining up along the water’s edge to finish the summer with dipping in our front tires into the Atlantic Ocean. Wow!

I want to end with saying thank you to this church. I want to thank you once again for your prayers for mine and Dirk’s safety this summer, and your prayers that I would be challenged and grow. I also want to thank all of you who sent encouragement notes my way at some point during those 9 weeks. Thanks as well to all of you who contributed towards the fundraising of the bike tour. The final tally from the summer is not exactly complete but at last tally it was somewhere near 2.2 million.

As I close though, I want to say that even though the tour is over, it is not the end. Not the end but rather the beginning. Poverty has not ended and so we must continue to find ways in how we can get involved, whether it be away on a missions trip or locally. But I challenge you all and encourage you all to find ways how you can make a difference. Check out how you can help those within our own community. It can be for an hour, a day or more often but unless we all come together and work at ending the cycle of poverty then how can it? Pray about it and ask God where you can be used today.

Thank you so much!

Continuing On...

(I would like to apologize for my lack of updating here. At times it was not the easiest to get internet access as you all likely heard and when there was, it didn't seem as important. By that time I was out of trying to keep things updated and rather just focused on the tour and community living. )

Wow, I never thought writing this first blog after stopping well over a month ago would be so hard. I have started writing numerous times and yet I still have yet to post anything.

I guess the best place is to give a bit of a quick update on whatever happened about my health with my knee.

First I have to say a great big THANK YOU to all those who were praying for me throughout this past summer, even when you didn’t know what was going on. I most definitely felt the prayers and I know they, along with God’s love and strength through me was helped me finish riding through the summer.

After my visit to the Sports Injury Therapist, I still had to take a few days off to recover from his therapy as well. Riding with the media crew for one day and riding with Betsy and Art in their SAG the next (Wed, July 30). I even had my own SAG water stop for 2 hours! Though I’ll admit I wondered if Betsy and Art (who had to go pick someone up) would ever come back for me J

I decided that once again I would start back in slow and so on Thursday, July 31 I rode with Walter in the RV to his SAG stop, which was 50km to our destination. The ride was absolutely amazing and I flew! Granted I also experienced the great tailwind everyone was riding with that day. I had my best time this day too even though I wasn’t even pushing that hard. I rode the 50km’s in 1 hr and 30min!

The next day I decided to ride about the same amount and rode with Julie this time to her SAG stop, once again 50km from the end. This was the day that I spotted that fire and wrote about it in the previous blog. This day as well had quite a massive headwind and even though I enjoyed myself I prayed for other cyclists to catch me that I could draft off of for a break. Unfortunately, I could tell I had overdone the ride that evening and once again had to take the Saturday into Nebraska off. It was fairly frustrating.

I didn’t start riding again till the following Tuesday, the section from Sioux City to Sioux Center. I rode with Betsy till she dropped me off once again at the 50km mark to the end. The beginning of the ride I was fairly sluggish and hooked up with Russel till our refreshment stop in Ireton. There had been a bit of a headwind so it was really helpful to have someone to draft off of now and then. After the stop I was feeling much better and left on my own to go at my own speed, expecting others to catch up eventually but I ended up picking up my speed and found myself flying into Dordt College, our stop for the night and also where I hoped a package would be waiting for me.

During the previous week, I had realized that the only way I was going to get the knee brace that I needed was to have my mom purchase it back home off of my Knee Therapist and have her FedEx it to me. So through the help of Erinn and Barb, my mom was able to send it to Barb’s house (which is right near Dordt) and thankfully it arrived on time!! I was set or so I hoped.

The next day was the first big 182km day. It was pouring out! Of course our first really big day of rain and it ends up on the longest day, lol. I decided since Tuesday’s ride went so well; I would get a ride in and start at the 50km mark and just ride as far as I could (plus a small part of me hoped the rain would be done by then, lol). Well, we got to the second refreshment stop and sure enough the rain hadn’t stopped and everyone there was drenched to the bone but in amazing spirits. I was really eager to get on the road so I put on all my rain gear and joined a great group of riders. I ended up riding with Nathan, Eritia, Katrina, Hilena, Joshua and Sarah (part of the time).

What an amazing day!! Definitely up there as one of my favourites. Riding in the rain was great, the weather was really perfect, everyone was laughing having a great time and my knees felt amazing with the new brace – granted I could feel where the knee cap was trying to pop out and the brace was keeping it in, so it was definitely doing it’s job. Things were going so well that I ended up even pushing it a bit and at one point raced up a hill at 40km/hr! It was exhilarating to be able to go at a higher speed once again. It was great being able to let others draft me for awhile instead of always the other way around.
In the end I ended up riding the rest of the day and rode 136km!!

The next day was also 182km’s but this time I decided to start right from the beginning to see if I would be able to do the whole day and if I couldn’t well then I’d just SAG it the rest of the way. But I was pretty determined. I left with Joshua trying to catch up with the group we were going to ride with but had already left. We caught them after a bit but found ourselves continuing on as we had been pacing ourselves at a great speed and were enjoying it so much we were not in the mood to slow down. The day turned into another great one and definitely another favourite for me. Would you believe I actually averaged 26.6km/hr! Though I will admit about 20km from the end my body finally gave out on me. Obviously I couldn’t go at this pace and distance forever. I had only ridden 150km in the past week and a half and now in the past 3 days I had ridden over 350km! My body began to rebel and we had to slow down quite dramatically. I was determined with only 20km’s left to make it in and what a reward when I did. Joshua and I went in search of an ice cream store but after not succeeding we bought a tub of ice cream and a bag of ice (for our knees) and headed back to camp to enjoy success. Would you believe we pretty much finished the entire tub between the 2 of us! Aaron Carpenter helped a bit but still! Lol.

The following day had a very large climb at the end that I didn’t even dare try after finding myself struggling for a fair amount of the ride and ended up riding 112 km of the 161km day. Still pretty happy with that.

From that point on, however, I was able to once again rejoin the riding portion in full. Thanks to all the prayers, encouragement, my knee brace and of course the all powerful and loving Lord I was able to complete every Km on, even the steep hills and long climbs the last few day! What a glorious gift.

I had promised myself that no matter what happened I would make sure I rode the last 2 weeks but in the end I was able to ride nearly the entire last 4 weeks! God is GREAT!
Obviously there were still some days that were more trying then others but everyone was experiencing that.

Well, that about wraps up the story (and questions) about my knee. Sorry it took so long for the update (which is now an essay :P).

I hope to continue writing about a few more Sea to Sea related items and I promise to not take another month to post them so if you are still in the need to read a cyclists blog, continue to check me out.