August 25, 2024. Iroquois to Watseka, Illinois.

    As there wasn't a church any longer in Iroquois, we had looked online for churches in Watseka, about 12 miles away, and noted 2 churches that had 9 am services. One of those also had a 10:45 am service. So we figured if we didn't make it in time for a 9:00 service, we had the 10:45 as backup. We woke up with no alarm and because we crossed into the central time zone yesterday, the time change worked in our favor for biking to Watseka and arriving before 9:00. We went to Calvary Lutheran Church, and Kay especially appreciated the service as this is a style she grew up with. The message was about how tough times happen and God is still with us.

   When the pastor found out we were bicyclists, he took us across the parking lot to show us something, and there in his garage was a quadricycle. He and his wife have four young children and they got that plus a trailer made by the same company so that they could bicycle as a family. The quadricycle has two seats for the adults with two child seats behind them. The attachment has 2 seats for the two older kids to sit side-by-side with each having a set of pedals. It's a little bit wider than a trike and each person has an independent transmission so each of the 4 is contributing but can pedal at their own speed and effort. We had fun taking it for a spin around the block.

                                                             

    Due to where housing was available (and where it wasn't) for the last few days of our trip, we had planned to take the rest of the day off and stay in town. Since we didn't have anything particular we had planned to do, we decided to go to the other church with the 10:45 service which was about a mile and a half away. The sermon at Trinity Church was given by a visiting missionary, and was about participation, no matter where we are in our Christian life. Jesus sent out the 12 disciples early in his ministry, even though they probably didn't feel ready to drive out demons and heal the sick but Jesus used it as a preparing and growing experience for them. Sometimes we too just need to go even though we don't feel ready or fully trained. It's okay to struggle and try different things as we work for God's Kingdom.

   During the service it was announced that whoever wanted to hear more about the missionary couple's work could stay after the service for a pizza lunch and hear them speak further. So we decided to stay for that, too! We did want to hear more and the lunch--well, mention food to a bicyclist? The couple has worked in various countries over the years of their ministry, most recently training people in Spain, and have been looking at where God wants them to serve for the final years of their work. He appears to be directing them to make a change to an opportunity in a new country, but one in which they already know the language. It was very interesting to hear about their work. We also sat with a couple who are developing a ministry to truckers. As we talked to various people afterwards, we met a young man who became a Christian not too long ago who was interested in bicycling and wanted to try Kay's recumbent. However it was too short for him to pedal, though he at least got to sit on it. We found out he is a short-haul truck driver. He invited us to go to the Hispanic service that evening, also connected with Trinity, but in Gilman 15 miles away; he said he'd give us a ride. We checked in at the hotel, took a nap and then later on, Mario picked us up. The service was a time of praise and worship music in both Spanish and English, testimony and prayers for healing. A very worshipful day and it just felt good to participate in all the different styles of worship.

.                Mario and his family