by Andrew Sharp

The move from the old SEND house to the Rosedale International Center meant saying goodbye to one community and plugging into a new one. As part of the effort to make connections in the Shepard community, SEND staff and interns spent some time helping out at the Shepard Community Association’s annual Family Day on August 21, an event that featured a drumline, a petting zoo, face painting, and more.

SEND staff helped set up and serve a cookout-style meal to people from the neighborhood. RIC Center Coordinator Bob Stauffer said that while they weren’t doing anything extraordinary, it was a way to make connections in the community—to “rub shoulders and show that we care.”

“A few of us got to [join in with] the community steppers and it was just a good time of getting to know people out in the community,” SEND staffer Austin Beachy said.

Bob said it was refreshing to see all the families at the event and the strong sense of community that was evident.

Posted by RMM Blog Administrator at 04:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

by Carolyn Beachy

Ride For Missions means:

• afternoon discussions about heaven in the motel lobby after the day’s ride
• crowding bikes, riders, and luggage into the motel elevator
• major decision making about where to eat after the day’s ride
• using bicycle manners and terms, such as
  • “car back” – car coming from behind
  • “car up” – car coming toward you
  • “pace line” – single file line of riders
  • “domestique” – the first rider in a pace line, who bucks the wind
  • “drafter” – the rider(s) behind the “domestique” who benefit(s) from the draft he or she creates
  • “bonk” – what a rider does when he runs out of energy
  • “tandem” – a bicycle built for two riders
  • “stoker” – the rider on the back of a tandem
  • “SAG (support and gear) wagon” – the vehicle always ready to pick up and/or help riders if they need it
    • “recumbent”– a bicycle with a lawn chair seat and long low frame
    • “clipless pedals”—pedals that require shoes that attach to them
    • hand signs indicating gravel, rumble strips, bumps, pot holes, railroad tracks, left and right turns, stopping at crossings, going straight, etc.
    • verbal indication of passing on left or right
    • taking a break for water and laughing heartily at free-flowing jokes
      
    • carrying high-energy food to eat between breaks
      
    • applying sun screen and finding out how quickly it becomes ineffective
      
    • developing tan lines from jerseys, shorts, helmets, sunglasses (“raccoon eyes”), biking sandals, gloves, and wrinkly elbows
      
    • bloodshot eyes from salty sweat and/or sun
      
    • drinking water, water, water, water, water
      
    • depending on and enjoying food on a whole new level
      
    • depending on and enjoying showers on a whole new level
      
    • being happy to find an available restroom
      
    • needing to carefully pay attention to surroundings
      
    • having the equipment to fix a flat tire
      
    • having a “tattoo” (chain marking) on your leg
      
    • finding props for your bike at breaks or laying it down carefully
      
    • a continual concern for safety
      
    • R-est F-ollowing M-isery , or
      
    • R-espite F-rom M-onotony, or
      
    • R-eady F-or M-inistry, or
      
    • R-eally F-unny M-ennonites, or
      
    • R-osedale F-inds M-oney
      
    • feeling unity with the riders because of a common goal – missions
      
    • meaningful devotions each evening
      
    • praying together
      
    • feeling accomplished for training and riding hard, and already considering next year’s ride

      Posted by RMM Blog Administrator at 09:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

THANK YOU to those of you who chose to give support to the 2010 Missions Day Offering.

2010 goal for the Missions Day Offering: $440,000

Pledges and gifts as of August 5, 2010: $262,000

The Offering in recent years has been about $240,000, so while we are still trying to reach our goal, we are very grateful for all the support so far. In particular, the offering at the Missions Day program at CMC’s Annual Conference was higher than usual: about $77,000.
 
The annual Ride for Missions set a new high mark this year with $52,000 raised (about $45,000 after expenses)!
 
Contributions toward the Missions Day Offering continue throughout the year, so any gifts we receive by December 31 earmarked for the Missions Day Offering will bring us even closer to the goal.

Click here, if you would like to give to to Missions Day Offering.

Posted by RMM Blog Administrator at 06:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)