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What's your connection to the Ride:Well Tour?

Cross-Country Cyclist, Advocate, Volunteer, Friend of Blood:Water, Friend of Venture Expeditions, Friend of a Rider, Other

About Me:

I have been volunteering with Blood:Water for several years, including as a part of the support team for the 2008 tour. This year, I'm looking forward to experiencing the tour from a different perspective: on a bike!

I call South Dakota home, though I have been a resident of Chicago over the past three years while in Seminary. Days after graduation I was accepted as a Mission Intern with The United Methodist Church - which means as of September, I will be moving abroad and beginning a 3-year journey of mission and ministry! It has indeed been a wild ride, and I cannot wait to see what is yet to come!

I have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bicycle across America to raise funds and awareness for Blood:Water Mission, an organization that helps underdeveloped communities in Africa establish clean-water wells, latrines, and health clinics. We will be stopping in communities and churches to talk about the water and blood crises in Africa and enlist people in active support of Blood:Water Mission.

Would you please consider sacrificing financially as I sacrifice physically for this cause? In order to go I need to raise $4,895. I will meet my fundraising goal, if 100 of my friends and/or family donate $50 each.

Jen Tyler's Blog

Friends, I write to you today from South Africa, my new home and placement as a United Methodist Mis…

Friends, I write to you today from South Africa, my new home and placement as a United Methodist Missionary. Its been a while since I've visited here, but I wanted to share with you a story with a joyful about how I got here - which Ride:Well played an unexpected role in. I am here for 18months with two other young women from the US.

We had several struggles getting our long-term visas to South Africa, as many last-minute requests were made by the Consulate before granting them. While these cha… Continue

Posted on October 20, 2009 at 7:15am — 1 Comment

Coming Home

This summer, as it turns out, flew by.

I cannot begin to describe it. I have only begun to process it. There are a few things I know for sure, a lot of questions that remain heavy in the air, and even more things that I will surely continue to learn as I process over the next weeks, months, perhaps even years. This is a pattern I have been blessed with in my life. A pattern of incredible opportunities and experiences I have seized, to return from them a changed and more whole person, yet also b… Continue

Posted on August 19, 2009 at 10:00am — 4 Comments

Maintaining Focus

Sometimes, its the "easy" days that are so incredibly difficult.

We've come nearly 1300 miles on our bikes over the last 3 weeks - that is, in 16 days of actual cycling (we've had a few days off). We've been through a lot in that time. Many of us have taken small falls, one even resulted in an ER visit and a few days off, but nothing too serious (in hindsight). We've had broken bikes, mysterious allergy problems, injuries, and sicknesses. We've been exhausted every day and grateful for those su… Continue

Posted on July 3, 2009 at 4:30pm — 3 Comments

Recapping Week 1 - Part 2

Wednesday we started sore, but I was still on a high from the previous day’s crazy adventure – though I have to admit it was a little discouraging when 15 miles in we hit a hill with a 10%grade and we’d been told it was going to be “all flat all day.” We knocked it out, though, and the rest of the day was pretty flat. Unfortunately, I paid for the previous day’s climbs, and my back wouldn’t forgive me for it. I made it through, but it was even harder than the previous day of mountains – bodies c… Continue

Posted on June 22, 2009 at 6:04pm — 2 Comments

A Recap of Week 1 - Part 1

For the third day in a row, I woke up and had to ask what day it is today. They all run together – so much happens each day, its hard to believe it has only been one week since we began riding. Yet it is also hard to believe the first week is already over and we are already in Phoenix. So basically, I live in a constant state of confusion.

Countless firsts have occurred since I last wrote. We had our first team ride on Saturday.

Sunday we had our first official day on tour, and left from a bea… Continue

Posted on June 22, 2009 at 10:30am — 3 Comments

Comment Wall (30 comments)

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At 2:25am on May 27, 2009, Lyndsey Lovelady said…: Girl, I got this.
I have too much dirt on him.
Blackmail is the key :)
He WILL be there if I have to drag him there by his strategically styled wavy brunette locks.
haha.
Can't wait to see you guys but this time, I want a closet pic with the team. :)

At 1:41am on May 22, 2009, Lyndsey Lovelady said…: Actually I think I've convinced Mr. Williams to make the trek to Nashville with me when you guys ride through that weekend...
Get excited :)

At 5:23pm on April 30, 2009, Lyndsey Lovelady said…: Hey girl!
Yes ma'am I certainly am planning to do just that and this time, I won't be so smug about my java preference ;)
I'm actually planning to ride in the Cow Creek Dallas ride in June and am pumped!
How have you been honey?
-Lovelady

At 8:14pm on April 20, 2009, Anthony said…: totally! i posted a second blog, i dont need surgery! how cool is that?! and i got the ok to ride this summer. thanks for the prayer juice

At 4:22pm on March 30, 2009, Erik Pelttari said…: There are lots of nice quiet country roads with nothing but farms as far as you can see. I usually try and take long rides on Sundays and I'd love to have someone to ride with if you want to come up. I live real near the metra stop so let me know.

At 1:54pm on March 30, 2009, Sara Ellingsworth said…: Thanks!!
I'm not quite sure of the route, but i know that we're riding through the bad lands. We are usually riding about 75 miles a day, but some days we have about 40 miles and some days we have like 90 miles.
We have about 15 riders on our team and a support person for every rider. So, about 30 people on the team. The support person is there to encourage and to make meals for us and basically, be our support! =]
If you would REALLY like to know the route, you could ask Zach Farber. He's the one that's really running the show. =]

At 1:25pm on March 27, 2009, Andy said…: I saw you contacted me for chat. I'll be on 'till 5 if you'd like to say hello!

At 1:21pm on March 27, 2009, Andy said…: Yep, your pic is on the homepage now.

At 5:47pm on March 25, 2009, Erik Pelttari said…: Hey I'm out in Woodstock Illinois, if you and Jacob get together to ride let me know.

At 11:12am on March 24, 2009, Jacob Childerson said…: if i snag a free weekend i'd love to get up there and get out with someone else from the team, where in the Chicago area are you?

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