Summer on Two Wheels

Well, if you are reading this, you are part of the select few. You are like my Navy Seals.

You may have noticed that I changed the name from "Blake and Stout Out and About" to "Grace upon Grace." I didn't want to decieve you. Stout is not with me on this little adventure. She's home, probably laying in the sun, and chewing grass. We'll have some skype dates every now and again. But for now, we are apart, and that's hard on me.

"Grace upon Grace" was selected after reading John 1:16 on the airplane yesterday. I just like grace. I like the idea of it, the practice of it, and the reality it offers for life.

So I am in beautiful Salt Lake City. It is absolutely beautiful. There are snow capped mountains literally in my backyard. And everywhere else you go is green and clean.

So I started my adventure with Backroads this morning. I'm living in a condo with seven other new leaders from all over the country. There are 18 leaders in all for our training. Today, we started by doing a 20 mile ride through the hills followed by a picnic lunch. Then we went to the warehouse and learned about the facility. Over the next week we'll learn how to fix everything on a bike, drive a passenger van with a trailor, and learn everything about leading trips., Next Monday we leave for a 5 day "mock trip" from Bryce to Zion. Then we have a couple days of testing and we are off.

We'll find out the location where we will be leading a week from this Sunday. It looks like new leaders spend the whole summer in one location. I'm holding out for Ireland, but I'm not holding my breath. They place you more based off of your availability. I'm hoping that since I have an open schedule that will help me. We'll see, though. I'm excited and, like everyone else, can't wait to find out where I'm going.

I'll try to update this more often than usual. Feel free to call or email if you have questions.

I would ask that you pray for a couple things:

1.) Humility in learning and interacting with others

2) Grace in interacting with others who don't share my convictions

3.) Space to spend time with God and self. We have a busy schedule and no coffee shops nearby :(

Thanks!

Grace and Peace,
Blake