Trip to Mexico yields new Sea to Sea friendships

They say what happens in Mexico is supposed to stay in Mexico. But this story is too good to leave there, and besides, nothing ever really just stays in Mexico anyhow.

Shelley and I, along with several friends from Chilliwack, went to Mexico for a little holiday in January and ended up meeting a wonderful couple from New Jersey, Fred and Ruth Everett.

Our second last night there was cool and wet and the next morning it was still drizzling a little. As our restaurant always had the A/C on full blast, we usually ate outside on the patio, but because of the morning drizzle, we figured we would eat inside the restaurant this time. Knowing it would be cold in there I wore my Dordt College sweatshirt.

We were barely through the restaurant door when a voice called out "Dordt College!" It was a couple seated at a table right by the entrance. I went over to them to see what they knew of Dordt College. Well, their pastor had been a student there. "What church are you from?" I asked. "Unity CRC in New Jersey" they said.

I told them that I would be cycling to New Jersey next summer as a part of the Sea to Sea bike tour and that we would be ending by the Statue of Liberty. Fred said that was only about a half an hour from where they lived! Amazing! Fred and Ruth had just learned a little about the tour after reading the Banner article about it. As a result of our meeting, they are now quite well acquainted with the Sea to Sea bike tour and we look forward to meeting them at the end of the tour. (Shelley hopes to fly out to NJ for the finish and a look at NYC.)

Our meeting Fred and Ruth was certainly one of the highlights of our trip. A very heart warming experience and a blessing from God for sure. As Fred put it "This meeting was providence. We never sit by the front door at the restaurant, and I (Fred) had even said to Ruth, 'What are we sitting here for? It's too busy by the front door.' Nothing happens by chance, God puts us where He wants us." (my quotes may be off a little, but catch the general drift) And I don't usually wear a sweatshirt in Mexico, let alone one that says Dordt College. Yes, that's providence alright.

So we left Mexico with a real Sea to Sea experience, with us living at one end of the continent and the Everett's at the other. Who would've planned such a meeting? Fred and Ruth, may God be with you 'til we meet again!