We're really doing it, guys. We're really doing it.

From the Oregon Trail: (Written on the 14th?)

Plateaus are magnificent. As we drove along beside miles and miles of sculpted ridges I wondered how these geologic structures could be possible. Earthquake? Enormous ancient rivers? Hopi Indians who hired Mexicans for their cheap labor?

We are on our third day of travel with 8 states already under our belts. We stopped last night in Oklahoma City and were really quite impressed with the place. The hotel we stayed at was afforded to us by my benevolent mother and was really quiet nice. Importantly, it provided free wireless internet which we took advantage of this morning until nearly noon. Before heading out of town we drove around a bit and spent some time at the memorial of the Oklahoma City Bombing. It was very beautiful and moving.

To jump back to the previous day; we drove. We stayed the night with Tim Dixon in Oxford, Mississippi. Tim showed us around the town since Rebecca had not been there before. I must say, Tim is a good host and will show you a good time if you are stopping in North Mississippi. A note on Oxford: the 2008 Presidential debate is being held there. The significance of this city as the location of the debate is important because of the deep seeded racism and segregation that is still prevalent there. So why Oxford? Lots of old money. There are more than a half dozen billionaires residing within the city limits of Oxford (says our host). You would never know it except for the near absence of black people. Good luck to the debaters especially the black ones.

I have never that I can remember experienced openness around me like out here driving in the Southwest. The walls of red striped rock rise up on both sides of us. Formations seem miles away yet creep up strikingly close. I can imagine looking up to the ledge of any one of these plateaus and seeing a small band of indian warriors surveying the land before them praying stoney faced for a successful hunt.
Tonight we will end our day's trek in Albuquerque, and begin again in the morning heading for none other than the Grand Canyon itself.

Up and Running

It has taken way too long to get this blog even set up. Do to the delay, there is a good deal of filling in to be done to bring you up to speed with what has been going on. So we will quickly work from the beginning to the present.

Rebecca and I quit our jobs in Athens, Georgia in July in order to take a few months to work on organic farms in the Pacific Northwest through a network called WWOOF (an acronym for either Willing Workers On Organic Farms or World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms). These farms can range in activities from producing wine, to sheering sheep, to self-sustained hippie communes, to a typical farm with plants and animals. Though there is rarely any monetary pay for the work of "WWOOFers", hosts provide most meals and shelter. Shelter is most of the time a tent, restored trailer or barn, tree house, teepee, or an extra room in the house.

During our time WWOOFing around, we intend to gain experience through meeting and interacting with people of different cultures. We also hope to learn skills and knowledge that apply to the type of work we may be doing, and to grow as a Gospel-centered couple encountering truths of the Word of God continually revealed in our marriage, exemplified through interactions with men and women across the nation, and magnificently discovered in the wonder and varied beauty of creation.

Certainly, there are many people who may believe what Rebecca and I are doing is foolish, ridiculous, and a waste of time and money. They may be right. However, we are encouraged by our families and friends who have pressed us to believe we would be foolish and wasting time and money if we did not take this time to go, grow, and explore.

So far we are excited and having an incredible if not surreal time. It is strange to be in a place you would have never imagined actually encountering first hand. Pray for our safety as we travel. Thanks for caring.