Grace to you and peace from God the Father through Christ Jesus the Lord with full understanding that TRUE PEACE = PEACE WITH GOD, and PEACE WITH GOD ONLY COMES THROUGH JESUS CHRIST (Romans 5:1-2).

We are now resting our weary bones in Platte, South Dakota. What was a quiet prairie town a couple of days ago is now flooded with hunters and “hunter wannabes.” Pheasant season opened yesterday. Truly, we are outsiders in this town amidst this subculture. A couple of times, we have had the displeasure of tasting ever so slightly what many blacks and other minorities have experienced in this nation in times past. Oh, how despicable! Nonetheless, it has been nice to hook up with Jamie’s father and to spend some time with him. He and his buddy, who are out here hunting, are renting out this basement for the week. In this pad, there is an extra bedroom, so he arranged for us to crash there as well. It has been nice, and the Lord has provided several opportunities for public proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

On Thursday morning, after a good night’s rest in the Crofton, Nebraska city park, I mounted the bike and again headed west. The scenery dropping down into the Missouri River Valley was quite pleasant, and in just 90 minutes, I had knocked out 28 miles. We grabbed an early lunch at a small café in Niobrara. I was able to share Christ with the waitress as well as three surveyors out on the street as I pedaled into town.

From there, the road became very hilly (a good warm-up for the upcoming Rockies). For a short while, it looked like a cold rain was brewing to the southwest. However, I prayed earnestly the Lord would intervene. Almost immediately, it seemed, the clouds broke up to reveal a powder blue sky. The temperatures climbed into the high 60’s. All praise to the Creator! Enroute to the next rendezvous with Jamie, the Lord gave me two more witnessing opportunities—a man stopped to see if I was lost while resting alongside the highway, and I stopped to offer assistance to a farmer who had a flat tire on his horse trailer. May the seeds of God’s Word be watered and give increase. Interestingly, the route took me through a small town named Monowi with a population of only TWO people. I was hoping to be able to share Christ with the entire town, but sadly, no one was around. Oh well.

***We were hoping to share the Gospel with the entire town, but no one was around.***

As Jamie waited for me in Spencer, just south of the South Dakota line, she went into a gas station to use the rest room. On her way out, she stopped to speak with the young lady behind the counter. As it turned out, Cary has a rare form of emphezema, and the doctor has only given her only a few years to live. Jamie was able to present Cary with the Gospel and implore her to take hold of everlasting life through Jesus Christ. When I came into town about a half hour later, I shared with a couple of people on the street and then pedaled up to our truck. Jamie shared with me about Cary, and after prayerful consideration, I decided to go inside the gas station and reiterate the truth, taking her a Bible. As I spoke with Cary, I explained that Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life. Whosoever believes in him, though he were dead, yet shall he live (John 11:25). She replied that she was not afraid to die. I responded, “You should be, for without Jesus Christ, you will perish in hell.” This caught her attention, and she accepted a New Testament along with an ardent plea: “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (II Corinthians 6:2). Cary, a rather young woman, made no profession of faith that day, but her face bespoke a moving conviction in her spirit. Was this the divine appointment, the reason that is, behind all the delays and inconveniences of the past few days? Please pray that God saves her soul through faith in Jesus Christ before she is whisked away from this earthly existence. It was no accident that we pedaled through Spencer.

As I again mounted the bicycle and started to pedal out of Spencer, the Lord quickly showed that He was not through with us in that town. The doors to a high school gym flung open just across the street from us, and a high school football team began making its way down the street toward the football field in full practice gear. This was no coincidence, and I had to act quickly. I pedaled down the street, dismounted the bike, and began preaching the Gospel as the young players moseyed by. The entire football team heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Many laughed, and some mocked; but I pray that at least one soul will ponder the things he heard and lay awake in bed seeking answers. May another water, and may God Almighty give the increase. Oh Lord, allow not the Evil One to steal the seeds that were scattered.

From Spencer, I busted out 20 more miles and called it a day (88 on the day). We packed up things and drove about 30 miles back east to Platte where me met up with father-in-law and his hunting buddy. All in all, ‘twas a good day in the service of the King of Kings.

***Packing it up at the Missouri River***

Lord willing, we shall be heading out again on Wednesday morning. The route will pick up where we left off on Highway 281/18 at the South Dakota line just west of the Missouri River. From there, it will be Highway 18 along the bottom of the state. This will take us to the Black Hills where we will turn north and clip off the northeastern corner of Wyoming. But alas, from this will come the stories and adventures of future days. Stay tuned . . .

For the Word of God and the Testimony of Jesus Christ,

Jesse & Jamie Boyd
Full Proof Gospel Ministries
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

a little piece of nebraska