***Huginnin Cove at Sunset, Isle Royale National Park***

Greetings in the name of God and our Saviour, Jesus Christ, who was raised from the dead, thus abolishing death and bringing life and immortality to light through the Gospel (II Timothy 1:10), whereunto I am appointed a PREACHER.

It has been almost a week since I penned our last report, and some of you may be wondering what has become of us. Well, I am sitting in the front seat of my truck typing this update on Sunday night, October 5th in International Falls, Minnesota. Hopefully, I can find a library tomorrow so I can send it out. Having biked 72 miles today, we are camping at an RV Park right in International Falls (the only campground around). It was real cheap, had nice hot showers; and I was able to share the Gospel with Captain Arnold.

Let me go back and recap the past week. After sending out the last newsletter on Monday afternoon, Jamie and I went back to Bald Eagle Cabin where she fixed dinner for us, Frank Bauer (the guy watering his flowers back in Monroe, Ohio), and Mr. Schlosser (Frank’s father-in-law). Frank and I also went on a nice hike back into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness to the top of Old Baldy. Being in the northern Minnesota, Old Baldy was definitely NOT the type mountain I am accustomed to. Nevertheless, it was a hill, and the view was nice. The Fall colors are ablaze. Late Monday night, I took a rowboat out into Burntside Lake where I was able to spend some quality time in prayer with the Most High.

***The Summit of Old Baldy outside Ely, Minnesota***

Jamie and I spent all of Tuesday together in restful contemplation. First, we canoed out to Du Nord Island on Burntside Lake where it began to snow on us. By the grace of God, we got back to shore just before the wind really picked up and the water got choppy. Otherwise, we might have been swimming in the ice cold water. Later, we went into Ely where we checked out the International Wolf Center and enjoyed dinner at a quaint little café. This chain of events allowed for a couple of witnessing opportunities in town. One man, in particular, was very belligerent. There seems to be a strange breed of “Pre-Vatican II Catholics” up here. True, such nonconformists do not embrace some of the liberal changes made at this Council, but they are also adamant that the ONLY way to heaven is through the Roman Catholic Church (In truth, if there are born again Roman Catholics, they are saved in SPITE of their religion and not because of it). This man was apparently one of these. As soon as I mentioned the Gospel of Jesus Christ and offered him a tract, he went into a tirade about how the true revelation comes through the Roman Catholic Church and not the Bible. He tried to shove the tract back in my face, and I replied, “I suggest you read it, for if you die without Jesus Christ, you will perish in hell.” He then boasted arrogantly that I was the one going to hell because the way to heaven is only through the RCC. He threw the tract in the garbage can. As I lifted it out of the trash, I recalled I John 4:3 and Revelation 17 to my mind and thereby ended the conversation: “Sir, the church of which you speak reflects not the spirit of Christ, but that of antichrist.” Martin Luther, John Calvin, Ulrich Zwingli, the Dutch Reformers, the Waldensians, the Anabaptists, the Lollards, William Tyndale, Roger Williams, and many of the Founding Fathers of the United States (as clearly shown by their harsh reaction to Britain’s Quebec Act) would most certainly agree. This encounter was somewhat depressing, but our spirits were quickly lifted when we beheld a majestic bald eagle on the side of the road enroute to our cabin. That night, the snow continued to fall, and fall, and fall. People around Ely say that it usually does not snow in September. Is this a foreboding sign of a bitter cold and snowy winter? We pray not!

At 4:00am on Wednesday morning, Frank and I drove 150 miles out to Grand Portage, Minnesota where we hoped to catch a boat to Isle Royale National Park. I am a National Park buff of sorts, and I could not pass up this opportunity. It would be my 41st of the 57 National Parks, and Isle Royale is the least visited and one of the most desolate. You have to be totally self-sufficient on the island. I really wanted Jamie to go with me, but she was nervous about the boat ride. Being pregnant, the urge to puke would be all the more present (Later, I would find out that her concerns were definitely legitimate). So, she decided to stay back and have one of those “do nothing” kind of days in the cozy log cabin. I was so thankful that Frank decided to accompany me. The thought of camping alone on a completely wild and deserted island in the middle of Lake Superior was somewhat troubling. Anyway, we headed to Grand Portage early that morning with a thin layer of snow on the road in places. About 40 miles outside of Ely, as I came around a curve, I completely lost control of the truck. As we were doing 360-degree spins and heading straight for a huge highway sign, Frank cried out, “Oh Jesus, please help us.” Immediately, it was as if the Lord’s hand gently slid the truck out of the sign’s path and placed it in a small corridor where the roadside ditch flattened out. We came to a stop unhurt and undamaged. As I reminisce on this experience, I shudder. If not the huge sign (which seemed destined to total the truck), it could have been the large drop-off on the left hand shoulder. Also, had there been any oncoming traffic, the results could have been disastrous. All praise to Jesus Christ, our shield and the horn of our salvation. For those of you who daily pray for our safety on this journey, your prayers were answered in a miraculous way. After we took a couple of deep breaths and thanked God, the drive continued without trouble. By the time the sun was up, much of the snow was gone.

The 2-hour boat ride out to Isle Royale was nothing short of vomit-inducing. High winds and big swells had both of us turning green early on. I was hanging my head off the back of the boat thanking God that Jamie had opted to stay back at the cabin. She would have been miserable. All sickness dissipated, however, when we stepped off into the thick forest of Isle Royale and began the 4-mile hike out to Huginnin Cove on the north shore. Isle Royale has a huge population of moose and several wolf packs roaming the 45-mile long island. Our hopes for seeing wildlife were high. At Huginnin Cove, we found a choice campsite right on the water. Mysteriously, it was shielded from the wind. The weather was very cold. We spent the afternoon tracking moose, napping, hiking, fellowshipping, and praying. That night, as we huddled around a small fire on the beach, Frank and I enjoyed an amazing time of prayer, Scripture reading, and iron sharpening iron. When I think back upon the circumstances that brought this dear Christian brother into my life, I marvel. Who would have ever thought that I was staring at my Isle Royale partner back in that driveway in Monroe, Ohio? It all goes back to that divine encounter with Mark Wright in Roanoke, Virginia. I am so thankful that we overslept that morning and pressed the snooze button on the alarm clock far too many times.

***A Sweet and Secluded Campsite at Huginnin Cove on Isle Royale***

After a wonderful night’s rest in the wilderness, Frank and I hiked back to the boat dock on Thursday morning. Isle Royale was a special chapter in this journey. It was a much-needed time of intimacy with the Creator. The return boat ride was ten times worse. Six and seven foot swells had the boat tipping every which way. I was almost sure we would capsize. Several times, the craft actually came completely out of the water. Needless to say, much of the two hours was spent in prayer. As we drove back to Ely, we stopped in a little town called Grand Marais for some grub. There, at a small café, I met Lori—a sister in Christ who was greatly encouraged by our ministry. After a good conversation, I went out to the truck to wait on Frank who was on the phone. Several minutes later, Lori ran out to the truck and offered a small financial contribution toward Coast to Coast 2003. The Lord’s blessings are amazing, often unexpected, and abundant. All praise to the Most High!

That night, Frank and Mr. Schlosser took Jamie and me out to a nice dinner. We were so grateful. I was also thankful that Mr. Schlosser looked out for Jamie like a grandfather while I was away. He took her into town, Jamie fixed him dinner, and they kept one another company. Thanks Al; your kind heart was a blessing to us all week. When Jamie and I got back to Bald Eagle Cabin late that evening, we were greeted by an awesome care package that Debbie Bauer (Frank’s wife) had mailed to us from Ohio. We stand in awe before God’s abundant goodness.

Friday was spent packing things back into the truck and trailer. We had to be out of the cabin by that afternoon because a group was coming in for the weekend. We decided to hang around Ely, however, until Saturday morning (I was waiting for a package to come in on Saturday delivery). So, we transplanted our stuff about a mile down the road to this really secluded cabin where Frank and Mr. Schlosser were staying for the week. They let us crash with them That night, they insisted upon taking us out to another incredible dinner (These two men are some of the most giving Christians that I have ever met, and they give cheerfully. I was convicted and spiritually edified by their example). We enjoyed sweet fellowship with our new-found friends late into the evening.

On Saturday morning, Frank and Mr. Schlosser headed back to Ohio, and we prepared to resume the bicycle trek. After sharing breakfast together, we parted ways. The experience was bittersweet. Inevitably, the joyful experiences of Christian fellowship on this journey will lead to the sad experiences of parting. ‘Tis good that we are mere pilgrims upon this fallen earth and that true believers never have to say farewell fully and finally. Frank, many thanks for the incredible joy that you brought into our lives last week. When we pulled into Ely, we were both burned out. Your presence and support helped to reenergize our spirits for the next leg. May God bless you and your lovely wife abundantly. Our divine encounter back in Monroe was about more than a place for Jamie and I to stay in Ely, Minnesota. It was about the Lord sending us three special friends. By God’s grace, our paths will cross again somewhere along this earthly pilgrimage.

***Bidding Farewell to Frank & Mr. Schlosser in downtown Ely***

Before leaving Ely, Jamie and I did some laundry and spent a few hours at the home of Pastor Bob Dalberg waiting for that package to come. The package never came. I was promised Saturday delivery (Performance had messed up an order for winter bicycling gear shipped to me earlier in the week, and they had promised to remedy the situation with an overnight Saturday delivery), but we discovered later that FedEx does not deliver to Ely on Saturdays. So, we had to leave it behind to be shipped back. This delay, though frustrating, allowed for some sweet fellowship with the Dalbergs. As I sat and listened to some of Pastor Bob’s life stories and ministry tribulations, I realized that I was sitting before a man whose uncompromising stand upon the Word of God meant far more to him than a pay check, a ministry position, or his reputation. Nowadays, such is a rare breed. Needless to say, I was incredibly encouraged.

***Last Moments of Fellowship with the Dalbergs***

Around 1:00pm, we left Ely behind, practically in tears. To all of you who gave of yourselves in one way or another so as to make our stay in Ely such a pleasant time of rest and respite, many thanks. Your willingness to reach out to a traveling evangelist and his wife, whom you knew not from Adam, will undoubtedly be rewarded by the Most High. Your efforts make you fellowhelpers to the truth we proclaim (III John 1:5-9). We will always remember Ely as a special chapter in this long epic.

The rest of Saturday was spent pedaling 48 miles to Cook, MN where we camped on this grassy spot for the night. At 4:21 pm, I hit 1500 miles! All praise to God. Enroute to Cook, I was able to witness to this road construction flagman, and Jamie shared Christ with a motel manager. Saturday night was very cold—in the 20s. We quickly cooked up some canned ravioli and climbed into our down sleeping bags.

Sunday morning, we awoke to frost all over the inside of the camper shell. However, with the rising of the sun, the temperatures quickly climbed. The day was spent pedaling 71 miles to International Falls, Minnesota, right on the Canadian border. Almighty God gave us several good opportunities to share the Gospel this Lord’s Day. I specifically call to remembrance two teenage boys who seemed very open and grateful as I presented them with Gospel tracts in the parking lot of this office building where I was taking a rest. May the Word of the Lord work effectually in their hearts unto everlasting life. I also pedaled SLOWLY by a group of hunters alongside the highway, preaching a short Gospel message from my bicycle. The reaction was hostile, but I pray that they will lay awake in bed this night pondering the words of truth that were proclaimed. The temperatures climbed into the 50’s today, and there was not a cloud in the sky. The forecast for the rest of the week is incredible. Warm temperatures in the nation’s icebox—Praise the Lord!

***I finally made it to International Falls, what they call the nation’s Icebox.***

Tomorrow, I pedal into Canada along a bicycle route that will bring us back into Minnesota, probably on Tuesday. Please pray that the Lord provides abundant opportunities to proclaim his Word. Thanks everyone for your prayers. They are being answered daily.

Until next time, we are most affectionately yours in the service of Christ Jesus, King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Jesse & Jamie Boyd
Full Proof Gospel Ministries
Matthew 16:24-25

P.S. I found a library in International Falls, MN this morning. As I pedaled over here, I was able to hand out several tracts on the street. I had a real positive witnessing encounter with a black Muslim. He agreed to read the tract. Please pray that God removes the scales from his spiritual eyes. Well, I must go. I now cross into Canada.

ely to international falls