So I've taken another Harley excursion. A journey more or less. It has become almost my routine thing over the last few weekends. Each trip has brought me somewhere new. Starting in Georgia, I have traveled to South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, and I am now currently in Florida. I believe I have now been to a total of 34 states, and although the sites and states have been beautiful, what I've really fallen in love with is strangers. 

This road trip started much like my other ones. I loaded up a back pack and hoped on the hog. I had somewhat of a plan, but I wasn't entirely sure what God had in store. I've come to realize that I'm just along for the ride, and I am simply a ship with open sails being blown by the wind and leading of the Holy Spirit. My first stop was Birmingham, Alabama. I was able to link up with a childhood friend of mine from Hawaii, and we enjoyed some southern bbq and it was awesome catching up with him. 

After leaving the restaurant in Alabama. I stopped for gas near the University of Alabama Birmingham. A college student that was filling up the air on his bicycle tires came up to me and asked me about my Harley. His name was Luke. I spoke with him for a few minutes about life and his goals and such, and then I asked bluntly asked him if I could pray for him. He stepped back, "why would you ask me that man?" he said. "Why would you want to do that for me?". I responded with a simple, "Easy bro, Jesus loves you and I do to". He asked me(and I am asking you) to pray for his babies mom. He didn't want her to overdose on heroine, he also asked me to pray that God would hook him up with a car so he could ditch his bike for some motorized transportation. So I prayed for him, asking God to heal Melissa, and to hook Luke up with a sick new ride! Luke thanked me and hoped on his bike and took off.

I turned back around to pump gas, and some dude rolls up in a black car bumping some rap music. I can hear the  rhymes from outside the car, "Send me I'll go, send me I'll go, here we go here we go". I recognized it as Lacrea!! The kid steps out of his car in an Army ROTC uniform and I walk up and say "what's up man, you're bumping Lacrea are you a Christian?". I tell him a little about me being from out of town and all, and I hand him one of my cards and tell him I'm going on the word race. He steps back putting his hand over his mouth, "No way dude!! I have a buddy who just got back from the world race." We end up talking for a bit and I have a chance to pray for him. This kid has humble written all over him, and I just ask God to set him above his peers in influence and responsibility. I prayed that God would make him a warrior, and a leader to his soldiers, and I asked God to bless everything that his hand touches. I would ask you to also pray with him, his name is Jeremy.

So after I fill up with gas I hit the road. God has placed in my heart to go to Meridian, Mississippi. Not sure why but I've never been to Mississippi so why not. On the way there I stop at a truck stop for some coffee, and I bust out my bible in the subway sandwich shop. A gentlemen sitting across from me look over and says, "you getting feed?". "Absolutely!" I respond, "Only on the good stuff". After talking with him and his wife, and telling them about my story I notice there is a bandage of some kind on his arm. I asked him if it's alright that I pray for his elbow? He said that'd be fine, so we did. Standing in the middle of Subway I began to call out to the Father and ask him for healing and blessings on this couple. I love feeling the presence of God, especially in the middle of stores and stuff ha ha Anyway we had a good prayer, and in leaving the guy handed me $10 for some reason. I used it for dinner. Looking back on it now, this is about the 7th or 8th person that has bought me a meal in the last week and a half….crazy.

So now I'm on to Meridian, Mississippi. Prior to getting to the truck stop and subway, God had whispered "Journey mans coffee stop" in my heart. I still don't know what that means but I couldn't get it out of my mind, and still can't. But about 2 hours later I arrive in Meridian. Not sure where I'll go, who I'll meet, or where I am sleeping. I wound up downtown listening to some live jazz music. Soothing for the soul for sure.

I ended the night at a "Books a million" enjoying a cup of cafe au lait, and reading a book. Not wanting to spend money on a hotel room, I just decided to head down the road and sleep in the bushes behind a truck stop. It wasn't as cold that night as usual, and where I ended up was actually quite comfy. Until i realized the next morning that I slept on a beer bottle lol No complaints, there are numerous people that slept in worse places then I did that night. Something God spoke to me prior to finding a nice spot to lay my head was "Bold as a drunk". If you've ever had liquid courage you know exactly what I am talking about. That is a completely separate blog, but I believe God is calling me out to be as bold as a drunk. Go ahead and laugh, drunks are fearless. Having been one I would know. They also talk to anyone, I want that sort of boldness in talking to people about Jesus!

(My harley at the back of the truck stop in nowhere Mississippi. Pictured is my poncho liner I slept with. I slept on the top of that little shelf in the background.)

Long story shorter, I arrive in Florida after enjoying an amazing tour of the WW2 battleship USS Alabama. I meet up with my cousin Vanessa who I haven't seen in years, and I finally get to meet her husband Kyle. We ended up ditching Vanessa last night and playing racquetball for 3 hours! Good times, I nailed his buddy with a ball and somehow managed to smack myself in the face….with my own racquet. That was funny, and painful!

Today we went to the mall and I met some guy named K-V in a outdoor store. The dudes a rhymer and musician and has the heart of a servant, a humble heart. (If you're reading this K-V it was a pleasure to meet you and pray with you today. God has a special place and plan for people with a heart of humility like yours) We also hit up sushi. If I must say, Kiku Hana Sushi in Fort Walton Beach, Florida is the best sushi I have ever had!! If you're ever down here, definitely hit that place up. Ask Mr. Miyagi(no joke that's his name) for the Louisiana roll…its cooked over a flame, and melts in your mouth. While we were heading out the door I spoke to Mr. Miyagi in Nihongo(Japanese). I can't remember much from the 2 years I took in High School, but I can say hello, tell people my name and do a self introduction. Anyway, Mr. Miyagi is a Christian at his restaurant they play worship music in Korean! After talking with him, he and his wife invited us to check out their Korean church tomorrow!! I guess it's the Korean thanksgiving or something, so after a service entirely in Korean(we'll have an English headset with a translator) we'll be throwing down on some kim chee and mochi!!! Stoked about that! Mr. Miyagi also asked if I was single LoL Yessir, and I plan on staying that way for at least a year and a half! Mr. Miyagi never changes, "(ahhhh) Mr. Miyagi have hope for you Daniel-san."

Tonight we attended their church here in Florida. The speaker was a gentleman who is taking over their "servolution" ministry. Basically their outreach ministry. The man is Gene Burroughs, and he's spent over 30 years in ministry most of his time was spent in the streets of San Francisco and Redding California. Everything I heard him speak tonight was just confirmation to me. He reminded me of an older….me. He gets bored easily and has ADD, he's a jack of all trades, does 100 things at once, and loses his train of thought often cause his brain goes a hundred miles an hour. Random people always come up and talk to him and he uses those opportunities to point them to Jesus! Sounds just like me, and I am learning to "embrace it" as God has told me to do. This guys heart though, that is something I desire. He loves Jesus, and he loves people. He's spent time sleeping in gutters with the homeless, he's feed the hungry, served the poor, he has spent time ministering to the gay community of San Francisco(something a lot of Christian men wouldn't do), he's brought people hope, and most importantly the love of Jesus. He challenged me tonight with loving people unconditionally, and truly loving Jesus. He brought us to John 8 and reminded us that as Christians we need to quit throwing stones at people, quit judging them for their sins, and in turn just love them.

"Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her." -John 8:7b

Gene encouraged me tonight. He shared numerous stories of healing and transformation in people that he's been able to bring hope to. Everyone needs hope, and everyone needs Jesus. I'm looking forward to meeting more people on my trip and telling them about Jesus. Speaking about that. I am meeting up with a guy in the morning about my Harley. This guy called me after seeing it with a for sale sign on it in front of the head shop(another divine appointment today). Anyway he's been looking for my exact bike for a while and hasn't been able to find a Harley street bob anywhere down here. I'm hoping he wants it, cause I believe God has put a lower number in my heart then what I told him I'm asking for it 🙂 I'd love to bless the socks off this guy tomorrow! We'll see what God orchestrates.

(Me on the Harley Florida style, hat, shades, shorts, and flip flops!)

 I'm excited for the next few days that I get to spend down here. I have no idea or plan on how I'm getting back, or when I'll be back in Georgia. But I'm thinking about hitch hiking back but we'll see what God has planned. I'll keep ya'll updated in a few days with what God has done in me and through me down here in Florida and wherever else I end up. I've come to the realization that this will be my life for the next year and a half and it honestly thrills me. New states, new countries, a few familiar faces, and some amazing strangers and God encounters are all on my forecast. I am looking forward to new places, and new things, but above all else I am looking forward to meeting new people. Receiving them in love with a listening ear, a warm heart, and the encouraging word of a stranger pointing them to his source of direction and hope. Stay tuned.  

“Christianity is one beggar telling another beggar where he found bread.”

                                                                               -D.T. Niles