Day 9: day off in Apache Jct

Since I have the day off I thought I would share some of the legend of Bob Davenport, the founder of Wandering Wheels and affectionately called 'Coach'. Bob grew up in a very dysfunctional home but was athletically gifted and he received an athletic scholarship to play football at UCLA where he starred, being named All American on the team that won the national championship. It was there were he became 'born again', mentored by Bill Brite the founder of Campus Crusade for Christ. Bob became an inspirational speaker, testifying to how one can combine athletic toughness and follow one's faith, so, though recruited by the NFL, he felt he had to set an example so instead played in the Canadian league since they did not play on Sundays in the 50,s. He became football coach at Taylor University in Upland, IN where he still lives (when not on the road). In the 60's he felt called to work at a summer camp and saw the potential of working with youth. He was challenged to devise a way to occupy some teenage boys who tended to get mischevious during the summer so he conceived of a 1K mi bike ride along the Mississippi. One mother said, when dropping her son off,'Bring him home changed or bring him back dead'. Along the ride the kids had to chip in to help with chores and had to do their own laundry and were shocked to find their clothes had turned pink when they had dumped everything in at once. After that trip that kid's mom knew something had changed when he thanked her for doing his laundry. In 1966 Bob lead the first cross-country ride and Wandering Wheels was born. Initially begun as a mission to teenage boys it eventually included girls and the age range broadened. Earlier trips proceeded on faith as the truck driver would drive to the day's destination and knock on school and church doors asking if the could provide a roof over the heads of perhaps 45 or more kids. After some years these facilities began to look foreward to hosting these groups. Wheels always leaves the place cleaner, bringing along their own vacuum and replenishing toilet paper and paper towels. Some churches feed us, often joined by church members. Some even entertain us with a home-grown talent show and we are encouraged to join in. Spending 6 wks together engenders some good fellowship and new freindships and I can already tell we have a great group who are quick to help each other.