December 24, 1993

CHRISTMAS EVE

Today's ride was really rough from Willcox, AZ. I wasn't sure that I would have made it because my back tire was really worn. I needed to get it replaced somehow but funds were not really available. Another problem was that tomorrow would be Christmas.

I got off Bus. INT. 10 somehow and found myself in the area around the University of Arizona. I looked around for a bicycle shop. I was quite fortunate in finding a bike shop open even though it was around four in the afternoon. I went inside hoping that maybe the manager might have a tire my size that he was throwing out which might hold me until I get back into California. The owner wasn't sure if he had any but he would go and check. I was really surprised that in about five minutes he came back with two tires that looked almost new and one of them even had a tube in it. Since the manager was getting to close the shop, I went outside to put the tires on the bike. This was really great and I thanked ADONAI for this blessing.

From the bike shop, I found my way to the northern edge of downtown Tuscon. I stopped at a Baptist church for the candlelight service. Before the service started, a parishioner slipped me four dollars and some Christmas cookies. The service went okay but nothing happened afterwards. The minister didn't have any idea where I could stay for the night. This was sort of puzzling because through an open door of a room in the front foyer was a bed. I had hoped that maybe I would have been able to use this room but there wasn't any room at this Inn of the L-RD.

Somebody told me about the Salvation Army shelter. When I got there, I was told that they were actually full but some people there found some room for me in another section. As a Christmas gift, I was given some candy and a new pair of thick socks. That was really great.