Wrights On A Mission

Divine Appointments Around Every Bend

Two nights in a row we have been blessed with a comfortable bed at a motel, and let me tell you—there is something wonderful about waking up rested! After so many nights in tents, cabins, and sleeping pads, a real mattress makes getting up and getting moving so much easier. And this morning, the Super 8 in Frankfort even served a continental breakfast! Wow! Coffee and breakfast before we even had to pack up the bikes felt like a little extra blessing from the Lord.

We made our way down to the motel’s cafe for a quick breakfast and coffee, then loaded the bikes and pulled out around 8:30 a.m. We knew we needed to make some miles today because our destination was Jackson, Ohio, where we were going to spend time with our CMA friends, Jeff and Holly. Melvin also went through the School of Evangelism with Jeff, so this was more than just another stop along the way—it was a chance to reconnect with friends and fellow believers.

As much as we both dislike riding the interstate, we decided it was the best way to cover some ground and cut down on our travel time. Sometimes the road we would choose isn’t necessarily the road we need to take. Isn’t that true in life, too? Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us to trust in the Lord rather than leaning on our own understanding, because He is the One who makes our paths straight.

By 8:30 this morning, the temperature was already 69 degrees, so we knew it was going to be a warm one.

Our first stop was at the Love’s rest stop just outside Knox, Ohio. We enjoyed our favorite road food—coffee—with a side of a McDonald’s egg sandwich. ☕️😂

As we walked back toward the bikes, we noticed a Kawasaki loaded down with more luggage and bags than even our bikes carry. I looked at Melvin and said, “Wow! Check this bike out!”

Melvin looked at the license plate and said, “It’s from Mexico!”

That immediately made us even more curious. We really wanted to meet the person who was traveling on that incredible bike.

Melvin went inside to grab a Gatorade while I started getting my riding gear back together. A few moments later, a young man approached me. His English was broken, but with a big smile he said, “I have a gift for you.”

I smiled and immediately thought, This must be the owner of that motorcycle!

I asked, “Is that your bike?”

“Yes!” he replied.

About that time, Melvin came out of the store and said, “Hey, we really like your bike!”

The young man introduced us to his wife, who was walking their cat. Yes—a cat! 😂 And then his wife handed me a little rubber duck wearing a Mexican hat.

“This is the gift I have for you,” he explained.

He had noticed that Melvin actually has a rubber duck mounted on the front of his motorcycle and thought I would be the perfect person to receive this one.

What a fun and unexpected gift!

We began talking and discovered that this couple was traveling across America from Mexico City on one motorcycle. And their cat travels with them, riding in the top case on the back of the bike!

We absolutely loved talking with them.

And then God opened another door.

We had a Spanish gospel tract with us. Just one.

His wife took it and read it aloud—in Spanish!

I couldn’t help but think about how God had already prepared this moment long before we ever knew it was coming. Out of everything we could have carried with us, we happened to have that one Spanish tract on the very day we would meet someone who needed it.

Only God.

It reminded me of Ephesians 2:10, which tells us that we are created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand for us to do.

That little Spanish tract wasn’t an accident.

That meeting wasn’t an accident.

That rubber duck wasn’t an accident. 😂

God was simply arranging another divine appointment along our journey.

We blessed them and prayed over their travels, gave them a Wrights on a Mission sticker, a bike blessing sticker, and our CMA business card with our personal contact information. We hope we’ll be able to reconnect with them through social media someday.

It is always hard to say goodbye to people you have just met when you wish you had more time together. But sometimes God gives us just enough time to plant a seed, share a smile, encourage someone, and speak the name of Jesus before He sends us down the road again.

And then, just before we left, another man stopped to talk with us.

He travels around the country by bicycle but loved hearing about our motorcycle journey. He said something that really stuck with us: the best part of traveling by bike is that it makes you slow down and meet people.

We couldn’t agree more.

That is one of the things we love most about this journey—not simply the miles, the scenery, or the motorcycles, but the people.

The divine appointments.

The conversations.

The opportunities to share God’s love.

The moments when strangers become friends.

The moments when a simple conversation turns into a testimony.

Galatians 6:10 says, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people.”

We just want to keep our eyes open for those opportunities.

Eventually, we decided to get off the interstate and picked up US 35, which would take us all the way toward Jackson, Ohio.

We crossed the state line into Ohio and continued making our way south.

Our next fuel stop was a Shell station in West Alexandria, where we met Rob. He was driving a Mustang, and Melvin began sharing about our mission of spreading the Good News wherever God opens the door.

Rob then shared his own incredible testimony.

A few years ago, he was involved in a motorcycle accident where he was thrown from a bridge. As he was falling, he prayed to God. He broke his back—but today he is completely healed.

What an amazing testimony!

Once again, we found ourselves standing beside a motorcycle, talking about God with someone we had never met before.

Psalm 107:2 says, “Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story.”

And that’s what we love to do.

We shared our sticker, said our goodbyes, and continued down the road.

We rode until around 2 p.m. and decided it was time to get off the highway and grab some lunch. We stopped at Sonic in Washington Court House, Ohio.

While we were there, we received a phone call that my dad had been hospitalized.

Suddenly, the journey felt very different.

We called my mom, talked with her, and prayed for Dad’s healing. We know we will be home in just a few days and will be there to help my parents.

There are moments on a journey when the road reminds you that life isn’t just about the destination. It’s about the people waiting for you when you get there.

We don’t know everything that lies ahead, but we know the One who does.

Psalm 46:1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”

So we prayed, trusted, and continued on.

Not long after that, we noticed dark, stormy clouds building in the distance. We knew we needed to keep moving if we wanted to stay ahead of the storm.

So we rode.

And somehow, once again, God gave us exactly what we needed.

We pulled into our friends’ driveway around 4 p.m.—without a single drop of rain.

Talk about God’s timing!

Jeff and Holly welcomed us with a wonderful dinner from Rowdy’s Smokehouse—local pulled pork and brisket with all the sides. After a long day of riding, that meal tasted like a feast!

But the evening wasn’t over yet.

They took us to their favorite ice cream shop, Michael’s Ice Cream, a historic, family-run parlor in downtown Jackson that dates all the way back to 1909.

And they have something I had never heard of before—a famous signature dessert called the “Bubble.”

Of course, I had to try it! 😂

French vanilla ice cream layered with dark chocolate sauce, marshmallow cream, and house-roasted nuts.

Yes. Please.

It was delicious!

We sat outside at the iron tables and chairs on the brick sidewalk, enjoying ice cream, conversation, friendship, and the beautiful evening. The rain had passed through before we arrived, leaving behind comfortable temperatures in the 70s and sunshine.

It was one of those simple moments that somehow feels extraordinary.

No rushing.

No packing.

No miles.

Just sitting with friends and enjoying the blessings God had placed right in front of us.

Sometimes we spend so much time looking for the big miracles that we forget to recognize the small ones.

A comfortable bed.

A hot breakfast.

A rubber duck from Mexico.

A Spanish gospel tract that just happened to be in our bag.

A stranger with an incredible testimony.

A storm that passed just before we arrived.

A delicious dinner.

An ice cream sundae.

Friends around a table.

These are the moments that make up a life.

And perhaps that’s part of what God has been teaching us throughout these 65 days: the journey isn’t just about where we’re going. It’s about who God puts in our path along the way.

After we returned to Jeff and Holly’s house, I needed to finish uploading footage and charging all the equipment. We stayed up until about 10 p.m., talking, laughing, and sharing stories while I finished my nightly routine.

Tomorrow we won’t be making any miles.

Instead, we’ll go to church with Jeff and Holly and spend one more day with them before we finally head for home on Monday.

And honestly, after 65 days of riding, we’re looking forward to worshiping with friends, slowing down, and simply being still.

Psalm 37:23 says, “The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way.”

We may not know what tomorrow will hold.

We may not know what is around the next bend.

But we know Who is already there.

And that is enough.

Good night from Jackson, Ohio. 🙏🏍️🇺🇸

Until tomorrow, it’s time to rest.