Getting out!

No, I'm not leaving Kentucky anytime soon, but in the last week and a half I have been able to do more in the area. And, in the process, I've gotten to know some very interesting individuals.

To begin, about two weeks ago I took part in the Apple Festival 3K trail run at Paintsville Lake State Park (~35 minutes north) and although I took away a small trophy, I also met the local bike shop owner who invited me on the shop's bike club's ride later that morning. Suffice to say I went on that ride and I enjoyed myself immensely. This part of the state draws few true cyclists and it was fun talking to people that appreciated my love of the sport. This past week there was a 50K bike race in town and, although I pinched a nerve in my back on a 1 mile climb at the midway point, I still finished close to the second group. After the ride I met a local podiatrist and osteopathic physician who told me about the best (i.e. cheapest) clinic and a good chiropractor in the area. Timely for sure.

Active sports aside, one area that I have been missing in my life here was the companionship of people my age and 2 weeks ago I met a group of young people at church that changed all that. The Christian Appalachian Project, or CAP, is a volunteering organization operating in about five different counties in the area and two of their volunteer bases are located less then a half hour drive from where I'm living. After having lunch with a few of the volunteers that Sunday
after mass, I found a group that shared my devotion to service and sort of a second family here in KY. So far we've gone to town festivals, shared movies, and last Sunday drove over an hour and a half to West Virginia to check out a corn maze (which only toke 30min).

All being said, I'm starting to really meet some interesting and enriching folks that help me to not think so much about what I'm missing being here in KY, but rather what an awesome place it can be through the right eyes.

Love to write more, but I'm off to go grocery shopping before the weekend. On Sunday a big group of college students will be arriving from the University of Notre Dame and I'll be tied up with them for a week. They will be learning about the area and helping with the teaching process. I'm felling a little burned out, so this change to the usual daily grind will be a nice change.

Until I write again, God Bless you and keep your prayers coming this way!

Peace Out!