I can't believe how rich urban Calgary is. It is truely vibrant and alive. We are staying at the Mustard Seed Street Ministry (a non-profit, Christian humanitarian organization that responds compassionately to the needs of the inner city's less fortunate through mobilizing and working with the church and community) and as I sit here journaling for the first time in several days the memories from Montana to Canada flood in so fast I know I couldn't possibly cover everything. The last week has been filled with though riding days in brutal cross and headwinds along with the transitional experiences that have brought us to Calgary. Glacier National Park was stunning. Words (and photos!) couldn't do justice to the pristine beauty of that National forest. I thank Rosevelt. I had pretty bad migraine headache on our day off and unfortunately didn't get to take full advantage of our time off but I have been riding and am pleased to say I'm feeling better. Crossing the border was a two hour event which passed smoothly however made for an 8:30pm arrival to our first city in Canada. After some more camping we quickly made our way to Calgary and it has been amazing ever since. Calgary (and Canada for that matter) has a very positive and rich vibe. We have been fortunate recipients of the generosity here at Mustard Seed and have been given the opporunity to give a little something back in the way of volunteer work. I just finished serving lunch for several hundred homeless. Last night I wandered downtown, where the rodeo has made a home, and finally had some time to write and even read a little. Calgary is a great place to people-watch. I wrote my final journal entry for the day atop the Mustard Seed roof watching fireworks over the carnival nearby feeling so alive and even more blessed to have been given such and amazing opportunity to learn, grow, and give my time those in need. This trip has certainly showed me first-hand the day to day need for humanitarian efforts across the various cross-sections of communities everywhere... cancer related and beyond. A man has collapsed outside on the sidewalk as I write and there are three volunteers from Mustard Seed and an EMS paramedic using their time to try and help him. He is only one person in need and there are many many others no matter what city you live in. I will definitely focus my career efforts in a way that benefits others, no matter what field I choose. I can't imagine it any other way... not with so much need. It is easy to get stuck in our selfish day to day grinds (after all we all have needs) but it just takes a walk down any street and a good listen to the needs of others to realize that there is always someone who needs more and there will always be someone that You can help. I am positively in love with life, sadness and all. If you don't shy away from stuff that is hard to look at you really can create something beautiful from something sad.

I'm off to see more, feel more, and take it all in...

Love ya'll!

PS There are a group of cowboys from Kingsville, TX (Herbert!) who have ridden horses all the way up here for the rodeo.

PPS Thanks so much to everyone here at Mustard Seed for the wonderful hospitality and the opportunity to look into the inner-city window for a day (it has changed me and I think for the better)

PPPS Tomorrow we volunteer at the Marathon and then it's off once again to the mountains of Canada.