I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have
kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of
righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me
on that day; and not only me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.
2 Timothy 4:7-8
To all supporters of Revelation Motorcycles Ministry:
We are sooo sorry it has taken so long to write what is going on since
our last update. We really don’t have any excuses except time has
not been on our side.
I would like to start with letting all of our supporters know what happened
on the Hokahey Challenge.
To
start with this challenge to turned out to be nothing that it represented itself
as the people who were running this event turned out to be not what they said
they were. I am not usually one for bashing but what was done to many riders
in this event in my eyes was downright criminal. The facts however remain the
same this event was more grueling than imaginable. The challenge started with
750 riders as that is all that signed up. The chase trucks that were there
to assist the riders needs and help out if their bikes broke down, were where
one of the first rules changed that were not part of our original agreement.
The first checkpoint was to be in Southaven, MS. We really thought we had the
low down because we have friends there, knew the Harley shop (Southern Thunder)
as this is one of their sponsors and got the email before other riders knew
about the first checkpoint. Praise God we thought, right. NOT!
Turned
out not to be true. First checkpoint was in Daytona, FL and that we only found
out the day of the race. When I challenged the Hokahey Challenge event people
that they had changed the route they denied it saying it was planned this way
all along. All I can say is that is not what the website said nor was it what
Southern Thunder was saying.
They took riders from Key West, FL to the west side of FL and brought them
around to the east after going around Lake Ochachobe. Took Kenny 12 hours
because the roads on the route are poorly mapped, and there are loops,
squares, and figure eights in the route. It was nothing to end up at the
same destination you started only to go to another direction. 4 riders
went down within the first 100 miles. Two locked up and went into the swamp,
one broke his leg, and one was seriously injured who injuries resulted
in his death. It was a very sad and all so unnecessary because there was
such a long way to go and it was anybodies race. When the chase trucks
arrived at Daytona we were told that the riders could not be assisted in
anyway. If was needed for the challenge not on their bikes now then they
would either have to go without or buy it. Every chase truck was livid
because many brought their own food and drinks for the rider and had their
warm gear packed in their chase vehicles. All of us wanted to know the
point of allowing a chase vehicle. They said this was stated in their Saturday
night mandatory meeting, (that no one heard) that the chase trucks were
only there to assist the rider in case of mechanical failure or if the
rider went down. If we assisted the rider we would be disqualified. After
so many people raising cane about this rule, that no one knew about in
the beginning the Hokahey people relented and said the riders could eat
what was brought for them but they had to get all of it themselves, no
one could assist. Also any gear not on bike that was needed to help a rider
needed to be on the bike now or it would not be allowed unless the rider
purchased it along the way. Now mind you each check point is at a
Harley Davidson dealership and we all know how expensive that is not sure
the motive behind the change and to make any statements about it could
be misconstrued so we leave it up to the reader to figure it out. We
filled up Kennys bike with snacks as his gear was already on the bike and
within 4 minutes they were back the road to Southaven, MS. By this time
Kenny has picked up and teamed with two riders, Grant, we call Kiwi, who
has come from New Zealand to do this challenge and Allen who is from Michigan.
They formed themselves as a team and still are to this day. It did not
take them long to figure out with the poor marking of the routes and the
confusion of what roads to take that doing this challenge by yourself would
take longer than if you had more than one pair of eyes.
The second
checkpoint which was Southaven, MS was a little over 900 miles and took Kenny
and his team 23 hours to complete. This is because the route took them from Daytona,
FL to 10 miles from Nashville, TN. then South to Georgia where many times they
got lost, through Alabama and up to Southaven a suburb of Memphis, TN. These
roads are not very well marked. For instance one road they were looking for you
could only find if you were going south and they were going north. They had a
local person stop them along the way and tell them other riders were going through
with the same problem and they had to turn back around, so his team thanked the
Lord that only put them 10 miles off course while some were more than a 100.
By this time I had arrived at Southaven at 1:30pm with our other crew member
Ray. The wonderful church called City Gate Church in Southaven, who is also our
biggest sponsor, put me and our other Ray in a hotel to get rest and take
a shower. We had been on the road 12 hours, drove all night and were exhausted.
The heat and humidity was horrible and really took a toll on your body.
We took a two hour nap, a shower, ate dinner and got back to Harley at
7pm only to find out the first rider arrived about 5pm and was already
gone. How this happened we don’t know because the reason it took
Kenny and at least 100 other riders so long, was because some of the roads
didn't exist but that is up for debate. Kenny and his team arrived
in Southaven, MS at 1:30am exhausted and ready for a bed. Once arriving
in Mississippi and getting the new map everything changed for the team.
The next checkpoint was in Rock Springs, WY 2400 miles away via Mesa, AZ.
Since the pit crew was not allowed to follow the rider nor assist him it
was decided at that point we would go home and wait for Kenny to get to
Alaska and meet up later. It was quite a disappointment for us and others
who made the same decision of why wait in WY for who knew how long before
your rider got there. The expense of waiting for Kenny to arrive in WY
was great and as a team decision Ray and I packed up and headed home. For
us the race was over it had been a marvelous journey is so many ways and
we had by this time met people that were absolutely amazing and extremely
supportive but it was not feasible for us to continue on the journey. For
Kenny and his crew though it really had just begun the grueling part that
is. Ray and I went back to our rooms to get a good night sleep and start
for home in morning and Kenny and his team bedded down in the Southern
Thunder Harley for about 4 hours sleep. They were gone before Ray and I
ever got out of bed.
The next
part of the Challenge took Kenny, Kiwi and Alan across the pan handle of Oklahoma
to New Mexico, down through New Mexico to Showlow, AZ down AZ through Mesa, AZ
back up AZ through the Grand Canyon up through Utah through Flaming Gorge, WY
to Rock Springs, WY. While riding on this particular route it was nothing at
this point to incur every kind of weather known to man. Kenny and his team went
from riding in 90 degree heat with 90% humidity in OK and MS to110 degree heat
in Mesa, AZ
(a dry heat of course) to 40 degrees in Rock Springs, WY. It took
them 3 days because of getting lost, again, along the way, extreme heat and exhaustion
because at this point they are averaging 3-4 hours sleep a night, and riding
nearly 3,000 miles. Along the way Kenny, Kiwi and Alan parted paths in AZ and
Alan set out on his own. That is another story at another time but suffice to
say Kiwi and Kenny continued on the road and challenge one man short.
Once
hitting Rock Springs, WY, Kenny and Kiwi got their map that was to take them
to Missoula, MT via Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota. This leg of the journey
while another long ride it was nothing compared to the one they had just completed
and was a great deal more spiritual but those are details we are saving for later.
To make a long story short approximately 24 hours later Kenny and Kiwi
got to Missoula and their next map which was to be in Fairbanks, AK approximately
3,500 miles. Kenny called and told me there was no checkpoint in Canada.
It was very apparent by this time that those who had been running this
event had lied to get people to participate and while we knew it would
be grueling ride; this was not what riders agreed to. We were told it would
be approximately 1,000 miles between checkpoints in our original agreement
which was why we had a pit crew. Those statements however proved to be
anything but true. While both Kenny and Kiwi were upset they were going
to continue the journey. Kenny would call me when he got to the Canadian
Border. Three hours later I got a call from Kenny and I knew something
was wrong. I was right; he had been denied entry into Canada for a DUI
he had gotten in 1992, a felony in Canada. Now mind you both Kenny and
I, together, had been to Canada in 2004 and again for a complete tour on
our bike from Alberta to Vancouver Island and were told by border patrol
Kenny would not have any problems going through due to the time elapsed
since his last DUI and he was now considered rehabilitated. Apparently
someone forgot to give this Border Patrol agent the memo and he absolutely
refused to allow Kenny into the country no matter what. For Kenny there
would be no Alaska and he would not be allowed to complete the challenge.
By then it had been 8 days and he had already rode over 6,000 miles. Someone
was already claiming themselves the winner and had arrived in Homer, AK
but that again would be another story. Kenny tired and hungry, though not
defeated went back to Missoula Harley to the last checkpoint, met up with
other riders who were broke down and helped get them back on the road and
continued ministering the gospel. This was the whole point of the journey.
To get Gods Word out, tell the whole World Christian and Non Christian,
that God is large and in charge and asks us to change nothing in our lives
except to give our hearts to Him and let Him do the changing as change
is needed. We believe that through God we ministered to others and many
ministered to us. It was a journey of a lifetime that neither of us will
forget. There were long lasting friendships made, sorrows we shared for
those who lost their lives on this challenge, and a Spiritual awakening
that God gave us both and that is we only have today that is all God promises
us, so Revelation Motorcycles Ministry intends to make the most of what
God has given us.
To all
those who supported us along the way, thank you is not enough for what you have
done, the journey of telling people about who we are as a ministry, what we stand
for not only as a ministry but as a Nation, and the blessings and prayers we
got to give and have others give to us was a reward like no other. Trust in this
those who supported us, your prayers, funds, and encouragement was seed well
planted in the lives of many along the way for in opened doors that had never
been opened before now.
As for
what remains for us for the rest of the year; Kenny has agreed to give Christian
Motorsports magazine the exclusive on his journey of the Hokahey Challenge so
for those of you who want to know more it is coming up soon. As far as the Hokahey
Challenge, South Dakota States Attorney was looking to press fraudulent charges
against Dan and Beth Durham but we have decided to let God figure it out. The
money of approximately $700,000 dollars was gone. No charities got any money
but the $500,000 dollar prize was awarded but as to if it was legitimately done
or not is a question we many never know the answer to. For Kenny it was a ride
of a lifetime under some of the most horrendous conditions and a journey many
will never forget. For our brothers and sisters who participated in this challenge
and made it the whole way you deserve kudos like none others. I know many
of you paid high prices through the lost of loved ones, some incurred injuries
that may last for a lifetime, others got to see country that can only be
experienced in America and that is Alaska the last frontier, truly Gods
creation that is obvious in its beauty. Pat yourselves a big hearty pat
on the back for making it, and pray for those who didn't and their
families.
Since
hooking up with Christian Motorsports as a result of this Challenge the good
things that have come out of it is a furthering of our ministry. One of the many
parts of Revelation Motorcycle Ministry is to take a stand against Human Trafficking.
Christian Motorsports Magazine has allowed me, Dawn, to write a monthly, ongoing
article about such atrocities going on right here is America. My first issue
was in August and the second part of that article was published in September.
For those who want to know more and enjoy NASCAR, Harley Events, Fast Cars and
a great deal more order a copy or a subscription at christianmotorsports.com
As for what the future holds. Look back later in this year as we put
a whole new look to Revelation Motorcycles Ministry web page. For those of
you who are going to be on or near Southaven, MS Kenny and I will be joining
City Gate Church for their Southern Convention. Hope to see you all there from
Oct. 14-17 2010. God Bless you all and please don't forget to write us
with any comments, concerns, or future events that we can be a part of or tell
others. Also for those who are interested due to the concerns of this nation
as a whole Kenny and I are now available for guest speaking and would love
to come and tell you and your church who we are, what we stand for, and what
we support as a ministry. It is our hearts desire to reach out and touch this
world and especially those who are looking for a way out of organized crimes,
to a hurting nation and restore the hope of Jesus Christ and what he has done
in our lives and what He can do in yours.
God Bless, see you on the road.
Kenneth and Dawn McElwain
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