Day 3 - Rapid City, South Dakota

Enjoying the snow in Wyoming!


We trekked on through Montana, Wyoming and finally South Dakota today.
Yesterday we stayed in Bozeman Montana.
We ordered coffees in a drive thru Starbucks.
When we were picking up our order, the employee started chatting us up about the bright sun and warm weather.
She was extremely excited to hear about our trip and wished us well.
We encountered her after our eager friend in McDonalds the day before.
And then again, in Sheridan Wyoming today, the manager of the sandwich shop we were in asked where we came from and where we were going.
She cheerfully wished us happy travels.
Within a very brief period of time 3 complete strangers expressed real interest in who we were and where we were headed. Each one also wished us safe travels.
Are these expressions of interest and warmth endemic of the citizens that make up these rural enclaves in the American West?
What are the chances of 3 strangers in 3 different towns within a very brief period of time all extending a warm welcome to our new home country?
Pretty slim, I venture.
As a Christian, I can extend my faith and believe that God has orchestrated each one of these encounters to continue to build up our confidence and security on this exciting, yet somewhat scary new venture for us.

The driving was quite taxing today.
Long hours rolling through the American country side. The beauty of Montana's mountains flattened out into Wyoming and South Dakota.

Living in Vancouver for as long as we have, I have noticed that Vancouverites carry a rather smug confidence that they live one of the more beautiful spots in the world. And, it is beautiful: mountains, ocean.

But, after driving through the wide open plains of today, I realized just how cloistered we are on the west coast. We are shuttered in by mountains, buildings, low pressure systems and dark clouds. The landscape we drove through today is so vast and expansive. I cannot recall seeing such  large pure white clouds poised stoically against the perfect blue of the skies. The landscape makes it easy to breathe deep.

Today's playlist was Dick Lucas, Tim Keller, Coldplay, the new Dido (not so great) and more U2.

We rolled in a bit earlier tonight which made it more relaxing.

Off to Mt. Rushmore tomorrow and then Sioux Falls South Dakota.

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