My son, Keith, and I went on an adventure this last summer. At the end of General Conference Session, we loaded up our bicycles with camping gear and peddled off, following the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. During our three-week trip, we traveled 1,020 miles and made it as far as Chamberlain, South Dakota.

One of the biggest challenges of the trip was heat. We rode early in the day as much as possible, and drank a lot of water. On our second Friday riding, we planned to stop at Stone State Park just outside Sioux City, Iowa. The next day was to be a true "day of rest" to give our bodies a break and to enjoy the Sabbath. After a stop in Sioux City for supplies and some bike adjustments at a bike shop in town, we made it to our campsite late in the afternoon. The day turned out to be one of the hottest we experienced so far and we were glad to get off our bikes and set up camp in the shade. We talked with the rangers, set up our camp, and headed for the showers to cool off. By 8:00 p.m., we were sitting in the shade—and still sweating. We just couldn’t seem to cool down. Listening to our weather radio, we learned the temperature was still in the 90s, the heat index was 117, and it wasn’t going to drop until around 2:00 a.m.

The next day, Sabbath, was going to be even hotter. I began to get concerned, not just for our comfort, but for our safety in the heat.

Just as we were deciding to pack everything up and head for the nearest motel, the rangers drove up to see how we were doing. I explained our situation and plans. One of them said, "I live just a quarter mile from here. I’m a bachelor and I’d love to have you stay with me." He apologized that his guest room was not air conditioned, but offered us his couch in the living room. We had planned on camping, so even the floor in an air conditioned room was good for us.

Keith and I gratefully accepted the ranger's hospitality as he opened his home to us. Over the weekend, we spent several hours talking and sharing. We talked about our lives, our beliefs, and about how God was guiding our lives. On Sabbath, we were able to get a ride to church where we met some friends who were there for a family reunion. They shared with us how some members of their family had decided to come to the reunion at the last minute and tried to get a motel room the night before but found all the motels in town were full; they ended up spending the night with friends.

We were again amazed at God’s providence. He provided a way out of a dangerous situation and also provided the opportunity to be witnesses to someone we would never have met otherwise. What could have been a low point turned out to be the highlight of our trip.

Mel Wade is the information technology director for the Michigan Conference.