What did you do on your summer vacation? Let me tell you about a Brother Knight who really thinks big… Brother Rafael Giraldo decided to bicycle across America. When asked “why cycle across America, for what reason, for what purpose?” Brother Rafael said “my motivations are numerous, simple and complex. As a sportsman, it is for the joy of the ride.” “As an adventurer, it is for the many gifts of discovery. As an author, it is for the experience that enables me to share the story with others. As a student of anthropology, it is to quench my never-ending thirst for knowledge. As a history teacher, this crossing will grant me a better understanding of our American Journey. It will allow me to witness first-hand, the lives of ordinary and extraordinary Americans, as I travel across our majestic country. The most important reason of all belongs to the educator within me. To my former, present, and future students, I seek to deliver a lesson in commitment. I wish to teach about the value of establishing meaningful goals in life, preparing thoroughly, and working consistently towards achieving these goals. My intention is to prove to my students the astonishing power of ideas coupled with the raw force of human action. Ideas, by our hand, become realities. What we attain in life is in great measure a product of our own will and dedication”.( “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is not a single act, it is a habit.” – Aristotle).
You can track Brother Rafael’s progress by logging on to the website: www.tourofdiscovery.com. Today, Thursday, August 20, 20009 Brother Rafael will be entering Florida. He has scheduled a stop in Tallahassee where he will meet the Governor, The Honorable Charlie Christ.. Brother Rafael is a member of Council 14212 in Weston, FL. He is expected to arrive in Weston on August 30. As Brother Rafael reaches the City of Weston, people will escort him to the completion site of his ride. He plans to go directly to St. Katharine Drexel Catholic Church. Please keep Brother Rafael in your prayers as he nears the end of this long journey. If you would like to talk with him or can offer some support you can reach him by following the contact links at his website. www.tourofdiscovery.com
I wonder if any one can top Brother Rafael’s summer vacation…
Vivat Jesus,
Scott A. O’Connor
PR Director
Florida State Council
Subject: Crossing into Florida
“Today, is an important day for I am located only 26 miles from the Alabama-Florida border. I should be crossing into my state in the morning hours. My intended goal is to reach Marianna and tomorrow ride into Tallahassee. If you are following, please say a prayer for the final stretch in anything one does is always the trickiest. This is where one cannot loose focus.”
Tags: www.tourofdiscovery.com
Pray for Brother Rafael, that he arrives safely to his destination.
Brother Rafael:
We are very proud of your achivement. All your brothers of council 14212 at St. Katharine Drexel Church will be welcoming you into Weston on Sunday August 30th. I know you have collected a wealth of experience, photos and memories that you will cherish for the rest of your life. You are an inspiration to us all. Your students at Tequesta Middle School will be very proud of your achivement of cycling across America during the Summer of 2009.
We are all praying for your health and safety.
Hans Meijer