Update

Since Jesse works full time during the week, I am working on the developments during the day, with his help in the evenings and weekends. It's a lot on top of running the photography studio! But it's going very well.

We connected with Precept Ministries on partnering with them to offer this program to college students. There won't be an official relationship or agreement in place until this is actually running and both ministries are able to work together, but initially the connection went very well! Both sides are excited about where this could head, and how life changing this can be for anyone that participates. As we move forward, our goal is to connect both with Precept and five different Universities, to research what it is that they would be looking for in a program like ours, in order to facilitate a partnership that brings this ministry to their students. The Universities we are connecting with initially are Taylor, Wheaton College, Azusa Pacific, Pepperdine, Grand Canyon University, and Liberty.  Again, at this point, we are just asking questions about their level of interest in a program like Saddle Lights, and what their desires or requirements would be for us to partner with them when it launches.  Please pray for guidance and direction as we move forward in this area!

On the other side of research, we have discovered a maximum of 12 different American companies (mostly not-for-profit) that currently offer Coast-to- Coast bicycling trips. Only one of these companies targets teens or young people. Even if they don't directly target retirees, all of the others cater in the majority, to males in their 50s or older. Of the 12 groups, one is a luxury group, and one is a fundraising group. All of the others fall into the "grass roots" cook, camp, and pay your own way group. Outside of researching these companies through their brochures and websites, we have spoken to three of them in phone interviews. They have been surprisingly very helpful in answering cost, planning, safety, group size, and other logistical questions. I plan on connecting with the Universities and these companies more this week.

In the meantime, if you know of anyone who might be interested in donating to get the startup costs covered, please send them our way! Write to saddlelights@gmail.com, or call us 928.600.3731.

We need your prayers for wisdom, direction, and help in so many areas. More updates will come!

Kel