| Strange coincidence?...or purpose confirming experience? |
| Sunday, 22 July 2007 | |
A story about the messages that speak to our souls. The day is March 13,
2007, Tom Ritchey gets off a plane in Africa. After three days
of missed connections he is finally in Rwanda, exhausted, jet-lagged,
and in his words, “out of it”. He has come to join Jock Boyer
and Team Rwanda in training for Cape Epic. During the second day
of training, on a grueling trip from Cyangugu to Butare through
the national forest, Tom finds himself alone. The team is young,
familiar with the terrain, and trained for speed. Tom is climbing a
hill in the heart of Africa, miles and miles from the closest city, he sticks
out like a sore thumb, an obvious "muzungu" foreigner.
The atmosphere is ominous, almost surreal, periodic thunder and
lightning sweep through the area and ignite momentary down pours
throughout the trip. Tom is determined to finish the route without
assistance. As he climbs he sees in the distance a young boy walking
alone along the road.
The ground is saturated letting Tom know he has just missed a deluge. Tom keeps climbing and as he gets closer to the boy, he notices this young man is wearing a curiously familiar looking shirt. Tom approaches and soon realizes the boy is wearing an authentic Ritchey team jersey that was made at least ten years ago! A jersey of which about only 200 were ever made! Tom stops but is unable to communicate his amazement. The boy is afraid, who is this outlandish stranger in such a remote area speaking this strange language! He runs away. Then over the hill rolls the SAG vehicle, they have come looking for Tom. Rafiki is aboard with a broken rear wheel. Now Rafiki’s English is cryptic at best but he is able to understand enough of what Tom is trying to say. Rafiki calls out to the boy and convinces him to return, after some calming words (and a few bank notes) the boy agrees to pose for a photo with Tom. Soon, the seemingly desolate road fills with onlookers and smiles. There stands Tom Ritchey and a boy wearing a Ritchey team jersey in the middle of the African forest, he thinks what are the chances? Heartened by this experience, he wishes the boy well and continues to Butare feeling all the more confirmed that he is on the right path and doing what he is meant to do. 
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