Trip One Begins

The team has arrived!  Session one begins with Dr Aaron Walp right now!  

9 Hours To Go!

It's almost 1am in Scottsdale, AZ (4am in FL). We've had a full day of travel & preparations as we eagerly await the first group of Grand Canyon adventurers. We've been working on this event for 1 year and now it's just 9 hrs away. Can't wait to see what God does over the next 6 days! Goodnight (& safe travels Group 1) =)

On The Way

It's been an exhausting final push as we depart for AZ. I had to pull another all-nighter last night and have only had a few hours of sleep over the past 4 days. Absolutely exhausted. Thankfully we were able to get all of our gear packed & ready to go. We are in Houston now awaiting our flight to Phoenix. I want to especially thank Jessica Marie for all of her tireless volunteer work this week that enabled us to get everything done! She is a great Godly girl with an enormous servant's heart. The Grand Canyon groups start arriving tomorrow morning... can't wait to kick this God-awesome event off! Thank you to our supporters & prayer warriors for lifting up this ministry =)

CANYON KAYAKING ANYONE!

We are so excited to announce that the non-R2R hikers on Trip 1 of next week's Grand Canyon Trip now have the option of kayaking through ANTELOPE CANYON!! This will be an amazing new addition to our trip!! Can't wait =)

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New Gear!

As our events & programs continue to grow so does our need for good quality adventure gear. We have 45 people going to the Grand Canyon with GTD starting next week. We are excited to outfit them with the right gear from manufactures like North Face, Eureka, & Kelty to help turn their dreams into reality!

Introducing "The Brick" - GTD's NEW Survival Pack

Part of outfitting a group for a major hike into the Grand Canyon is preparing for the worst. It's a challenging balance between the priority of having a lightweight backpack and also carrying extra pounds of items that you hope you never need. Introducing GTD's NEW Survival Pack, also known as "The Brick". It's full of essential items that are worth their weight in gold if a hiker ends up in a survival situation. Filled with items such as fire starter, tinder, signaling devices, water purification, first aid, parachute cord, survival blanket, and more, it literally can be the difference between life and death in a worst case scenario. It's likely that our 40 hikers won't ever have to use "The Brick", but in the remote possibility that they do it will be the best additional weight they've ever added to their pack.

We want to thank one of our great volunteers, Jessica, for spending the day organizing & packing The Brick. She's not going on the trip with us, but she has already made a difference on this event!

CBCEL Pics Uploaded; And Check Out The Video =)

We just uploaded 175 pictures from our canoeing adventure a few days ago with the HS Youth Group of Calvary Baptist Church (East Lake Campus). Great times with great people!! Check out the pics on the GTD Facebook Page and don't forget to "Like" our Page =)

Also, here's a great highlight video from our canoeing trip last Sunday with the HS youth group from Calvary Baptist Church (East Lake Campus) "ELEVATE Student Ministries". Not sure if it was a canoeing trip or a swimming trip - hahaha!

72 Hours!

We have an unimaginable amount of work to get done in 3 days before we leave for the Grand Canyon. In fact, it's an impossible load. Good thing I work for the God of the impossible! Praying for a supernatural level of accomplishments over the next 72 hours. - DUG <><

Smiley's SAC Last Week Was A Blast!

Ran out of time to post about this last week, but we had a blast on our annual SAC canoeing trek last week with the young adults from Smileys Coffee House (First Baptist Church of Indian Rocks). This group is so much fun!! Click here to see all the pics on the GTD Facebook Page!

Calvary Church - East Lake Campus - Goes Canoeing With GTD

 Had an AWESOME day with the HS Youth Group of Calvary Baptist Church (East Lake Campus) as GTD provided some team building games, lunch, and a canoeing trip down the Cotee River in New Port Richey. The weather was PERFECT! We had so much from jumping from trees, flipping canoes, and racing around an island. Thank you Thomas Cooney & Justin Facenda for the opportunity to host this event! And thank you Laurie Finger for all of your hard work and fun-loving attitude all day long . We are so blessed! We also had the privilege of attending the youth group at the East Lake Campus as well as the main service with Campus Pastor Danny W Bennett and another excellent sermon (via simulcast... the next best thing to the real thing) by Pastor William Rice. All-in-all, it was as close to the perfect day as it gets . Fully Livin' Because We're Forgiven <><

Training Rim2Rim

Breaking in the backpack and hiking shoes on this gorgeous trail in Upstate NY!

Scouting Out

Today we spent the afternoon reconing for our Sunday After Church event with Calvary Baptist East Lake.

GC Gear Distribution at Calvary Church

Look who's going to the Grand Canyon! Pastor Willy!! I think he should peach a message with this backpack on. =) /// Tonight we met with & distributed gear to many of the 45 amazing people joining us on our 2 upcoming Grand Canyon Trips. I can't wait to share in an adventure with this fUntastic group =)

All Work & No Play

Just put in a week of 18 hr work days trying to get caught up from being gone for the summer & all the time spent battling fleas. Start work at 7a and go, go, go till 2am with about an hour of breaks for meals when I get a chance to eat. Making progress, but still have a long way to go. We leave in 12 days for our Grand Canyon Trips and will be gone for 3 weeks. - DUG <><

42 People Signed-Up!!

WOW, we have a total of 42 people signed up for our upcoming 2 trips to The Grand Canyon!!

It's going to be 2 of the BEST TRIPS EVER!!

The 2nd trip is almost sold out, but we have 2 individual spots remaining. Our 1st trip has more spots available.

Click here for details & to register for this God-awesome event that includes apologetic teaching by Dr Aaron Walp.

Life changing event!!!

Remembering 9/11

Remembering 9/11. I took this picture 2 years ago while visiting Ground Zero with my family. It symbolizes the importance of memorializing, overcoming, and continuing on. Today is a day for remembrance & honor. NEVER FORGET. NEVER RELENT. NEVER QUIT.

Interesting

JURY DUTY!! It's actually on my bucket list of things to do in this lifetime, but unfortunately it could not have come at a worse time. Interestingly enought, it's amazing how many daily "interuptions" we have experienced since we've returned back from our summer of ministry. I've never had so many things pop-up day after day after day that absorb any extra moments we would have had to share our stories of how God worked. It has also kept us from meeting with pastors & group leaders to invite them & their crew on a life changing event next year. I'm pretty sure that the enemy is trying to block our message. It's not going to work.  -DUG <><

SOC Annual Report

Part of running any organization is complying with the laws of the land. As a non-profit we have to complete several annual reports in order to retain our organizational status. One of those annual reports is called The Solicitation of Contributions Annual Renewal and it is due every Sept 15th. It allows GTD to legally solicit for & receive donations in the state of Florida, and it allows the donor to receive a tax deduction for those donations. We just completed that report, paid our registration fee, and submitted it for approval. We typically receive an approval within 2 weeks. Check that off the list =)

This Sunday = SAC

SAC is BACK! SAC means Sunday After Church and this Sunday is our annual canoeing trip with the young adult ministry of FBC of Indian Rocks. If you're a young adult (18-25) in search of a great church then check out Smiley's / FBCIR on Sunday and then go canoeing with us!! You'll love it!

Had To Share

One of several things I love about my job is that I get to meet a high concentration of high caliber people. They're not celebrities. They're just ordinary people living extraordinary lives. Over the past 24 hours I've talked to so many cream-of-the-crop "ordinary" people... many of which are sold-out followers of Christ. It's been such an encouraging 2 days =)
- DUG <><

Dining On The Edge Of The World!

Imagine dining on the edge of the world as the sun sets and colors the sky!! That's what our Rim-2-Rim hikers are going to experience in 4 weeks as they dine at the Grand Canyon Lodge on the North Rim. Absolutely breathtaking. The Grand Canyon Trip 2014 (Trip 1).

It's Time to "Elevate" with Calvary Baptist & GTD

I enjoyed breakfast at Lenny's restaurant this morning with Justin Facenda. Justin is an awesome guy & the HS youth pastor for "Elevate" of Calvary Baptist in Clearwater. GTD is excited & honored to be teaming up with Elevate for some God-awesome adventures! Can't wait!! =)

Interview Uploaded To The GTD YouTube Channel

Watch our 15 minute interview with CTN's Darlene Greenlee as we talk about the happenings of Going The Distance Adventure Ministry.


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GTD - ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

On Aug 24th Doug & Laurie accepted the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge with rain water collected the day before. They also took a couple of minutes to highlight the need for clean drinking water in developing countries as well as the work done by a ministry called Water 4 Life (www.water4lifeministry.org). Don't forget to donate to ALS (www.alsa.org) & Water 4 Life!

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Let The Training Begin

Training for our Grand Canyon Trip in 4 weeks. Although I hike a lot during our summer adventures, I haven't run in over a year. I just ran a 5k at Lake Seminole Park and I feel great! Lungs, legs, body feel strong. I turn 44 in a few weeks, but I still feel 24 (praise the Lord!). And I'm actually getting a little wiser... I hate stretching, but I did some great stretches for 20 minutes before I ran and I could immediately feel the benefits. And the running shoes I recently purchased are the most comfortable & lightweight shoes I've ever had. Love them already! Going to read a chapter from God's love letter to mankind (the Bible) & have a prayer walk. Have an excellent day! And remember this truth, God is head over heels in love with you! - DUG <><

Laurie's training started yesterday: Training day for the Grand Canyon Rim 2 Rim Hike! 8.5 mile walk, 1.4 mile run and 6 miles rollerblading done! Whew! - Laurie =)

SPONTANEOUS ADVENTURE SALE!!

>>> SPONTANEOUS ADVENTURE SALE <<<

HOW SPONTANEOUS R-U? HOW ADVENTUROUS R-U?

Our Grand Canyon Trip #2 is just about sold out, but we have a few more spots available on Trip #1 which starts in 4 weeks. Sign-up today and get a great deal on this once-in-a-lifetime adventure!

Trip 1 ONLY (Sept 29 - Oct 4, 2014)

Reg = $799*/person

SALE PRICE:

1 for $699*/person

2 for $1298* ($649*/per)

3 for $1872* ($624*/per)

4 for $2396* ($599*/per)

Buy More, $ave More!

- OR -

Sign-up for MONTHLY PAYMENTS as low as $29*/month for 24 months!!!

*Does not include airfare, meals, or add-on adventures

Click here for trip details and to register for this trip!

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Everything is NEW today!

Today is a NEW day of a NEW week of a NEW month of a NEW part of the year!

There is no better time to make NEW goals, NEW resolutions, NEW changes, NEW course corrections, and reNEWed commitments than on the first day of a NEW season of your life. It's a perfect time to take a few minutes to seek God... to talk to God... and let Him breathe NEW breath into your life. There's no better place to be than being right where God made you to be. And there's no way to get there on your own. It only happens as you take time to talk to God. Then He will direct your steps to NEW & reNEWed things =)

Watch GTD on TV!!

Our 15 minute interview airs today & tomorrow on CTN - the Christian Television Network (WCLF)

Show:
Bay Focus w/ Host Darlene Greenlee
Wed (Aug 20) at 11:30 am EST
Thur (Aug 21) at 7:00 p.m EST

OR WATCH IT RIGHT NOW on YouTube.

Bird Watching Can Change Your Life

There is no better way to start the day (& week) than spending time in God's Word. Did you know that bird watching can change your perspective, your day, and even your life. In Luke 12 Jesus is communicating about the uselessness of worry and how it won't add a single hour to your life. In fact, it robs you of life (in this present moment as well as by shortening your life). Jesus tells us that we can draw some spiritual truths just by watching birds (the raven specificly). "They don't sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!" Did you catch that? God made birds. He loves His creation and even takes care of the birds. But he wants you to know how much more valuable YOU are than the birds that he created and cares for. He wants you to observe and see the spiritual truth that is flying around us everyday. Of all the things that God created and values, YOU are His greatest treasure! I love the father-heart of God. He doesn't want you to worry. He wants you to know & comprehend how valuable you are. He puts birds around you everyday to remind you that you are valued & cherished. Just embracing that melts all the worries away. Have a worry free & great day =)

Pastor Willy Is Going To The Grand Canyon With GTD!

We are so honored to have Dr William Rice (Pastor Willy) join us on this year's Grand Canyon Trip!

He is the amazing pastor of Calvary Church of Clearwater.

Check out his blog about the trip!

Click here for more details about this year's Grand Canyon Trips.

This Was BIG!

Celebrating a supernatural mission trip in Costa Rica with Harvest Church of Watagua, TX!! It was 9 of the best days of my life with 40+ of the best people on the planet as we clothed & prayed for thousands of people in a very poor town. Thank you Ben DeWitt for daring to do BIG things! Thank you Sandi Schiveley Davis, Laurie Rodriguez, Aloha Orton Bishop, Brian Tarter, and all the Harvest leaders & church members for supporting that BIG dream! Thank you Danilo Valverde Alvarado & all the hard workers of Iglesia Buen Pastor Church for your partnership in this BIG idea! Thank you Laurie Finger for obeying God when He burdened your heart for this hardly noticed poor community & for accepting this BIG challenge! Thank you GTD supporters for helping enable all of us to make a BIG differnce in so many people's lives! And most importantly, thank you Jesus for being a BIG God who inspired & accomplished it ALL!!!