Second stage

Estimated friends, colleagues and anyone who's interseted in reading my blog,
The married stage of my life takes place in another blogspot:

http://davenstella.blogspot.com/2007_09_01_archive.html

The blogspot is written in Dutch because most of the experiences have been lived in Holland and Belgium. From now on, you'll be able to keep up with my relational biographies there. In case you'd like to have one of the stories translated in English, just leave a comment behind and let me know that you want to have it translated. I'll do then my very best to translate it for you.

God bless you en keep it strong!!!

~ Succes is not the position where you are, but the direction you look at. ~

WielerClub Eindhoven (WCE)

WielerClub Eindhoven is the name of my cycling team for the year 2007. Wieler means 'cycling' and Eindhoven is the name of the city I'd be representing. The moment I got accepted on this team I knew I'd be able to grow as a cyclist greatly. I had a personal coach and a great team to rely upon. Let the competitions begin...

The day I got the new outfit was the greatest so far in my cycling career. I was as proud as a peacock boasting its wide-open ornate tail. That day I realized it was going to be a great year.

Despite a job, studies and right before the competition period, a difficult separation from my beloved one, have I been able to ride plenty of competitions this year. Mostly thanks to the support of my teammates who'd take me to the competitions every time. I myself have no car and it made the situation quite difficult for me. However, there was always someone willing to give me a hand and give me a ride. The distances between where I lived and that of the competitions were about 20 to 50 km away. Once in a while I could go riding the bike, but not on a regular basis.

Because I'd be competing in a fully organized team for the first time, guidance was uttermost important. I wasn't left alone and eventually it turned out that my personal advisor was Peter Verhouden, three times National Champion of the Amateurs. He then became a really close friend of mine. Every time I stepped into his car, he would inform me about the competition of the day; the do's and don’ts, and how to reach the finish line. All of his advices were precious for me. It was a great honor for me to be advised by him.

Thanks to his advices, my own little experience in the field and the support of the rest of my teammates, has it been possible enjoy this competition period; however, nothing would've ever been possible without the continuous direction of my Lord, Jesus Christ. He did not only prepare me for the competition world, but I could also fall back into His embracing arms whenever the hardships would get me down.

I had to sweat all my strength away altogether with the vaporizing energy which would loosen up whenever I had to compete. It was painful and breathtaking as well. I then realized that I wasn't ready for a victory yet. Nevertheless, as I rode more competitions, did I get more skilled and whenever I rode again was I able to handle the situation better than the competition before. I rode around 20 competitions this year. Here are my best results:

Circuits (50 - 70 km):

• De Mortel: Peloton
• Milheze (Hoeven): Peloton
• Zeeland: Peloton
• De Rips: Peloton

Classics (80 - 130 km):

• Omloop van der Peel (1st stage): Peloton
• Ronde van Brabant: 39th (My best competition of the year in Holland)
• Hel van Brabant (1st stage): 69th
• Rogtour International competition
• Time trial: 103rd (Not that great :-/)
• Circuit: Peloton
• Classic: 30th
• General classification: 82nd

Other:

• Pro Tour Challenge team time trial: 4th (team result)

As you can see, the results weren't that of a winner yet. I couldn't complain though. Those were tough times in which I had to take care of my studies, job, and the visa documentation for my beloved one. The last situation is the one which jeopardized my cycling results. I could never train long enough and I had not psychological rest at all. Every time I stepped on the bike, I would be pressed by the obligations awaiting me at home. It was certainly not pleasant to live under such pressure, but no one said that living alone and being a cyclist is easy.

Regardless of the situation, I must say that every time I rode my bike during a competition, I felt closer to my dreams. I was doing what I've been meant to do, and that gave me the satisfaction needed to have peace of mind and keep on breaking through.

The picture above is the highest point of my career that year, “The national competition for amateurs in Holland”. Never before, had I had the chance to reach such a high level in Holland. It was certainly a dream come true. With a bright new full-carbon bike, I dove into the competition not caring about anything else. Due to the lack of training though, I felt obliged to leave it halfway through and head towards home.

Ironically enough, I went home cycling even after having competed at 21:00 hours in the night. I rode 50 km that night on my way home. I was home at almost midnight but nothing mattered, I had been in the competition and afterwards had I received the gift of one of the most beautiful sunsets I'd ever seen. That moment, was I completely fulfilled. God let me know that it wasn't over; instead, it was the beginning of a great journey within the cycling world. More training and a better situation would lead me as high as I wanted to go...

"Just hold on David, never give up and keep on fighting the good fight".

You can count on me

These are the lyrics of a song written by "Oreja de van Gogh".
The text which you're about to read, has touched my heart every time I heard it. I had to think of my best friend, my darling every time it was played again. It was so real, so close... that even though not every song is made to become true, has this song taken a stronghold of us.

Música y letra de Amaia Montero
Music and lyrics composed by Amaia Montero

Un café con sal. Ganas de llorar.
A coffee with salt. Willingness to cry.
Mi mundo empezando a temblar,
My world beginning to tremble,
presiento que se acerca el final.
I feel the end is coming
No quiero ganar. Ahora eso qué más da.
I don't want to win. What does it matter now.
Estoy cansada ya de inventar excusas que no saben andar.
I'm tired of making up stories which cannot stand alone.
Y sólo quedarán los buenos momentos de ayer que fueron de los dos.
And only will remain, the good moments of yesterday... of us both alone
Y hoy sólo quiero creer ...
And today I only want to believe...

Chorus:

que recordarás las tardes de invierno por Madrid,
That you'll remember the winter afternoons in Madrid

las noches enteras sin dormir.
endless nights without sleep

La vida pasaba y yo sentía que me iba a morir de amor
Life went on and I felt I was going to die of love

al verte esperando en mi portal sentado en el suelo sin pensar
Watching you at my portal sitting on the ground not thinking at all

que puedes contar conmigo.
that you can count on me.

Nunca hubo maldad. Sólo ingenuidad.
There has never been evil, just naivety
Pretendiendo hacernos creer que el mundo estaba a nuestros pies.
pretending that the world is beneath our feet.
Cuando el sueño venga por mí en silencio voy a construir
When sleep comes for me in silence will I build
una vida a todo color donde vivamos juntos los dos.
a colorful life where we both together shall live.
Y sólo quedarán los buenos momentos de ayer que fueron de los dos.
And only the good moments of yesterday remain, which were of us both.
Y hoy sólo quiero creer...
And today I just want to believe...

Chorus

que puedes contar conmigo para siempre.
That you can always count on me

Y no puedo evitar echarte de menos
And I can't avoid missing you
mientras das la mano a mi tiempo y te vas.
While you give a hand to my hand and go away
Yo siento que quiero verte y verte y pienso
I feel I want to see you and see you and I think

Chorus

Que recordarás las tardes de invierno por Madrid,
That you'll remember the winter afternoons in Madrid
las noches enteras sin dormir.
endless nights without sleep
La vida se pasa y yo me muero, me muero por ti.
Life fades away and I die, I die for you...

We were in love... we were meant to be... we were ready to soar high...
Yet, life was about to change. Life was going to take a turn we both hadn't foreseen. It was then, that the lyrics at the beginning of this song would take hold... to our regret.
(Story to be continued)

The beginning of a new journey

It all began the 21st of September 2006, the beginning of spring in our beloved land, Bolivia. A day in which the birds renew their song, bumblebees buzz over the flower fields in search of nectar, and the waterfalls begin to bring new life to the blossom of new flowers. However, that day is not only characterized by the beginning of spring, but is this day also considered the day of love in Bolivia. The day in which the friendship of my dearest friend and I had a whole new begin. It all started with a yellow flower at one hand and a Bible a the other. On a mountain top, when the sun, at the fall of the night was glowing the radiance of it's yellowish-orange rays reflected on dashling clouds above, filled up with a majestic colour display of the sun's last rays.

That journey, which began as a friendship, led us to this day, where things were about to change...

Together, my darling and I had taken a step of faith and had decided to go upon a journey where the end was uncertain, with a troublesome and treacherous way, though regardless the way, the step had been taken; we were moving forward toward our goal... today.

Taking moments of rest along the way, and enjoying every momemt we were together, did our hearts begin to enfold each other more and more. Despite of the distance which was beyond the reach of any bird who'd dare to fly so high or far away, had we learned to know that love would find a way... this way, for the sake of love... in which neither time nor distance had been able to separate us, such valuable frienship which was enhanced more and more, eventually turned out to be a love so pure, that as when gold comes out purified out of the furnace, our love through difficulties and tumbleness had learned to survive and emerge as the most valuable possession we both had. It was a possession not to be lost...

The time has come to decide, a decision which had been mentioned 2 years ago: we'd be together once again, within the schemed time of two years. During that period of patience and hardship had I learned to value what I have and I learned that what God has set aside for you, remains only for you. It's no one else's possession than yours. Learn to value it. I had almost lost my most precious possession due to my lack of faith and had fallen along the way; however, God taught me to stand up, fight the good fight, and believe for what's been given unto me. He's the one who brought us so far, that here we are, together once again.

Hidden, far away from the reach of men's red tape, had we decided to journey into a beautiful isolated area where nature overwhelmed with peace, which solely God's creation knows to give. In that place, at that moment had the most important decisiont of our lives been made. The unfolding of years of patiënce and faith on each other but above all, God had led to this turning point: the beginning of a whole new life... our pact of sacred love.
Under God's eyes and the protection of His realm, have we chosen to be one...

Despite any storm which may have been found along the way, can we finally declare that regardless of it all, with God's blessing and protection above our heads, we are now one. May the Lord our God be altogether glorified!

He is our Father, He is our King, and we shall live as one whole for Him! :-D