Ever since last June when I spent three weeks with an amazing group of cyclists and our support teams riding across the country, I have been pondering that question... In some ways, it is easy to answer - as in the impact that cycling has had on my life. But, in other ways - not so easy.

As a true introvert, when I started training in earnest for the Ride for Hope Coast to Coast, some of the many appeals of the sport of cycling quickly became apparent. Regularly spending two or three hours at a time all by myself with no cell phone or Skype calls distracting me was a great escape. It gave me uninterrupted time to think about how to overcome some problem with our Child Sponsorship program. It gave me hours of quiet time with my Lord in prayer and meditation. I saw up close and personal, the incredible beauty of His creation and I grew in awe and appreciation of His greatness.

                    “Spring” Ride Around Glen Lake

From a personal physical standpoint, of course, I lost a lot of  weight (although this long winter has not been kind). I improved my cardio condition and got a lot stronger. When I started training, I thought I was gonna die at 20 miles. Now, that’s a walk in the park. I’ve truly come to love it and it’s been great for me physically and mentally. I could see many of these same impacts in the other cyclists that participated.

But beyond that, as I was spending long hours in the saddle I kept wondering about how and if cycling could have these same positive impacts on our kids in Africa. Ride for Hope Coast to Coast has had such a positive impact here in the US but can we really tie it to our work of caring for the AIDS affected child in Africa?

I recently read a great book called “Land of Second Chances” by Tim Lewis about the creation of Team Rwanda  and impact of cycling on the people of Rwanda in the aftermath of the genocide.
It’s a great read but what

really struck me was how

cycling impacted the lives

of the Rwandans. Every

time I am in East Africa

(Kenya, Tanzania in

particular) I am struck by how

many people you see on

bicycles. I KNOW there is a

huge connect between the

bicycle and the everyday lives

of Africans and I am praying

that we can really tie the RFH

more directly to the ministry

work that is going on in Africa.

There is no doubt in my mind that God can help us see the way to bring His amazing message of love and hope together with the physical, mental and spiritual strengthening aspects of cycling. The possibilities are amazing and I know that creating that tie will draw more cyclists in the west into the effort of caring for the AIDS affected child. Giddyup!

BH