I look at my bike, Helmut hanging off the handlebar
and try to remember the last time I went for a ride
me the one who is early sixties, and feels more like a circus bear on a bike
than a cyclist ...
This summer our lives include hosting a man like none other I know
at least in the cycling department
and in the extreme dedication to use his bike as the means to a greater cause
A man whom some say must be crazy to do what he does (who does this when they are my age!!)
And who knows, maybe at times he thinks that himself
However you would never know that...
Its about a call to something greater,
Its about a relationship with the ONE who gives Him strength - Jesus.
Its about thousands and thousands of little faces that play before him
while he pedals ... (the Mully Children's Family)
minute to hour to hourS to days to weeks ...
not always a Guiness World Record attempt
but ALWAYS one man doing something extreme and great - for a greater cause
A man that is loved by many..
A man who's greatest cheerleader is his wife, and his kids and grandchildren<3 p="">
A man who is loved and encouraged by friends
And prayed for daily ... by many
O LORD GIVE HIM STRENGTH TO DO THIS - for your honour and glory and for the lives of these children in Kenya.
These days, the call makes him get up before the sun
at a time when most of us are turning over one more time in our sleep
And cycle well into the end of the day.
When most of us have been well fed and reclining for hours already.
The call makes him do what others would not even dream of...
To ride his bike for hours, when many are enjoying the coolness of a pool
To ride his bike for hours, when it is raining (or sometimes worse)
To push his body past what seems impossible
And to go to places physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually that only God knows.
Arvid ...
You listen to him speak, and his voice cracks with emotion
when talking about the children - the ones that ruined him for the ordinary...
He and his wife Ruth - changed through this big big family and a call to "be a voice for orphaned and abandoned children rescued by Mully Children’s Family, a street children’s rescue mission in Kenya, Africa." (Arvid's words on his site)
The cause Arvid cycles for, is also about a man and a woman (who our friend knows so well)
who felt a call to something greater ...
who felt a call to greater love than just for their own flesh and blood family
who gave it all up - for something more - even greater than anything they knew ...
a call to with a motto of Saving Children's Lives ...
for the past few decades.
Charles and Esther Mully. www.mullychildrensfamily.org
And were able to fulfill it because of their relationship to the ONE who gives them strength.
The same ONE as Arvid gets strength from - Jesus.
I have the easy job.
I can watch him, wave to him, encourage, donate, and lend our loft for these thirty days.
We can let his crew set up on our property
And let them use our water to wash off his bike at the end of the day ..
That is an easy job - a no-brainer really....
Arvid has the extremely hard job - body, soul, mind and spirit.
But the ONE we serve will be the ONE that gives him strength.
I can sit inside when the rain falls
Arvid does not have the same luxury to just come in out of the rain, and keep dry.
His cycling is not for the faint of heart - and like I said, we know NO ONE like Arvid.
But there is one thing I can do.
I can wave sure ... but the most important thing I can do is to pray.
So Let me do that now.
LORD I bring Arvid and Ruth before you and thank you for their friendship. Thank you for Arvid and Ruth's love for the Mully Children's Family, and also for his dedication to fundraise full time for them. LORD you see every single rotation of his pedals. You know every single drop of rain that may fall on him even now as I write. You know his physical needs. We ask you LORD GOD to provide for them all. Thank you for his massages that have helped his legs, and his adjustments that have helped his body. And now LORD GOD we come before you and ask you to give him all he needs especially in this middle third of this journey ... the mental and emotion struggle that happens, and the physical fatigue and toll that the long days and little sleep have on him - LORD would you give him life giving thoughts while he peddles. During this middle ten days would you speak your words into his mind as he peddles and would you be the wind Holy Spirit in him. We pray against this dreaded middle part, and ask you to bind the enemy from any discouraging thoughts. Would you LORD GOD continue to be the One that Arvid can fix his gaze on. And would his sleep be deep and restful at night. We pray for you to keep his body, soul, mind and spirit - Strong! LORD thank you for MCF! Thank you for Ruth, his partner and his best encourager in this. Would you also give her strength during this time of supporting! Help us to remember to pray for Arvid. LORD would you be the one to remind us many times, and also every single time we pass him, to lift him before your throne. LORD GOD - we give you the praise, the honour, the glory and the thanks for Arvid, and for Ruth and for this extreme call!! Be their strength LORD and Holy Spirit, ride with him ... Amen
ps. This is unsolicited - but since I have you hear - please read this too and consider how you can be involved ...
What can YOU do??? Well .... you can pray! You can stop by the end of the driveway and encourage the team, and cheer him on. BUT he is doing it to raise money for the MCF ... so please PLEASE consider a DONATION!! Follow this link and donate now ... any amount helps.
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