Akerfa

Updates on the Zambikes Land, Zambikes partnerships, a Zambikes Spotlight and an introduction to the Acirfa US Riders…

ZAMBIKES FARM: TAKING SHAPE AND CHANGING LIVES

By Vaughn Spethmann

ZAMBULANCE TRAILERS

Things are quickly taking shape at the Zambikes farm. The newly developed Zambulance bicycle trailers have garnered the spotlight this month. In the last week Zambikes received orders totaling 107 Zambulance trailers. Recipients include anti-Malaria groups as well as urban and rural medical clinics.

Zambulance recipients have shared that they are able to save, on average 10 lives every three months. Without the Zambulance trailer, patients would not have made it to the hospital in time, as most live in areas where cars are unable to reach them. With the upcoming distribution of 107 Zambulances, about 1,070 lives can be saved in the next three months!

CONSTRUCTION

There are now close to 40 members on the Zambikes team, 25 on the construction team. In addition to their diligent work, most of the team meets every Wednesday morning for a short devotional time and singing. Saturdays they join together for a more in depth Bible study.

The entire team anticipates the completion of the Community Center on the land. Once it is complete, Zambikes will better be able to support management team’s informal entrepreneurship training, entrepreneurship classes, mechanic classes, more Bible studies and character development courses.

From their experience on the Zambikes construction team, about one fifth have lined up more jobs on the weekends. Some have even aligned jobs for when the community center is completed due to the training, expertise and reputations they have gained. A walk through the local villages proves that team members are also utilizing their experience in building their own homes.

BIKES

In addition to all of this, bikes are moving all over the country to medical workers, social workers, pastors and entrepreneurs. The bike mechanics love to hear where the bikes are distributed and eagerly hope they are selected to lead the training at the distribution site. For them, it is one of the most exciting parts of their work. More than 250 bikes have been assembled in the last month, and everyone is very eager to continue. Without you, none of this would be possible.

TOUR D’AFRIQUE & HANDS AT WORK

By Matt Castle

You know when you meet someone who has a need for what you have to offer?  Or when you meet someone who is offering exactly what you need?

It is like searching eBay for a 0.75″ black snakeskin watchband that will be the perfect replacement for the one that just broke on the watch your father gave you.  It is a perfect synergy of buyers and sellers that does not happen just every day.

This happened recently with Zambikes and two of its partners, Tour d’Afrique (http://www.tourdafrique.com/) and Hands at Work (http://www.handsatwork.org/zambia/).

Tour d’Afrique is an annual bicycle tour that rides from Cairo, Egypt to Cape Town, South Africa in 120 days.  The tour raises funds each year to be donated.

This year, Zambikes was fortunate to be the recipient of a sum of money to be put toward buying Zambikes for an organization in need of bicycles.  Hands at Work is an organization that sends “home-based care workers” out to help meet the needs of the community in the city of Kabwe and its surrounding villages. The Zambikes team selected them to be the recipients of the 59 bikes donated by Tour d’Afrique.

See what I meant about synergy? Zambikes was approached by an organization that had money to buy bikes but nobody to give the bikes to.  Zambikes then turned around and gave the bikes to an organization that had a tremendous need for bikes but no money to buy them.

God is doing amazing things here in Zambia. It is the relationships and partnerships like these that continue to remind the team of this time and time again.

SPOTLIGHT: Jameson Mulenga

By: Vaughn Spethmann

BEFORE ZAMBIKES:

Jameson is arguably the kindest and hardest worker in Zambia. Jameson and I first met in October of 2007 when he told me, ‘I build wheel.’ At the time I did not know anyone who knew how to build wheels, so he was in.

I later found out he has four children and did not have a job or means by which to support them. I visited his home shortly after, and one daughter, Blessing, had orange hair from malnutrition.

Very soon after the first container of bikes arrived, Jameson passed the Zambikes mechanic school. He remained the only team member who really knew how to build wheels. His ability to take initiative, his attention to detail, and his enthusiasm have only increased since.

NOW:

Jameson is a regular at the Saturday morning Bible study with Benjamin. He has gained experience in welding and more in depth bike mechanics and fabrication. Additionally, he has learned how to manage his money.

Jameson is the first to the Zambikes farm each morning and the last to leave. He will be the first one to say thank you for your support. He loves building Zambulances and Zamcarts, not only because he is gaining skills in a reputable job, but he also knows he is saving and changing lives.

Jameson and his wife began farming this year to ensure his kids have access to vegetables. Blessing is much healthier, and her hair has returned to its natural color. His new daughter Amy, named after my sister, is healthy and can look forward to a life of opportunity and love.

ACIRFA RIDERS: A FORMAL INTRODUCTION

TOP
Left: Grace Conrad & Alan Wight
Right: Robert Thompson

BOTTOM
Left: John Pfeil
Center: Brent Cady
Right: Dave Sacher

GRACE CONRAD AND ALAN WIGHT

ROUTE: Maine to Washington
DATES OF TRAVEL: May 10th-August 16th
WEBSITE: http://xc2009.webs.com/

MOTIVATION:

“We have been given so much and would like to give back.  The purpose of this trip is to raise money for charitable organizations that strive to help people in all parts of the world and across all aspects of life. To help promote and accomplish this goal, we will dedicate 3-4 months of our lives to raise money as we ride across this vast continent.”

DAVE SACHER

ROUTE: Prudhoe Bay, on the north shore of Alaska, to the bottom of South America
DATES OF TRAVEL: July 15th – ?
WEBSITE: http://www.earningthehorizon.com/
FACEBOOK GROUP: Earning the Horizon
DONATION PAGE: http://www.firstgiving.com/davesacher

MOTIVATION:

“People often ask me why I am doing this ride, and I feel that I never really have a good answer.  But let me share with you some of the things that motivate me, some of the things that I value and some of the reasons why I believe this journey is important.  It’s easy to be pessimistic about the state of the world right now.  We worry about war, poverty, the economy and the environment.  We are unsure of the future and crave someone to blame.

But let’s ask ourselves what we need to do to change things.  What are the qualities that enrich lives and build value?   This ride is a reminder of who we are, what we are capable of, and the drive and determination that will carry us through any challenge.  No matter how distant the horizon may seem, we will earn it.  This ride is a return to perseverance, patience and hard work.  This ride is a celebration of the dreams we can achieve and a condemnation of the spirit of entitlement that has caused so many of the problems we deal with today.  It is a reminder of the value in working for every mile and ultimately, earning the far distant horizon.”

ROBERT THOMPSON

ROUTE:  Race Events throughout California
DATES OF TRAVEL: Based on the event
DONATION PAGE: http://www.firstgiving.com/robertthompson

MOTIVATION:
“I have been riding bikes of all sorts my whole life. Oftentimes I think to myself that I will go wherever God and my bike can take me. Dr. Richard Slimbach once told me that I will know what I am to do when, “My joy, people’s needs and God’s will meet.” Acirfa is giving me an opportunity to do what I love, while meetings the needs of people in Africa. As I ride and race my bike, I will proudly wear the Acirfa jersey. I know that with the support of others, we can turn Africa around, “One bike at a time.” Acirfa bikes will open opportunities for a job, an education and even medical care, for Africans. These are vehicles to empower the people out of poverty.”

BRENT CADY AND JOHN PFEIL

ROUTE: London to Dublin
DATES OF TRAVEL: May 28th -June 27th
WEBSITE: http://www.albioninthegloaming.com

MOTIVATION:

“Just the other night I was searching my brain and the web for organizations that I knew of that had meaning and relevance to our trip.  I remembered Acirfa and that two Azusa Pacific alumni started this organization. Suddenly, I realized that our trip would have so much more purpose for us to be able to spread awareness to the UK of the need for bikes to create a better economy in Zambia.  Our dream now is that we could ride during the 4 weeks we will be in England, Scotland, and Ireland under the banner of Jesus Christ and one of his prized organizations.”

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