"Cycling to end poverty". That's the reason behind this bike trip--to raise awareness and money to overcome poverty in our country and around the world.
In my mind, raising awareness is just as important as raising money. After all, there are easier ways to raise money. Our church has regular collections for World Renew, the local Food Bank, and other causes. Our church also has a field for the Canadian Food Grains Bank. For example, on Dec 23 the church's collection for the Dundas Foodbank was $896, the Christmas Eve collection for the House of Lazarus was $333, while the Christmas Day collection for World Renew was an amazing $3233. In three days, our medium-sized church raised over $4000 for organizations that deal with poverty related issues. And so, there are easier ways to raise money than biking over 6000 kilometers.
Just as important as raising money is raising awareness about the issue about poverty. This will not simply be a one-time collection for a special cause. Because of the nature of the trip, the training and the promotion for it, it will be brought to the congregation's attention for a good portion of a year. It will lead me to reflect upon the causes and solutions about poverty, from a Biblical perspective. As a pastor, I can use my preaching to highlight this cause. For example on Dec 30, I preached on the Slaughter of the Innocents (Matthew 2:18), relating the text to the shootings in Newtown. But I reminded everyone that every day, every hour, at least 20 children die of hunger related causes. The slaughter of the innocents continues! And so, for me, raising awareness about the issues connected to poverty is just as important as raising money.
Yes, I do have to raise $10,000. I also have to train to be able to bike over 6000 kilometers. I'm not sure which will be the more difficult challenge. Time will tell. My prayer is for the Lord to bless both challenges, as well as the overall goal of bringing shalom to our brokenness world.
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Saturday, December 15, 2012
What got me to sign up?
On Wednesday (Dec 12) I officially registered to become a participant on the Sea to Sea bike tour. (To see what that is all about check out the website: www.seatosea.org). The night before Council allowed me the time off so that I can do the whole thing--all 6250 kilometers! It's exciting, as well as overwhelming. Can I really do this? I'm sure that during the period of training, as well as the actual bike ride, I will ask that question over and over again. Can I really do this? Only with God's help.
In this posting, I'd like to begin to answer the question: What got me to sign up? After all, I'm not very athletic. I don't run. I don't play hockey. I don't even bike much--in fact, the lock on my present bike is rusted so much the key won't work in it. So how can I think about biking 6250 kilometers?
Well, it began with this thought: We have had someone connected to our church in the previous two bike tours, so I'd thought it would be good if someone from our church would go this time as well. In a congregational prayer, I asked God: Who are you raising up in this church to go this time? As I pondered who it might be, I thought that maybe it could be me.
In addition, the idea of taking a month off from work had already been posed to Council. As the congregation knows, I do like to travel. Perhaps I could take my new trailer on the road. But then the Sea to Sea came to mind. If I was granted some extra time, should I not use it for a worthy cause, like "cycling to end poverty"? In my extensive travels, I have seen the reality of poverty, from Haiti to Zambia. So here was a trip with a purpose: To help in one small way to overcome poverty.
And so I am signed up. Do I know what I am getting myself into? Not really. It is a leap of faith. While each day I know that I depend upon the Lord, undertaking this project will make that dependence very obvious. I look to him to guide me through.
ps. I also need your support. Please pray for all the participants in the tour. It is a fundraiser. I have to raise $10,000 for the cause. If you would like to support me, the easiest way is online. Go to the website mentioned above; go to the Donate button; click and find my name (John Noordhof). Other means of donating will be detailed in the weeks and months ahead. Thank you for your interest in this cause.
In this posting, I'd like to begin to answer the question: What got me to sign up? After all, I'm not very athletic. I don't run. I don't play hockey. I don't even bike much--in fact, the lock on my present bike is rusted so much the key won't work in it. So how can I think about biking 6250 kilometers?
Well, it began with this thought: We have had someone connected to our church in the previous two bike tours, so I'd thought it would be good if someone from our church would go this time as well. In a congregational prayer, I asked God: Who are you raising up in this church to go this time? As I pondered who it might be, I thought that maybe it could be me.
In addition, the idea of taking a month off from work had already been posed to Council. As the congregation knows, I do like to travel. Perhaps I could take my new trailer on the road. But then the Sea to Sea came to mind. If I was granted some extra time, should I not use it for a worthy cause, like "cycling to end poverty"? In my extensive travels, I have seen the reality of poverty, from Haiti to Zambia. So here was a trip with a purpose: To help in one small way to overcome poverty.
And so I am signed up. Do I know what I am getting myself into? Not really. It is a leap of faith. While each day I know that I depend upon the Lord, undertaking this project will make that dependence very obvious. I look to him to guide me through.
ps. I also need your support. Please pray for all the participants in the tour. It is a fundraiser. I have to raise $10,000 for the cause. If you would like to support me, the easiest way is online. Go to the website mentioned above; go to the Donate button; click and find my name (John Noordhof). Other means of donating will be detailed in the weeks and months ahead. Thank you for your interest in this cause.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Pictures
After six hours of uploading, over 600 pictures of the Mission Trip have been added to my website. While the youth have plenty of pictures of our free time, I have the most on our mission sites (since most did not take their cameras for these events.) But not all ministry sites are represented, as at some places I could not take any, or very few pictures. For example, the homeless ministry has no pictures, except for Roberto in the orientation session. As a result, the pictures do not tell the whole story.
The pictures can be accessed at http://johnhenry64.smugmug.com
The pictures can be accessed at http://johnhenry64.smugmug.com
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Saturday: The Long Journey Home
It was a long day. Up at 5, with the vans loaded at 5:30am and off to Penn Station. The drive in was easy and we had plenty of time to have breakfast at the train station and buy lunch. (Penn Station is under Madison Square Gardens so it had plenty of food options.)
The train left basically on time: 8:15am. Unfortuantely, it did not arrive on time. 7:10 became 8:35pm. The main reason was the border. It took nearly three hours to clear customs. While most had no issues, the few who had to answer further questions off the train took a lot of time. Still, the train ride allowed lots of leg room, walking, and sitting playing cards in the diner car. Plus, the scenery was great.
Ken Harbers was at the train waiting for us and we soon headed home. The group had a final prayer at the train station, as the three vechicles headed (eventually) in three different directions. It's now 11:25 and it's time for me to go to bed.
Hopefully, I'll some pictures up on my website as well as offer some further reflection on this trip. Until then, good night and God bless.
The train left basically on time: 8:15am. Unfortuantely, it did not arrive on time. 7:10 became 8:35pm. The main reason was the border. It took nearly three hours to clear customs. While most had no issues, the few who had to answer further questions off the train took a lot of time. Still, the train ride allowed lots of leg room, walking, and sitting playing cards in the diner car. Plus, the scenery was great.
Ken Harbers was at the train waiting for us and we soon headed home. The group had a final prayer at the train station, as the three vechicles headed (eventually) in three different directions. It's now 11:25 and it's time for me to go to bed.
Hopefully, I'll some pictures up on my website as well as offer some further reflection on this trip. Until then, good night and God bless.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Friday: Another Free Day
Originally this day was described as "Lodging Day", which I assumed meant working at NYSUM. It turns out it was just another free day, so we took opportunity for it. People could sleep in or go to breakfast at NYSUM. At 9am we headed to McDonalds down a few blocks. Many had breakfast there (the best breakfast many had all week). We then headed into Manhattan. The group divided into two: those who wanted to go shopping and those who just wanted to play sports. I was part of the latter group. We got off close to Central Park, but before we got there, we visited the Apple Store and was tempted to buy an iPod, even an iPad.
We then headed to Central Park, where we saw the ice rink still still in use, despite the warm weather. We played football for an hour. (Dan had bought a small football and a soccer ball.) When we went for a bite to eat and the other group found us. We returned to where we playing earlier and continued with some soccer. At 3pm we left and returned to NYMSUM.
After dinner, we walked to the store to buy things for the train. Then it was time to pack. The alarm will go off at 5am, for a 5:30 departure from here. The train should leave at 8:15am. It's time to come home.
We then headed to Central Park, where we saw the ice rink still still in use, despite the warm weather. We played football for an hour. (Dan had bought a small football and a soccer ball.) When we went for a bite to eat and the other group found us. We returned to where we playing earlier and continued with some soccer. At 3pm we left and returned to NYMSUM.
After dinner, we walked to the store to buy things for the train. Then it was time to pack. The alarm will go off at 5am, for a 5:30 departure from here. The train should leave at 8:15am. It's time to come home.
Thursday: Helping hands and smiles
The first ministry site was with World Vision, an organization that many of us are familiar with. In addition to all their work overseas, they also do work in the US, dealing with the poverty issues that exist in the US. In the US, they have five warehouses that serve as a collecting and distributing point for various items. They will collect stuff from stores that will not sell; sort them and distribute them to various agencies.
Our task was to empty boxes of donated clothes from stores (hence, these are new items, not used). We had to sort them according to type of clothing, eg pants. They then had to reboxed according to the type of item. And so, I counted and packed blouses--four boxes of them--about 150 per box. It was a very hands on ministry.
We were back by 2:30/3:00pm and so had some free time before dinner at 5. Andy and I scouted the area for breakfast spot for the next day, as well as possible places to buy food for the train. I walked out in shorts and T-shirt.
Our evening activity was changed. This was a disappointment for many, as many were looking forward to the Glory Train. Instead, we were asked to visit a hospital for long-term patients. This was one of our closest sites--just a 15/20 minute drive to Roosevelt Island.
Our task was to empty boxes of donated clothes from stores (hence, these are new items, not used). We had to sort them according to type of clothing, eg pants. They then had to reboxed according to the type of item. And so, I counted and packed blouses--four boxes of them--about 150 per box. It was a very hands on ministry.
We were back by 2:30/3:00pm and so had some free time before dinner at 5. Andy and I scouted the area for breakfast spot for the next day, as well as possible places to buy food for the train. I walked out in shorts and T-shirt.
Our evening activity was changed. This was a disappointment for many, as many were looking forward to the Glory Train. Instead, we were asked to visit a hospital for long-term patients. This was one of our closest sites--just a 15/20 minute drive to Roosevelt Island.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Wednesday: Free Day
A free day should be an easy day right?
Not necessarily; not when you're leading 13 teenagers through New York City for twelve hours.
We left NYSUM at 9:30 on subway into lower Manhattan. We got off, closest to the UN building, which was our first stop. (It was raining when we left but it soon stopped and eventually the clouds gave way to sunshine by the end of the day.) We only had a very short tour of the UN, but it was still worthwhile to a get a sense of the place. Afterwards we walked further into the city, stopping for lunch. We then stopped in at St. Patrick's Cathedral, where there was a service going on, so we could only view this church from the back. But it was an impressive cathedral.
Then we went to the Rockefeller Center, watching some figure skating on the outdoor rink, visiting a Lego store and the NBC store. From there we walked to Times Square and just absorbed that center of massive activity. Stopped at Tim Horton's for break and the M&M store (3 floors of candy!). We proceeded down to the Empire State Building. Those who did not want to go up it, went shopping at Macy's. I went up to the 86th observatory and then the 102th level. The view was just incredible and well worth the money. We rejoined together and went to a restaurant for supper (Jimmy's). By this time it was dark and we walked to Times Square, with all of its lights. (It almost felt like daylight.) A TV personality interviewed a few members of the group, for his show. (It was for a cable TV show). Back to the subway and to NYSUM by 9:30pm. A full day of activities.
Not necessarily; not when you're leading 13 teenagers through New York City for twelve hours.
We left NYSUM at 9:30 on subway into lower Manhattan. We got off, closest to the UN building, which was our first stop. (It was raining when we left but it soon stopped and eventually the clouds gave way to sunshine by the end of the day.) We only had a very short tour of the UN, but it was still worthwhile to a get a sense of the place. Afterwards we walked further into the city, stopping for lunch. We then stopped in at St. Patrick's Cathedral, where there was a service going on, so we could only view this church from the back. But it was an impressive cathedral.
Then we went to the Rockefeller Center, watching some figure skating on the outdoor rink, visiting a Lego store and the NBC store. From there we walked to Times Square and just absorbed that center of massive activity. Stopped at Tim Horton's for break and the M&M store (3 floors of candy!). We proceeded down to the Empire State Building. Those who did not want to go up it, went shopping at Macy's. I went up to the 86th observatory and then the 102th level. The view was just incredible and well worth the money. We rejoined together and went to a restaurant for supper (Jimmy's). By this time it was dark and we walked to Times Square, with all of its lights. (It almost felt like daylight.) A TV personality interviewed a few members of the group, for his show. (It was for a cable TV show). Back to the subway and to NYSUM by 9:30pm. A full day of activities.
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