Trike Pilot Program

Check out our latest HWI video. Mission accomplished in North Africa. Our Pilot Trike Building Project.

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Source: www.youtube.com

Battles Bicycles Beliefs God has a Plan

*Battles * Bicycles * Beliefs

God Has A Plan

BATTLES

At the age of thirty, only days prior to a 1,000-mile bicycle trip, I came down with an invisible, debilitating, flu-like illness. Months later it was diagnosed as Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS), which doctors say feels like having AIDS. My symptoms included severe pain and a persistent low-grade fever. When standing still, my heart rate would rapidly rise from 80 to 160 beats per minute. As a nurse I knew medicine did not have answers for CFIDS. This left me devastated. My health was now unreliable and resulted in the inability to continue practicing nursing. Of course, I was depressed and scared. “Why me?” I wondered. Does my life still have a purpose? I realized it does, but I also realized I had a choice: “Will I become bitter and give up, or will I embrace God’s new vision for my life?”

Still fiercely battling CFIDS eight years later, I recognized my sense of security and identity were both physically and emotionally crushed. I doubted whether God really had a plan for me. I was about to sell my bicycle, but a friend said, “You can’t sell your bicycle. Selling your bicycle means you are giving up hope.” I knew she was right. I kept my bicycle. That decision became a turning point in how I adapted to my condition. II Corinthians 12:9 came alive to me: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

Unexpectedly, I lost my private disability income for CFIDS three years later. Again, I became despondent and questioned whether God really had a plan for my life. Yet, God pursued me. He wanted me to invite John and Carolyn Lutembeka, a Tanzanian couple, over for dinner. Three months later I finally obeyed. From the Lutembekas I learned $100 would buy a bicycle, allowing a pastor in Tanzania to travel to five villages. On average the distance between villages can be a six-hour walk.

BICYCLES

My bicycling passions, buried since the onset of CFIDS, rushed to mind when the Lutembekas shared their need. They were unaware that cycling was woven into the matrix of my life. Before I was diagnosed with CFIDS I had bicycled 10,000 miles on four continents. I rode from “Coast to Coast” across America twice, around England and Scotland, in Zimbabwe, Africa, and through Israel. Late that evening, after the Lutembekas left, God challenged me to provide them with $1,200 in order to buy bicycles for pastors in Tanzania. Due to my financial crisis I wrestled with God’s challenge. He won, but I did too. Within a week of giving $1,200 I received $1,500 unexpectedly from three different sources. This sparked a new vision for my life.

Out of this vision His Wheels International (HWI) was born. HWI is a not-for-profit Christian bicycle service organization. We provide bicycles and bicycle expertise to individuals and Christian organizations throughout the world. We have also designed and built hand-pedaled three-wheelers, which we affectionately call trikes. The trikes are for those disabled by landmines, polio or birth deformities. We are assisting and encouraging nationals to build trikes locally. In Wheaton, Illinois, volunteers refurbish, repair, and recycle bicycles for those in need. HWI’s purpose is to mobilize God’s work worldwide. HWI has provided bicycles for individuals from six continents and our trikes are on five continents.

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’” (Jeremiah 29:11). When CFIDS struck, I wondered whether God still had a plan for me. Now I know the answer to, “Why me?” I am living life for His glorious purpose. Through HWI I have gone further around the world than I could ever have imagined before I was stricken.

BELIEF

Do you struggle to believe God has a purpose for your life? The truth is God already has a plan for you. I have found this to be true in my life, especially in such things as the ministry of HWI. You can find it to be true in your life, too. Accepting Jesus Christ as Savior was my first step to finding God’s plan and it can be yours too.

The Bible says that we have all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory, and who He made us to be (Romans 3:23). But there is hope. If we humble ourselves and admit we are sinners, He will forgive us and give us a brand new start (1 John 1:9).

If you have questions, please contact me.

Alice Teisan

His Wheels International

P.O Box 423

Wheaton, IL 60187-0423

www.hiswheels.org

alice@hiswheels.org

@2009 Alice Teisan, Bible references @NIV.

A Divine Lunch Encounter

April 20, 2009

 

 “Will you join a friend and I for lunch?” asked Diane Garvin. Garvin introduced Alice Teisan, Founder of His Wheels International (HWI) in Wheaton, Illinois to Kilara Oruni, a 2003 Billy Graham Scholar and Founder of Missions of Agape Friends in Uganda, over lunch. Oruni is an indigenous missionary sent out to serve in Rwanda. Teisan shared that HWI’s is a Christian bicycle service ministry with the goal of providing bicycles and hand-pedaled three-wheeler (trike) expertise for the purpose of mobilzing God’s work worldwide.

 

Oruni shared the need for bicycle transportation for employees at Dayspring Primary School, begun in January, 2009 in Kigali, Rwanda. Teisan along with the 8th graders at Wheaton Christian Grammar School (WCGS) had just completed a service learning project. Students raised $835 through a book, toy and bicycle sale and were seeking God’s direction for where to buy bikes. Oruni, explained that bicycles would facilitate transportation for employees and serve as an important compensation benefit.  Since it would take 20 months for the employees to pay off the bicycles, by having a small amount deducted from their monthly wages, this would provide stability for the school through these employees. In addition Dayspring could keep the bicycle program going. This was a perfect match for WCGS and Dayspring Primary School in Rwanda. Oruni thanked the WCGS participants. Afterwards a students asked, “how can we pray for you?” Students then gathered around and prayed for Oruni and his ministry. HWI donated $2,500 total for bicycles to be bought in Rwanda for Dayspring Primary School, and  bicycles to be bought in Gulu, Uganda as a tool to help pastor’s plant churches.

In addition we are praying about the possibility of setting up a small trike manufacturing facility in Rwanda. Two other concerns of Oruni’s include a need to minister to those with disabilities, and also a way to start a teachchnical training program whereby Rwandans can learn a marketable skill. Kevin Nikolich, HWI’s consulting engineer and Oruni have spent time together touring our metal vendor’s facility along with Nikolich teaching Oruni how to weld and build a trike using our manufacturing fixtures. We are praying for a container headed to Rwanda where we could send the necessary equipment to make this dream a reality.

Wheaton Sun Article, April 3, 2009

Check out the most recent article written about HWI. It is in the April 3, 2009 addition of The Wheaton Sun, written by Terry Jean Day. 

Wheaton Sun Article, April 3, 2009

Here is the letter Maxene wrote after receiving the trike in Haiti back in February (See earlier post). He wrote it in Creole, so it took a while to find a translator. We are thankful for a pastor in Chicago who knew Creole, and willingly translated this letter for us. 

February 27, 2009

"Good morning, Pastor (The pastor chose the trike recipient). I praise the Lord for you. God has used you in such a way to help me, and brought such a souvenir in my life. I thank you and your family very...very...very much. I have nobody, but God puts me in your heart to help me. I thank you very much for what you've done for me at this moment in life. What a gift! As you know, as handicapped as I am I have lots of problems, no means to live. Life is not easy, and I have to stay at people house, praise God for that. I beg you, pastor, not to forget about me. I know God can do it all, and I will never stop to thank you. I will never stop to glorify the name of the Lord for this awesome gift. God has sent me a wonderful gift; I thank you very much for that. Now I need to go to church to praise Him, but need some clothes to put on my back. I know God will finish what he has already started. ...I hope all is well with you, especially when we know with Jesus nothing shall be impossible."

After reading this letter I thought of the words Jesus spoke "And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'" (Matthew 25:40 ESB)

Tanzania Bikes

In 2008 and 2009 we joined with two leaders who have overseen the distribution of 40 bicycles in Tanzania. This makes our total in Tanzania 50 bikes since the vision of HWI was planted.

If you would like to read the story about these bicycles you can find the stories at our website: hiswheels.org at our news page. Our Spring 2009 Newsletter will be posted soon.

A Transforming Quote

Back in late January I heard Pastor Josh Moody, pastor at College Church in Wheaton, IL via the internet on WETN. He was beginning a series on Galatians as I was just finishing a year long study in Revelations and was wondering what I would study next. He said something that echoed with my soul. Galatians is a hard book to study and Satan would rather us not grasp hold of the freedom offered through Galatians. I realized I lacked any real desire to study Galatians. Moody quoted an inspiring quote by Martin Luther on Galatians. I found it so intriguing I went to my bookshelf to see if I may have Luther on Galatians. I was delighted to find, "Commentary on St. Paul's Epistle to the Galatians by Martin Luther," first published in 1535.

One of the rich and priceless gifts I received from my father as a young child was a love for reading the great scholars. My father, at one time had over 700 Biblical books and commentaries  in his library. As my library has been built up my dad's has decreased in direct correlation. 

Here is a quote from Luther that I have read daily through the Lenten Season. I trust it will have a transforming impact on your life as it has on mine.

"Now we have said before, that the law in a Christian ought not to pass his bounds, but ought to have dominion only over the flesh, which is in subjection unto it, and remaineth under the same. When it is thus, the law is kept within his bounds. But if is shall presume to creep into thy conscience, and there seek to reign, see thou play the cunning logician, and make the true division. Give no more the law than belongeth unto it, but say thou: O law, thou wouldest climb up into the kingdom of my consciene, and there reign and reprove it of sin, and wouldest take from me the joy of my heart, which I have by faith in Christ, and drive me to desperation, that I might be without all hope and utterly perish. This thou dost besides thine office: keep thyself within thy bounds, and exercise thy power upon the flesh, but touch not my consciene; for I am baptized, and by the Gospel am called to the partaking of righteousness and of everlasting life, to the kingdom of Christ, wherein my conscience is at rest, where no law is, but altogether forgiveness of sins, peace, quietness, joy, health and everlasting life. Trouble me not in these matters, for I will not suffer thee, so intolerable a tyrant and cruel tormentor, to reign in my conscience, for it is the seat and temple of Christ the Son of God, who is the king of righteousness and peace, and my most sweet saviour and mediator: he shall keep my conscience joyful and quiet in the sound and pure doctrine of the Gospel, and in the knowledge of this passive and heavenly righteousness." (pg. 28)

Galatians 2: 21 "I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain."  I've had to ask myself, does my righteousness kill Christ's? This verse shows me the seriousness of my self righteousness.

Lord help me to smuggle deep into my heart that the laws limits are for the flesh, and not for my conscience.

Haiti Trike, February 2009

"Do you think HWI has a trike for me to take to Haiti next week?" asked Dave. Jean relayed her husband's question to me that same morning. By the afternoon, after praying and seeking counsel everything was set into motion.

Dave and his friend Chuck joined a group from Naperville Presbyterian Church for an 8-day mission trip. The team worked in conjunction with El Shaddai ministry in Haiti.  This mission is part of the Presbyterian Church of America.

"I have a bike for you," a Haitian Pastor told Maxene, a 25-year-old man paralyzed from his waist down. Prior to receiving the trike Maxene had believed his paralysis was the result of a voodoo spell. "Why are you making fun of me by saying you have a bike? You know I cant ride." Maxene stated. 

When he saw the trike his face lit up. The team told him it was a gift from God. "God's power is greater than any other power. Even over the roughest road he can smooth it out," Chuck prayed. Maxene did not have any trouble negotiating the rocky, rut filled, impossible looking hilly roads on crutches, and he didn't have any trouble with the trike either. As he rode away, the team could tell he was experiencing a new kind of freedom. Maxene was practically in tears but with a smile beaming on his face. "For the rest of my life I can never repay you for what you have done." Maxene stated.

For the first time ever he was able to get down to the river by himself. This is where locals bathe, and it is also a place of inspiration. Our prayer is that a relationship with the pastor who gave the trike to Maxene will lead Maxene on a journey to finding hope and freedom in Jesus Christ.

Chuck said, "This was a blessing and highlight of my trip to haiti. So often when opportunities are presented, obstacles start rising. We wonder how it will all work out. Yet God just wants us to turn it over to Him and He makes the wheels turn." For Maxene, he has now witnessed the power of a loving god to help dispel the darkness of Voodoo worship, which paralyzed his spiritual life.