Long Time No Post

I (Alice) enjoyed a much needed time off in early September. But His Wheels kept marching on in my absents thanks to our volunteers and our bike and trike coordinators.


Today there were 7 of us. We were from 6 different area churches. On our Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday morning workdays we take time for updates and then we pause to pray. Here are some of the updates I shared today.

• Kevin our engineer brought our new US trike by so volunteers could take it for a spin and give input.
• Yesterday I got to try the trike and Kevin and I had a long discussion about the pros and cons and maneuverability of the trike.
• A Boy Scout from a neighboring suburb heard me on the radio in August. He contacted us about doing his Eagle Scout project with us. The project has been submitted for approval and then he hopes to begin with us.
• A friend of the ministry referred one of his friends to begin helping with HWI. The man just lost his wife to death and is looking for a place to volunteer. He is an avid cyclists and does his own wrenching (bike mechanics) and has a dream to build his own bike. He came by today to check us out, he talked with our trike design engineer about his ideas and he plans to join our team.
• On Friday a missionary is coming by to discuss ways he can reach out to an immigrant apartment community using bicycles as his curriculum to draw the adolescent boys in the complex together. We are going to brainstorm with him. He has the missionary heart and some bicycle knowledge but his dream is part of our dream.
• On Saturday 10 Master's students from University of Illinois are coming to the headquarters to learn more from us as they venture out to do a U.S. trike feasibility study for us.

We stand in awe of how the Lord is growing His Wheels and using bikes and trikes as a tool for expanding His Kingdom. Pray with us about these up and coming opportunities.

Mailbox Surprises

Today I received two fun pieces of mail. 

The first was a letter from an St. James Episcopal Church in New Hampshire. Before opening it I thought, "Who heard about us in NH and how did they hear about us." The check was accompanied with a short note that said, "With our prayers and support Tobias and St James Episcopal Church." The note made my, Alice's, day because back in 1983 I lived with Tobias, Rose and their then three children in Harare Zimbabwe while doing a nine-week mission trip. While using their family bike, I thought,"if I only had a brake cable and a tool I could fix this bike." It was then that I knew God was calling me to provide tools so the nationals could serve their own people. The idea germinated for 20 years until 2003 when a Tanzanian mentioned how valuable a bicycle would be to help nationals help there own people. Thanks Tobias, Rose and church family.

The other piece of mail said, "My sister bought a bike at your bike sale last week. I am interested in volunteering to help with working on bikes. Thank you! 

The Gift of Words

Here is a paragraph from one of the Eastern European Students who has the privilege of studying in America for six weeks during the summer. It is a program that involves the efforts of Wheaton College, Domanada Foundation and others. Before leaving they write up a final paper about their experience. 

Specifically I want to give some place in my writing to bicycle. (You know that every student was given a free bicycle in the beginning of the program.) First, I did not bike for about 30 years! So, for me it was a challenge to get back to the saddle. But little by little I get to use biking and my last achievement was driving to the church 12 miles away from the campus. 12 miles one way and 12 miles return by prairie path. I was exhausted but happy. Not only because of the beauty of the forests and parks, but because two of my dreams come true. I always wanted to bike with my wife and our oldest son, but was kind of too timid to do so. Also, I dreamed about coming to US and go wherever I want all by myself. I thought for this reason I need to rent a car, but bike is quite appropriate and absolutely free of gas expenses.

When he went home we sent him with a pedal to fix his son's bike.

Fulfilling our Mission

One of our new volunteers this year was a person who loved to bike but could no longer do so due to a serious health problem. While working together the volunteer shared with me, “My life is ruined,” from this health issue. This week I had the privelage of leading the volunteer to the Lord. I pointed out how scripture is filled with paradoxes and quoted II Cor. 12:10, "When we are weak then we are strong" (II Cor. 12:10). Here is a precious example of how bikes and trikes were used as a tool for expanding Christ's Kingdom.

I have clung to that scripture many times over the past 19 years with my medical disability with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I can especially relate to how The Message Bible words that passage. You may too.

^7-10Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn't get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan's angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn't think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me,

   My grace is enough; it's all you need.
   My strength comes into its own in your weakness.
Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become. (The Message Bible II Cor. 12:7-10)

Sharing the ride with others

Kim, featured the following on her blog http://road2beautiful.wordpress.com/

This has become feature week at the Road to Beautiful where I seem to be highlighting some of my friends and what they are about...I hope you don't mind, because really, the people I am highlighting are all on their own journeys towards Beauty in their own way and it is good to notice it is not all about weight loss...

Today I want you to meet Alice.  I met Alice a few years ago when I spent a week at ELIM.  Remember, the race team I was part of when I ran Nashville a few weeks ago?? Alice is one of the stateside ministry workers who came to ELIM for a week of rest before setting out into the rest of what God had called her to.

This is what I remember of Alice from that week on the banks of the Huron River.  She was kind and sweet-natured.  She was quiet, which I tend to notice because I am NOT quiet.  Yet, in her quietness, she was passionate about the ministry God had given her and how He was using her in practical ways to serve others and that passion was contagious.  Her ministry you might ask?  It is called His Wheels International and is a ministry that provides bikes to people.  They take donations of bikes, fix them up and give them away and have given away bikes to people affiliated with 85 different countries.  They reach out to immigrants, refugees, international students, ex-offenders and missionaries who may be in need of a bike.

HWI also has a global ministry.  On an international scale, Alice and her team created a prototype for a hand-pedaled three wheel bike, they call a trike.   This trike was designed with people in third wold countries who have been disabled due to things like polio or land mines and do not have use of their legs any longer to be able to pedal.  Providing a trike gives them a sense of dignity as they can now get themselves places and care for themselves without having to drag themselves through the dirt to get where they need to go. How fantastic is THAT?!

Currently on the global scale, HWI now provides plans, resources and information for the development of these trikes with the hope and vision that these trikes can be manufactured locally, thereby not only providing one person with transportation, but a community with a means for employment.   More dignity to be had...

If you can't tell, I am awfully proud to know Alice, honored to call her friend, and humbled to have been able to serve her in some small way at ELIM.  In a small way, I feel like I have had a part in impacting the world, by serving her.

Since I recently finished Nashville and all the fundraising, I wanted to highlight a few of the people I met so you can see the impact ELIM has and how it practically impacts the rest of the world.  I asked Alice to write something about what ELIM was for her.  Here is what she has to say.

Alice on the original prototype for the hand pedaled trike they designed. Isn't is cool!

“And the word of the Lord came to [Alice], Depart from [Wheaton,IL] and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith [Elim Retreat Center]…And the ravens [Mars Hill Church folk and Elim staff] brought [Alice] bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening, and [Alice] drank from the brook. And after a while the brook dried up [my week at Elim]…Then the word of the Lord came to [Alice], Arise, go to [Wheaton, IL- resume ministry with His Wheels International].” (I Kings 17:2-8)

Warning! Big things ahead! The Lord directed me to the early part of Elijah’s work while on a Sabbath retreat at Elim Retreat Center June 1-5, 2008, after 21 months of intense Christian Service. “As the Lord the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.” (I Kings 17:1) Elijah was obedient to God, delivered the message to King Ahab and then departed to the brook Cherith.

While studying this section of scripture I was struck by how importance it is for me to follow and obey God even if I don’t understand why at first. The Lord knows best the timing and rhythm my life needs. Elijah’s ministry had just begun and so had my position as Founder and Executive Director of His Wheels International (HWI). The events in Elijah’s life were only going to get bigger and grander. But before He got to the next event, the Lord told him to go and drink from the brook Cherith where the ravens would feed him. The Lord did the same for me through the opportunity to go to Elim Retreat Center for a week of being pampered and cared for.

While at Elim God impressed on my life again the importance of keeping Sabbath rest, as a lifestyle, even amidst the hectic times of being the Founder and Executive Director of His Wheels. Then I’ll be a little more pliable and able to handle more things as they come.

The Lord knows when I need time for “self-care,” just like Elijah did. Time to fill up on Him before yet another intense season of ministry.  Going to Elim was a time to relax, laugh, rest, play, enjoy God’s creation and spend time alone with my Savior. The location in the forest of Michigan was conducive to turning my cell phones off (especially since I couldn’t get reception), shutting down the internet (since it wasn’t easily accessible), and resting from the schedules that blared in my head.

Kim thanks for running the race to make it possible for Christian Ministers to stop their hectic pace of ministry and get refilled at the brook. To get a glimpse of the ministry God has called me to, I’d invite you to take 5:18 min. to enjoy the ride that I’ve enjoyed over the last 7 years as the Founder and Executive Director of His Wheels International. You will see that God wasn’t kidding. There were and still are big things ahead for HWI. Our goal is 400 hits on our new youtube video by the end of May. We are at 360 hits. Can you help us far exceed our goal? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htdxAYSNqE4. Visit our website atwww.hiswheels.org

Alice Teisan

Thanks for reading guys.  I hope you will enjoy the HWI video like I have and that you will be blessed by getting to know Alice a little bit and the ministry she provides to her community and to the world.

Time for a Miracle

4/21/10

Yesterday after I signed a lease for HWI's new headquarters I thought, "Okay God this is Your ministry. It's time for a few miracles!"

At 9AM I got a "call annoying" beep while talking on the phone. The miracle awaiting was from God. The man introduced himself and the foundation he represented. He went on to say, we have just granted you a $5,000 unrestricted grant. This was a God sized miracle since I hadn't applied for the grant. Someone else approached them on our behalf.

If I had delayed in signing the lease yesterday, what would I have missed today? This incidence showed me how our obedience impacts so many more people than we can imagine.

As I shared this story with the gal who approached the foundation, it encouraged her faith. She could see her "small" part in praying for HWI and talking with her contact as part of a much bigger picture. She was able to see God at work through her obedience as she did what God was prompting her to do. She shared how her part of the miracle required learning forgiveness, stepping out in faith and not allowing fear to hold her back.

If we think faith and obedience are all about us, we are wrong. Read a few of the responses I've received and see how our obedience to Christ is vital for the entire body of Christ.

“Yippeeeeee!!! I love being on this adventure ride with you!!!” Shel

“Awesome!!! God is good... always!!” Jeff

“When I shared your good news with my wife, her response was ‘this is God letting Alice know that she is on the right track.’

I should not be amazed but I am. Time and again you have stepped out in faith only to have your steps affirmed. When I was wrestling with my belief in God almost forty years ago, I wanted proof that their really was a God.

The response I got from God was "trust Me." That is the only way we can go. Trust in Him with all our minds, bodies and souls and He will accomplish His works.

Thank you for sharing the good news, it was a fabulous reminder of my own need to Trust in the Lord in every thing.” Phil

“Praise God and to God be the glory. This is amazing news, Alice; HWI shows much promise; I can’t wait to see the space.” Tim

“Wow - all that feedback I gave you the other day and I should have just said one thing . . . ‘be sure to answer your phone when it rings.’ Another chapter for your book. Praise God,” Kurt

"The Good News is that u were obedient and faithful to Him...cannot wait to see how God Blesses this!" Kim

“Pretty amazing things happening for you!...God is good.” S

“To God through Jesus Christ be the Glory!” Daniel

“Waoh! Now are we not beginning to have wheels! Praise God, praise God, is all I can say. More faith, sista!” Zach

“Alice if you had anymore in your pocket and signed it I would have thought you to boasting on your own merit. Only Alice.” Susie

"Can you come my way and give some of the finer points on obedience. It is very difficult, but good for you Alice." Cheryl

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)