Contacts

It is Amazing to me how contacts lead to contacts and then to possibilities that were only a remote thought just a couple months ago. The meeting with the UIC students on Saturday was just one of those amazing events that only God through contacts arranges. The possibilities are beginning to be just that, real possibilities. Where this will go only One knows. Thanks for contacts and possibilities!

Brainstorming with UIC Students

Today 7 University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) students came to HWI office to gather information for the US trike feasibility study they are doing for us as a class project. I (Alice) thought they were Masters level students but today I learned they are all undergraduates completing their degree in kinesiology, the same degree I got from UIC back in 1990.

Our trike team spent 3 hours answering their questions, telling how our trike division evolved and when their brains were spinning from all the technical information I got to share my personal story and give God the glory. The energy, enthusiasm, excitement, and interest they had for the project was electrifying. 

 

Watching them try the trikes, hearing why they chose the project, sharing some good laughs and exchanging great ideas was all a plus.One student was a marathon runner. He said he would love to use one of our trikes to train for marathons, getting his upper body in shape. He took it for the longest ride. Kevin our engineer said, “I haven’t seen anyone burn rubber on the trike yet.” So this guy took it as a personal challenge and gave it his best effort. Afterwards Kevin said, “I saw rubber burning.”  My eyesight wasn’t quite that clear!

How is your eyesight?

When I left the joy in my heart bubbled over and out. Today God gave me much more than I could have ever imagined. My dream was to teach physical education and pursue my PhD in exercise physiology but my disability made that an impossibility.  

Our Latest US Trike

Kevin, our trike engineer has surprised us again with his amazing skill, creativity and simplicity.

It moves fast with seven gears

The seat is comfy 

 Nice storage underneath and there is also a back basket

Slick wheels

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.

Trike to University of Illinois Chicago

Today our trike team of Kevin our engineer, Ken our trike coordinator and Alice our Executive Director went to University of Illinois Chicago and presented a US version of the trike to a class. Alice is an alumni of UIC. On Thursday the students choose what team they want to be part of. I believe there will be 2 trike teams with 5 students/team. They will do a feasibility study and present their findings in about 14 weeks. All 3 of us were encouraged and look forward to what God has planned.

Once again Kevin surprised us all with his amazing creativity. We are all grateful for the unique gifts that each of us bring to the team. Alice began the presentation by sharing the way HWI got started. Having had a class in the very same classroom she began her speech from that point. Then Ken, who has spent many years as a missionary kid and then a missionary in Africa explained the value of the trike. Kevin ended our time by debuting the new trike and talking about the features.

Thanks to all who prayed. Indeed God was glorified and we were encouraged. Only the Lord knows where this all will lead. We are glad He does.

Open House August 27, 2011

We had an awesome open house. About 30 people attended. What we lacked in numbers we exceeded in sharing, encouraging, and passing the torch of God's goodness on to each other through recalling stories of God's faithfulness. We brought in 15 bikes. This AM we had 10 people help us. Thanks to all who came, encouraged us through notes and prayer. We serve an awesome God who wants to astound us by His miracles.

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!