Get To Know Our Bike Riders- Shannon Cutlip

My name is Shannon Cutlip. I am a Colorado-based photographer and a passionate follower of Christ. When I learned of the She’s My Sister Bike Tour, my first reaction was, “There’s no way I could take 10 weeks off work to do something like this.” But the more I thought and prayed about it, the more I started seeing it was the perfect summer for it. So I am taking a step of faith, quitting my job, and trusting that God will help take care of the details. I am an avid cyclist. In my opinion there’s no better way to see the country than on a bicycle. But as psyched as I am for the ride, I am thrilled to have the chance to do something I love that will assist others in desperate need. The cause that we’re riding for is incredible. I am grateful to have a part in it.

Get To Know Our Bike Riders- Marianne Millen

Hi I’m Marianne Millen and I am a junior at The Pennsylvania State University. I am studying elementary education and I am hoping to someday get a job working for and helping the needy in low income areas. When I heard about the bike ride, I was immediately excited to help out in any way that I could. I really hope that God will use me to raise awareness and support for the DRC in my community here at Penn State as well as to the many people and churches we encounter on this summer bike ride. I am very excited to see how God is going to move and work through his willing vessels.

Get To Know Our Bike Riders- Lewie Briggs

My name is Lewie Briggs and I am a senior studying economics at Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA. Last year I studied abroad in Uganda and Rwanda studying the genocide and other wars in those areas. Before I went, I got the chance to go to the DRC as a volunteer for the American Bible Society and see for myself the devastation and actual evil that is there. This past winter I went back to do more research on the trauma in the area and spent a few days in a Congolese refugee camp. There I heard many stories of unfathomable suffering. I know God has not forgotten about these women in the Congo, and I told them that, but its time for us as their brothers and sisters in Christ to show them that we have not forgotten them either.

In 2009, a family friend named Bagudekia Alobeyo, a Congolese native, shared that the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) had just launched a vicious attack in Dungu, a village in DRC—the town in which his parents and immediate family lived. My family helped send a missionary plane to rescue Bagudekia’s family and relocate them to a safer area. In 2010, I had the privilege of visiting the DRC and meeting them. I was deeply moved and humbled by their thankfulness for the way in which we allowed God to use us. However, I also witnessed the devastation taking place. Rape, torture, and murder are rampant. The people are living in constant fear, and hope seems all but lost. Coming back to the United States, I felt a calling to advocate for those I met and others suffering from similar injustice, especially for the women and children who are facing these atrocities every day. The bike tour has formed out of my desire to do whatever I can to fight for those who cannot fight for themselves, to stand up for those who are harassed and helpless, and to inspire others to do the same

Get To Know Our Bike Riders- Jenna Liew

My name is Jenna Liew, and I am from Easton, PA. Currently, I am a junior broadcasting major/ anthropology minor at Messiah College. Last year I had the opportunity of a lifetime during the month of January. I went to Ghana, Africa through a study abroad program. I fell in love with the people, the culture, and the land immediately. I also witnessed with my own eyes the illnesses, poverty, and hardships that plague this country. After returning to the U.S., I felt unsettled returning back to my comfortable, privileged life. I knew that through this experience, God had opened my heart and mind to the struggles of the people of Africa. When I heard about “She’s my Sister” bike tour, I was so excited to join the cause. After learning about the condition of life for many people in the DRC and reading several testimonies of abused women in the country, I knew right away that I wanted to participate in the bike tour. Bringing God’s love and healing power to these women is well worth my time, sweat, and energy. “She’s my Sister” bike tour is more than just an amazing cause; it is a small way that I can follow God’s calling to “learn to do right, seek justice, and defend the oppressed” (Isaiah 1:17). I am super pumped to ride this summer!

Get To Know Our Bike Riders- Gordon Brown

I am Gordon Brown from Boone, NC. I am a senior building science major at Appalachian State University and will be graduating in May. I’m super excited to be a part of “She’s my Sister” bike tour. I had the idea in my head of a cross country ride for a few years now when I was working at camp together with Mark Jacobs and Lewie Briggs one summer. It stuck with me and here I am ready to ride... but it’s not quite for the same intentions. I originally thought we would just go for the sheer adventure and manly feeling of cycling a far distance, little did I know that this ride would be one that would help to change the hearts and lives of many people! I cherish the opportunity to ride for the sake of bringing the hope and love of the Gospel to the hurt and neglected. Last summer I traveled to Kenya and worked at a children’s home; I have seen the poverty and felt the pain in my heart for the lost there. For me, this ride is more than sheer adventure. The issue in the DRC is a matter of life or death, something that I have witnessed first hand! I am so glad to be a part of this ride, and I am ready and willing to give my time and effort to get the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the hurting in the DRC. I know God will change lives through this project, and I want to be a part of it!

Get To Know Our Bike Riders- Bryan Dougan

My name is Bryan Dougan, a senior Sociology major at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, PA. This bike ride has been on my radar screen since freshmen year of college, when Lewie wanted to do it. The realities of why we are riding became quite apparent to me through a semester abroad in Uganda in the spring of 2010, seeing those impoverished suffer in mind, body, and spirit; what I discovered last year has only been reinforced and rediscovered, all at the same time, through a more recent trip in January 2011. During this excursion, I got the chance to to further uncover the true realities of the problems in the Congo, as well as neighboring countries. I know in my heart of heart that these women are the apples of God’s eye, and He is waiting to further show them His love. It is our job as Christians and the Church to remind them of that.

Local Yogurt Fundraiser!

As an advocate on Duke’s campus for the She’s My Sister Summer Bike Tour, I was able to start raising funds and awareness just this past Wednesday night! A popular frozen yogurt shop close to campus called Local Yogurt agreed to host a day for She’s My Sister! 20% of the entire day’s proceeds are helping us reach our goal of raising $500,000 to help 50,000 women and children in the DRC. Hopefully this will be the first of quite a few events at Duke, bringing the body of Christ together to lift up our sisters who need our help (there’s a new location of local yogurt opening even closer to campus very soon, event ideas are brewing!). “Do all you can for everyone who deserves your help. Don’t tell your neighbor to come back tomorrow, if you can help today.” Proverbs 3:27-28

In order to help our neighbors in the DRC, I wanted this event to bring in as many people as possible in order to spread the word, and also raise as much funds as possible from the day’s proceeds. After some brainstorming with friends, I decided that an a cappella concert would be perfect! A good friend of mine, Krista Kucheman, is a member of Duke’s premier women’s a cappella group called Deja Blue, and she quickly agreed to help out. At 7:30 we heard these lovely ladies hit some sweet notes while the audience enjoyed the sweet treat of frozen yogurt. All for She’s My Sister!

The next event at Duke is still in the idea generation stage, but rumor has it that it may involve the new location of Local Yogurt on Erwin Drive, and some hard working members of the Duke tri-athlon club on stationary bikes!

So excited about the many ways we can help these women and children in the DRC!

Keep those wheels turning everyone!
Amy

Refugee Camp

Came back from Hoima, a refugee camp for Congolese right on the DRC border, yesterday. We were able to meet a lot of people. They had some devastating stories, and it was hard to listen to them sometimes. But we really tried to encourage them, and it was helpful for me knowing that we are already doing something. IT is really hard though because hearing these stories just makes you realize how much need is there, and even if you put together a great program it still would barely make a drop in the number of people that are in need. But gonna keep pushing and doing whatever I can to help these women. Coming back on Sunday!

Stories from Congo

If you haven't seen this yet take a look...

http://bibleresources.americanbible.org/content/when-war-came

Back in Kampala

Hey all, just got back in Kampala after working with Pilgrim in Soroti in East Uganda. We got a chance to see a lot of their programs, working in IDP camps and watching them learn how to press oil from sunflower seed. Very very cool.

While there we met a formerly abducted soldier who had escaped from the rebel army during one of the conflicts. It was a sad sad story and he said there really was nothing done for him as far as counseling, or any other services to help him recooperate. At first the community was happy to have him back, but after a while they began calling him things like "Kony's boys" (Joseph Kony is the leader of the LRA rebel group). He said sometimes he feels like taking a gun from the soldiers and just shooting people. It was sad to hear, and we tried to encourage him mainly with the gospel, but he is just one of many.

Two nights ago we came back to Kampala but didn't have anyone to stay with so we went to a hostel for 5 dollars. We didn't have food so we bought some rice and dry beans, tried to cook it, but it did not work out so well. Luckily the beans were soft enough that they could be chewed, but it was not anywhere close to enjoyable. But hey, were in Africa! Last night we called someone from an organization that Bryan had worked with last semester, and he let us stay with him. Really nice guy and fun to be around.

Today we travel to Hoima to stay in a refugee camp. Should be interesting, especially because the people there are from the DRC. We will be trying to talk to as many people as possible, and collecting as many stories as possible. Be praying for us and for those people.

Also, we have not washed our clothes in some time and are beginning to smell...

Questions/Comments

If anyone has any questions for us feel free to ask. So much going on here, you can also email me at rbriggs@fandm.edu

I am really excited about this bike tour and am even more assured of the need for trauma healing. Huge issue

Sick and tired...

Man...yesterday was rough. This travel is really starting to get to us. Crammed in the back seat of a small red truck for hours on dirt roads...no leg room haha. Plus dehydrated and very hungry after not eating the whole day. Headaches and fever...Feeling much better this morning though. We had traveled out to an IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) camp and visited the people there. They were afraid to go home because of conflicts with a neighboring and violent tribe called the Karamajong. This is a conflict I had not heard of before, so that was good information to know. We got to see a drama and some songs that they do to address trauma and raise awareness of malaria and HIV/AIDS prevention. Pretty cool stuff. A few long days ahead of us...keep us in your prayers

From the North to the East

Just arrived in Soroti today from Gulu. We had spent a few days there where the LRA conflict was most heated up until 2006. We met with the regional director of Caritas, a Catholic organization that actually played a crucial role in the peace process near the end of the conflict. We asked him a lot about the trauma issues and he said Caritas has programs that address the issue, but they, just like every other NGO are limited in their outreach. We found out that there are only 7 certified psychologists in the whole country of Uganda, and there are a lot of people suffering from the effects of trauma.

Today we met with Pilgrim Africa, an organization that does a lot with health and agricultural initiatives. They will be facilitating our time in Soroti until Saturday, when we head to the refugee camp for the DRC. The plan for today is actually to go into the field and do some farm work (digging). I'm actually really excited for that...Bryan...well considering he only brought one pair of shoes (dress shoes) may not be haha. But we should be pretty sore after. In Gulu in the mornings we helped the family we were staying with fetch water from the well. The last day I tried carrying it on my head. It was just as hard as it looks, and I got covered in water in the process while being laughed at by almost everyone...including Bryan haha.

Also! We went out to a very rural area to visit a group that The Human Rights Initiative (an organization we started at our college) supports called Arudoyat. Great to see them again, but also depressing. They see as people who can really help them, and we want to, but their needs are really great. We have been selling beads that they produce and giving them the profits, but sometimes you feel like you should do more. These are the tough questions we face, and its harder when you are with the people. It makes it much more personal. Check out the video we made last year on Arudoyat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmkD92l_0Ag

Lew and Bryan: We Miss Showers...

Lew: Reflecting on Rwanda

One more thing from Rwanda: The last day we were in Rwanda, the day Mal flew home, we met with a Ugandan woman named Baraka. Starting her education as a nurse, she realized that the need was really for counseling and began an organization called Gates for Hope. Now she trains people every year to address trauma issues. The International Justice Mission (IJM) supports her as she counsels children who were freed from sex trafficking. Her story and her passion were extremely inspiring. I can’t say I have ever met someone quite like her (although we only met her for about an hour…). She identified the fact that men need trauma counseling maybe even more than women because they are the ones causing a lot of the trauma towards women. But she confessed that because there is just no support for her work, and because of its many challenges, she had considered giving up many times. But she persevered and now is really making a difference and will continue to do so. We got a chance to encourage her and pray for her after the interview! So keep her in your prayers.

Today we met with William, who is the relief coordinator for Pilgrim ministries. He is putting us in touch with the staff that relate to trauma, and we will also be doing working with them in Soroti, which is in the north east, but south of Gulu where we are going tomorrow. We are also setting up a time to visit a refugee camp for people from the DRC and the plan so far is to spend two there. So keep praying for us please, we need it.

Bryan Joins Lew for Site Visits in Uganda

Hello from Uganda!

We arrived here two nights ago on the morning bus, in which we slept (not the most comfortable rest I have ever gotten...). We're in Kampala now visiting some people I know and this evening, we're staying with the family I stayed with during my time here last spring. Everything from last spring has come back to me, minus a lot of Luganda (the language). Tomorrow we travel to the north to Gulu to stay with Lewie's family from the spring.

On Saturday, we attended a marriage ceremony. It was cool (very different than an American wedding) and done all in the Rwandan language, so we did't understand a word of it. Nevertheless, an awesome experience.

Sunday, we went to the installation of a new Anglican bishop. It was a pretty neat experience, save that it was seven hours long (we left after six). Many different people had to give speeches which went on for quite some time. It too was in the Rwandan language, so the most I got from it was when an American bishop said part of the Communion prayer.

It's pretty amazing everything that God's doing over here. All the organizations we've met with are doing awesome things, and it's amazing to see where he's taking Lewie and myself, and Mallory (Lewie's sister) while she was here.

Keep the updates coming from home. I love reading them!

Lew and Bryan Travel to Kampala

Well we just finished up our time in Rwanda. Mal flew home (sad face...), and Bryan and I took the 8 hour bus ride from Kigali to Kampala. I sat next to a large man, and the seating was quite compact...so not the most comfortable experience you can imagine haha. Anyway, I was reading The Cost of Discipleship, and I started talking to him about the book. It turned out that he was a Chirstian who was saved in 2007 after remembering back on the miracles God had done in his life. He was a retired captain from the Rwandan Peoples Forces (RPF) and was part of the army that liberated Rwanda from the genocidal government. He was very interesting to talk to. We now are in Uganda and met with the Bible Society here and got some information about their project and what the needs are. So we will be traveling to the north soon where the conflict was most severe over the past 20 years or so. It is that conflict that has moved into the DRC (along with others), and so the people from the DRC suffer from the same rebel groups that were in this northern area called the Lords Resistance Army or LRA. Hope you all are well and thanks for the prayers and support. We miss you Mallory!

Fully Committed to Do Whatever I Can

Hey Everyone!

My name is Marianne, and I am going to be a rider for this summer’s bike tour! I first heard about the bike ride through Lewie Briggs; he told me what was going on in the DRC and asked if I wanted to be involved in any way. My answer was an immediate YES! Of course, the hard part was trying to get my Dad on board- allowing me to ride my bike for 10 weeks up the East Coast. Luckily, my persuasive talks worked and now I am fully committed to doing whatever I can do to help in this effort.

Some really cool things have been happening up at my school, and there has been a lot of curiosity as to what this bike ride is all about here at Penn State. I’ve talked with many of the campus leaders and they have showed a lot of interest in helping raise support and awareness. My hope is to see Penn State be involved in a huge way- gathering all the groups together as one Christian body and working together to help our brothers and sisters in Christ who are suffering half way around the world. It is amazing to see how willing people are to help in whatever way they can when they hear about injustices happening in the world.

One big event that is really encouraging so far is that the Chick-fil-a in State College has agreed to have a night where they give a percentage of their proceeds to the She’s My Sister project. What a great way to spread the word, raise money, and gain support- all while eating some good ol’ fashioned chicken! There are so many things in the works on campus to continue spreading the word about the DRC. I’m so excited to see how God is going to use me and other willing people in the State College area to help others in need. I’ll keep you posted about how things are going here!

James 1:22

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”

When you have a chance, listen to "God of Justice" by Tim Hughes. It has really inspired me to help people in need!

She's My Sister Project... Desperately Needed

We just spent the last two days in Kibuye. It's an area in the western province of Rwanda right next to Lake Kivu bordering the DRC. We met with local church leaders who were involved in Saddleback's PEACE plan initiative. One of the pastors led us out to some of the rural (and I mean rural...) homes to meet with some of the people. We got a chance to speak with them about trauma needs in the area. They said genocide played a huge role in Kibuye, there were a lot of killings as opposed to the northern area where we were previously. So the needs are great. We also talked to a doctor in the mental health ward at the hospital there who said there were some services being offered by the government to address trauma and mental health, but the finances were not enough to really help people. He said there was one NGO from Belgium helping the country in this area, but that was it. I am realizing more and more how the She's My Sister project is not just another NGO program, but something desperately needed. People are really suffering, and they need trained professionals to come and help them. And this is Rwanda, where there has been relative peace for 16 years. You can just imagnie the needs in DRC, and the consequences that will occur 16 years later if not addressed. Mal will be leaving soon (sad face) and Bryan and I will be traveling to Uganda. Keep praying!

Update from Lewie: Serving on the Ground in Rwanda

Africa has been sooo cool. I'm working with Saddleback's Peace plan and 40 days of purpose, and the impact it is having here is unbelievable. The stories are incredible, and the need for trauma counseling is more than I even thought. So many women suffer from trauma, it's not dealt with, then it has an impact on everyone. People begin to think life is meaningless, why go to school why work, then that leads to no education and poverty. It really is true that peoples' lack of relationship with Christ is the root of many of their problems. The vast majority of people here in one of the villages we were in said their favorite chapter in the Purpose Driven Life book was "You are not an accident." People are searching for meaning, and throughout all the trauma they have endured with genocide, war, gender based violence, and much more, they have really lost hope. Only Jesus can bring that hope back. It is really inspiring to see, and it has really motivated me to help be a part of that solution. I am so excited!