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New International exists to proclaim Christ and make disciples globally. Let us join with God as He continues to make all things new; He gives us new vision of new ways to reach new communities with the Good News of Christ, bringing new light to hearts that have previously been lost.
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- 03/25/2015
- new international
Bike Fellowship Day
“Please let me come to every special event that you have! It was so fun! Usually in one year I only get to go do a fun activity two times!â€
Today's story is just one of many lives that have been touched by Ends of the Earth Cycling – the 2015 Fort Myers to Key West Bike Ride commences this Saturday, the 28th! Please be in prayer for all participants and those who will be impacted.
“Please let me come to every special event that you have! It was so fun! Usually in one year I only get to go do a fun activity two times!" said Jabuthi after participating in our Bike Fellowship Day. In the month before, teens from our network of youth homes were invited to participate in a contest. We asked them to take a creative picture of themselves with a bike and tell us what exercise, health, and fun have to do with being a Christian. The people with the five best entries plus one friend each would get to join Prosperous Youth Foundation (PYF) staff and a team of eight riders from the States for a fun-filled day of cycling, activities, worship, and testimonies at a nearby lake.
Rewind about four months: 76 people participated in the 2014 Key West Bike Ride (starting from Fort Myers, FL), riding in support of our ministry to equip youth workers and aid in the discipleship of youth living in youth homes in Chiang Mai. Sparked from that ride was the idea to bring a short-term team to Thailand to interact with our ministries and the youth themselves. Hence, our Bike Fellowship Day was created.
For Jabuthi, the Bike Fellowship Day was a highlight for him - and he was a highlight for us. Jabuthi lives at one of the youth homes where we have our weekly tutoring program. He shared with us that his parents are divorced and are unable to financially care for Jabuthi and his three siblings. His older brother had to quit school to get a job to pay for the younger siblings' educations.
We were shocked to learn that Jabuthi is 14 and in 3rd grade. He has failed 3rd grade twice, among other grades, and doesn't appear to have received any educational help from the youth home where he has lived for the past four years. However, he seems able-minded and catches on quickly during games and worship time. “How do you feel about us coming to tutor kids?" we asked him. “Because of you I have hope that I will succeed in school!" he answered with a smile.
