Acirfa Bikes: September 2008

Monday, September 29, 2008

New Addition to the Zambikes Team

Hi everyone,

My Name is Chiteu Muyoya. I joined the Zambikes team a couple of weeks ago as an Administrative Assistant. I would like to keep you updated on the situation here in Zambia. You may or may not have heard that the Zambian President, Dr. Levy Patrick Mwanawasa passed away on August 19, 2008. This was two months after he suffered a stroke in Egypt while attending the African Union Summit.

The Zambian government called for a 21 day mourning period, which has since passed. The country now faces the dilemma of electing a new Head of State to complete the 5 year term due to end in 2011. This has been a source of concern not only for Zambikes, but for the nation as a whole. We, as a team, are praying and trusting that the Lord will provide the right leader out of the individuals currently running for presidency.

Our prayer is that the peace and unity we are enjoying will continue and that the right leader will emerge. Please join us in praying for Zambia, for its current and future leaders, and that God's Will prevails in all of the decisions to be made.

Tik Mombwe: How his Zambike has Changed his Life

Tik Mombwe is an incredible young man from Apollo, which is located on the western side of Lusaka. His home is near an army base and various construction sand quarries.

Tik said, "Before I had my Zambikes bike I would hope to find a friendly truck driver to pick me up from the Army base or from the sand pits. If they did not, I would spend half of my day's wages on transport to and from work."

Because of his bike, he will have more than forty dollars per month in additional disposable income. Forty dollars is significant considering the average income in Zambia is two dollars per day.

Bikes Reaching the Borders of Zambia

Since the last shipment of 620 bicycles arrived, the team has been unbelievably busy. Bicycles have been distributed to groups in every corner of the country, with many more planned to be delivered.

With their new bikes, service based Zambians, medical workers, church leaders, social workers and the underprivileged have become more effective community members and family providers. Recipients include Brighthope Missions, Seeds of Hope International, local schools and teachers, Overland Missions, Grace Ministries and partner micro-finance organizations.

The group we would like to highlight this month is Pro Cristo Missions. Pro Cristo, Mpulungu is located in a northeastern part of Zambia that borders Tanzania. Pro Cristo, Mpulungu connects with the orphans in the region and with the people of Lake Tanganyika, one of the largest lakes in the world.

Around the lake are remote villages and people groups that cannot be reached by car. In order to reach those individuals, Pro Cristo Missions refurbished a large boat. Together with pastors and alcohol counselors, they visit the different people groups in the bush surrounding the lake.

Previously, once they reached land, Pro Cristo workers would utilize motorcycles to ride from village to village. However, the motorcycles repeatedly broke down. As gas prices rose to over ten dollars a gallon, the motorcycles became impractical as well.

The leadership of Pro Cristo sold the motorcycles and purchased Zambikes bicycles. Their reports indicate how much more effective Pro Cristo Missions has been, since they made that transition, in serving the community and reaching the lost on the shores of Lake Tanganyika.