Motorcycle Bike-a-Thon: Part 3

The 2009 Motorcycle Bike-a-Thon has nearly come to an end. We still have just over a dozen pledges to collect but over 90% of the funds, an amazing $13,520, has already come in. I still have a hard time believing how much the Bike-a-Thon raised.

It's been such an awesome experience. God used it mightily as a way to confirm through all of you that despite all of the difficulties we experienced, God prevailed and that He is the One sending us to Japan. The Bike-a-Thon was nothing short of a miracle!

From 2009 Motorcycle Bike-a-Thon

There have been a few people who have been instrumental in making this happen. Mr. Stephen Lee 이원세 집사님 (middle of pic), who not only organized the week-long trip spanning over 4,000 miles and one whole year of planning what route to take, where to get gas, where to sleep, where to eat, make bookings, and lead his group during the whole ride, was also our top sponsor giving an additional $2,000 on top of the $400 he had originally pledged. He also received pledges from his work colleagues and friends as well as a couple of his SVMC biker buddies.

Mr. Jay Lee 이재학 사장님 (far left of pic), does not attend our church but is a very good friend and business associate of Mr. Stephen Lee. He promised to pledge whatever was needed to meet our goal of $10,000. On the day Mr. Stephen Lee and his biker buddies were at church, the remaining amount was $1,265. After he pledged, we had even more people give but he didn't change his pledge. We were very happy to be able to have dinner with him during one of our Bike-a-Thon dinner meetings (pic above) and share with him our calling for Japan and the ways in which God has been working in our lives to prepare us for the missions field.

From 2009 Motorcycle Bike-a-Thon

Mr. Young 김영인 집사님 (right) and Mrs. Patricia Kim 김성숙 집사님 (middle), as well as Mr. Douglas Kim 김동혁 집사님 (left) were just absolutely awesome! I seriously don't know what we would have done without them. They worked so hard for so many hours.. and they are still following-up with the remaining people who have not yet given in their pledged amounts by calling them, emailing them, asking them at church, and even sending them cards.

Even now, we still don't have a picture of Agnes Lee, Sara Kim, and Helen Hong together during the Bike-a-Thon. They also worked so hard before, during, and after, even now, with the follow-up. Agnes, especially has been an absolute star. =)

Helen was able to motivate the 7th grade girls to give towards the Motorcycle Bike-a-Thon. We were so proud of them and so touched too! Hopefully they enjoyed the cake we bought for them as a thank you. =P

Before the Bike-a-Thon started, when Mr. Stephen Lee first approached us about the Bike-a-Thon being used to raise support for our Departure Fund for Japan, I had absolutely no idea how much work was involved and that I would need so much help! I also had no idea as to how awesome it could be... I am so grateful to God for providing very able helpers at the perfect time. I'm also very grateful to our core team who has helped with happy hearts, big hearts, and without a single complaint, even when they were being complained to and despite the obstacles set before them.

It was a truly humbling experience.

Thank you very very much.