It is high time that I thank each one of you sponsors for the Memorial Christian Hospital in Bangladesh. There have been several times already in the three races I have done so far this year that it is your sponsorship which has motivated me to keep pedaling!
Whether it was fighting a headwind uphill on the short loop or fatigue on the racetrack in the Sebring race, or the ridiculously steep “rollers” at the Heart of the South in Birmingham, AL, or most recently pedaling one more loop plus 2 miles to achieve my goal at Calvin’s Challenge in Springfield, OH: It was the thought of the sorely needed hospital building which kept me going.
The LORD is doing great things in Bangladesh as the people continue to crowd the gates and God’s dedicated servants continue to care for them. Les and Deb Collins have arrived, and Les (project manager for Renewal Project) is currently having fruitful talks with a local architect and contractor in Chittagong. It was a real blessing to find someone close by (60 miles) as opposed to dealing with folks in Dahka, the capitol.
Les is also learning to use the backhoe which arrived there earlier in the year to do some preliminary preparation of the building site. This piece of machinery which is so commonplace here in America is a rarity indeed in Bangladesh. As Les oversees the upkeep of the hospital campus and upgrading of its infrastructure, the backhoe will find many uses other than just for the Renewal Project.
Preliminary site clearing
Les and Deb Collins on duty in Bangladesh
My next race is in eastern Iowa, called the Balltown Classic 200. Because it is near the Mississippi River, the route involves some fairly significant hill climbing through the numerous ravines in the area. Last year I completed the race in over 14 hours. This year the goal is 13. One week later I will be attempting to break my own record for crossing Michigan from North to South. Last year, I did the 375 miles from Sault Ste Marie to Sturgis in about 26 1/2 hours. This year, I will try to break 24 hours.
