Amidst the erasing of sleep debts, tending to sore muscles, and sorting through piles of dirty gear, I’ve been wondering and reflecting on just what exactly RFC accomplished.

Did we finish the 2776 mile course on time?  Yes.

Did we exceed our financial goal of raising $43,000?  Praise God, yes.

Will the World Relief peace building program continue move forward in Congo?  Absolutely. 

Did the RFC experience trigger something even more profound than all this?  I think so.

The word that comes to mind is seismic.  From my perspective, the RFC experience has triggered a seismic shift in the nearly invisible tectonic plates of the Kingdom of God.  For those able to perceive this subterranean movement, it appears first as just barely a rumble; the smallest of spikes on the Richter scale print out.  But through the lens of Kingdom faith, something more profound is giving way beneath our feet.

One incident which began to shape this thought in me occurred somewhere in the middle of Nebraska.  Team Rubare was fueling up a gas station a local woman inquired about the Race for Congo to Mike Moran.  At one point, she incredulously asked how riding 2776 miles on a bicycle would make any difference in Congo.  

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Check out the highlight reel of the 2011 Race For Congo:

During the seven days the Race For Congo riders and crew were on the road cycling, driving, cooking, navigating, interviewing, advocating and changing occasional flat tires hundreds if not thousands of people were being moved to give to World Releif’s peace building efforts in Congo.

Thanks to God’s leading, generous donors and a matching gift, as of today the Race For Congo has raised $107,000. 

Even though the race is over, the opportunity to pray and donate is still available. Keep Congo close to your heart in prayer and donate before Sept 1 for all gifts to be matched. 

Stay tuned for more updates and reflections from this incredible experience coming soon.

Thanks and blessings. 

For the Fort Wayne crew it was really sweet to get an hour in our hometown with our families, church families, and friends as we rode through Fort Wayne. Somewhere around 200 people were in attendance at 7am for breakfast and interactions. There was even a kid’s “Pedal for Peace” event in the parking lot where kids could ride around a giant map of DRCongo and raise money for laps. 

Here are a few photos from the event. 

Last night was a challenge for the four riders of Team Rubare and our driver, Wayne. After much delegation after Team Kiwanja had some sketchy road conditions and situations on their late afternoon/evening ride on Saturday as the entered the hills of PA, we decided to set out on the road with a limited team format. 

Typically we have the riders in a full size van that pulls the team trailer and then a mini-van that acts as a protective chase vehicle. Last night we decided that being nimble was going to be key to having a successful and more importantly safe night climbing the single-lane hills. So, we loaded the three bikes of the resting riders onto the mini-van, loaded up a limited amount of supplies, and headed out at midnight to get in 150mi by morning.  

Not 10 minutes after leaving, the rain began to fall and would stay with us for 8 of the 10 hours of our ride. As the rain began to pour, we knew that this was going to be long night. 

Joe Johns rode first and cranked out a good 15 mile initial ride up the hills and through the rain. Throughout the evening, just as the rain would let up it would be time for a rider transition. As soon as we got out of the mini-van, it would begin to pour. After Joe, Mike took off and road really well and so did Stephan after that. We were feeling pretty good despite the conditions. 

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It has been a long night. Team Rubare has been struggling through the hills of PA since midnight and we’re still 30miles from our destination. It’s been grueling.

It’s been dark, raining, foggy, and tough. We’ve seen a truck overturned in the night and it’s no surprise that the last 36hr of this leg were destined to be difficult. There is opposition to us doing such a bold trip for something so significant, like peace building in DRCongo.

Continue to pray for Team Rubare to finish strong and Kiwanja to be safe as they begin.

- Andrew