I am cycling over 550 miles to provide jobs and durable bricks for Dungu, Democratic Republic of Congo!

I feel like I was just training and getting ready for the last tour, and now I realize it is that time again. Kitty (aka my bike) and I are about to start training again for the next bike tour. We are excited to announce that this August I will be going again with my newest addition Kitty; however, this time from Bangor, ME to Easton, PA (about 550 miles). There will be a total of 24 riders, with three support vans. We will be riding and along the way sharing with churches our mission to raise awareness and support.

It is going to be a lot of hard work, but it is soooo worth it realizing how giving up some of my times will help others in exchange. The Democratic Republic of Congo is an area full of war and devastation and many lives are left to deal with the destruction . It will give those who do not know Jesus a chance to have a relationship and a new start.

Why a new start? Because RHM focuses on 3 pillars:

Restore- through biblical trauma healing

Train- through post secondary education: counseling, pastoral, and business/ vocational

Sustain- through the development of micro-enterprise and sustaining solutions

I love and believe in this model, because it makes me think of the saying "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime", but what makes Restoring Hope Ministries even better is that they are giving the eternal hope not for today, but for eternity. They are learning about Jesus, the ultimate hope that can heal all pain and suffering, He is a God who is compassionate. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 says "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God." We have been given this HOPE through Christ and now we can bring it to others, which Restoring Hope Ministries is doing.

This years funds will be going to purchase a brick making machine, which will give the Congolese a trade skill while also giving them an opportunity to make an income. Our goal as a team is to raise $75,000, which is a lot of money but I think God will bless us.

I also ask you to pray for me and the team, that we will be safe and will be able to raise awareness to gain the support of others to continue to spread the HOPE of Jesus Christ!

Melanie >^..^<

Just a small donation will go a long way to helping me meet my goal for Restoring Hope Ministries.