There is os much to say about Crystel and I am not going to just copy what everyone has siad. I believe you should take a few minutes and if you can read about her life, her loves and her will to help others.

For all of the information here is the link from Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=190465177668463

Thanks and hope to see you out there.

We wanted to take this opportunity to update everyone on dates and events for the rest of this year. As we close this year out there are so many details that have to be dealt with and volunteers are greatly appreciate and needed.

Underneath the events is the number of volunteers we need to help us in that event and a brief description of what will be happening.

Hope to see you there.

PHYSICAL FITNESS TESTING

Wednesday, May 25

7:30am – 3:00pm

Susan B. Anthony Elementary School        *10 volunteers needed…includes helping with a running test and taking measurements for height, weight, blood pressure, and waist circumference

BIKE BUILD

Thursday, June 2                        Saturday, June 4

5:00pm – 8:00pm                      9:00am – Noon

Both events at Neighborhood Thrift Distribution Center

*40 volunteers needed…includes building 96 bicycles that will be given away

BIKE AWARDS CEREMONY

Tuesday, June 7                                                                              Wednesday, June 8

2:00pm                                                                                             10:30am

Pinedale Elementary School                                             Susan B. Anthony Elementary School

*4-6 volunteers needed for each site…includes helping with the logistics of the event

BIKE RODEO

Wednesday, June 8

11:30am – 3:00pm

Susan B. Anthony Elementary School

*10-20 volunteers needed…includes helping kids on a bike safety course, giving bikes, locks and helmets to parents, and collecting paperwork

More events and dates coming soon

Thanks

Off the Front Ride Results

My heart is troubled, yet I feel paralyzed in a scenario like this one and left unsure what to actually do.  Hearing news like this completely shatters my heart, yet an hour later I find myself moving along with my day as if nothing has happened.  To be quite honest, I know that for a very long time I never truly felt compelled to do much of anything.  I spoke of how my heart hurt and could dialogue about great tragedy.  I’m not an insensitive person or naïve to think the children of this world aren’t hurting or in need.  The truth is that I’m finally fed up with my own passivity, blindness, ignorance, and ultimately lack of action – a place where much growth in my heart has been needed.  I can’t say it enough – I need to grow here!!  I speak to you from someone who does not merit the credibility to even be heard from a soapbox or as someone on a convicting rant.  I just simply wonder if you are like me in that it’s time to start opening your eyes to what is going on around us.  Somewhere in our city today are two very scared little girls, whose world has been shaken upside down, and are bearing a burden too heavy for them to carry alone.

A friend and I were talking yesterday about how many tragedies like this one happen that are never heard about or make the paper.  We pondered the fragility of life, felt blessed beyond measure in our situations (which I know I too easily take for granted), and yet were still left feeling helpless.  When situations of this magnitude drop a heavy weight on your heart, what do you do?  I began thinking of all the different ways people respond and found myself wanting to encourage each of us to do “something”.  Then I began to ask what actually keeps us in a state of paralysis and prevents us from moving into action.  Fear, discomfort, the messiness of getting involved, the huge commitment, financial obligation, change, thinking someone else will fix it, forgetfulness, selfishness – these all being thoughts that crossed my mind because of my own obstacles.

Before you think I am trying to throw another weight of guilt on top of the weight stories like these already bear, please know that’s really not the goal.  I just want to know what do YOU do?  How do YOU respond?   I am not looking for a right or wrong answer here and realize there are multiple ways of beginning to open our eyes to the reality of our city, state, country, and world.  I just want to know what do you really do?  What is your response?  Do you push the disturbing thoughts aside?  Do you pray?  Do you commit to start opening your hearts towards fostering or adoption?  Do you freeze?  Do you talk about how sad circumstances are yet get back to the reality of your own life quickly?  Do you weep?  Are you wrecked inside?  What do you do and how do you handle this type of pain?

I mentioned before that I tend to swing on an emotional pendulum.  Realizing there are plenty of children in need of families, homes, protection, love, and care, I just wonder what would happen if each of us did “something”…whatever that something is…And not in an effort to check off a box and move on.  How do we balance what we have yet love others and move towards taking care of those who are in desperate need of help?

I would be grateful for any thoughts you contemplate yourself.  I await comments and responses and would love to post thoughts or links to places that encourage us all to do “something”.

To this day, my husband will tell you this would be the highlight of his year – the opportunity to finally go on a ride with his wife.  To be quite honest, I was tremendously nervous and extremely intimidated.  The spandex wasn’t quite what I had in mind for “date attire” and looking “cute” for my hubby was nigh unto impossible.  And, something about being locked, I mean clicked into pedals, navigating 27 different gears on two different handle bars, focusing on which brake is rear and which is front, and huge cement trucks grazing by within a foot of me, just did not register as fun.  Go figure.  Thankfully, my husband appreciates spandex, proves to be a patient teacher, and loved the idea of me just being on the bike alongside him.

We enjoyed a lovely ride and I found myself gaining more and more appreciation for cycling, especially when a hill came into view on the horizon.  I found myself dreading the climb knowing how much energy and effort would be required to arrive at the top.  I vaguely remember complaining, whining, and lowering my perspective to the maturity of a 3 year old child.

Towards the end of our ride, there was a particularly challenging “climb” ahead.  My sweet husband with every ounce of sensitivity in him, said, “that’s not a climb, it’s just a roller.”  A roller?  What the heck is a roller?  Apparently a roller does not require the same stamina of a climb because they are usually intense, but short.  In my little rookie cycling mind, though, I would have classified them as equals – until I began to grasp the reality that life, in a sense, is the same way.

A few days ago, Mike woke up to an astonishing email.  The vendor supplying the bikes for OTF notified us that he was completely out of stock.  In fact, the vendor had oversold his stock by over 100 bikes and was unsure if any would even become available.  (Panic…fret…worry…pray…over dramatize…doubt…regain perspective).  Moving right along, Mike discovered his back up plan would not work because that vendor was also out of bikes.   With perspective now dwindling and panic creeping in, some exciting news came on the heels of this unfortunate news.  While flipping through a stack of mail, Mike notices something has arrived from the IRS.  He opens a letter to read that we received an early confirmation that our 501c3 status has been approved.  (Celebrate…note early timing…act surprised…bask in gratefulness) Fast-forward another few hours, and the bike situation has been resolved through a series of unlikely circumstances.  Long story short, 70 bikes somehow came available (thanks God!) and we ordered them on the spot.  (Ask myself why I worried, panicked, and remind myself not to stress next time)

How quickly situations that seem like monumental climbs suddenly become rollers in the grand scheme of things.  Our emotions fly high.  We worry, we doubt, or we think about the worst-case scenario, only to arrive at the peak and then realize we could have responded without subjecting ourselves to the possibility of a heart attack.  This is not the first time a wave of panic has succeeded in crashing down on me.  We experience many ups and downs steering the course of this organization.  As time lapses, though, I hope with each roller we face, I will choose to be more optimistic.  I desire for the loud voice inside my head, which thrusts me towards reacting, to be hushed by an even louder Voice that beckons me to trust.  Maybe like me you find yourself on some sort of climb, whether self induced or thrown at you.  Maybe you are beginning a new journey, overcoming some sort of devastation, stepping out in faith on something risky, or just living in the day-to-day world of marriage, kids, and work.  I believe rollers are inevitable and our lives can change on a moments notice.  Thus, rollers require power and perspective, as they naturally become a unique part of the climb.  Our climb right now seems to be navigating the ins and outs of establishing a non-profit.  Some days feel like a downhill pace of 40 miles/hr, (hearing news of funding or receiving approval for a grant). Other days are a nice leisurely ride (enjoying the kids in the classroom, meeting with people who are passionate about this endeavor).  Then there are days that feel like a hors catégorie (beyond categorization) climb (more work than there is time and just hoping you have enough endurance to finish strong).  But when all is said and done, any cyclist will tell you that the sweat and tears brought on by the ride up gives way to an exhilarating and rewarding ride down.

Michele

OFT didn’t make it.

It’s hard to be disappointed when an organization is going to give $50,000 to 5 programs that are going to help kids, but i was pretty bummed. Not like go burry your head in the sand bummed, but i needed to rally and get some perspective. So, i continued to trust God and communicate to people the vision He laid on my heart to help kids. Wednesday night i stood in a room of fellow cyclists and told them of the issues in Fresno and how OTF is seeking to tackle them. I watched, as i do every time i present, jaws drop as people become aware of the issues our kids have to face- poverty, educational disadvantages, and obesity. There are not a lot of things in life that i enjoy more than standing in front of a group of people and communicating a vision with passion and conviction. i almost feel selfish because i enjoy it so much. God graciously renewed my perspective that night. I was reminded of all the people who have sacrificially given to OFT already- in prayer, service and financial support.

On Thursday, my renewed perspective was affirmed again as God provided OTF’s first $10,000 donation. I fought back tears as i thought about what this and every other gift involves. This is people’s hard earned money, and they are giving it to a vision which, at this point, has accomplished nothing- but they believe it will. I don’t take that lightly. Your belief in this has buoyed my spirit and reminded me that God is at work. 4 days have changed much.

mike

p.s- Go vote for the organizations that made the top 5- Lots of good things are going to happen through these programs.