Next week, Barb Wooler and friend and fellow biker, Judi Orme, will start a tag-team bicycle ride across the USA. On July 20, they dip their back wheels into the Pacific Ocean and start a trek across the Cascade Mountains, then the Rockies, then the high plains of Idaho, Montana, and eventually reach Belmar, N.J. on August 29, where they will dip their front wheels into the Atlantic Ocean.
The ride is the result of a life-long dream of riding a bike coast-to-coast but they’ve paired it with a desire to raise awareness and support for Hand in Hand orphan ministries in the Central African Republic (C.A.R.).
Hand in Hand (HnH) schools are church-based learning centers for orphans in the C.A.R. Orphans come every day to HnH centers for education (the “3 R’s”) and lunch. More than 10,000 orphans have been blessed in the last 14 years. (Watch Encompass’ 3-min video on Hand in Hand orphan ministries.)
Visit encompasscrisisresponse.org/ride to find out more and to subscribe to the 40 day ride prayer challenge. Every day, subscribers will receive an email with info about the ride with a concise prayer focus to take before the Lord – for 40 days, one for each HnH teacher/orphan center.
You may also participate in one of eight Hand in Hand Parties that is planned along the way. Because of Covid-19, it is not certain how these will play out, but it is likely that some will be on Zoom.
You may also follow their ride at
- Facebook: @Barb Wooler & @HandInHandEncompass
- World Wide Web: encompasscrisisresponse.org/ride-journal