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04-27-04, 08:58 AM
For the past few years I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Maketh (right) and Jacob (left). They are two of the Lost Boys of Sudan that walked from Sudan to Kenya after a civil war killed their parents and left them orphans. They spent many years in a refugee camp in Kenya where they learned English. A handful were allowed to relocate in Chicago where they now live and are trying to make a life for themselves. There are hard working, gentle men that have inspired me. Maketh is studying to be a civil engineer and Jacob is studying to be a pharmacist (the picture doesn’t show it, but in the center of his forehead is a scar where a bullet entered and still remains in his skull).
I thought it would be a nice idea to get bikes for these guys so they could ride to work and save a few dollars that could otherwise go for books or school. I asked the community for help and was given more than I could have expected. Workingbikes.org is a fantastic organization that opened it’s doors to me. Vector Custom Fabricating donated Maketh’s bike (look at the size of that beast). Cbike.com also made the incidentals available at a low cost. We presented the bikes on the 14th and they took to them immediately. Maketh in particular loves his bike and has already ridden it to work a handful of times (weather permiting).
When you’re stuck in traffic or the boss is shoving grief, think of these two guys and their story and how they’ve overcome hardship with good cheer and solid faith and your problems will ease. If you’re in Chicago and you see them on the bike path, smile and say hello.
(photo attached below by W. Karstens)
I thought it would be a nice idea to get bikes for these guys so they could ride to work and save a few dollars that could otherwise go for books or school. I asked the community for help and was given more than I could have expected. Workingbikes.org is a fantastic organization that opened it’s doors to me. Vector Custom Fabricating donated Maketh’s bike (look at the size of that beast). Cbike.com also made the incidentals available at a low cost. We presented the bikes on the 14th and they took to them immediately. Maketh in particular loves his bike and has already ridden it to work a handful of times (weather permiting).
When you’re stuck in traffic or the boss is shoving grief, think of these two guys and their story and how they’ve overcome hardship with good cheer and solid faith and your problems will ease. If you’re in Chicago and you see them on the bike path, smile and say hello.
(photo attached below by W. Karstens)