“I’ll do it, I guess.” I had volunteered to help out in Famous Ray’s Bicycle Shop, as nobody else seemed to show any interest when asked. The idea was for a few racers to aid Kayla, the shop manager, in managing the shop a couple days a week, so that she could accomplish other tasks that would reap long-term benefits for the shop.
Now, I knew next to zilch about bikes, but I figured maybe my managerial experience could come in handy. Plus, I looked at it as an opportunity to learn and help somebody out. So, I signed up. Seth, my teammate, decided to join me.
We worked Wednesday and Friday the following week, and I loved it! I learned how to replace a flat tire, patch tire tubes, tighten and loosen brakes, and fix broken chains. I also began developing friendships with the employees.
So, how does a bicycle shop tie into ministry? Ah… this is where I get excited (I’ve become very passionate about this)!
Famous Ray’s Bicycle Shop is actually a not-for-profit business that has only been open for three months. It’s counterpart, Famous Ray’s Burger Restaurant, sends its profit to a children’s camp called The Refuge, located near the border of Myanmar/Burma.
In Mae Sot, Thailand, where Famous Ray’s is located, there are many “street kids” that roam about. These kids, particularly the boys, get treated like dirt and come from very difficult, unsafe, backgrounds
The entire vision behind the bike shop is to reach out to these street kids, teach them a trade, mentor them, empower them, and raise them up as leaders. This is known as the “Bicycle Mechanic Training Program.”
The goal is to eventually have the bike shop become self-sustainable, as well as operated by local people. Then, those future profits will be used to start a boy’s home that will provide a place for street boys to be loved and cared for!
In order for this to become a reality, the shop is on a campaign to raise $21,000 this year. As of now, they have raised enough to cover their costs, but they would be able to do a heck of a lot more if they had more funds. My prayer is that people will jump onboard and be a part of this cool idea that God has ordained.
It’s neat, because this whole thing isn’t a fairytale. Things are constantly in motion here, because I’ve seen it with my own eyes… there are Americans here who are super passionate about this idea and who are taking steps to see that it gets done.
So, it’s really not just about bikes. It’s so much more! I’m so pumped that I was able to play a small part in this amazing ministry that is beyond myself. Also, very sad that I will be leaving this beautiful country soon to head to Cambodia. 🙁
If you’d like to find out more about Ray’s Bicycle Shop and/or support them, their website is famousraysbicycleshop.com.
