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RidePA2015 August 2015 Newsletter

CHECK-IN AT CAMP HEBRON

Check-In for RidePA2015 will be on Saturday, September 19 from 4pm-6pm at Camp Hebron’s Pine Lodge. If you arrive early, the lake will be open for swimming and you may explore the grounds of this lovely camp. Dinner Saturday – Dinner will not be served at Camp Hebron on Saturday. You may find dinner in the area, or join in with a group ordering pizza at the camp. First Meal – Sunday morning breakfast Last Meal – Wednesday morning breakfast 7:30pm Saturday – Ride Meeting – We will gather for a rider’s meeting to review the schedule for the week, the route for Sunday’s ride, and other miscellaneous informational items for the week. Looking forward to seeing you then!

REMINDER Your balance is due on September 1.

If submitting a check through the mail: Check payable to: TriState Relief Sale

Mail to: Marie Western 5355 Waters Terrace, Lowville, NY 13367

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THE RIDES!

Sunday’s Ride: Day one takes riders west across the Susquehanna, deep into scenic rural Perry County hills with frequent vistas of the Juniata and Susquehanna Rivers. Riders will cross the Juniata River in Newport then head northeast with lunch at a Susquehanna River campground. But where is the bridge? The historic Millersburg Ferry will transport bikes and cars to the newly finished linear park on the east side of the Susquehanna River (www.millersburgferry.org). It’s an easy ride back to camp – unless you want to tackle Peter’s Mountain. Ride distance is 45 miles or 55 (3300 feet of climbing), or more!

Monday’s Ride: Day two begins on the flats along the Susquehanna River, then into forests, farmland, Amish farms, and small industry between Millersburg and Gratz. The ride will circle back through Millersburg before turning into Armstrong Valley. Ride distance is 50 – 60 mile range. Tuesday’s Ride: On day three, riders will follow Powels Creek on “Back Road” (appropriately named) into the throat of Powels Valley. The hardest climb of the three days, a 1 ½ mile trek over the mountain through state game lands, is followed by a thrilling, fast, smooth descent into Lykins Glen. The small towns of Lykens and Elizebethville give way to back roads before circling

Millersburg Ferry The Roaring Bull V

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back toward Halifax. Here, riders can choose the short route back to camp, or follow Armstrong Creek deep into the valley. This is a beautiful ride on lightly-traveled back roads with a spectacular view back down the valley. Distance for the short ride is 50ish miles. The longer ride is 60 miles with 4000 feet of climbing. Water and lunch stops on days two and three include Lake Tobias Wildlife Park, Armstrong Valley Winery, and the Ned Smith Center. Camp Hebron rests in the shadow of Peter’s Mountain. So, for those who “because it’s there I gotta’ do it,” Peter’s Mountain can be tackled at the end of any ride. The rigorous 8% grade ascends 800 feet in two miles but offers a stunning view of the valley below and the Susquehanna River fading into the distance. So do it if you must!

HEALTH FOR NIGERIA

The bike ride is raising funds for Faith Alive Clinic in Jos, Nigeria. For more than a decade, MCC has partnered with Faith Alive Foundation to provide a comprehensive HIV and AIDS program that includes testing, prenatal care, delivery, and counseling. Faith Alive staff also lead trainings in churches and communities about the importance of prenatal care and preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

MCC also funds scholarships for orphans and supports programs that help people living with HIV develop additional skills to support themselves and their families.

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“This act of love amazes me”

My name is Mrs. M.S., I live in Jos, Plateau State, and I am married. In 2009 I went to Faith Alive and tested positive for HIV. I started taking antiretroviral medication [ARVs] in 2010 and receiving care from Faith Alive. My husband is HIV negative. He tests every three months. His last test was in March 2014. He has not been able to be tested after that because he is a military man and he is posted to the crisis town of Maiduguri.

In 2012, I became pregnant and started antenatal care in Faith Alive Foundation. I came for a series of counseling sessions about the pregnancy, creation of a birth plan, baby care, and most especially Prevention of Parent to Child Transmission of HIV. I attended all scheduled health visits, and continued to take my ARVs. The team in Faith Alive took care of me, answered all the questions I asked and allayed my fears. I was very hopeful and positive my baby would not be infected. In 2013, I gave birth to a baby boy in the Faith Alive Foundation Hospital without paying anything. My baby was given nevirapine which I took home and gave to my baby.

After 6 weeks, I brought my baby for the first DNA PCR [polymerase chain reaction] test, and my baby was given septrin. The results came out from the test and my baby was negative. My baby continued on septrin, and 6 weeks after I stopped breastfeeding my baby, the DNA PCR test was repeated which also came out negative. I am very happy to have a healthy HIV-free baby.

As I play with my baby, knowing he is HIV negative, I am filled with joy, and happiness. My husband is also overwhelmed with joy and takes good care of us. We are doing well despite the fact that we are a discordant couple. The counselors at Faith Alive have really helped us. Thank you for taking on other people’s problems and helping them. This act of love amazes me. “Nagode muku sosai!”

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How is Your Fundraising Going?!

MCC East Coast BikePA2015 Giving Registry Instructions

An MCC Giving Registry is a personalized webpage that enables your friends and family to donate toward your Bike Ride support. You will have the option to post a photo and write a brief description. You will have the option to have the page track your fundraising progress. The online profile will only include the amount given against the goal and will not include the names of donors. All contributions whether given by check or online will be included in the tally on your page. However, there will be a several day delay between when donations are made and when they show up in the total on your Giving Registry page. Here are instructions for how to create your page: Go to https://donate.mcc.org/user/register , and enter a username and email address. You will then receive an email instructing you how to setup a password. Once you’ve saved your new password and are logged in, click Create a Registry on the left side menu. Overview of the items to fill out on the form: Select Giving Projects - type “faith” in the Search box and click the “Nigeria – Faith Alive Clinic” entry that will then appear. It should turn blue/lavender and that means it is selected.

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Registry Name – This is the title for your Giving Registry. This will make it easier to identify for people searching for your registry. The name will also determine the URL for your page so you won’t want it to be too long. Example: Jane Doe’s Finger Lakes Bike Ride Giving Registry Type – choose Bike Ride Your Address – enter your home address Photo - Click Choose File if you would like to post a picture of yourself on the page. It will direct you to find a photo saved to your computer. Click Upload once you’ve found a picture. Description – This will appear under the title at the top of the page. It can be as short or long as you’d like. This is just a way for you to personalize the page. Thank You Note – whatever you type here will appear on the confirmation email each donor receives after they’ve made a donation. It’s an opportunity to offer a personalized thank you. Fundraising Goal – We encourage you to enter a goal for how much you would like to raise. This can encourage your supporters. When you enter a goal here, this page will track the amount of donations received against the goal. Suggested Expiry Date – enter a date 3 months after the bike ride Give this registry an event date – enter the date the bike ride begins Click Save Once you save, MCC staff will get an email that notifies them to review and publish your registry. Please allow for a day or two for your page to be published. Your registry is now created. You can copy and paste the URL of your page into an email or share the link on Facebook, Twitter or Google+ via the corresponding links in the upper right corner of your page. *Your registry will not show the individual names of your sponsors. If you would like to know who they are, please contact Mimi Copp Johnson at mcj@mcc.org or 215-535-3624.

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Tessa Gerberich, a 2013 EMU alumna, works with new mothers and their babies

at a clinic run by Faith Alive Foundation in Jos, Nigeria.

Twenty-three-year-old Tessa Gerberich from Myerstown, Pa., hoped to have the opportunity to help

deliver at least one baby during her year-long service term in Jos, Nigeria. To date, she’s helped to

deliver 25.

“Helping women deliver their babies leaves me in awe of the simple, yet complex miracle of birth,”

said Gerberich, who studied nursing at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Va.

Gerberich had this privilege through her participation in Serving and Learning Together

(SALT), Mennonite Central Committee (MCC)’s international service program for young adults from

Canada and the U.S. She is one of 13 SALT participants from the East Coast region finishing their

one-year assignments in July 2014.

She serves at a clinic run by Faith Alive Foundation, an organization that provides free, holistic health

care to about 10,000 people each month. In addition to helping with births, Gerberich staffs an

antenatal clinic for expectant mothers and cares for adults and children living with HIV and AIDS.

Gerberich, who is a member of Little Swatara Church of the Brethren in Bethel, Pa., said that her

experience at Faith Alive has shaped her both personally and professionally.

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Before her SALT term, she was uncertain about whether to continue education as a family nurse

practitioner or to train as a nurse midwife. Now, because of her experience working with mothers at

Faith Alive, she hopes to train as a midwife soon after returning to the U.S.

She dreams of one day teaching other nursing or midwifery students, perhaps in international

contexts. She said, “I want to bring nursing students to places like this and walk with them through

their experience.”

In Jos, Gerberich goes to church with the family of one of the first babies she helped to deliver, and

she recently attended the child’s congregational dedication service.

Watching the dedication, Gerberich was “grateful for the baby’s life and for having a part in welcoming

him into the world.”

During her final months at Faith Alive, Gerberich will work with Monika Neufeld, a SALT participant

from Winkler, Manitoba, to develop a curriculum to serve as a resource for Faith Alive’s antenatal

program. She hopes that doing so will allow her to give back to the community that has taught her so

much.

Courtesy of Mennonite Central Committee, June 9, 2014

Thanks to Bike Ride Planning Committee

Lyubov Slashcheva (Richmond, VA)

David Hiebert (Scottdale, PA) Marie Western (Lowville, NY)

Mimi Copp Johnson (Mennonite Central Committee)

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BikePA2015

Bicycle Tour Packing Checklist:

□ (n) Necessary

□ (r) Recommended—Will make the trip more enjoyable

□ (o) Optional

Bicycle Equipment

□ (n) Helmet (REQUIRED) □ (n) Water bottles (2) and cages

□ (n) Spare tube(s)

□ (r) Rear red (flashing) & front white light

□ (r) Spare spokes (2–3)

□ (r) Mirror

□ (r) Bike lock

□ (r) Personal repair kit

□ (r) Handlebar or seat pack/bag

Miscellaneous

□ (n) Personal medication

□ (n) Shower Towel

□ (n) Insect repellent

□ (n) Sunscreen lotion incl lip sunscreen

□ (n) Personal toiletries (shampoo, soap, etc.)

□ (r) Flashlight

□ (r) Sunglasses

□ (r) Pocket knife

□ (r) Garbage bag

□ (o) Camera and accessories

Clothing

□ (n) Biking shoes, socks, gloves, etc.

□ (n) Windbreaker/light riding jacket

□ (n) Riding shorts & tops

□ (n) Clothing for evenings

□ (n) Sweatshirt or sweater

□ (n) Street shoes or sandals

□ (r) Rain gear

□ (o) Cycling tights or sweatpants

□ (o) Swimsuits

First Aid Supplies

General first aid items will be available from leaders

and support vehicles. Any special items you may

need should be brought along. The ride does not

provide medical coverage.

Overnight Equipment

□ (n) Sleeping bag or equivalent

□ (r) Clothesline/Pins

□ (o) Compact folding chair

Bike Parts

General items along with tools will be carried by

tour mechanic and support vehicles. If you have

tires that are an unusual size, please bring an extra.

Weather information for September in Halifax, PA

□ Average high 75°F

□ Average low 52°F

□ Sunrise at 6:53am and sunset at 7:10pm

□ Average monthly rainfall is 5.2 inches