Welcome to BikeForMali.org! If you didn't already know, this coming summer of 2008, Bruce Overstreet will be riding his bicycle from California to Maine to benefit Koutiala Women and Children's Hospital in Mali, West Africa. Pledges per mile are being taken and will go towards the needs described on the "Why the Ride?" page. Be sure to check back! All updates will be posted here, as well as on the page the update best fits. Thanks for your support!
Click here for a PDF version of the brochure!
Prayer wristbands have been made and are in!
Funds will be used to sponsor Pastor Bruce as he rides across the United States this summer 2008 for the purpose of raising funds for the needs related to the expansion of the Women & Children's hospital in Koutiala, Mali, Africa.
The wristbands are red, yellow, and green - the colors of the Mali flag and have "bike4mali.org" stamped into them. They are to remind the wearer to pray every day for:
- The Women & Children's hospital in Koutiala, Mali
-The people of Mali.
-C&MA workers in Mali.
-Pastor Bruce as he prepares to ride June-August!
The wristbands are available online! One for $4.00, or 10 for $25. Send a money-order or check (made out to Bruce Overstreet, with "Prayer Wristbands" in the memo) to Bruce Overstreet at
88 Park Row
Cadyville, NY 12918
Click here for the news article published on Friday, April 25, 2008!
Yet another page!
Once again, we have a new page on our site! As you will see in the navigation, we now have a blog. While it isn't like many other blogs that are out there, it is simply a more candid way for us to let you know some of the things going on with us as we get ready for, and go on, this trip. So, you can expect updates on packing, heading out, RV life, and how Cricket feels about all of this.
Letter Excerpt from a worker in Mali!
It has been a while since we have written. We have been swept up in the life of the hospital and I realize that I need to take more time to communicate. God continues to be so very good to us. Plenty has happened since our last letter - perhaps the greatest thing is that Gos has sent us a hospital administrator!! Craig and Marilyn Hanscombe joined the team here in January. Craig has hit the ground running and is pushing the hospital forward in a dozen directions simultaneously. I marvel at God's goodness. Six months ago I had never heard of Craig and Marilyn. We were quite discouraged, seeing so many needs and feeling so inadequate. It seemed all we could do to keep our heads above water at the hospital, let alone take concrete steps to move forward. To think that we would find someone with financial and administrative experience, who also understood Africa and spoke French and would be willing to move to Koutiala and dive in, seemed like a naive dream. Now, here we are six months later and the entire picture looks different. I am continuously amazed at God's timing and kindness. We have seen one miraculous porvision after another.
155 babies were delivered at the hospital in the month of March. There are lots of preemies and 4 sets of twins in the house right now. It is amazing to see little two pound babies make it when you consider how little technology we have to offer.
We have had several visiting medical teams in the past 6 months. Each team leaves us stronger than we were before, as we are slowly expanding our competence and confidence. It is great fun to see the progress. 2008 looks to finish strong as we are nearing completion of a large storage building and preparing to start construction of the new maternity complex.
Thank you for your faithful prayer and support of us. It is your kindness in giving that allows us to stay out here. We are humbled by your friendships.
-Dan, Marcy, Emma, Ellie and Maggie
Update from a worker in Mali!
A worker recently told us some more-specific needs in Mali. Here are some of the types of things your donations will go towards to meet their needs.- Furnishings and supplies (medicine and equipment, as well as storage for housing it) needed for the opening of a pediatric center later this year.
- X-ray machines, test equitment for laboratory work, and AV equipment for showing health videos in waiting areas of the hospital.
- Hospital Security
- Solar power for daylight-free electricity for storage & new maternity departments.
- Improvement of the hospital computer network and office equipment.
- Language study for a new nurse being sent out this summer to work at Koutiala.
- Construction of higher walls, and of housing for workers and national staff, to be built near to or on the hospital grounds.
A Few Updates...
Once again, there are a few changes on the site that should be pointed out: -There are PDF versions of both the route as well as the brochure.-There is a new page with some pictures of the jerseys, as well as from the hospital.
-A new link that goes directly to the C&MA site.
