Welcome to BikeForMali.org! On June 2 (this Monday!) 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 relating to the update. Thanks for your support!
Click here for a PDF version of the brochure!
Prayer Wristbands
Proceeds from the wristbands will be used to spondor Pastor Bruce as he rides across the United States. This way, more can be given to 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 North Country Alliance Church*, with "Prayer Wristbands" in the memo) to North Country Alliance Church at
7 Northern Ave.
Plattsburgh, NY 12903
The ride has officially started! On Monday, June 2nd, Bruce rode 50 miles. On Tuesday, June 3rd, he rode 100 miles, and made it to Redding, California. If you go to the Are We There Yet? page, and put your mouse on the map at the top, it will show, in yellow, how far he's come. Also notice that the check points in the list below are being highlighted as he goes along.
Bruce and Isaac left on Monday, and are now in California. Bruce will be starting the trek back this Monday, and we'll be sure to keep you posted!
Click here for the news article published on Friday, April 25, 2008!
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.
