posted 11/18/2024
This story is a part of a series of missionary contributions where you’ll hear more about their “why” for defending and celebrating life with Biking for Babies. We interview Monica, a second-year missionary, who served as support crew this summer on the NY Team. Read on!
Give me a quick biography: who is Monica Drzewicki?
MD: Hi! I’m Monica! I am a 28 years old and live in Royersford, PA which is about 45 minutes outside of Philadelphia. I come from a strong Catholic upbringing and was raised by a single mom. My dad was diagnosed with a rare brain disease when I was 3 years old. I have an older brother and sister! My brother is 34 and lives in southern Maryland, and my sister is 32 and lives locally. I work as a pediatric nurse who specializes in the special needs population. I like to call them my work babies and they are my whole world. Pre-COVID, I was working on a cancer floor at a local hospital, but transitioned to this job almost four years ago.
Some things I like to do in my free time include watching Philadelphia sports, running, hiking, and writing. I LOVE to travel and have been to 13 countries and 26 states. I especially like to visit national parks for their hiking trails. My favorite country so far is a toss up between Italy and Costa Rica. My favorite state is Washington (for the mountains of course!!!). I have been a member at my parish, Saint Eleanors, for the past 25 years. I just recently started a young adult group at my church and took on the position as Director of Religious Education.
What initially drew you to Biking for Babies, and what brought you back this year? What was different about your first to your second year?
MD: I heard about Biking for Babies through one of my best friends who did it with me the first year. I absolutely love being outside, and I love being challenged physically. I have run many races in my past, so I thought this was a cool challenge. Originally we were interested in doing the Wisconsin route, which I thought would be like a mini vacation, since I had never been there before.
At the original discussion of Biking for Babies, I was not in a position to join. I was working with a little girl that I travelled with every summer for therapy and it would have conflicted with my schedule. However, that January she passed away, so I joined the team and dedicated my ride in her honor.
I returned to Biking for Babies this year because I learned so much about my faith on the first ride. It challenged me in many ways that brought me closer to God. I also met so many wonderful people from both my team and in my community. I knew if I did it again I would grow even further in my relationship with God. I also wanted to be a support crew member this year, because I knew it would highlight some of my natural gifts.
My first year I was a rider missionary. I was very much in the mist of my grieving and suffering from the loss of my patient. I struggled a lot considering I had not been on a bike since I was a teenager. I saw myself as the team burden. However, I did learn a lot of lessons like how to accept help from others. My second year, I was support crew, and I got to learn even more about myself. I got to see myself shine as a peacemaker. I also realized how strong my gift of love is and how freely I offer it to others. Of course, there is more that I need to work on such as patience, which I definitely learned this year.
What qualities or personal missions/charisms within yourself are enhanced or grown because of your formation with Biking for Babies?
MD: I have learned through my experience with Biking for Babies the true definition of love. I think this personally has been something I have struggled with in the past. There is no better definition of love than a team of strangers that join together for an entire week to serve God. Each National Ride I have been on challenged me to love others more freely. I get to see that transferred over into my life back home.
I also think the Lord has invited me to be brave and share my story. This is something I tend to shy away from, because I do not always know how it will be received. However, it is such a strong testament of how much God loves us. I firmly believe the devil tries to discourage us from sharing our story by evoking shame. However, our stories are clear examples of the power of God and his saving grace.
What was your favorite memory or experience from this year? What was your favorite part of being on support crew?
MD: My favorite moment during the National Ride was surprising my missionaries with letters from their emergency contacts. I reached out to my team’s emergency contacts back in April and collected letters from all of them. It was so nice to get to talk to their families, because I felt like I was meeting my team even before I got to meet them! My favorite part of support crew was seeing the riders every time we would surprise them or write funny jokes on the white boards. It was so nice to see them laugh or smile when I knew physically they were suffering.
Looks like your family came to see you at the Celebration of Life in Arlington! What are some ways you’ve seen your formation in the Gospel of life impact your family and friends and your relationships with them?
MD: I really had the chance to bond with my brother last year over Biking for Babies. He is an avid biker and had lots of advice for me during my training. I also learned a lot generally about his personality type. He is generally more quiet and reserved, while I am quite outgoing and bubbly. Prior to the National Ride, I genuinely questioned whether he loved me, because he is not expressive like I am. However, during the National Ride, I realized a lot of bikers are quite serious. So throughout the [training] process, I noticed he would check in on me. He would call and ask me questions about my bike and training. And I realized through that experience that we all show love differently. I also noticed after the National Ride that I worked harder to get my family together more and forgive one another.
What advice would you share with someone in your state of life about joining Biking for Babies and its impact on you in your state of life?
MD: I would advise everyone to do it at least once. Biking for Babies during my single season of life has taught me so much about myself. I learned areas where I need improvement, such as patience and selflessness. I know that will all translate over into my married life. The more I am able to highlight my flaws and work on them now will make me a better wife and mom. I also have been able to identify more clearly what kind of man I am looking for that will make a good husband and father.
In terms of practical advice, while you are training to be a rider, it is going to require a lot of time. It is all sacrificial, but it is all temporary. The training will only last four months, but the lessons God will teach you will be permanent. In terms of support crew, most of your work will occur on the National Ride. However, through prayer and the grace of God, you will become more selfless. All the practice in selflessness will definitely come to be important when we take on the role as parents. One week of extremely hard work, however, God will repay you. And it will totally be worth it!
What qualities/characteristics do you think are present in the missionaries that seem to fit well with Biking for Babies?
MD: I think qualities such as being hardworking, open minded, humble, and empathetic are all important to missionaries. During the National Ride, you will be surrounded by so many people that come from very different backgrounds. It is important that you look at them the way that God looks at us. During a week where its brutally hot and you’re exhausted, it is so easy to find fault in one another. However, we are clearly challenged to love one another throughout the chaos, which I think is how the Lord loves us. He sees us deep in our mess of life and sees the beauty in us.
Monica’s openness to growing in and sharing the love of the Father is what we hope for all of our missionaries.
That’s why we are proud she’s a Biking for Babies missionary for life.
You can find similar impact stories throughout our blog.
