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Missionary Spotlight: Nick, Weslee, and Erin

Our missionaries come from various places in the nation and various stages of life: college students, young professionals, etc. Just like the body of Christ, the Church, each of our missionaries bring something different to the table: unique perspectives, gifts, and thoughts on what it means to be a pro-life missionary. Nick is a first-year rider on the Northern Route, Weslee is a first-year rider on the Southern Route, but get ready for this one: Erin is a third-year missionary, has ridden the Southern Route (2016) and the Northern Route (2017), and will be support crew for the Eastern Route this year. Check out what they’ve got to share about their part of the pro-life movement!


 

Question 1: How did you find out about Biking for Babies, and what “sold you?”

Nick: I found out about B4B through a really good friend of mine and the B4B training specialist—Kevin Biese (If you don’t know him you should he’s awesome)! When Kevin called I had been holding off on committing to another retreat because I felt that God might be calling me somewhere else. At the same time I had also began stationary training and looking for a bike hoping to participate in a triathlon. When Kevin called, not only did he offer to let me use his bike, but I realized that B4B was the same week as the other retreat! I told him yes almost right away because his call was truly an answer to prayer! (view Nick’s missionary profile here)

Weslee: I found out about Biking for Babies from Timmy Wiese (husband of ED Sarah Wiese). He had sent me a text one day simply asking me if I wanted to be on the support crew to help out with Biking for Babies. When I read his text I felt a deep desire in my heart to join the team. I felt like God was really talking to me through Timmy because that same day I was dealing with the stresses of school and life in general, and I thought to myself… why not?! So I decided to join the team as a rider to grow in my faith and to help raise money and awareness about Biking for Babies! I figured it would be such a life-changing experience for myself, and for the babies we are saving, and it has in fact already changed my life in such a positive way.

 

Question 2: What was your favorite experience from any of your Biking for Babies rides, and what experience will stick with you forever?

Erin: My favorite experience was day 3 of the 2017 national ride. My team and I rode 157 miles in a single day! I had been struggling physically and mentally on the previous two day of riding through the hills in south western WI and western IL. It was a huge accomplishment for me, and I couldn’t have done it without my team. I have been using that experience this year as I have been talking about our mission. When I tell people that I rode 157 mi on a bike in a single day, they react by saying things like “That’s too hard” “I could never do that” Then I remind them that sometimes there are women who have similar thoughts when faced with an unplanned pregnancy. I had to train and prepare for many months to be ready for the national ride, and I had the support, training, and encouragement from my team the whole time. The PRCs that we partner with help their clients in a similar way to help prepare their clients prepare to welcome a new life into their family.   

[My stick-with-me experience was] riding into Tylertown, MS on the first day of the 2016 national ride.  It was my first year with Biking for Babies, and I didn’t really know what to expect from our host locations. The people there were so welcoming and generous.

 

Question 3: Since y’all are first-year riders, what are you hoping to get out of your experience with B4B?

Nick: Through B4B, I hope that I encounter the beauty of life in a new way. I have been pro-life my whole life and yet, until now,  I feel as though I have not fully invested in the cause. Through the pain of my training rides, I have already developed such a passion for the life of those unable to defend themselves and I hope that I can continue to learn, grow, and experience that beauty each and every day!

Weslee: I am hoping to share how important it is to defend life and to let people have a better understanding of what it means to save lives. People don’t understand the truth behind abortion and how it has such a negative effect on the mothers, families, and many lives it takes away. I hope to gain the love of others and share my understanding of why this mission is so important.

 

Question 4: How has your time with B4B encouraged you to lead a life of action?

Erin: I think the way that Biking for Babies has each rider/support crew person partner with a PRCs is really helpful. Before joining Biking for Babies, I always considered myself pro-life, but didn’t really feel like I was actively doing much to help. With Biking for Babies, I feel that I am having more of a personal impact, I have also learned a lot about the work of pregnancy recourse centers.   

 

Question 5: What do you think is going to be the most challenging part of the national ride?

Nick: I think the most challenging part of the ride, and every training ride beforehand will be remembering why we are doing it. No matter how much our bodies hurt and we wanna give up, if we keep our “why” at the forefront, the pain will be for a purpose and the pedals will keep on moving!

Weslee: I believe the most challenging part of the national ride is going to be at the end of each day when I am trying my hardest to continue going… This ride is not going to be easy. Riding on a bike for about 7 hours a day, for 6 days in a row, in the heat of the summer does not sound easy at all. But I believe that uniting my sufferings with the mothers and babies affected by abortion will give me a better understanding of what it means to be pro- life. I am biking 600 miles not only to raise money for these women, but to raise awareness about how precious each life is. I hope people look at us and wonder why we are putting ourselves through such a challenging event, and that is when we will tell them exactly what we are doing, why we are doing it, and who we are doing it for, to catch people’s attention in order to spread the word.

 

Question 6: Do you have any advice for those hesitant to live out their pro-life faith?

Nick: Do not underestimate the power of prayer! Pray for the unborn, pray for women in crisis pregnancies, and pray for an end to abortion. I would even ask God for the courage to truly live pro-life and remember what He told us 365 times in the bible “Be Not Afraid.” If you don’t stand up for those without a voice, who will?

Erin: My advice would be to look for a way that you can use your own talents. There are so many different pro-life activities to choose from. You have to find what is best for you. With Biking for Babies, it’s not just about biking. We need support crew, host location, net-workers, sponsors, behind the scenes planning, there are so many different ways to help

Weslee: If anyone is hesitant about the pro-life faith, I would tell them that their mother chose life. They are a living example of a miracle, and every single person is worthy of the gift of life.

 

Last Question: What’s something interesting that we don’t know about you yet?

Nick: I love walking on water! Be that via barefooting or a slalom ski there’s nothing better than cruising the lake up in the north woods! Do you think we could pull a bike behind the boat?

Erin: I love to play soccer!

Weslee: I am the oldest of three children in my family. I have a younger sister, Lily, and a younger brother, Michael. I love them both so much, and I couldn’t imagine my life without them in it. It is amazing what the gift of life can and will bring to others. I believe that my generation will end abortion and I continue to pray for the young mothers who are in need of the strength, care, and love that being a mother calls for. I am biking 600 miles for all of the precious babies out there, and I can’t wait to see how this mission transforms thousands of lives!