Ind. man hits the road to fund African orphanage

CHESTERTON, Ind. — A Chesterton man who said he is not an avid cyclist will trek more than 1,600 miles by bike this month to raise money for an African orphanage.

Peter Wilson, a 34-year-old married father of four, said he and his wife, Natalie Wilson, always have been drawn to Africa.

Both have a desire to serve others.

After nine months of research, they decided to link with Favor of God Ministries, which does charitable work in Uganda.

On a visit last year to Africa, Peter Wilson stopped by House of Hope orphanage in northern Uganda. There, he saw a new building was unfinished.

He wanted to help fund the completion, so he and his wife brainstormed. The idea for Ride to Hope, his 1,600-mile round-trip journey to Hope, Ark., was born.

“If we can get every mile sponsored at $50, it would raise enough to complete the orphanage over there,” he said.

It also would cover the cost of moving his family to Uganda.

Wilson has been biking 80 miles several times a week to train for his journey, which will begin June 10. He will leave from Bethel Church in Valparaiso.

A graduate of Valparaiso High School and Purdue University in West Lafayette, Wilson said this is not his first long journey by bike.

Right after college, he rode his bike from Chesterton to the Atlantic Ocean, offering to help random people along the way.

Life went on, and he didn’t bike much.

But, the Wilsons kept feeling drawn to Africa. They made a commitment to move their family there for at least two years, partnering with Favor of God Ministries.

Initially, they will provide child-rearing support to the women who live at the orphanage and care for the children.

The Wilsons’ two oldest children have been home-schooled, which will make an easier transition to life in Uganda.

Their children will be home-schooled part of the day and attend school at the orphanage the other part of the day, so they can make friends, Peter Wilson said.

More information about the bike ride is available at www.ridetohope.com. More information about the family and its mission is available at www.lifeblessings.org.