Steve and Kim Palma

Steve and I would like to share with you an adventure with a purpose we are participating in September 6-10.

Four years ago our son Peter, became aware of the plight of Korean women caught in sex trafficking and the plight of orphans. Three years ago he organized a bike ride with several of his church members to raise awareness and funds to support two South Korean organizations which minister to these needs.

The ride is 350 miles on the 4 Rivers bike path from Busan to Seoul, South Korea. The first year when he shared about the ride and its purpose, we said we would pray. The second year, he did the same, and it was a little bigger, and again, we said we would pray. This past January he shared about the upcoming ride, and out of my mouth came, "I'll ride with you!" Bless his heart, Steve looked at me and gulped. I inwardly gulped. Peter looked at us over Skype wondering if I wanted to take my words back, or if his Dad would take my words back. We didn't. (Believe me, at many points during our preparation, I have been tempted to take my words back). What we have come to know during these months is that we are supposed to participate on this ride.

We can't imagine the pain and struggle these women and orphans are going through. We have had a blessed life and Jesus has said, "to whom much is given, much is required." (Luke 12: 48). He also said in James 1:27, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

Would you pray for us? Would you ask God to bless all who have been preparing to ride, that we would have unity of heart and soul as we laugh, as we groan, as we stretch ourselves? Please pray that the women who have escaped trafficking would find the comfort and healing of the Lord Jesus in the House of Hope, and that the orphans at Oak Tree Project would be drawn into families who will love them as their own.

Steve and I would encourage you to:
look at the websites below which explain the ministries and the ride:
http://www.rideagainsttraffick.org/b2s2014
http://www.oaktreeproject.com
http://www.hopeberestored.org/
http://give.whckorea.org
consider giving to:
"Come Quickly Ministries" at 6427 Franconia Rd. Springfield, VA. 22150, writing "bike trip" in the memo line. (for a US tax deduction)
through PayPal to comequickly@gmail.com.
http://give.whckorea.org
or a ministry you know and trust who diligently help women and orphans

Thank you for your prayers.

Steve and Kim Palma

UPDATE: We have exceeded our original goal of 20 million won! Thank you so much to everyone who has contributed so far. But it's not too late to give! Let's see if we can hit 30 million now!

Details:
Dates: 2014 Chuseok weekend Sep 6-10 (Saturday to Wednesday)
Route: 4 Rivers Cycle Path from Busan to Seoul (riders will take the KTX to Busan, and the bikes will be sent via truck ahead of time). We'll cover approximately 120-135 km per day.
Worship and Prayer: Each night we'll have an optional worship and prayer meeting.  Sunday morning we will have an optional worship service before we depart for the day.
Cost:  Still TBD, but in the neighborhood of 120,000 - 150,000 plus money for meals.
Who:  Anyone who is cleared physically by a doctor to join and willing to train.  Novice to expert levels are welcome.  We are also in need of support crew volunteers.
Sign Up Deadline:  Cyclists and support crew volunteers should contact John Choi (johnchoi80@gmail.com) by June 15th.  After June 15th cyclists will be put on a waiting list.

Objectives:
1. Raise awareness about the injustice of human trafficking, especially sex trafficking, as well as the plight of orphans (high risk targets of pimps/traffickers) in Korea. Awareness is spread through each involved person's relationships, social circles and social networks - there will be daily updates as we bike from Busan to Seoul.
2. Raise funds for House of Hope (Korea's only gospel-centered restoration center for trafficked victims) and Oak Tree Project (college scholarship and mentoring program for true orphans).  We raise funds through our website www.rideagainsttraffick.org
3. Pray for leaders, laws, law enforcement, society/culture perspective, pimps/traffickers, johns, and victims. Pray for justice. Pray for churches and Christians to rise up, live out the gospel in caring for the orphans, marginalized, and oppressed.

Requirements:
1. A road bike or hybrid bike, front and rear lights, helmet. Biking shorts highly recommended.
2. Physical / doctor approval of health
3. Training - Cyclists must commit to ride 20 km 3x a week and to taking one longer ride per week.  We have a group that is already training in Seoul and the Incheon group will start next week.