Think about 4,100 miles by bicycle. Four thousand, one hundred miles via bicycle! The distance from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean along the Transamerica Trail from Virginia to Oregon crossing 10 states. In June of 2008 I will embark on a bicycle trip across the continental United States to raise awareness and support for Compassion International, the organization which I am serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Uganda in Africa — and I’m asking for your help. (Don’t worry! This won’t require any biking on your part.)

One of the very first things I did when I arrived at my site to work with Compassion was to find out their greatest needs. What problems did they have that were stifling their progress. I figured that if I’m here to help out I’ll need to know what needs the most help.

Japheth Weyakala, my supervisor and closest friend here, informed me that the Compassion children were in desperate need of a community center in which to meet. The Compassion center here services 285 orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) of the poorest of poor families living in and around the community. Some 90 percent of these children have lost one or both parents, most of which have died from HIV/AIDS. The Compassion center provides health care, pays for school fees, uniforms and supplies, develops income generating activities (IGA) and facilitates educational, health, spiritual, and economic teachings as well as socio-emotional support to the children once a week. Since 2003 the children have been meeting outdoors under shade trees. This is particularly an urgent predicament during Uganda’s two rainy seasons during which the children cram into a small office building where that entire day’s program is then discarded.

I immediately dismissed Japheth’s idea for a new center. It was a much bigger problem than I knew how to deal with. Despite what the locals seem to think sometimes, I didn’t come with bags full of money; I came to offer my services. Besides, I didn’t want people to think that "the white guy" was here to supply money for projects. I was here to roll up my sleeves and work. The Peace Corps is about sending volunteers and not about sending money. That’s the whole point. But the longer I remained here the more I began to realize that he was absolutely right. The single biggest need we have is for a place for the kids to meet.

You know, I remember the old Boys & Girls Club, kitty-corner from Green’s Photography in downtown Rushville. Chet Walker always had me knock the dirt off my shoes before I could go upstairs to play ball. I played a lot of my best basketball on that miniature court. The out of bounds were essentially the perimeter walls and half court was just about a free throw from either side. The new Boys & Girls Club (I must be from Rush County if I’m calling the 10 year old building "new") revolutionized how Rush County boys and girls played ball. I don’t think anyone would argue that the new B&G; Club is a wonderful asset to the community. I believe that the community center for Compassion will have a similar effect. It will be a respectable place for the entire community to enjoy.

The 6,000 square foot community center will consist of a large meeting hall with a stage and two changing/storage rooms in addition to six offices for the staff. The secondary and primary schools will use the center for singing and drama competitions as well as parent meetings, free of charge.

In addition, the hall will be rented out to the local church for wedding banquets and thus will serve as an income generating project for the Compassion center.

Already, $17,950 has been raised on our way to our goal of $30,000. The walls of the center are already up! The money has come from the most unlikely of sources; $50 came from BRMS and from an elderly woman I’d never met but who wanted to help "those poor African children" and $8,000 has come from Sexton Church and members of their church body. Yeah! Tiny Sexton Church in tiny Sexton, Ind. I would have thought of a dozen other churches to ask before Sexton and before I could even ask they felt the need and responded accordingly. Thank you again, Sexton!

I’m asking for your help, Rush County. Help these kids to put a roof over their head. I’m asking for help from churches, schools and civic clubs. I’m asking for help from bridge clubs, bible studies and poker buddies. I’m asking for help from office mates, auto repair mechanics and restaurant workers. Basically, I’m asking for help from you.

I’m not doing this for recognition or for an award for Peace Corps Volunteer of the Year (if there is such a thing). I’m doing this because if I don’t, nobody else will. Compassion strives to make sure that it’s the kids who receive the money that is sent by their sponsors, therefore they don’t engage in building projects except for special circumstances.

Trying to get money for a building in a Third World country from parents and caregivers of the poorest of the poor kids is like trying to get blood from a turnip. It won’t get done unless somebody steps up and gets it done.

And so, upon completion of my Peace Corps service in June, I’ll embark on a cycling adventure. Heading west, as the early settlers did. Not in search of gold but for a different kind of treasure altogether.

(This building project is being supported through Purdue Christian Campus House. To find out more, check out http://pervispc.blogspot.com and click "Bike for Compassion." Tax-deductible donations can be made by mailing a check to: PCCH, 1000 State St., West Lafayette, IN 47906. It is essential that you write: Bike for Compassion in the memo line of the check!)