Fulfilling Dreams

Fulfilling Dreams
by Alvin Gardner - ReCycle Bike Shop Supervisor

I grew up in Baker City, Oregon as a fatherless child.  When I was 15, my mom became disabled and I chose to drop out of school in order to take care of her.  In spite of the issues in my life, I had a life long passion - BMX bikes.  When the opportunity arose to come to Greenville, the home of Dave Mirra, I packed my bags and made the trip across the country to chase those dreams. 
In May of 2009, my girlfriend and I arrived here without any contacts.  We managed to find jobs and a place to live, but within 6 months my life had crumbled.  I lost my job and my girlfriend broke up with me.  She had "found God" and wanted to follow Christ.  I didn't know what that meant, but it sounded terrible to me.  My house was gone, my girlfriend was gone, and my chances of staying here were gone.  I didn't believe in a God at all and honestly thought he was just some fluffy cloud in the sky that people made up to make themselves feel better.  I was faced with a choice, go home to Oregon or stay in Greenville.  Something stirred inside of me, some desire to finish what I'd started, and I decided to stay. 

Shortly after that decision, my life was forever changed.  I ended up getting involved with some people from Victory Campus Ministry, and heard the Truth about a God who loves me and has a plan and a purpose for my life.  I surrendered.  I surrendered to His word, His ways, and His power.  I saw myself as never before, and I was transformed.  However, being transformed doesn't mean that I'd arrived and recognized my life plan.  I spent the next year in limbo, reconnecting with my ex-girlfriend only to end it again. 

Finally, I had a vision of what I wanted to do and I started taking steps to get there.  I used all my money and bought a bus with the intention of starting a mobile bike shop.  Some people would have called me homeless, but to me this was my home.  I fixed up the inside so that I could have a shop area and a living area.  It was like a regular RV, but without power or a bathroom.  I needed a solution.  A gym membership solved the showering problem, but I needed access to power. 

I had heard about Building Hope, and basically knew what they did, so I started looking around.  I happened to be there in between programs, so there weren't many people around.  I was able to hook up an extension cord to an outside outlet and viola, there was power. 

My first impression of Building Hope in 2010 was a parking lot and I haven't stopped parking there since then. 

For a while, no one really said much to me about being there.  They knew I was living in their parking lot, but I kept my distance and kept plugging away at my dream of having a mobile bike shop.  At the time I was painting my bus, and Robert, the director, approached me.  He told me that he'd pay me to paint the fence and so began my relationship with Building Hope.  One thing led to another.  It turns out that they had a dream to teach boys a hands on skill, and I happened to have the ability to teach that skill. 

Looking back, it's amazing how God had my road mapped out for me from the beginning.  He knew when I was 15 and dropped out of school, His purposes for my life.  He knew when I was living in a bus, that I needed to be there so that I could be in the place where I am now.  I first showed up at Building Hope as a boy wandering, trying to find his way into manhood.  They took my hand and have been a father to me, teaching me and training me into becoming the man that I am today. 

Now I am able to give back.  I see boys come in who are fatherless, struggling in school, hopeless, and I'm able to use my past to relate to them.  Just last week, they gathered around me and gave me a group hug.  They wouldn't let go.  I didn't do anything to deserve it, they just hugged me.  It got me. 
I still have dreams.  I want to see ReCycle succeed, but my dreams are bigger now.  I want to see our community transformed and to be involved in that process.  I want to be a part of something bigger than just me.

I sold that bus a while back.  I didn't need it any more.  Sometimes I wish I had it for sentimental reasons, but then I realize that I have so much more.

After this blog was posted, ReCycle was featured on WCTI Channel 12 news.  Watch the story here. http://www.wcti12.com/news/Teen-Fixes-Bikes-At-ReCycle-Shop/-/13530444/15482414/-/10ok81iz/-/index.html