IF LIFE IS A JOURNEY, PICTURE IT AT 12 MILES AN HOUR …

Bill Van Gorp: “So far, we’ve ridden our bikes about 1,470 miles and that would leave us with a really long way to go.”

FOR SIX MONTHS, THIS FATHER-SON TEAM WILL CRISS-CROSS THE COUNTRY, HOPING TO RAISE MONEY AND AWARENESS OF UNITED METHODIST MISSION WORK.

Dirk Van Gorp: “Your mission field might be being a teacher or a youth leader or helping the family next door.”

DIRK VAN GORP HAS BEEN MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS, HELPING BUILD HOUSES IN ZAIRE, REFUGEE SETTLEMENTS IN BOSNIA. HIS SON WOULD OFTEN JOIN HIM IN THE SUMMER.

Bill Van Gorp: “You really get the opportunity to be in peoples' lives and help them and to help change their lives.”

MISSION TRIPS MEANT EXTENDED TIME AWAY FROM FAMILY AND TIME IS A BANDIT WHEN YOU HAVE CHILDREN. VAN GORP HOPES THIS JOURNEY WILL RECLAIM SOME OF THAT LOST TIME.

Dirk Van Gorp: “The best part is being able to take away a closer and deeper relationship with my son, Bill.”

Bill Van Gorp: “I’ve learned a lot about our relationship and how we can make it work a lot smoother.”

Dirk Van Gorp: “He has to wait at the top of the hills for me.”

FATHER AND SON ARE A TEAM NOW, SHARING THEIR FAITH WITH CHURCH GROUPS ALONG THE WAY.

Bill Van Gorp with kids: “We ride about 60 miles every day.”

THROUGH SNOWSTORM AND BLINDING RAIN, THEIR TREK HAS BEEN GRUELING AT TIMES. YET, THE SPIRITUAL REWARDS, THEY SAY, ARE GREAT.

Dirk Van Gorp: “There’s great folks out there that really want to and have a desire to help other people.”

Bill Van Gorp: “And there’s a lot of people that’s do a lot for you just at the drop of the hat. It’s really encouraging and inspiring to me. It’s great.”