It was a night of celebrations after Arvid Loewen completed his final kilometre last night in honour of Mully Children's Family (MCF).

Loewen, the cycling philanthropist for MCF, has just completed another 15,000-kilometre ride (on schedule) in support of the African organization.

For the past 30 years, Mully Children's Family (MCF) has worked tirelessly to save the lives of children out on the street, culminating to a total of 15,000 children rescued from lives of poverty to-date.

That legacy was celebrated last night as Loewen gathered with 60-some other riders to joyfully complete his latest cycling journey at North Kildonan Mennonite Brethren Church.

A number of special guests joined Loewen for celebrations following his ride, including Ndondo Mulli, the fourth-eldest child of Charles Mully, and Mumina Mdumi and Lydia Akinyi.

Mdumi and Akinyi grew up at MCF, rescued from lives of poverty and difficulty by Charles Mully and welcomed into his family. They also took part in Loewen's inaugural ride across Canada for the organization 15 years ago.

MCF has had a significant impact on their faith as they incorporate devotions and practicing evangelism in their daily lives.

Akinyi says of Loewen and MCF, "The way you see how their life is, it is really amazing. Finding someone who sacrificed a lot ... it is really amazing and it is really impacting so many lives."

Before MCF, Akinyi lived with her grandparents as her biological parents had both died when she was two years old.

"When I joined Mully Children's Family, it really changed my life. I was going to school, given basic needs, and found parents who were really loving."

Akinyi was with MCF from third grade until grade twelve and now is a social worker, working with young women. 

"I'm really happy to do that job because I am impacting someone's life and giving hope to them through talking to them, and encouraging them, and guiding them on how to solve their problems," says Akinyi.

Before coming to MCF, Mdumi lived with his single mother. "It was difficult for my mother to support us. ... It was difficult for her to get any job."

Mdumi's mother became sick and it affected the entire family. "The few meals we used to get they reduced to sometimes once or not at all."

"Luckily, my uncle heard about her sickness and came to visit. He saw the situation and how bad it was. He knew about MCF ... so both of us were rescued."

MCF has been Mdumi's home since he was three years old. Now, he has gone to college, received a diploma, and is now working towards a degree.

"There is so much MCH has offered to me - and it not just to me. It is to the 15,000 of us. Lydia and I are just an example of what we've gotten from MCF," says Mdumi.

 

Listen to Ndondo's story here: