Every month, Raydel, a Cuban immigrant drives a white box truck from Kentucky Refugee Ministries (KRM) to Beargrass where he loads 30 to 40 bicycles repaired by Pedal Power for refugee families.  The truck often comes filled with furniture, appliances and numerous household goods.  But Raydel finds space to squeeze in the bikes.  He is predictably appreciative, prompt, and dependable and never misses a chance to visit our guys in the garage.    

Born in La Habana Cuba after Fidel Castro came to power, Raydel’s career started with an accounting degree followed by an administrative position with a distributor owned by the Cuban government where he discovered the faults, fallacies and limits of communism.  For seven years he refused to join the communist party.  No matter how long or hard he worked, neither better pay nor a promotion to a better job would ever come his way.    

At age thirty and after a receiving a Cuban passport, Raydel decided to escape Cuba by flight to Ecuador, pretending to be on vacation. While working at an Ecuadorian flea market, he mapped his rout from there to Juarez in Mexico, his last stop before crossing on foot into the USA.  At the border near El Paso Texas, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, better known as (ICE), detained Raydel for days while they processed his application.  Finally, on August 23, 2019, they granted him asylum, provided a work permit, and released Raydel to legally enter the US.  Free at last, he followed a friend to Kentucky where he took a job with Kentucky Refugee Ministries, well known and recognized for its work with refugees and immigrants.

We asked Raydel to share a special memory upon arriving in America, a memory that made a powerful impression.  Without hesitation he responded…

“People in the United States are
thoughtful, kind and generous,
something I had never experienced before,
and not typical in other cultures. 
I am forever thankful to be here. 
This is now my home.”

About Pedal Power Ministry:

This Ministry Team empowers folks in Louisville by providing refurbished/rebuilt bikes. Our volunteer team delivers on average 850 bikes a year to those in need in our community. Since its beginning in 2013, Pedal Power has delivered close to 8,500 bikes to individuals in need of reliable transportation. We have several strong partnerships with nonprofits and for-profit companies in Louisville such as Community Ministries, Homeless Ministries, Prison Resettlement Services, Kentucky Refugee Ministries, and Greater Louisville YMCA. We have a repair team that requires an understanding of bicycle components along with most repair skills and an interest to learn more about bicycle maintenance and a willingness to serve. We also have a social media team that spreads the Pedal Power message in our community with an understanding of social media sources and the ability to communicate and navigate within and through these sources. Please contact Pedal Power to get involved by serving or donating.