Paul Rejda
Having been born in Texas I consider myself a Texan but since I have lived in Oklahoma for almost half my life I would have to say that I’m also part Sooner. Soon after graduating from Owasso High School I realized that I have a passion for helping people who are less fortunate. I have spent many hours contemplating why I was so fortunate to be born where I was, while billions of people around the world are born into extreme poverty with no hope of change. This is why after graduating college I volunteered to work for the U.S. Peace Corp as a Business Education and Community Development Specialist in the Republic of Armenia where I was able to experience firsthand what it’s like to live in the Third World.
In 2008 my wife Casey and I were married. Casey is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and I have a small house painting and remodeling business. Life has been good to us, but for a few years we have felt like we need to be doing more to make a difference in the lives of the less fortunate. We have always given faithfully to many different charities but have felt the need to be involved on a deeper level. When Jono started talking about how his dad and brother had helped found an orphanage in Uganda I soon realized that Project Hope Worldwide was an organization we could be enthusiastic about.
Every day I pray that I will have an ever increasing compassion for these kids we are helping support. If you and I don't do it, who will? There are numerous charities everywhere you look but my hope is when you look at Project Hope Worldwide, the non-profit Run To Uganda is raising funds for, you will be as touched by the tremendous need in Uganda as my wife and I have been. And when you give your time and money to these beautiful children I promise you will feel as blessed as we do.
Lyndon Becker Bio
LYNDON BECKER – Founding Board Member of Project Hope Worldwide
Lyndon Becker is a founding board member of Project Hope Worldwide. In 2008 he and his 17 year old son, Justin, made their first trip to Uganda, participating in a church planting mission in the village of Mikombe just outside of the city of Mbale. It was during that trip that the Lord called them both to play a role in building an orphanage in Uganda. They both made the trip to Uganda again in 2009, participating in another church planting mission in the city of Lira as well as continuing the development of plans for the orphanage.
Lyndon holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Oklahoma State University. He spent five years in the defense industry and his next twenty-six years in sales and marketing; thirteen years in the oil & gas industry followed by thirteen years in the energy industry. In 2005 he joined QuikTrip Corporation where he currently serves as the Corporate Purchasing Manager. He brings extensive leadership experience to the project including business strategy & development, business design, customer relations, cost control strategies, and project management.
Lyndon has been married to his wife Connie for 40 years. They have four children and nine grandchildren. They currently reside in Owasso, Oklahoma where they are members of Discovery Bible Fellowship and where Lyndon has served as a member of the Elder Board for over 20 years. He hopes to see his children and grandchildren becoming involved in this work for many years to come.
Jono Becker
Hi my name is Jono Becker. My wife Christy and I have three children Marlee July 11, Mia Sunshine 6, and Kade Rocket 2. I work for QuikTrip, attend Oklahoma Wesleyan University, and my passions are people, running with all the new adventures life brings, and making this world a better place.
In 2008, my father Lynn Becker, my brother Justin Becker and several others including Derk Madden and Kelley Compton made an evangelism trip to Uganda. They saw the devastation that AIDS and the LRA had left on the people of Uganda especially the children. After hearing these stories and seeing the pictures, one thought continued to haunt me. What if Marlee, at that time 7, and Mia 2 where left on the streets to take care of themselves? Who would have enough compassion to care for them? Lynn, Justin, Dirk, and Kelley had already started the process to make a difference for these Ugandan children by creating Project Hope Worldwide and an orphanage Calo Me Lare. Our family decided to get involved and sponsor a young 5 year old girl named Mercy.
As my passion to help these children in Uganda has grown, it has evolved into the need to make a positive impact on the world. So over the next year not only will we be raising money to build a school for the children of Calo Me Lare, but we will be exploring ways to make a difference in ourselves and our world.
The Run to Uganda blog will be tracking the progress of the orphans and our fundraising efforts, but also will explore ways to:
(1) Make a difference in people’s lives through generosity and caring
(2) Make an impact on our own health through diet and exercise
(3) Minimize our impact on the environment through recycling and minimalism
(4) Enjoy life more through love and laughter
So if you are looking for a positive change in your life while making a positive change in your world, follow us on our journey to do same.
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