Issue link: https://cp.revolio.com/i/1163886
Page 4 | www.BlackSheepHDFC.org Dear Black Sheep: I would like to tell you what becoming a part of Black Sheep means to us. My name is Fabrice and this is my wife Elisabeth. We have three boys. I have always dreamed of having a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Three years ago, Elisabeth and I decided to get our motorcycle license; first me and then Elisabeth. For some reason, I did not get my license un l March 2018. Then I started to nego ate with Elisabeth about the motorcycle we were going to buy. For me, it was obvious that we were going to buy a Harley, but let me tell you she was reluctant at first. I started to explain to her my dream: having a Harley, riding differently (here in France, Harley is far from being the leader of the motorcycle market), enjoying a cool & "noisy" ride, etc. I don't know if it is because I was boring her with my dream or because she loves me, but she finally accepted to buy a Harley. A few weeks later, I bought a Sportster 883R full black with Screaming Eagle exhausts. I was more than happy and she was more than afraid to ride this bike! This was only the beginning of a long list of scary surprises for her, because at that me, Elisabeth was not very familiar with the biker culture. For me, having a Harley also means being part of a group; a chapter. I tried to find where the nearest HOG chapter was located. Unfortunately or fortunately (it's up to you), the nearest chapter was 2 hours away from home. You also have to know that usually I'm not a sheep: I don't like to be like others. God created me unique, so I try to remain unique. That's why instead of being a classic HOG member, I searched for something less common in France: a Chris an Biker group. I say "group" because I was not aware that Motorcycle Ministries existed. In such a case, Google was my best friend and always has good advice for me. Jumping from webpage to webpage I finally landed on www.blacksheephdfc.org on May 2018. I read almost the en re website and was very impressed. I sent my first tweet to Marty Edwards on May, 31st 2018. He replied very quickly and we talked through Twi er. Then I stopped sending tweets to Marty for four months, but I con nued to read his tweets, to read the e-mag and to watch the Facebook live almost each week. On September, 30th, I sent a new tweet to Marty: this was the beginning of a tremendous journey. You can't imagine the reac on of my wife when I explained to her that Marty Edwards wanted to make a video call with both of us: it was priceless! She was not fully aware of my searches. So, I explained to her that Marty was the president of BSHDFC, a Chris an Motorcycle Ministry, and that he was convinced that we were the right people to start this ministry in France. Of course she was not convinced at all and I have to tell you that neither was I. But with the help of Marty, Peter K. and God, nine months later, we are the first Black Sheep members in France and in Europe. And we thank God for that! Editor's Note: Did you no ce that Romans 1:16 on the back patch is in French? You know, for Elisabeth and me, it is more and more important to live our faith, to show by our witness, by our ac ons that we are Chris ans, even if in France, most of the me, it is no longer considered as a posi ve point. It is important for us to ride for God with our Sportster and to show people that one can be a biker, riding a noisy Harley, having long hair or being bald, being ta ooed or not... and doing all that for the glory of God. Here in France, if you ride a Harley, people think it is either because you are a bad guy or because you want to look like a bad guy (even if now, with more and more women riding a H-D, the reputa on of bikers is be er). Nobody thinks it is because you are Chris an and that you want to share the Gospel within the biker community. Even if most people, including our friends, think that we are crazy, we are proud to be part of BSHDFC. We are proud to wear our vests. We are proud to try to build a chapter in France. It will not be easy, but we will try and with the help of God, we will succeed. We are proud and touched when we see your messages on Facebook, when you send us emails, when we see you praying for us with Marty at the headquarters (thanks Peter for the videos). There is no word to explain how happy we are. The only drawback is that you are in the US and that we are in France. We would like to ride with you, to spend me with you. But that's life. With God's help, we will raise a Chapter, we will be able to organize Black Sheep rides and perhaps one day the Black Sheep ILS will take place in France! For the moment, we ride as much as we can, we go to biker events and we talk about BSHDFC to everyone who wants to know about it. Our kids are also proud that mom and dad are part of Black Sheep, but with only one Sportster it is quite difficult to make family rides. That's why we are trying to find a Harley with a side car. Such bikes are very rare in France, but it seems that God is with us: there is such a bike near us. The owner is currently in Canada and will come back at the end of the year. Letters From France