Michigan—Reg and Wanda Swensen rode their bicycles approximately 150 miles to Indiana Camp Meeting. Armed with oatmeal patties, date bars, boxes of apple and grape juice, and water bottles, they set off Friday afternoon from their home in Berrien Springs, Mich., and rode the first 50 miles to Napanee, Ind., the first day. They stayed with a friend over the weekend, then set out again at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday on State Road 19 toward Indiana Academy.

At an average rate of 10.8 mph and stopping every hour or so to rest and refill their water bottles, they arrived in Cicero at 7:30 p.m. The Swensens spoke at Camp Meeting on Wednesday evening. They shared how a new interest in their health and particularly in the CHIP (Coronary Health Improvement Project) program changed their lives.

The Swensens’ story actually begins in January 2005, when they both agreed it was time to lose some weight. They began by joining the Weight Watchers diet program, which focuses on making positive changes to lose weight and keep it off. In May of that year, Wanda signed up for the CHIP leadership training program at Andrews University. She had been interested in learning more about the CHIP program for some time, and thought maybe God was calling her to start a CHIP program in her church family.

While taking the class at the university, Wanda picked up a copy of The China Study, by T. Colin Campbell and Thomas M. Campbell II, an in-depth look at the effects of animal proteins on health. In July, Reg, Wanda, and their two children, Alex and William, took a trip to southern Ill. While Wanda drove, Reg picked up The China Study, and began to read. Wanda told him if he was going to read, he should read out loud so they could all hear. After a while the kids had put down the computer games they were playing. They started listening and were soon asking questions. The book told of a study linking dairy products to cancer in lab rats. Reg’s mother had passed away from cancer and his father was battling cancer as well. By the end of the trip, the family had decided they needed to cut dairy out of their diet altogether.

When they got home, they decided to eat whatever dairy products were left in the house, but they would not buy any more. One morning, Wanda asked their younger son, William, if he wanted regular milk or soy milk on his cereal. He thought about it a minute, then answered, “Mom, I want to live a long time; I’ll have soy milk.”

Since following the CHIP program, Reg has lost 120 lbs. and Wanda has lost 60. They have also increased their exercise. Reg rides his bike 20–30 miles a day.

In January 2006, Wanda and the Health Team at the Village Church started a CHIP program. One hundred thirty individuals from the Berrien Springs community signed up; 123 graduated in April.

Suzi Woods, a volunteer who helped prepare food for some of the meetings, says the CHIP diet has changed her life. She said, “I’ve had to buy all new clothes. I went from wearing a size 20 to an 8 or a 10—and the size 10s are loose!” But even more important than her weight loss is the effect it has had on her health. “My asthma, in particular, has improved so much. I used to use an inhaler every day, and in the last three and a half months, I have only used it once!”

The Health Team is planning another CHIP program beginning Oct. 8. For information call Wanda Swensen, CHIP program director, at 269-471-CHIP.

Candy Clark, Berrien Springs Village Church correspondent