End of Trip Summary

I hardly know where to begin. This summer has been the most amazing adventure of my life. I have spent the last two months on my bicycle, riding from Seattle to New York City, departing on June 5^th and arriving on July 22^nd. Although it sounds crazy and monotonous, the eight weeks between were nothing short of life changing for me. It is so strange to think that it is over now. I talked about it, prepared for it, and anticipated it for so long. But it seemed to go by so quickly, leaving my mind and heart overflowing. It has been a joy and delight to be home with my family again, but it also feels so strange. People keep asking how my trip was. I cannot give it one word, one paragraph, or even one page. How can I put into words two months of life changing? How do I verbalize every hill, bump, flat tire, missed turn, and sore muscle? How do I explain each face that I saw, person I met, word that was spoken, story that was heard, life that was touched? I cannot convey the personalities and quirks of every town I rode through. I cannot explain the miles of road that passed beneath my tires. Unless you have experienced it yourself, you cannot fully appreciate the thrill of racing down the backside of a mountain after conquering the peak. People ask me what my favorite part was. The only honest answer that I can give is ‘my trip,’ this trip that has changed me in more ways than I may ever know. I saw the changes in my journal entries, heard it in my phone conversations with home, and felt it inside my heart. I think I will be discovering and pondering these changes for the rest of my life.

One of the changes I have seen in myself is that my perspective on life is different. For two months I have been a potted plant, moving from place to place but never putting down roots. I learned to watch and listen with great attentiveness to every detail because I would probably never see a person again. After arriving home I have maintained that same attitude. While eating lunch with a friend I found myself listening to each word and trying to retain them all as if it were my only chance. I watch out the window of the car as if I have never driven down my street before and will never have the opportunity again. I am sure that some of this will lessen with time. However, I think there is great value in recognizing and appreciating the brevity of life and in enjoying the simple things.

Now that I am home I have become much more aware of how big this trip really was. When I was in the middle of it I saw it mile by mile and not as a whole. My friends and family are amazed and in awe of what I have done. But I don’t see what I did this summer as being that huge. Yes, I biked across the country, but that is not the point. The point is not what I did. The point is why. I did not bike to amaze anyone. I did not ride to add something to my list of accomplishments. I did not pedal to make people look at me. I cycled across the country to change the world. I rode for the people who cannot speak up for themselves. I pedaled to make people ask questions so that I could tell them about the plight of so many and challenge them to take action as well. I rode to bring justice and hope.

I give the same challenge to you: to be involved and to make a change. I could not have completed this trip without your support and you have my great thanks for your prayers and financial help. I want to invite you to continue being involved. This trip was not about me, it never has been. This trip has always been about the ones I am riding to support. It is never too late to be involved, you can still give towards the Just+Hope Campaign and I ask that you prayerfully consider doing so. The world is out there waiting for someone to go change it and I challenge you to be the one to make a change for the better.

So where do I go from here? How do you go back to normal life after something so huge? The answer is that you don’t. You can’t. My life has been changed and I will never be able to live the same way again. I have seen, heard, experienced, and felt things that have left a mark on my mind and heart that will last the rest of my life. And that is how it should be. You cannot walk away from an adventure, a true adventure, and be unchanged. Although I do not yet know all of the ways I have changed, I have the rest of my life to figure it out and I plan to. What is next for me? Life. With all of the unknowns that make it such a grand adventure to be alive.

            If you would like more detail about my trip, the things I saw, and how it affected me, I invite you to read my weekly blogs that I submitted to my local paper. They contain my thoughts and observations, lessons learned, stories, and photos from on the road. They can be read at www.erstarnews.com.

            Once again I thank you for all of your support. The battle against the oppression and injustices of human trafficking is one that cannot be fought alone. Take a chance, step out, make a difference in the world.