Finally writing again

I’m sorry for not writing, it’s very hectic when you’re leading a cycling tour from Seattle to NYC.

On Monday June 14th, I with 8 other team members (note: there are a total of 14 people on the team) left MN to drive to Seattle. We are on a journey to bike from Seattle to NYC to raise money and awareness to prevent human trafficking. The initial drive was long and tiresome, but it was a great time to get to know my team members. We were welcomed into the Seattle area by an old college friend of mine and her family. They took us out to eat, gave us beds to sleep in and fed us a delicious breakfast. The funny thing is, they did all this for a group of 9 people and we only gave them 2 hours notice that we were in the area. These sorts of events have been taking place left and right for the past 2 weeks.

On Wednesday June 16th, Venture Expeditions spoke at the World Vision (www.worldvision.org) chapel. After our time there, we had journalists wanting to do stories on the team (http://wvmagazine.wordpress.com/2010/06/18/the-times-are-a-changin%...), people with power wanting to use their power for the team, radio personnel wanting to spotlight what we’re doing (do you know Delilah the radio lady?- yeah her) and we also got World Vision cycling jerseys. What a great day.

Before we started the tour from Seattle to NYC, we had a couple days of training in Sammamish, WA. We started the cycling expedition on Sunday, June 20th. On that first day of cycling we had one person give a $1,000 check to support the Just+Hope Campaign. That was pretty cool. Our goal is to raise $100,000 by the end of all our cycling.

We have been through Washington (Seattle, Sultan, Leavenworth, Coulee City, and Spokane) Idaho (Harrison) and Montana (so far only Thompson Falls, Missoula, Helmville and Helena).

I can’t tell you about every day of our ride, nor about every person I’ve met along the way. What I can say is that every single host that has taken the team in has had a heart of gold. We have felt so welcomed by churches families and schools. They have fed us and housed us. They have given us time and space to discuss about human trafficking. They have donated money. They have shared not only their possessions but their lives. We have heard their stories and we have told them ours. Even more important, we have together remembered the stories of the not so blessed and the not so free: those who are enslaved and trafficked.

It’s an interesting combination, being blessed by others and by the scenic mountains and rivers, yet advocating for those who are in bondage and horror. The juxtaposition wrenches at my soul. How can I have it so good and others have it so bad? Can I do something more? Can I give up more? What should I do? I call myself a follower of Jesus. He seems to say some specific answers to these questions. One of which is “Sell your possessions and give to the poor.”

All in all, I have a great team, we’re having so much fun and we’re learning a lot. The people we meet along the way are incredible. If you’re wondering if there are still some good people left, I’ve met so many on this tour.

Thanks for your support and prayers.

If you want to help in the prevention of human trafficking, please go to http://ventureexpeditions.ning.com/page/donate-now.

Peace.