Will I Be Someone that Speaks-up? Stands-up? Or, Shuts-up?

I've always been a bit intense, determined, and passionate. There have been times when this drive was somewhat unhealthy; for instance, when I would be training on the treadmill at the St. Denis Centre (University of Windsor) and I would see someone running at a faster speed than me, I would increase my speed just a wee bit so as to not be outdone. There were also my silent dinners with my grandma following a basketball game loss. You see, my grandma was probably my biggest basketball fan and in the dead of winter she would take a Greyhound bus 6 hours (roundtrip) to come watch me play. Often after a game she would take me for dinner and if we had lost the game, you could be sure that I wouldn't say a word, except to say how I would right the situation in the next game, until the end of our shared dessert. Then there are the healthy examples, such as when I worked at camp I would get fired up about our "at-risk" campers and how we could make their one week at camp the best experience ever for them. I can remember being a case worker at a group home for Child and Family Services and I regularly felt like I was having my heart ripped out every time I heard a gut-wrenching tale of abuse. It's there I decided I had to do everything possible to work with these type of youth once I became a teacher. This passion, ultimately helped me get involved with the Muskoka Woods Leadership Program while at Grad School, and drove me to essentially complete an internship with the school board and write a 300+ page thesis.... Again, intensity, determination and passion have marked many of my life's decisions and actions.

Anyone who knows me would say that Social Action has always been important to me. A friend of mine often asks, "What are you doing to change the world this week?" I usually answer that I'm not doing anything extraordinary, I'm just trying to be faithful and give back to my community in ways that have been placed on my heart and with the gifts that have been given to me. I'm not sharing these things with you to toot my own horn, but rather show you that I've always been someone who gets fired up easily when I feel passionate about something; this way you won't mistake what's been stirring in my heart for the past 2 years as a "Camino" moment that will pass in a few weeks once school starts back-up!

Two years ago I watched a documentary called: Nafarious, Merchant of Souls and truth be told I haven't been the same since. The documentary looks at the disturbing trends of sex-trafficking, an atrocity that isn't just happening over there in Eastern Europe and in Asian countries, but that is happening in Canada, the US and across the world. In fact, there are approximately 27 million victims of human trafficking worldwide (The A21 Campaign); with over 43% of all victims being sexually trafficked (UN Global Compact Fact Sheet). There are countries where this systematic abuse is happening out in the open, while in other countries its more hidden, to the point where the public wouldn't dare suspect that this is happening in their neighbourhood. Slowly I've been becoming more informed and sensitive to the issue, but unfortunately until recently, I never felt that it was necessarily my cause to fight for. And then, I started hiking across Spain! I remember hiking into big cities - but especially in Léon - and seeing giant billboards as you entered the city featuring a young woman, probably no older than 16 years-old wearing very little and positioned very seductively and written in two different languages below this girl was:"For a sexy night in the hottest city call..." I was disgusted to the point where I can no longer ignore this problem! That young woman could have been one of my students - and more importantly she is someone's daughter.

When I hear stories about young girls systematically being taken, then sold and raped 30-40 times per day, my heart breaks and I feel overwhelmed by the magnitude of the problem. But what can I do? I'm simply one person.... As a teacher, I try to encourage my students to not use this as an excuse for not doing the right thing; so why should I? Edward Everett Hale (1902?) once said: "I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something...What I can do, I should do..."

Last year when studying the problem of bullying with my grade 8's I told them that when they see, hear and learn about cases of bullying in our school they have 3 realistic options:

• Option 1: Speak-up for the cause/victim.
• Option 2: Stand-up for the cause/victim.
• Option 3: Shut-up and let the problem continue. 

In all honesty our society is faced with these same 3 options in response to the problem of human and sex trafficking! In 2003, the United Nations implemented the Palermo Protocol, which outlines 20 Articles aimed at Preventing (speaking-up) and Protecting (standing-up) people from human trafficking, as well as Prosecuting (standing-up) the perpetrators of these heinous violations of human rights. Carol Brusca (2011) has examined the effectiveness of this UN protocol and adds that educating and making people aware of the stories and the issue will be the cornerstone to preventing (and eventually ending) human trafficking in 21st century. Nowhere is it suggested that society turn a blind eye and pretend like the problem of slavery is a thing of the past and no longer exists!

I for one can no longer choose to look the other way and ignore this issue! So, I'm going to choose to speak-up and stand-up, which is why you've probably seen some different Facebook quotes in recent days! Getting involved will look different for each person. My friends that live in Winnipeg's West-End, where sadly a lot of juvenile prostitution takes place, have motion lights and helpline posters plastered on that back of their fence so that these victims know that help is available. There are a lot of great local and international organizations doing amazing work that could always use support (see links). In this next season I'm curious to see how my gifts, along with my fiery-drive, will be used to get involved in this fight!

- Buen Camino

Links:

Manitoba Provincial Initiative: http://www.gov.mb.ca/fs/traciastrust/index.html

Quebec Local Initiative: http://www.maisondemarthe.com/1_francais/Accueil.html

International: The A21 Campaign : http://www.thea21campaign.org/index.php#.Ug_ozWTwJFt

International: Exodus Cry: http://exoduscry.com/

A Picture's Worth a 1000 Words

I arrived home last Thursday from my 6 week adventure across parts of France and Spain. I was surprised at the airport by my dear friends, who made signs with yellow arrows and St. James shells for me, so that I would be able to find my way home!

My friends also graciously went grocery shopping for me, buying me some of my favourite things (i.e., chocolate milk and strawberries), so that I could comfortably settle in at home and rest. I'm not sure I've done all that much resting - I've been waking up between 5 and 6 am since arriving, and have already been biking and hiking twice since arriving home. Nonetheless, I was very touched by their generosity and despite being tired, it was great to be able to catch up with them.

A lot of people have been asking me about my "trip." Questions such as: how was it? What was it like? Did you enjoy it? What was your favourite part? When can I see pictures? You know the typical questions one would ask anyone returning home from a long trip. Normally I would have no troubles answering these questions, but this time I find myself a little lost for words. Hiking the Camino wasn't your typical trip! Instead, it was a transformational experience. I don't know just yet what has changed, but I know that I feel different. 

It's hard to put into words the things that I did, saw and experienced during my 34 days of walking, which is approximately 900 km. I could show you pictures and tell you stories, but I'm not sure to truly do those moments justice. The Camino gave me a lot of time - time to see beautiful things, time to meet amazing people, time to experience joy, time to be grateful, time to relax, to laugh, to cry, to reflect, to pray and then laugh again! I hope this video captures some of that! I've used the song Stand By Me, because my Camino Family and I would often start randomly singing that song at the start/end of the day, in supermercados, in coffee shops....pretty much anywhere and everywhere! It sort of became the unofficial theme song of the journey, because you really can't do this journey alone! Enjoy!

http://youtu.be/Ku2Uvki-Bu0

- Buen Camino

On My Way Home

 I officially have  began my 3 day journey home. Last week when I arrived in Santiago I wasn't ready to go home, but after walking to the end of the world - Finisterre - watching the sunset and relaxing on the beach for a few days, I am now ready to come home. Walking these last 100 km has brought closure to this journey. When I arrived in Finisterre I felt that it was the end and that I didn't need to walk anymore. In fact, the last 3 days were quite different from the rest of the journey - it was more of a celebration and a time of joy and laughter, rather then moments of reflection, introspection and prayer, which had been so present during my Camino.

In someways ending the journey was almost as hard as starting it. The hardest part about heading home isn't the packing, the traveling, or even the jet-leg, it's saying goodbye. Ironically, 6 weeks ago I was anxious about starting this adventure because I would be alone, and yet last night was the first night I was by myself in an albergue the entire trip. Even there I spent the evening running into familiar faces from the Camino in Santiago, which was nice! 

The "goodbye process" officially started last Wednesday when we arrived in Santiago, as various members of my Camino family started to leave for home. Yesterday, I had to say my last, and by far my hardest, goodbye to Szabi, aka "Mr Compostelle," the person I began this journey with 5 weeks ago, which out here feels like a lifetime, as the concept of time just seems to stop. 

We both knew this goodbye would have to happen at one point, but we were both kind of dreading it. There were not a lot words, as we have had 900 km to say anything and everything to one another. Instead, there was a deep level of appreciation and recognition for what the other (and the many others) had contributed to each others individual journey. It was a beautiful moment that I will treasure forever. 

A good friend once gave me a magnet with a famous quote that talks about the different people that come in and out of our lives. It says that throughout our lives we will encounter different people that will leave footprints in our lives. Sometimes these people will stay for a few moments, while others will stay a lifetime; regardless of the amount of time, people have the ability to leave lasting footprints in our lives. On my Camino I walked with people for a few moments, a few days, and for the entire journey, each of these people have shaped my experience and have left a footprint on my life. 

These people don't just exist on the Camino, they exist in our daily lives! They are our family, our friends, our coworkers, our teammates, our neighbours, or simply the person we briefly smile and say hello to as we happen to cross paths. These people mark our lives and fill our hearts - and today I am filled with a great amount of gratitude for these people. 

I started this journey nearly 6 weeks ago searching for direction in this next season of my life. And as I left my hiking shoes at the entrance of the Cathedral and board the plane, I feel that my heart is full and that it is time to come home! I also left 6 weeks ago with multiple flight delays and today my first flight to Paris was delayed for over 1 hour - hopefully it's the last of the delays because I'm ready to come home!

- Buen Camino

Day 31: The Last 5 km to Santiago

After nearly 800 km I have finally arrived in Santiago! Truth be told, I could have arrived here a day earlier, but I decided to stay in the super-albergue in Monte del Gozo; which holds over 400 pilgrims and was built in honour of Pope John Paul II visit in 1993 (ish). The night before arriving in Santiago, I sat at the top of the hill and watched the sunset over the city with a group of pilgrims. It was an interesting experience because we were so close to our "end-goal," meaning Santiago, the thing we had been walking towards for weeks (some months), and yet none of us were in a hurry to get there. The reality is that it was never about arriving in Santiago - it wa simply a destination - it's been about the journey.

Yesterday, I received my Compostela, a certificate that said that I made this pilgrammage and to be honest it was a very proud moment. This certificate, along with all my stamps represents the people I have met, the kilometers that I have walked, the tears that I have shed and the overwhleming amount of joy that I have felt. I then celebrated the Pilgrim's Mass with my fellow pilgrims in the most beautiful cathedral. It was a beautiful moment and we even had the privilege of seeing the Botafumeiro, which is a giant swinging incense burner that provides people with a blessing and is only used on special occasions. Afterwards our first series of goodbyes took place. Some of us are going on to Finisterre, so we still have 3 days of walking (100 km) ahead of us. But for others, this was the end of this particular journey. Tomorrow I will be going on to Finisterre, but before I move on to the next adventure I want to take time and enjoy this city and reflect upon this journey that has been on my heart since February. I will leave you will an excerpt from journal yesterday upon arriving in Santiago - it's part reflection and part thank you to all the people that have helped me get here! 

I did it - or should I say WE did it! I use we because I was certainly never truly alone out here. I was constantly walking with God and in His presence. There was also my Camino Family, who taught me about: love, laughter, integrity and generosity. There were the French women, Agnès and Geneviève, who were so gentle and gracious. Although we met in the last part of the Camino, they were an integral part of this journey, and they taught me about perseverance, selflessness, joy and taking my time to enjoy every moment. There were the hospitalaros who cared for me physically and often times emotionally. There were also the other pilgrims that I shared the trail with, who I simply shared a smile or a kind word with, but with whom I ultimately shared this experience with. Finally, there were my family and friends back home who prayed and encouraged me! Without each of these people and without God's strength, I would never have accomplished this feat. I am lost for words. Nonetheless, my heart is full and a bit sad. But I am reminded of the words of the German woman (pilgrim) who said to me earlier today: although this journey is ending today in Santiago, a new adventure is about to begin back home. That is because we leave this place and this experience forever changed. 

- Buen Camino