Pain Meds and Laughter: The Lighter Side of Palliative Care

I didn't want to write this blog! Partly because I wanted to keep what my family has been going through for the past month private! I also thought that people might take offence to some of the things that Karin and I have laughed about during our daily visits - things that have helped me see that palliative  are and dying aren't that scary. But Karin asked me to write and share this blog, so it's with a heavy heart that I dedicate this blog to her memory and to the staff at Riverview Health Centre. Cancer sucks, but palliative care helps everyone cope just a little easier!

I have spent the past three weeks in Winnipeg to be with my family following Karin's (my step-mom) Stage IV Breast Cancer diagnosis. It's not the first time my family has heard the dreaded "C-word" - that happened almost two years ago! But that time Karin's chances to beat this thing were great! She would have to undergo Chemo, a mastectomy and radiation, but afterwards all of our lives would be back to normal; or so we thought! Flash forward one month ago - no that's not a typo - in the last  month all of our lives have drastically changed. One month ago, Karin started complaining about flu-like symptoms, aches, pains, headaches, and then she fainted... That's when she ended up at the hospital. It's there that we learned that her Inflammatory Breast Cancer was back, but now it had metastasized in her brain and spine. At first we were told the prognosis was 6 months to a year, but a few days later the doctors decided that transferring her from the Victoria Hospital to Riverview's palliative care unit was her best option with the short time remaining. There's a longstanding joke in Winnipeg that: "No one comes home once they go to Riverview!" For a lot of people "Palliative Care" is a scary world, because it's a place where loved ones go to spend their last days! There's a lot of truth in the joke about Riverview - patients don't leave that place alive! But, there's another side that is not often talked about. Palliative Care Units, such as Riverview, allow patients to maintain their dignity, while caring for the patient and the family members, by letting us know that it's okay to laugh. Basically, they help all of us to see that dying isn't that scary! My past three weeks in palliative care have at times been hard, but many of my afternoons, have been filled with joy. laughter and a lot of heavy narcotics! Okay, the narcotics were for Karin - but I sometimes had to press the button - until the doctors upped her dosage! I've tried to capture the lighter moments of this situation, because these are the moments that our loved ones, like Karin, want us to hold onto when they pass and what the staff at Riverview have managed to give us these past few weeks!

Something that has stood out for both me and Karin is the fact that both the geriatrics and palliative care units share the same floor; we figured that it makes the transfer to the dark side, opps, I mean the East wing, a little quicker! Comparatively, the palliative care wing is much quieter than the geriatrics unit;  the only exception is that there are a lot more call bells and IV poles buzzing every few minutes than on the other side. In fact, geriatrics seems to be the party wing, with their daily walks, occupational therapy sessions and rowdy games of bowling and miniature golf! Needless to say, Karin and I have decided that the palliative care unit needs a social director, or at the very least, a representative at these daily outings. Maybe it was the pain meds talking or the side effects of the brain mets, but we have spent our afternoons dreaming up ways for Team Palliative Care to compete and dominate against Team Geriatrics! When Karin got her head shaved, a side effect of the 4 days of Radiation treatment she had, we talked to the nurses about hosting a fashion show, where we'd decorate her beautiful hospital gown and IV pole. Let's be honest, all of these grandiose ideas are nonsense, but boy does it make us laugh! Actually, we have everyone laughing, from the occupational therapist who works with Team Geriatrics, to the nurses we're trying to enlist for our fashion show. Heck, even Karin's parents were laughing when we talked about the need to get her campaign for Social Director off the ground because we didn't know how much time Karin and the voters had left to make this happen! All of this might sound random and a little awful, but these inside jokes - or possible hallucinations - is what allows us to cope with the fact that Karin is dying! It also helps us have fun, so that the final days don't seem so painful.

Besides the caring staff and the individualized attention that is given to each patient, the best thing about palliative care would probably be the drugs - I mean, the "prescribed pain medication!" A good part of my three weeks has been spent making sure that Karin gets her fix, whenever she needs it! In normal circumstances doctors would be hesitant to give patients the amount of meds that Karin is on, because as a few of the student nurses pointed out to us, they are "addiction forming." Really? Is this really going to be a problem? They probably shouldn't have told us about that, because between dreaming up social committee activities for the wing, we also started exploring the possibility of opening a Detox-Palliative Care Unit... You know, to help the terminally-ill patients that have developed a drug addiction, detox in their final days! Once again, the nursing staff were kind enough to to humour us by jumping in on the nonsense! At least once a day we would joke about Karin's newly developed drug-addiction and the fun stories, hallucinations and great rests that they bring. These jokes not only helped lighten the mood and the heaviness of the situation, but sometimes they helped to numb the pain a little - both for Karin and us loved ones that would otherwise have to watch her suffer. The doctors and nurses can't take the pain away, but they do give us tools ( i.e., meds and gentleness) to help manage or numb it a bit! In many ways the laughter has also been a way to manage the pain for all of us!

Apparently there's two things that happen when you become a palliative care patient: 1) You start worrying about trying to take care of everything and everyone with the time you have left and 2) You pretty much get a Free Pass to say, eat and do anything you want! Karin quickly understood this rule and took full advantage of it! In the early days of this diagnosis, lets be honest, it was 3 days before I arrived in Winnipeg, Karin made sure to take care of the nitty-gritty details! But, when I got there she realized that there was one more piece of "unfinished business" that she had to take care of - finding me a husband! She quickly made it her daily mission to try and convince Super-Tony, her day nurse, that I was a super catch. In the real world, this would normally lead to very awkward moments! But not when your a member of Team Palliative - that's because you get to say, do, and eat anything, without worrying about social faux-paus and embarrassing your loved ones. Despite Karin's efforts, I will be returning home to Quebec single and without Super-Tony! But everything else is taken care of - Karin has made sure of that! We have said our goodbyes! We have laughed and we have cried! We have said everything that needs to be said and then some! My dad, little brother, her two teenage kids, and everyone else that has loved her will get through this and will be alright - Karin has made sure of that and she has done so with grace, dignity, love - she hasn't needed to use her Free Pass! 

I came to Riverview three weeks ago, and on Monday, I will be defying the odds by going home, but sadly Karin won't! The doctors and nursing staff can't cure Karin's cancer and one day, very soon*, she will lose this battle that she started almost 2 years ago! But what they have done is managed all of our pain, given her the respect and dignity inity that she deserves, while reminding us that it's okay to laugh and continue to make new memories; all of which make death less scary! 

Thank you Riverview!

Sleep well my friend!

* On October 24, 2014, Karin's battle with breast cancer ended peacefully. *

What Does 765 km Look Like???

GR65

I finished my trek across Southern France just over a week ago! To be honest, it's a bit weird to not be walking anymore! What's even more shocking is to think that I go back to work today! On the outside I look like the same person - just a few pounds lighter and with a very awkward tan! But on the inside, I know something has changed! You can't go through the experiences that I was blessed to live this summer and not be different! It has been funny to see people's reaction when you tell them that you have spent the past 27 days walking a total of 765 kilometres. The first thing people tend to say is: "You walked...Really...Why?" This is quickly followed by: "What was it like?" The first question is easy to answer:"Yes, I walked all 765 km in 27 days! Why? Because 27 million can't!" But, it's the second question that always leaves me scrambling to find an answer. It doesn't happen often that I'm lost for words, but since starting this adventure I have found myself speechless on a number of occasions. You see, a lot can happen in 27 days, so trying to find the right words is hard! Basically, this trek was a physical and emotional roller coster - filled with highs and lows, and where each day and all of its kilometres brought new insights, appreciations, reflections and challenges. 

I know that's a pretty vague answer! So I'll try my best to describe to you what walking 765 km really looks like...

There are many days when 765 km feels overwhelmingly impossible; which is why the trek has to be divided into manageable stages. Even then, there are many times the number of kilometres that I had to cover in a day felt like an impossible uphill climb because my body hurt or because it simply felt exhausted. I think every one of my journal entries started off with: "Today was tough..." But each day, I was filled with the strength and determination to complete the day's stage. Truthfully, this was probably one of the most difficult things that I have ever done! But then again, no one said that fighting for justice and freedom would be easy! There are surprisingly a lot of parallels between trekking and freedom fighting. At first glance, fighting to see human trafficking abolished in the 21st century looks like an impossible uphill climb - it's simply too overwhelming and daunting - especially on your own! But when we realize that we're not called to do everything, but that we can each do something, this battle suddenly doesn't seem so impossible; especially when you read about the lives that have already been restored since the A21 Campaign's creation.  

Day 25 - My Last 30 km Day

Walking this many kilometres looks like a lot of tears - some of joy over the support that I received, and others of pain because of what I was experiencing! These past 27 days took me completely out of my comfort zone and left me feeling emotionally raw and quite vulnerable! I'm not sure exactly why this journey was so emotionally taxing? Perhaps it was because I intentionally set off to walk this distance to raise awareness about human trafficking and so every time I found myself in an uncomfortable or difficult situation, I immediately thought of people that were living far worse things. Time and time again, I was reminded that I was choosing to go through this and that at the end of my 27 days, I would be going home to my comfortable life - but this isn't the case for people that are being trafficked. For 27 days, I experienced a temporary discomfort, but their physical and emotion pain is still going on - even as I write this reflection right now. I had a team of supporters cheering me on every step of the way - while these victims are alone and simply trying to survive each day. Each day, I had the option of continuing my journey or not - which is not an option that victimes of human trafficking are free to make. These 765 kilometres were emotionally heavy, but my discomfort is nothing compared to the brokenness and suffering that 27 million people feel on a daily basis.

I come from a competitive sport background, so needless to say, I'm use to receiving some type of token at the end of an athletic event. Typically, these tokens are intended to remind you of all the hard work that was put into accomplishing that task - this it could be a certificate, medal, trophy, or even a t-shirt. Compared to past athletic accomplishments, my arrival at the finish line in Roncesvalles was quite anti-clamatic! There was no certificate. No awards ceremony. Not even a t-shirt! My walk was simply done! But that's okay, because I have other types of mementoes to remind me about the meaning and importance of this trek! Instead of the traditional sport tokens, I leave this journey with a journal full of reflections, hopes and prayers. I also have a heart full of gratitude and thankfulness to God and all the people that supported me and this incredibly cause during the 27 day journey. You see, a trophy or a medal wouldn't represent these kilometres justly. In fact, the best way to describe each of the kilometres that I trekked is to say that they look like HOPE! Together we shed light on a topic that otherwise sits in darkness, and I hope that this interest and the support for the A21 Campaign will continue to grow! The money that was raised for A21 will be used to give hope to the people that are rescued and that go through the aftercare program. And finally, this journey has left me with hope and a heart that is even more determined and committed to seeing human trafficking abolished and to seeing lives rescued and restored.

Taking a Break

This is what the past 27 days of my life have looked like! It wasn't always easy, but it was definitely an enriching and life changing experience. Let's be honest, this walk hasn't ended human trafficking - sadly it still exists! But, perhaps it did help people become more aware that it's happening and even more importantly, help them to take action. This 27 day journey has come to an end, but I'm already looking forward to futur opportunities to partner with the A21 Campaign to help see human trafficking abolished!

For justice!

Changing Socks, Changes EVERYTHING!

I've now been walking the GR65 for just over a week. Truth be told it is much harder then I had expected and even more difficult than last year's Camino - both physically and emotionally! One thing remains the same between both trails, the perpetual discussion and attention to feet, foot-ware and everything related to foot-care! So far, I have been blister free, but it seems that I have been hit with what appears to be the start of tendinitis in my left ankle. Blisters, tendonitis, in-grown toenails... Anyone of these alements can make your trek extremely painful and can potentially end your journey!

When it comes to feet and foot-care every walker seems to have their own secret recipe for success - everything to what types of creams to put on your feet, to how to "properly" treat a blister! It's rare that we find unamidity amongst all the trekkers about these secret recipes, with the exception of changing your socks! If you ask anyone that has ever done long distance treks they will ALL agree that: "Changing your socks, changes EVERYTHING!" You must understand that there's an entire process to changing socks - it's not like at home where you simply go to your drawer and pull out a new pair of socks! Out here you must first put down your pack. Then dig through your layers of food, first-aid supplies and clothes to finally get to your dry-sack where your fresh socks are waiting for you! All that work for something as simple as a pair of socks - but it's so worth it!

Here's how it works: when it's mid-day and you have sweaty feet, change your socks, and you'll feel brand new! When it's been raining all day and you have wet feet, change your socks; even if they will be wet again in less then 5 minutes, it still gives you the emotional and psychological boost you need to get through your day! At the end of the day, when they physical exhaustion has kicked in and you don't think that you're going to make it, changing your socks allows you to give your body a much needed break and when you start walking again the finish line suddenly doesn't seem so far! Like I said, changing your socks, changes everything!

The same advice can be applied to our everyday lives! There are moments when we look at a situation from our tired, discouraged and frustrated point of view and we wonder how are we ever going to get through this situation? The fact of the matter is that if we simply took a few minutes to take a step back (i.e., put down our packs), dig a little deeper, we just might be able to find another way to see the situation - put on a new pair of socks! Out here I've had to change the way I see certain challenges - otherwise I won't make it to the end! For example, we've had quite a bit of rain, which normally would have put me in such a bad mood! But, having spent time in the Rainforest, I've come to see that the rain shouldn't stop us from enjoying each moment! So I've put on my "super-poncho" and I have tried to enjoy the moments - singing sometimes helps! Another example that comes to mind is my sore leg, which has definitely slowed me down, because I want to give it a chance to heal. I like to push myself, which can't be down at a slow pace! But, walking slower is still allowing me to cover the distance I had hoped, it's just taking a bit longer! With that said, it's also allowing me to meet a great group of people! Some of whom are planning to walk to Saint Jean Pied-de-Port, which I'm very grateful for! Changing my socks has allowed me to appreciate and even put into perspective every moment of this experience thus far - even the challenging ones! 

So how are you doing today? Do you need a little boost? Have you thought about changing your socks? Like we say out here: Changing your socks, changes EVERYRHING!

- Buen Camino

27 pour 27 - 21 juillet au 16 août

27 jours pour 27 millions de personnes

Vous ne serez probablement pas surpris d'apprendre que j'aime marcher! L'année dernière, j'ai senti l'appel de partir marcher 900 km en Espagne dans le cadre de mon passage vers une nouvelle saison remplie de rencontres avec Dieu et de découverte de soi. Le voyage a été un défi, une leçon d'humilité, et, malgré cela, un grand encouragement. Cela dit, je n'avais nullement l'intention de revivre l'expérience; c'est un peu le principe « je pourrai dire que je l'ai fait une fois »... Pourtant, Noël dernier, à Winnipeg, pendant l'une de mes sessions de jogging à -40 °C, j'ai commencé à sentir un appel à étudier la possibilité de traverser une partie du Canada à pied. Ce n'est pas une faute de frappe, vous avez bien lu! Marcher sur une partie du Canada! Comme c'est excitant! Un tel voyage me fournirait une occasion unique de découvrir certains des trésors cachés de mon pays. Malheureusement, ce n'était pas exactement le voyage qui était mis sur mon cœur! Vous voyez, je me sens appelé à organiser une randonnée de 2 100 km sur les trois territoires les plus populaires pour la traite au Canada dans le but de sensibiliser les gens à la prévalence de la traite des personnes aux quatre coins du monde tout comme au Canada. Renversant, n'est-ce pas? C'est ce que j'ai pensé, mais j'ai tout de même commencé à explorer les possibilités. D'accord, j'ai dépassé l'étape de l'exploration; en effet, j'ai commencé la préparation d'une proposition qui trace un itinéraire de randonnée de 90 jours pour le projet. Ce que j'ai rapidement compris en travaillant sur la proposition, c'est qu'il faudra plus que quelques mois de préparation ainsi qu'une équipe de bénévoles et d'alliés pour mettre le projet sur pied. Ne vous méprenez pas, je n'abandonne pas ce projet, j'ai simplement réalisé que maintenant n'est pas le bon moment.

Cette prise de conscience m'a grandement soulagée et j'attendais avec enthousiasme  d’autres possibilités plus immédiate et relaxante... surtout avec les vacances d'été qui s'approchent à grands pas! Marcher plus loin que la piscine de mon quartier ou pour quelques randonnées d'une journée était la dernière chose à mon esprit; surtout lorsque je pense à la paix que j'ai ressentie lorsque j'ai mis le projet WALK 4 FREEDOM sur la glace. Imaginez donc ma surprise lorsque l'idée de traverser le GR65 (le chemin du Puy), un chemin en France, est soudainement apparue sur mon cœur et dans ma tête pendant que je lisais l'article « Do what you love - make it count! » (Faites ce que vous aimez et faites-le compter) de la Campagne A21. Je ne mentirai pas et je ne dirais pas que cette idée me donne les mêmes sentiments d'excitation et d'anticipation que l'année dernière, en partie parce que je sais ce qui m'attend au cours des 27 jours de randonnée dans le sud de la France. Toutefois les défis physiques et émotifs qui m'attendent palissent devant les souffrances que 27 millions de victimes de la traite des humains endurent quotidiennement. C'est donc avec cette pensée et le désir profond de faire partie d'une génération qui prend position pour la justice que je m'embarque pour cette aventure en juillet 2014.

« Nous ne pouvons par tous faire, mais tous peuvent faire quelque chose! »

— Site de la Campagne A21 (traduction libre)

Le but de la marche que j'ai entreprise l'année dernière était de prendre du temps pour moi et d'approfondir ma relation avec Dieu, ce qui continuera assurément cet été, mais cette année est différente. En fait, je suis différente! C'est pourquoi, cette année, en grande partie inspirée par le Freedom Challenge (A21), qui a été tenu en octobre dernier, je souhaite marcher un kilomètre dans leurs souliers — ou plutôt 750 km (466 milles) — afin de sensibiliser le public à la laideur de la traite humaine, et j'ai besoin de votre aide!

Pourquoi la France?

Pourquoi pas? La langue, la nourriture, les Pyrénées, mes amis y résident… Que dire de plus! En toute sincérité, le choix de cette destination a beaucoup à voir avec le fait que les infrastructures nécessaires pour entreprendre un tel projet seule en toute sécurité sont déjà en place. Toutefois, lorsque j'ai commencé à m'informer sur ce beau pays, j'ai trouvé très intéressant d'apprendre que plusieurs personnes considèrent la France comme le lieu de naissance de la Charte des droits et libertés; ce qui est très approprié puisque j'entreprends une marche de 27* jours pour la liberté. 

Devenir un collaborateur

La traite des humains est un problème majeur auquel aucune personne ne peut s'attaquer seule. Soyons honnêtes, nous ne sommes pas tous appelés à lutter contre ce phénomène au front et nous n'avons pas tous le temps de nous engager dans un projet aussi long et physiquement exigeant. C'est pourquoi j'aime la liste 21 façons de s'investir (traduction libre) publiée par la Campagne A21. Beaucoup de mes idées de partenariat sont inspirées de cette liste et j'espère sincèrement que vous considèrerez participer à un de ces projets avec moi pendant mon voyage de 27* jours. Veuillez prendre une minute pour me laisser savoir si vous vous joindrez à moi, et de quelle manière. N'oubliez pas d'aller sur ma page Facebook, mon compte Twitter et mon Blogue, que je tenterai de mettre à jour régulièrement. Le défi qui m'attend est ardu, mais avec la puissance de Dieu et un peu d'encouragement de ma famille et de mes amis, je sais que j'arriverai à ma destination ayant grandi dans ma foi et ayant contribué à la lutte pour la liberté!

DES OCCASIONS DE PARTICIPER!

1. Prier
2. Soutenez la Campagne A21 -Suivez le lien pour faire un don.
3. Utilisez les médias sociaux 
4. Marchez une journée avec moi
5. Écrivez à un survivant

Traduit par Lydia Hurtubise 

27 for 27 : July 21 - August 16

27 Days for 27 Million People

It should come as no surprise that I love to walk! Last year, I was inspired to walk 900 km across Spain as part of my journey into a new season filled with encounters with God and self discovery. The journey was challenging, humbling and yet very encouraging! With that said, I had no intentions of reliving the experience - it’s sort of like the been there, done that idea! And yet last Christmas, during one of my -40’C Winnipeg runs, I started to feel a nudging to look into the possibility of trekking across parts of Canada. That’s not a typo - you read it right! Trek parts of Canada! How exciting! Such a journey would provide me with a unique opportunity to discover some of my country’s hidden treasures. Unfortunately this wasn’t exactly the journey that was being put on my heart! I wasn’t being called to discover Canada’s beauty, but rather draw attention to its ugliness, which for the most part remains underground. You see, I feel called to organize a 2,100 km trek across the three most frequented trafficking routes in Canada as a means to raise awareness about the prevalence of human trafficking around the globe and within Canada. Shocking right? That’s what I thought; but nonetheless I started exploring its possibility. Okay, I did more then “explore,” I actually started preparing a proposal, which maps out a 90-day trekking itinerary for the project. What I quickly realized while working on the proposal is that it would need more than a few months of planning and that it would take a team of volunteers and supporters to make this a reality. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not walking away from this project, I just realize that right now is not the right time!

This realization brought me a lot of peace and I was eagerly anticipating a sense of direction for more immediate and relaxing possibilities - especially with summer holidays fast approaching! Walking anywhere beyond the local pool or a few little day-hikes was the furthest thing from my mind; especially in light of the sense of peace I felt with putting the WALK 4 FREEDOM project on hold. So imagine my surprise when the idea of trekking France’s GR65 suddenly appeared in my heart and my head as I read The A21 Campaign’s encouragement to “Do what you love - make it count!” I won’t lie and say that this idea gives me the same feeling of excitement and anticipation as it did last year; partly because I know what awaits me during the *27 day trek across southern France. But the physical and emotional challenges that await me are nothing compared to the pain and suffering that over 27 million victims of human trafficking experience on a daily basis. So it’s with that thought in mind and a profound desire to be part of a generation that takes a stand for justice that I will be setting off for this adventure this coming July.

“We cannot do everything, but everyone can do something!” 

- The A21 Campaign Website

My walk last year was about taking time for me and further developing my relationship with God; which will undoubtedly continue to take place this summer. But this year is different - actually, I’m different! And so this year, largely inspired by A21’s Freedom Challenge, which was held last October, I want to walk a mile in their shoes - or rather 466 miles (750 km) - and shed light on the ugliness of human trafficking - and I want you to help!

Why France?

Why not! The language, the food, the Pyrenees, my friends live there…need I say more! In all seriousness, this destination has a lot to do with the fact that they have the infrastructures in place to safely tackle such a trek on my own. But as I started reading about this beautiful country I found it quite interesting that many people consider France the birthplace of the Declaration of Human Rights and Freedom; which is very fitting as I set off on my *27 day walk for freedom. 

Partner With Me

Human trafficking is a huge problem that not one person can tackle on their own. Let’s be honest, not everyone is called to fight this cause from the front lines, nor do we all have the time to take on such a lengthy and physically demanding project. This is why I love the list of 21 Ways to Get Involved (check it out) that The A21 Campaign has put out. Many of my partnering ideas have been inspired from this list and it is my sincere hope that you will consider taking on ONE of these projects with me during my *27 day journey. Please take a minute to let me know if you will be partnering with me and in what way. Be sure to check out my Facebook page, Twitter feed and my Blog as I will try to update them regularly. The challenge that awaits me is daunting, but with God’s strength and a little encouragement from my family and friends, I know that I will arrive at my destination having grown in my faith and having contributed to the fight for freedom! 

Opportunities to Get Involved

1. Pray 
2. Donate to The A21 Campaign - Click Here to Donate
3. Use Social Media
4. Walk a Day with Me
5. Write to a survivor

Sacha Muyo - Lessons from the Amazon Rainforest

Sunrise in my new classroom

Last November, one of my students won an all-expenses paid Me to We Trip and had the opportunity to bring 3 other friends, along with a teacher to share in the experience! We spent months dreaming and preparing for the adventure that awaited us. To be honest, I went into the experience as a teacher - knowing that I would be touched and impacted, but also expecting to have to maintain my "teacher" role. Very  early on in the journey there was a shift in the way I was living this experience. Instead of being the teacher, I became a student and the Amazon Rainforest, along with the incredible community of Mondana, became my new classroom. In this new classroom I learned lessons of: joy, gratitude, courage, perseverance, humility, grace and most of all, the importance of Minga (community members coming together to accomplish a task). It is my sincere hope that these reflections will honour and capture the true essence of the lessons learned and the seeds that were planted during my time in the jungle! 

There are experiences in life that are both uncomfortable and challenging, yet so incredibly amazing! It's the irony of these moments that makes sharing with others - that haven't lived something similar - hard to do! Truthfully, how many of you would believe me if I told you that giving up the comforts of home - meaning: being unplugged, not having unlimited access to electricity, hot water, dry clothes, and teranchela-free zones, or even something little like putting your toilet paper in the toilet and not a waste basket - could actually be fun and not all that bad? At first glance, the thought of spending  time in this type of environment could sound horrible! But in all honesty, being pushed out of our comfort zones, in very real and tangible ways, is what made this such a transformational journey for all the participants (young and older alike). 

JOY & GRATITUDE

A member of Sacha Muyo Artisan Group showcasing her work

It would be easy for me to point out all the material things that Mondana doesn't have; but if I was to do that you would easily get the impression that theres is a community filled with sadness and despair - which is FAR from the truth. What this community lacks in material goods, they make up in terms of joy, laughter and gratitude! The people we met didn't focus on what they didn't have, instead they shared with me the things that they did have! Each time we visited a local business (i.e., Vargas farm, cocoa farm, Sacha Muyo Artisan Group) the people were so proud to show us their work, but even more than that they were graciously willing to share what they had with us! Laughter was a common sound at the chosa build site! Joy and gratitude from both the community members and ourselves, overflowed and was contagious! My hope is that we can find joy and show gratitude in our lives regardless of the circumstance that we find ourselves in, because it's there! Sometimes we simply have to shift our way of looking at the situation in order to see it! Let's focus and share more of what we have, rather than focus on what we don't have! 

COURAGE & PERSEVERANCE

Our Work Boots

Stepping out of your comfort zone and willing to be stretched to new heights takes real courage. Becoming vulnerable with complete strangers and being willing to share experiences, thoughts, stories, dreams and even tears takes real courage. Being willing to ask for help, fumbling to find words or even gestures to be able to communicate your message - even if it means looking a bit goofy - takes real courage. Being willing to invite perfect strangers into your community and trust that they are there to work alongside you and not to judge you takes courage. And doing all of this day-in and day-out, despite the task that is being asked of you, the rain, the fatigue, the heat or the humidity, takes perseverance and a lot of heart! All of the participants on this journey were amazing, as were our facilitators and the community members, and each one of them reminded me what true courage and perseverance looks like. As I get ready to leave for France, where the daunting challenge of trekking 27 days, for a cause that is near and dear to my heart, awaits me, I want to remember to be bold, courageous, vulnerable and perseverant - despite the discomfort of the situation! 

HUMILITY & GRACE

Sacha Muya Chosa Build Site

We teachers are interesting people! We're use to being the leaders and to being in control of our classroom. We're use to keeping our emotions in check and to not let students know when they've gotten to us! We're warned throughout teachers college to not get too attached or too emotionally invested, otherwise it will become too draining. We're use to being the ones that point out the teachable-moments. But out in the Rainforest all of that changed! I worked alongside pregnant women, who would work long hours at the build site, despite the heat and rain. This reminded me of the importance of fully investing ourselves in our own communities; because this is what will leave a lasting legacy to its current and futur members. I worked alongside some of Mondana's youth, who were way more knowledgeable about construction then me and who were helping me complete the task at hand. These youth also reminded me about the importance of taking time to have fun, even if there's a job to be done. But the most important reminder came from a young man, who showed me that our youth are NEVER too young to make a difference in our communities and in this world! In our home communities we can all be teachers and students, as there will be times in our lives that we will need helping hand. A good teacher is not someone who tells us what to do or simply gives the person the answer or handout; rather, they must be someone who is willing to walk alongside us and work with us to get the job done. A good student is someone that is able to humble themselves and admit that they need a helping hand. I want to be a person that walks alongside those in need, but who also remembers that it's okay to admit that I don't have all the answers and to be able to ask and accept help. Most of all, I want to always remember the valuable and powerful lessons that our youth can teach us!

These are the lessons that this experience has taught me! I hope to carry these jungle seeds (Sacha Muyo) into the next journey that awaits me! More than that, I want to carry them into my classroom during the coming year and plant them in the lives of my students!

- Buen Camino

  

I'm Not a Writer, A Poet Or A Slammer....But I'm Teaching It!

I teach high school English and a few week's ago we started our poetry unit. Before jumping into Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet I decided that we'd explore Spoken Word / Slam Poetry, which my students have really enjoyed. We'll also study three other poetry genres: Concrete Poems, Free Verse Poems and Odes. In the coming weeks my students will have to write their very own poems for each of these genres. I've toyed with the idea of having my students make a video recording of one of their original poems - as part of a multi-model text (i.e., combination of words, images and text). Like so many of my iPad dream-projects this year, I figured it would be best to go through the process first to see just how "manageable" this project would be. So, last night I just started writing and words started to fill my page. Before I knew it I had my own Concrete poem - where the words spelled out END.

END IT! 

I then went through the process of speaking these words that were on my heart. What came from that was this video. Let's be honest - it's raw, it's flawed, and it was simply suppose to be an "example" to show my students. And yet, it also reflects my honest, heart filled desire to see the Fight for Freedom be more then just a "Red X" trend. I'm not a writer, a poet or even a slammer. I'm simply a high school teacher that has a heart for social change and a desire to see human trafficking abolished in my lifetime. If you don't like the words, the flow, the images or the message - that's okay - but please don't blast me with hurtful comments! Just turn off the video, leave this blog site, unsubscribe from my FaceBook feed. But if this message hits home, please consider sharing it or supporting one of the amazing organizations out there fighting for freedom!

-Buen Camino