What Does 765 km Look Like???

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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!