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!

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