(L to R) Karl Feller (only his shadow is visible), Jeramy Wheeler, Samantha Gonzalez, Jessica Mahoney, Riley Johnson, Tim Shaw biking between Coulee City, Washington and Spokane, Washington.

It seems hard to believe that the team has now been together for over a week. It seems like we have always known each other. The last six days have held so much for me, from climbing the Cascade Mountains to reaching 45mph on my bike (downhill, obviously). The most difficult day for me was certainly Monday, June 6. This was part of my journal entry from that day:

“Our trip today was through Steven’s Pass which has an elevation of 4,061 feet. We biked every inch of it. When it first began it was not too steep, but it was a constant incline that just wore on me. We had, in our team meeting, been warned that today would probably be the hardest day of our trip. As we went I honestly felt they had exaggerated. The incline was long and wearing but wasn’t that steep. At our second water stop we were told that the next five miles would be the absolute hardest as we would climb over 1,000 feet in that distance. They were not exaggerating, by any means, in their assessment. That five miles was absolutely the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. I crawled forward at about five miles an hour, stopping every four minutes or so (less than a ¼ mile) to stop and breathe for a bit.

I had set off with Riley and Jeramy. Riley quickly out distanced us. It don’t blame her as she was able and it is so hard to go at another person’s pace on such a climb. Jeramy stayed back with me and kept me going. We began between mile marker 59 and 60. At mile 62 I started hitting a wall. I could feel myself sliding into the ‘ditch’ of crying and giving up and all of that. I warned Jeramy that I was going to start crying as some point and not to worry about it, that’s just what I did. Eventually the sweep (last riders, appointed to always stay in the back that day) caught up with us. Jeramy went on ahead and I pressed on with Tim, Samantha, Rebecca, and Dustin.

Me at the top of Steven's Pass, crossing the Cascades, on June 6th. The hardest thing I have ever physically done.

The worst part of the entire thing was in my head. Mentally I just couldn’t grasp what I was doing enough to make myself do it. There is absolutely no way I could have done it without my teammates, without the tribe, around me. Isn’t that always the case in life? We are made to be interdependent beings. We are made to need each other and to be needed. We are not made to be alone.

I reached the top, by the grace, mercy, and power of God and through the support of my teammates. I got to the top and stood looking at the sign. “Steven’s Point Elevation: 4,061.” Four simple words that represented so much to me. I made it. My body did what was impossible in my mind. And so it begins. I can do anything. With the guidance of God, the support of other people, and the stubbornness to keep pressing on. I can bike up a mountain. I can touch those around me. I can change the world.

Almost the entire ride up was lined on either side with outcroppings of granite on either side. When I got to the top I searched the parking lot until I found the perfect one and I kept it. I plan to use it as a marker, a reminder, of what I have accomplished here today, of the fact that I can do the impossible.” (end June 6 journal entry)

I think that one of the things I am loving about this trip is that it is allowing me to see the body of Christ working the way it is meant to work. So far for this trip we have stayed in five different churches, each a different denomination. But all share a passion to serve, a desire to give and enable others,  and a fire for sharing the gospel. In each church we stop at I am seeing a different facet of the body of Christ. I am seeing a different facet of God’s love and how He chooses to bless His children and show His compassion towards them. It is inspiring and challenging. These churches are stepping out in faith. They are focused not on themselves but on the surrounding people they have been called to love, to serve, and to shine Christ to. They are opening their doors to a group of sweaty, smelly bicyclists from around the country, serving us hot meals (usually homemade), getting us showers, giving them places to sleep, blessing us in immeasurable ways. We are often sent away with more food than we came with, but beyond the physical things we are sent away with our hearts and minds filled. We are strengthened in our journey, encouraged in our cause, built up and reminded that we are not alone in this fight.

Me changing my first flat tire on the trip. The count is currently up to 3.

Indeed, this fight is far too great to be won by any single person. No one person can solve the problem of human trafficking and oppression around the world. However, if every one person was willing to stand up, to take a step of faith, and to come beside those people who are already working to fight this injustice, we could bring about change.

“A cord of three strands is not easily broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12).

And so I challenge you: take a stand, find others who are fighting and join them. It may only be something small, but if enough people do enough small things, it will make a big difference. In Spokane, Washington, we stayed at Jacob’s Well Church, a small downtown church with a focus on reaching Burmese refugees in the area. Talking with Pastor Eric Blauer there was inspiring as he shared his passion and views of the world.

One of the things that really stuck with me was “Everybody, if they can, should engage in something that takes them outside of home.” And it is so true. We all get so comfortable and safe feeling within our own homes, but we are called to change the world and make a difference, and doing that requires stepping out of our comfort zones and into the unknown. As I am learning, it is so worth the risks and fears!