We have been camping the last couple of nights on the river. After Red Wing we traveled a few miles to a little town called Lake City. This was where water skiing was invented...if you were curious. I (Justin) walked into town (since I'm the charmer), and tried to get us a place to camp for the night. I walked into a place that looked like the fire department. It happened to be the local VFW Hall (Bar). The Bartender was very nice and let me call City Hall from their phone. My charm does not have quite the same affect over the phone. She told me we couldn't camp within the city. After I hung up the phone, I explained the situation to the people in the bar, and after every sentence I said, they would add "Those City F@#$%^". We had to turn down an offer to sleep on our drunk friend Zeek's lawn. Another intoxicated fellow wanted to tow us from his motor boat down the river. I had two problems with that: 1. He was drunk 2. ehh he was drunk.
We ended up leaving to kayak 3 miles across river to Wisconsin. Our friend Jamie in Red Wing warned us not to go to Wisconsin...but we were desperate (sorry Jamie). Well, we ended up camping in the worst camping spot possible. We had a train about 20 feet from our tent, which would come by about every 30 minutes all night long. We were also pleasantly surrounded by poison Ivy (we called our Dads, because we didn't know what the plant looked like)..
Anyways, we made it to Winona safely. The Camping has been fun, but we are glad to be back in a home. The Bruihlers are taking good care of us until Monday morning.
"Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. But let justice role on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing steam."-Amos 5:23-24
7/9 ARRIVED in New Orleans! 1704 Miles paddled downstream to fight the upstream battle against the injustice of human trafficking.
7/9 ARRIVED in New Orleans! 1704 Miles paddled downstream to fight the upstream battle against the injustice of human trafficking.
Down the River with the Upstream Team
The Big Picture
THE PROBLEM
Everyday we go about our
lives either unaware of social injustice in our world or lacking in compassion
for them. There exists in our world a multitude of injustices, not the least
which, is human sex trafficking. The facts are:
- Human trafficking is the world’s third largest criminal enterprise, after drugs and weapons.
- Worldwide, there are nearly two million
children in the commercial sex trade.
- There are an estimated 600,000 to
800,000 children, women and men trafficked across international borders
annually.
- Approximately 80 percent of human
trafficking victims are women and girls, and up to 50 percent are minors.
- Sex trafficking is an engine of the
global AIDS epidemic.
Throughout the
world oppressors choose to indulge their selfish and brutal urges and dominate
the defenseless. The world is not going to simply change on its own.
THE PLAN
As a trio, we are kayaking down the Mississippi River, starting in
The International Justice Mission (IJM) is an organization that rescues
victims of violence, sexual exploitation, slavery, and oppression. They are
extremely active in the fight against sex trafficking. Their strategy is
four-fold:
- Victim Relief- Rescuing sex trafficking victims
- Perpetrator Accountability- Prosecuting those responsible
- Victim Aftercare- Facilitating the
recovery of victims and providing alternate means of income.
- Structural Prevention- Promoting functioning public justice
systems.
We have chosen to partner with IJM because we believe and support the
work they do in the battle against sex trafficking.
SUPPORT
There are several ways to support our cause by giving to the
International Justice Mission:
- Online donations can be made to the IJM website.
Be sure to write "Upstream
- Checks can be made out to "CBU" and sent to: ATTN: ISP - Box #1146 California Baptist University, 8432 Magnolia Avenue, Riverside, CA 92504 Write "Upstream Battle" in the Comment Line of the check
CONTACT
If you have any questions, comments or ideas, please email us at: anupstreambattle@gmail.com
Friday, May 16, 2008
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6 comments:
The adventures of boys
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The trials of men
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Strong Believers of The Way
My love and prayers are with you always, aunt ginia
You don't remember what poison oak looks like!? After all those countless trials dad would take us on and every 5 minute point out the poison oak to us? Dad must be so disappointed...;)
drunk people are so funny, haha, i laughed out loud with their propositions. I could just imagine.
Well, Good luck boys!! You are doing something truly awesome. I'm so proud and a little jealous.
Love, Justin's Big Sis
Thanks for the heads-up on the camping situation around that area. What is the deal with Lake City ... what a bunch of turds they wouldn't let you set up in the city. I'll urinate on their lawn when I canoe through.
I told ya not to go on the wisonsin side. Well, at least you were able to see where Satan camps.
Leaves of three? Leave them be!!!
I sure am enjoying your blog! Keep on paddling!
Jo- Minneaplois
Getting a little itching...?
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