It started on Tuesday night when the boys of the pastor we were staying with started calling us "sir" (as in "yes, sir" and "no, sir"). It continued over the next few days as the slow talkin' accents became thicker and thicker. Finally, over Friday, Saturday and Sunday, it was confirmed by the fried food and sweet tea...we are in the South. We are in the South and it is good to be here.
We are also getting spoiled. We have not had to camp outside since last Wednesday. This is a huge blessing because of all the flooding. With water being so high along the river camping is almost not an option. The sandbars that we enjoyed for the first three and a half weeks of this trip are largely all underwater.
This weekend we stayed in Hickman, KY. I (Ethan) spent Saturday night in the home of Pastor Jason and his wife Kelly and four kids. I am still a little irritated at Pastor Jason for making the kids stop playing with me and go to bed. Tim and Justin spent the night with Chad Parker (a.k.a. possum cop) the local game warden. In the morning we walked across the street to
West Hickman Baptist Church where we split up and shared in different Sunday School classes. After that we enjoyed worshiping with the church and were able to share in the main service as well. After the service we had a great time hanging out with the Bridges family before we had to say goodbye to West Hickman.
After leaving West Hickman we went to Mount Carmel Baptist Church in Fulton, KY for their Sunday night service. When we arrived there Pastor Dale generous told us he would let us share and that our time limit was 45 minutes. We shared about our trip and about IJM and were successful in keeping within our time restrictions. Afterward the church ordered pizza for us to be able to hang out with the congregation, which we did and had a great time doing.
The body of Christ continues to bless us, and I pray that God blesses the body of Christ through our ministry as well.
We begin our 6th week on the river tomorrow. I hear rumors of 5 to 10 mile an hour tail winds, but I will believe it when I see it.
P.S. My poison ivy is gone...thank you for your prayers.
"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
Sunday, June 15, 2008
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14 comments:
Awesome! It is really exciting to continue hearing about all of the different ways God and his people have been blessing you.
May God bless y'all! You were a blessing to our church family. You will be in our prayers. Thank you for rejecting passivity. Be careful, but not so careful you miss out on God's adventure!
It was great getting to meet you guys and have you spend some time with our church and our family. We will be praying for you as you continue your journey!
Howdy, I pray the South continues to welcome 'all yall' with open arms, good food, and our famous hospitality. Yall do know however, that the 'ole Mississip' is beyond our control; sure hope the river doesn't whop the kayaks cattywampus ha~ Therefore...the south welcomes yall to the humidity, 'skeeters, redneck caviar (campsite chow), hush puppies, and poke salad. Stay away from those ornery gators and wild cajuns (just remember Uncle Andy [Ethan's mom's uncle]). Run you a trot line behind the kayaks, but don't let Justin 'tump over. *smile*
Seriously....love you and praying!
Dear Sirs,
Hey! I just read your comments regarding my two youngins, Lake and Ridge addressing you as sir. I am very proud of them as well as you all. It's amazing how many lives your are touching through your ministering journey. The river continues to rise in Chester, but hopefully you're well ahead of it. May God bless y'all and we continue to lift you up in thoughts and prayers. Float firm & wear your life jackets.
Wow, what a great group of young men. It was a blessing for our church and my family to have them come and stay with us. Jesus requires that we "go ye therefore!" and they are certainly serving Christ.
Their dedication impresses me truly. God only gives us a limited amount of time to serve in this world. I only wish that I were as faithful as they are when I was that age.
May God keep them safe and make their worthwhile mission a true success.
I wish that I could get off work for the next couple of days and tag along with them.
from the backwoods,
Rick, Mindy, Dixie, Daisy, and Jackson Major
I'm glad you guys are well. You'll be riding a crest down stream for a few days, at least.
Cheers.
The South is something everyone should experience, We are glad to hear you are enjoying it, Sweet Tea is really really sweet too isn,t it? We are sure this is an experience you won't soon forget. Soak in as much of the South as you can. God Bless and watch those tail winds.
Ethan! Good to read a new post and definitely good to talk to you recently! You guys are in my prayers. :)
Hi Justin, Looks like you are having a good time. You guys are doing a great thing. Auntie Gill says hi. Let me know when you will be in Memphis, I will try to get up there. I live in Selmer, about 100 miles from there. The south is a lot different from Calif isn't it. We have been here almost 3 years now. People are so nice here and it is beautiful. Be safe and keep up the great work. Hugs and prayers Cousin Carol p.s Jason I am Janices cousin.
Hi Carol, It would be nice to meet you. We will be in Memphis this weekend. We'll be arriving this saturday. give me a call and we can set up a meeting place. (916)214-2636 -Justin
What a blessing to see young men of faith take action to fight evil in our world! The youth in our church need to see more people like you taking such a bold stand. I'm praying daily for each of you and I'm praying especially for your mothers. Enjoy the South and all its many wonders like our hospitality, sweet tea and fried chicken. Just overlook our giant mosquitoes and sticky humidity. God bless you today and in the days ahead.
i miss you ethan!!
(: eryn
Thank you so much, Karen, on behalf of the moms. --Ethan's mom :)
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