"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.

Down the River with the Upstream Team


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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 St. Paul, MN and finishing in New Orleans, LA. On May 12th we will set out on our adventure, not for our own benefit, but with the hope of spreading awareness and raising money to fight against sex trafficking. Our goal is to raise $20,000 that will be donated to the International Justice Mission, a human rights agency we are partnering with.

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 Battle" in the comment line!
  • 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

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana


Its been a long week. We have safely arrived in Vicksburg Mississippi, and we are staying at the First Presbyterian Church. We've been moving really quick. We successfully outran a thunder storm that followed us for nearly the whole day today. It was angry, but the storm was no match for our quick paddling. We had a few consecutive 50 mile days this week. We camped out a few times and we enjoyed some great stays with families in Helena-West Helena (yep,thats its official name), Arkansas City (the names a bit deceiving...it has only 500 people), and Lake Providence Louisiana.

In Lake Providence we stayed in a mansion-cabin-camp right on the river. Tommy Scrogins fed us delicious steaks, and then a huge breakfast to get us going in the morning. We are really roughing it out here on the Mississippi. We walked in a small coffee shop called Jehova Java in Lake Providence. We weren't sure what we were getting into, but we met about a dozen southern ladies who were supporting their friend who was having a book signing. these ladies were a lot of fun, and they taught us all about what southern mama's tell there daughters.
Blake from Helena-West Helena
Campsite on an island outside of Crumrod
The gravel road to Arkansas City
Campsite at Greenville MississippiThe interior of the mansion-cabin (the last person to stay in this place was Brett Favre...not kidding)

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Friday, June 27, 2008

Upstream Video

Here are three glimpses of life on the river for the USB team in recent weeks:



(Note: These are large files in Windows Media format)
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Wednesday, June 25, 2008

6/25 Voice Update

6/25 Update from Arkansas City, Arkansas:


Thanks to KLOVE and Air1 for telling the Upstream Battle story on air nationwide today!
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Saturday, June 21, 2008

Picture Post

We are in Memphis TN!! Here are a few highlights from the trip so far. We have so many pictures, but we can only put up a few. We haven't had to camp since ST. Louis, so we want to thank the generosity of all the families that have opened their homes to us. We are very grateful.





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Wednesday, June 18, 2008

An Upstream Update by Voice

New Feature! Click the icon for a voice update from the team.

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Sunday, June 15, 2008

The South

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.
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Thursday, June 12, 2008

Randolph County Herald Tribune

Carrie Myers, editor of the Randolph County Herald Tribune, met up with the Upstream Battle team in Chester, IL. She wrote a great front page feature story. Check it out here! RAJ
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