Road of Resistance

With all the urgency of fundraising and training, I've been bad about posting about the actual cause we're biking for.  I posted this documentary last year before I left, but it's the best visual for showing people what the refugees we're riding for are experiencing. (note: this documentary was not made by Venture, but it is about the same cause and people we're biking for)

In short, the documentary talks about the situation in Burma and "the road" that they must travel in order to reach the Thailand boarder.  While the video is a few years old, things really haven't changed much since.  It's important to remember that this is the longest running civil war in the history of the world, so this is what these people have been experiencing since about World War II.  

Even though it's hard to see, I really encourage you to set aside 40 minutes to watch.  Once you're done watching, I encourage you to take a moment and just pray for the situation in this region (Thailand/Burma boarder). 

**Warning: the video is graphic in parts, so watch with caution.**

Isaiah 1:17 

Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.

I'll probably post again on Sunday about what's been happening here lately, so stay tuned. :)

Blessings,

Sara

Selfless, Advocate, Hope

My co-leader Carmen had the idea of picking three words to define our mission as a team.  We then asked each teammate to pick their top three before Carmen decided on the final trio.  The idea behind this is that we use these three words as a reminder of where our hearts, mission and focus should be.  Here's what she picked:

I was going to define the reasoning behind each word, but instead I'm going to copy and paste from Carmen's email because she says it best:

"Selfless: We want to completely give each day on the road to God's glory and to understand that the miles we bike are for the helpless (Burmese refugees) and for those that are oppressed. 

Advocate: Our bodies, bikes and hearts are tangible representations of the sacrifice we will be doing on behalf of those that need support and awareness! 

Hope: With our biking and with raising funds for Venture projects, we want to bring hope for those that need God and ultimately, we know our hope is always in God."

I love the three she chose.  She said one of the reasons she chose them is because they flow so well together; We want to be selfless advocates of hope.

While writing this, I'm listening to one of Bob Goff's podcasts (note: if you have a lot of work/school to do, don't listen or read Bob Goff's work.  It'll only make you want to drop what you're doing to go on amazing adventures to incredible places).  He starts by reading this passage:

"I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.  There is one body and one Spirit-- just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call-- one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.  But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift."

- Ephesians 4:1-7

I like this passage because it takes us back to the bigger picture of Christ's love and the hope that He brings.  Each of us has a specific call for our lives, which Bob describes as what it is that God has created each of us to be passionate about and spend our lives pursuing.  Despite the different individual calls we hear, each of us has the same big picture call: to be humble, gentle, patient, and loving to all.  

I'm still trying to connect the dots how these verses apply to the three words Carmen chose, but here's what I have so far: love is the ultimate action that trumps all others, and selfless, advocate, and hope outline how and why we should love.  We should love selflessly because we are advocates of the hope Christ gave us when He sent his son to earth as the ultimate sacrifice and greatest gift of love.

Thoughts?  Comments?  Let me know!  Hope you all are enjoying this beautiful, spring Sunday!

Blessings, 

Sara