A Weekend of #PhysicalSacrifice
What an incredible weekend of action in the Venture Community! Members of the Venture family participated in a Water Walk in Minnesota, an Ironman (two first-timers!) & a 120-mile prayer/training ride in Texas, a triathlon (first-timer!) in Arizona, and concluded the Love Does Tour in California! We love #PhysicalSacrifice #InCommunity #WithChrist for #BiblicalJustice!
In the Everyday | #PhysicalSacrifice
“The challenge of this ride is not any different than any other challenge we see in life. It’s the same ‘how do we fit in what we feel called to do to help others and actually have that happen in the midst of a crazy (sometimes over-busy) life?’
Venture Expeditions (who I am partnering with to raise the support) has a tag line, ‘Benefit the world. Discover your soul.’ I am hoping that this ride this summer helps to change the world in a small way, but also helps me, and maybe others, discover what it means to follow Jesus in every way, in the everyday.”
These excerpts are from a blog post by Ryan Knepp, who is using #PhysicalSacrifice to redeem his commute for #BiblicalJustice this summer, pledging to cycle 1,000 miles in the midst of his daily life to raise funds for Blood:Water Mission. Read the entire post here.
Venturing in Portland | #InCommunity
This post was written by Elizabeth Rogers, a Venture alumna, tour leader and Venture Portland Ambassador.
When I arrived in San Diego for Ride:Well training and orientation in 2011, I didn’t know a soul who was going to be there. I had met people through Facebook, but came from a place where no one knew about Venture Expeditions and, hardcore as it were, the thought of cycling across the country for justice was odd and slightly insane to anyone and everyone I excitedly told in the months leading up to tour.
After completing my second tour in 2012 – having the challenging, yet beautiful opportunity to lead the tour – I decided I did not want people to be so blown away by what I was doing each summer: I wanted people in my part of the country to participate in Venture Expeditions and I wanted them to get on board with the excitement that, by this point, was coursing through my body.
Since my first tour in 2011, myself and three others from that tour, had joined a church community in Portland, Oregon called The Groves Church (www.thegroveschurch.com) that was passionate about justice and knew about what Venture was doing, as they had hosted Ride:Well multiple times.
The “Uphill Moments”
For those training for a Venture tour this spring, keep at it! We hope this post from Jessica, a current Venture participant, encourages you.
“There is so much to be thankful for in this process and preparation. Yet, this past few weeks were my first taste of opposition and small moments of“doubt” and overwhelmed feelings of all I still need to prepare for as I depart. This was my “uphill” moment.”
Read the entire post here.
Q&A with Abigayle, Two-Time Venture Alumna
Interviewee: Abigayle Craigg
Venture Trip: Ride:Well Pacific 2011/She’s My Sister 2012
Q. What made you interested in Venture Expeditions?
A. My interest in Venture actually came after I applied for the Ride:Well Tour in 2011. I interviewed with Josh Iniguez and he told me the story of Venture. It was really throughout and after the tour that I began to understand the heart of Venture and wanted to become more involved. I love the way Venture Expeditions uniquely combines enacting justice with going on an adventure.
Q. Why did you choose your specific trip to go on?
A. Initially, I chose the Ride:Well Tour because I really liked what the Blood:Water Mission was doing. I liked that I could be apart of bringing clean water and medical aid to people whom it was not available. I chose the She’s My Sister Tour because I liked that they were involved in emotional and spiritual healing for trauma victims. I had heard bits and pieces of things happening in central Africa and kept wondering if any type of therapy was available to people left in the aftermath. When I found out that She’s My Sister was doing this, I really wanted to get involved.
Q. We know Venture trips test you physically and mentally. How has Venture helped you grow spiritually?
A. I think both Venture tours have met me where I was spiritually. On my first tour, I was in deep need for a strong community and team. Although I didn’t realize it at the time, God provided just that on the Ride:Well Pacific Coast Team. Two years later, we are still very much a family.
Q. What was your favorite experience from your trip?
Benefit The World: Sacred Privilege
Powerful words from a blog created by some of our Run Free Minnesota runners:
The Karen people of Burma and every other ethnic group have been running from political tyrants for 50+ years. People in brothels everywhere have run straight into a trap of decay. People who have escaped from slavery run from their abusers, from their own destructive mind. When I run, there is no one behind me. I run towards them, towards their freedom. I run in the hopes that they won’t have to anymore. This is my impossible mountain. This is my sacred privilege.
Read the entire post and other posts here.
Meals on a Boat
We are excited to announce that on March 29, Venture Expeditions loaded up our fourth container of refugee meals destined for Thailand! The container, which holds our one-millionth meal sent, is packed with 272,000 nutritious meals that are on their way to relieve people living along the Thailand-Burma border who have been affected by the decades-long civil war in Burma. Thank you to everyone who has helped raise awareness and funding for this campaign. We truly couldn’t do it without you!
