The Last Hill Before Home: I´m Overwhelmed

Monday, March 9, 2009

I´m Overwhelmed

This is amazing! This entire journey its absolutely incredible. I really am at a loss of words.
I haven't been to an Internet place in the past week because I have been in the middle of NOWHERE! Chiapas and Oxaca are a bit behind...
Anyway....
I'm overwhelmed because I'm getting comments, donations and emails from people all over the world who have been reading and following my blog. They have passed along support, wishes of luck and positive thoughts. Most of these people I don't even know. Ive gotten emails from people who sponsor children through Plan and wanted to thank me for bringing awareness to this amazing contribution, comments on the blog about people who started to sponsor a child then a village than an entire community in Africa. Ive gotten donations from $10 to $500 from people all over. I'm really at a loss of words. It seems that people really are taking notice. It seems that people out there truly do care about giving back. It sounds like people are understanding the message. Hopefully we can keep this ball rolling and get to the $15,000 so that we can complete the school construction project in the small village near Jalapa that the people desperately need.
I just wanted to say thank you so much....keep the comments coming. Ive been spending about 10 hours on the bike a day. I'm usually in the middle of nowhere. It gets tiring and a bit lonely. Today was even a bigger drag. I lost control of my bike and fell off a small cliff. I'm ok..the bike has a small problem. I had to look everywhere in this crazy town called Salina Cruz for a bike shop. I actually found one and I think I got the problem fixed. But then I finally get to a computer and I can feel the love! Thank you....thank you...thank you...

Peace, Power and Pedal

Aaron

2 comments:

Anonymous said...: Aaron,

Glad to see you made it to Mexico! Also, glad that I was able to find you on the web! It was SO nice hangin' with you in Antigua. Very nice getting to know you. Good times!

Good luck on the rest of your trip, and please do keep in touch. You have my card with my email address... I hope, otherwise I'll blog it to you somehow. Email me when you make it to Baja.

BE SAFE!

Maren Hopkins; March 10, 2009 at 11:27 AM
coyote said...: A-dog,
i am glad to hear you are okay after crashing! Dont worry about the bike man just make sure you stay safe. You are a bike machine brother.

Loneliness can be the worst enemy but most loving companion on the saddle, especially day after day. I know what you are going through believe me. Keep smilin, peddling, blogging, and riding strong. I wish i could be in SF when you finish, but i will in spirit.

peace
jeff; March 28, 2009 at 9:49 AM

Post a Comment

Plan USA

¨Plan is a global partnership of caring people founded in 1937 to bring hope and help to the world’s poorest children.

Plan began as a child sponsorship organization. Today, we are one of the oldest and largest organizations of our kind—our grassroots, self-help programs assist more than 10 million children and their families in poor communities around the world.

We are proudly private, not for profit, and respectful of local religions and cultures—we have no agenda other than helping kids. Plan USA is one of more than 60 national organizations bearing the renowned Plan logo. ¨

Right about the time that I was identifying non profit organizations to work with I received an email from my cousin Joshua. Josh, a meteorologist for the United States Air Force who is living in Germany and currently stationed in Iraq, mentioned that he was now sponsoring a child through Plan USA. He said that it was a small step but a small step in the right direction. He also mentioned that Plan USA was backed by the Better Business Bureau, a point that we both respect. Through various research of my own I found that Plan USA is a prominent NGO and has a great marks from InterAction and the Charities Review Council. Most importantly I found that Plan USA´s mission of ¨striving to achieve lasting improvement in the quality of life of deprived children in developing countries¨ linked exactly to my own mission for this fundraising event. Needless to say, it was a great fit.

The Inspiration

¨You must be the change you want to see in the world¨

- Mahatma Gandhi

I love to travel.

I have been lucky enough to throw on a backpack and visit 5 continents. I have been fortunate enough to see some amazing sights. It´s hard not to be inspired when your standing under the rotunda at the Taj Mahal or approaching the Pyramids of Egypt or wandering through the waterfalls at Iguazu in Argentina. These have all been inspiring times.

I also cherish the fact that I have met people from all over the world and been able to learn and share in the differences in cultures. You can learn so much when you share a spicy vietnamese sandwich with a local in Hoi An, when you take a stroll with a friend in a park in Santiago de Chile or gather with pilgrims over a pitcher of sangria at Santiago de Compostella in Spain. I´ve learned a lot and I´m incredibly grateful for all the opportunities.

With all the ups there´s also the downs. Theres another side you see when travelling. This side isn´t shared as much and it can also be quite difficult to talk about. Many countries, especially in the developing worlds, face many problems. HIV/AIDS, pollution, over population, lack of clean drinking water, dangerous living conditions and of course people living under $1 a day are just a few of the issues to mention.

I have wandered through the ghetto´s of Bangkok, I played stick games with the kids in the slums of Mumbai and seen the horrible living conditions of the street beggars in La Paz. While these encounters were only brief they still had a profound affect on me. Somehow, I draw inspiration from these encounters and connections. In so many situations these people who seemed to have nothing, were still smiling, still playing and still trying with all their means to get by. If only I had that much courage!

It was culture shock and it hurt.

I feel that now is the time to give back.

I encourage you to leave comments on this blog. Every word of positivity will help me along my journey. I encourage you to pass the message forward. Together we can help make a change for the kids that need it most. Finally, I encourage you to donate. There´s an icon on the top right hand corner of this blog that will direct you to a third party site that facilitates the donations. Its totally secure and safe. I appreciate all the love and positivity that I´m already recieving, of course this is not possible without people who want to help make a difference.

I don´t think that I´ll necessarily change the world, after all I´m just a 28 year old guy from San Francisco. But, I do want to give back. I do want to help. I have the opportunity so why not use it to help the children in the world who don´t have the same chances.

Now is the time to ¨be the change¨.

The Goal

In riding my bike from Panama City to San Francisco, I am initiating a grassroots fundraising effort to help raise money to feed starving children in Central and South America. All proceeds will go to PLAN USA. My goal is to raise a minimum of 15,000 dollars. In doing so I also hope to bring the plight and struggle of these children into the concious of the public, as well as their profound sense of life, courage, hope and faith. Their undeniable love for life, and ability to continue to dream.

Donate today http://www.firstgiving.com/lasthillbeforehome

I Believe

When taking on a mission like this it´s important to create a set of ideals, principles or beliefs. The task at hand is by no means going to be easy. These 7 beliefs are truly the fundamentals that will help me along my journey.

I Believe...

- In Plan USA. Plan´s clearly defined mission of ¨striving to achieve lasting improvements in the quality of life of deprived children in developing countries¨, is possible with the support from us if we are willing to make a difference today.

- In grassroots charitable efforts. Dedicated individual leaders and community outreach groups are fighting the growing problems of poverty.

- In the power of communication and information. Plan´s key programs of ¨growing up healthy, learning, habitat, livelihood and building relationships¨, are possible by making a donation and passing the message forward.

- Riding a bike from Panama City to San Francisco will raise awareness to the fight against poverty.

- In outdoor adventure travel. Riding is one of the positive and healthy activities that plants confidence into any individual.

- In the power of synergy. A group with a common mission driven by creativity and passion can accomplish any set of goals.

- A dream, a bike and a regular guy from San Francisco can help make a change in the lives of children whom need it most.

The Last Hill Before Home

Monday, March 9, 2009

I´m Overwhelmed

2 comments:

OUR FINAL EVENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Donate Today!

Join our Cause on Facebook

Social Networking groups's

Pics from the road

Sponsor a Child

Visit Plan USA

About Me

Blog Archive

The Map

Followers

Plan USA

The Inspiration

Mission

The Goal

I Believe

The Crew

My Friends...