Time has flown by. It is hard to believe that just a few weeks ago we were all preparing for this journey. Now it is nearly half over. At the same time, it also feels like we have been on the Ride a long time. We have had so many emotions and new experiences it is hard to really explain, but here goes.

In early March when the Ride pulled out from Minneapolis, we were filled with anticipation. We all felt an uncertainty but at the same time were very excited about what the future had in store for us. Unfortunately after the Eastbound bus had been less than 24 hours on the road, we experienced our first encounter with hate. Our bus was vandalized and some very hateful messages were written on it. This did not stop us though, we continued on to our first stop which turned into a great stop. The stop ended with students apologizing for things they had said in the past and thanking us for coming with the message of love that we bring everywhere we go.

The next stop brought different emotions. At Central Bible College we were completely ignored all day except for the large police presence there to keep us off campus. The day was hardly a waste, though, because even though the administration prevented the students from speaking to us they could not prevent them from seeing us from their windows, standing in silent witness.

The next stop, at Oklahoma Baptist University, was similar in that we were not able to go on campus there either. We spent two days and were denied access to chapel and to their student body. This proved to be a trying stop for many of us because it did involve us being turned away from church, a place that should be open to all.

The next school brought an important lesson in false hospitality. While we were not prevented from coming on campus, we were stopped as soon as we spoke for those Baylor students whose voices had been silenced. This was not a welcome, but was barely tolerance. On the good side of things, we were able to see the students of Baylor empowered and become committed to LGBT equality at Baylor.

Mississippi brought new challenges, including challenges to our first amendment rights. But we kept on and ended up talking to a lot of students and were able share our message of inclusive love of all God’s creations.

Next we ventured into Kentucky. In Louisville, we sat-in at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, to show that we will not allow people like Albert Mohler to dehumanize us or call into question our right to exist as we have been created.

Then we were on to the University of the Cumberlands, where we experienced real violations of our rights. We were to keep moving on the sidewalks, in groups of no more than three, under threat of arrest if we stopped moving. This really taught us the true meaning voluntary redemptive suffering. Like stops prior, it was worth it because for the 3 or 4 hours we walked back and forth on the sidewalk, we had students with us walking, talking, and listening.

This brings us to our most recent stop at Samford University. They were the third school to let us on. We really had a great day with the students and, like at Baylor, we were able to empower the student to take on the struggle for LGBT equality at Samford.

With half the ride over, we are hopeful for the future. The past few weeks have been mixed with good and bad experience, but every experience has been worth it, because everywhere we have gone we have seen people that have changed and been empowered by our presence. As long as we have truth and love on our side, nothing we do will be in vain, because truth and love always win in the end.