As part of ministry in Nepal, we trekked to a remote mountain village called Dungdunge where we spent four days helping build a school. Before it was built, children were dying trying to cross the river on their way to school. This is the first in a two part series on my thoughts and lessons from a week in the mountains.
Part one is a glimpse into my mind during the 4 hour hike. Note: I censored these thoughts for reader protection. My filter tends to disappear when I face death head on (#raftingtheNile).
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7 am – Today is the day of the hike. I don’t want to do this. God, I’m gonna need you today.
12 pm – And we’re off. Okay, let’s do this. Just take it easy.
12:05 pm – Why are we stopping already? Oh, for lunch. Okay, I psyched myself up for nothing. Yay, apples and eggs!
12:35 pm – For real this time, let’s do this. I want to start at the front so I have room to fall behind like I know I will.
12:50 pm – What? You want me to hike up the side of this cliff? I’m going to fall backwards and die. Can’t he see we have packs on? This isn’t going to go well.
12:53 pm – Ohgodohgodohgod please get me up this hill without dying.
12:55 pm – Praise the Lord I made it! That was terrifying. Me no likey.
1 pm – This is really steep. We’ve literally been going uphill this whole time. I don’t know how I’m going to do this for another 3 hours.
1:15 pm- A break! Yes please. Wow, this view is gorgeous. That’s where I started? I’ve hiked that far already? Wow, okay. Not so bad.
1:30 pm – I like this flat trail thing. Now this I can do. And this is beautiful. God, I love mountains!
2 pm – I’m doing pretty great. I love hiking. How am I still at the front? I love my squamates. They’re so encouraging. God, your creation is beautiful. Thank you for letting me experience it in this way.
2:10 pm – What was that noise? Oh, a goat. That’s random.
2:45 pm – My legs are numb. I don’t feel anything. This is great!
2:50 pm – Oh my gosh, a monkey!
3 pm – Going downhill is almost worse than going uphill. When will this end?
3:05 pm – I don’t know how much longer my legs will last. God, I can’t do this. I need you to provide more ATP ASAP!
3:15 pm – I see a home. We’ve must be here, thank God! Oh look, the baby goats. So cute!
3:16 pm – This isn’t it. Great. We have to keep going.
3:20 pm – More downhill? My God, I’m going to fall to my death. I think that would be easier right now.
3:30 pm – A break! And a stream! Praise the Lord, cold water feels so good right now. If I sit down, I’m never going to get up. I’m sitting anyway.
3:40 pm – And we’re off…again. He said only an hour left. “Only” seems like a cruel word right now.
4 pm – How the heck am I still at the front of this hike? This is actually pretty great. Thank you for letting me do this God!
4:10 pm – WHY GOD. WHEN WILL THIS HELL END???????
4:25 pm – He said this is the last hike uphill. That looks like a mountain of death. What’s the point in hesitating anymore. God, I just need you for one last hill. Please get me up here without dying or falling off the edge.
4:27 pm – OH MY GOD I HATE MOUNTAINS. WHY DID YOU CREATE MOUNTAINS?
4:28 pm – Just kidding God, I love mountains.
4:30 pm – WE’RE ACTUALLY HERE. PRAISE THE LORD HALLELUJAH!
4:35 pm – Time to set up camp. Yay.
Stay tuned for Part 2 of the Trekking To A Nepalese Mountain Village series. I’ll explain what I learned about God and myself through hiking, camping, and manual labor in this remote village.
