I made it up the volcano !!!
I did it for my dad..
I cant walk now because im so sore but i did it!!!!
My faith and willpower combined with my team mates help is what got me to the top.. Physically it was impossible for me.. only 20 mins into the journey i couldnt breath, my throat was closing up… I drank water and insisted that i continue up..
half way up i was starting to really go slow, needed breaks often.. my legs were on fire and my heart was pounding in my ears..
34 of the way up i started getting dizzy and my legs would often just stop working as i tripped several times and fell.. I lost feeling in my legs about this time and my breathing slowed down.. My team mates grabbed me by the hands and helped pull me up the steep steps and rocks…
I was determined to reach the top and we thought another team was closing in on us and so we had to hurry… I think this thought that they were behind us was my downfall, because the long rests i needed were replaced with an urgency to continue dispite the failing legs and lack of strength..
i dont remember the last 14 of the climb, it is a fog to me.. As i crawled on hands and knees and pulled my lifeless legs up the final steps..
Many times i had to ask for help out loud and that is not something that comes easy for me..
Humbled is not the word i use to describe how i felt… I was horrified at my inability and my pride was broken to pieces.. My faith was absolute as i gave over my enire body to God and my dependancy on the help of my team was a nessesity..
Im a different person today.. I will never climb another volcano as long as i live… I still dont know how i got back down the mountain..
As i limp down the cobblestone road infront of the motel im stayting at i glace up at the gigantic volcano that towers the village..
It is impossible that i climed tot he top of that in a little over 3 hours.. And the bible verse “With God all things are possible” keeps going through my mind..
So although i can barley walk and pain is my middle name for now, i know it will pass.. And the lessons i learned about myself and my faith will last an eternity..
