Today I had the Joy of exploring the Black Hills with my good friends Tad, Caleb, and Andrew. We hiked about 5 miles through the beautiful Ponderosa pine and enjoyed some perfect weather. And by perfect weather, I mean rain storms and some hail. This is how it went:
Caleb, Andrew, and I are all going on the world race this next year. (Caleb is on route 1, check it out!) Caleb and I have been planning on hiking in the hills to start preparing for the training camp requirements. Saturday, Andrew called me up and asked if he could stay the weekend on his way back from Colorado… umm YES! So today we loaded up the packs, jumped in the car, and headed out to the hills.
Fast forward, in the distance some rain clouds are starting to roll in. About a mile in to our hike, it starts lightly raining. Perfect! We all whip out our rain coats and rain covers for our backpacks. Onward!
Now, as we near the top of the rocks, the rain starts to pick up a little bit. Tad doesn’t have a coat and crawls into a small cave in the side of the rocks. Okay, it was more of a ledge that stuck out a foot or two just enough to keep him dry… sort of. By this point the rocks are getting slippery. Caleb and Tad decide to wait back but Andrew and I are determined to reach the top. We pull our straps a little tighter and start to crawl our way up the rocky ledges.
At this point the rain is starting to really come down. Even worse there is a cold wind blowing bitterly across the top of the rocks. Our fingers are starting to go numb. But up we go. Through team work, we lifted our 30-lb packs up over the rock ledges and through a narrow crack in the rocks. At last, the final ascent! Driven by the adventurous spirit deep inside (or just not wanting to give up) we scramble up the last rocks to the top. The wind pounds the rain, and now small hail pellets, into our coats and bags as we chicken scratch our names into the book at the top of Mt. Baldy. Whooooo! Let’s Go!!
So yeah, it was cold, it was wet, but I don’t think you could ask for a better day to train and prepare for hiking and traveling on the world race. The best part was enjoying the friendship of some of my best friends. The summer is off to a good start! I’ve officially left school behind and am setting my sights on the world race. It’s coming faster than I realize. Life has changed pace a little bit from constantly focusing on school and wrapping up my chapter at Mines to relaxing on the weekends and working hard to save and prep for the race. To date, I have collected all my gear for the race (packing list and video coming soon!) and raised nearly 75% of funds for my trip! God has truly been faithful. I have a full heart, peace, and excitement as I continue to draw closer to this next adventure.
As the title promised, here are 5 steps that I’ve come to learn about preparation for any change, journey, or newness in life. Quick and simple:
- Pray About It
“Commit whatever you do to the Lord and He will establish your plans”
-Proverbs 16:3
Before starting anything. Let God know where your heart is at. He can give you peace in your decisions, guidance in your confusion, and discipline in your misdirection. Honestly, we can’t do anything apart from him, but to have him on our side and walking with us, for us, is a world changer. Not only does it bring peace to have God leading, it also brings Joy.
- Find Some Friends
“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another”
-Hebrews 10:24
Without community and without support life seems to be a little dull. Andrew said to me before coming out this weekend “I could explore the mountains here in Colorado but doing it by yourself just doesn’t seem worth it.” So, he came down to the hills for the weekend and we did some exploring together. They will be there through the storms, and be there in the good days, but when we do it together, we are stronger. Shout out to all my supporters and my team for this trip! God is doing great things through Us.
- Be Willing to Let Go and be a Little Adventurous
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”
-Proverbs 3:5
Even if it means climbing a wet rock in the rain, sometimes we need to do something that isn’t comfortable or we’ve never done before. If life is always easy and always the same, we won’t grow much. Place all your endeavors before God and if at any point, He asks you to give it up, don’t be afraid to let go. God doesn’t always call us to our plan, but He does always call us to His plan, and it is good and pleasing and perfect.
- Persevere
“And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;”
-Romans 5:3-4
It takes work. Nothing comes free. Sometimes you must be willing to stay with a plan for an extended time and through extended struggle before any fruit is shown. But if we are patient through trouble and continue to hope, the storms will pass. We have an eternal hope waiting for us and no trial of this earth will stop us from stepping into glory on the other side. “Every storm runs out of rain”
- Be Thankful
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
-1 Thessalonians 5:18
Even when it’s raining, the weather is good. Continue to thank the Lord for the days He has given us. Be thankful for those around you and the love they show you. When someone causes you hurt don’t curse them but pray God blesses them. Be thankful for the doors and blessings and opportunities that God is opening before us.
All these things I’m learning more and more on my World Race journey. Thank you all for your support and encouragement! The day is drawing closer. If you’re not already, join my team by praying for this mission trip, subscribing to my blog, and/or donating to my trip (there’s a button at the top of the page).
With Faith, Hope, and Love
Nathan
Want to be a part of my journey and support my trip? You can donate right here on my blog at the top of the page ??
