Getting to be in Europe has been amazing! There are many things that are very similar to our culture, but also many things that are very different. Our first month in Europe was an ATL (Ask The Lord) month where we are not given a host or a destination to go. We are to all pray and see where He sends us and ask for divine interactions with people. With lots of prayers (and not too much planning) our first week here in Bosnia my team and I decided to go on a hike for 4 days. The fact that everyone agreed this was a good idea and wanted to do it was a sign that this was what God wanted for us. I personally wanted to go so God could put a new flame in my heart for Him….and of course He did much more than I could have imagined.
I’d like to preface this with the fact Katie and I came to the team with this idea planning to do 100 miles in 7 days. Thankfully the rest of the team had more realistic expectations and talked us into doing about 45 miles in 5 days so it wouldn’t be too strenuous and we would have more time in the city we felt the Lord wanted us in while in Bosnia. We also did not look too much into how challenging the hike would be..but I mean, we all made it out alive.
Day one: Our bags were packed with canned meat, trail mix, PB&J’s, water, an extra set of clothes (if you were smart unlike me who left their extra change of clothes at the hostel that was holding our belongings), and our tents. We hiked for most of the day spending time in God’s creation, getting to talk with Him and having deeper conversations with each other. We ended up coming across a cabin in a beautiful field. The cabin was locked but a great place for us to build a fire to warm up our delicious canned meat and feel safe to sleep. Katie and I shared a one person tent which ended up probably being best for warmth purposes. During my quiet time that day I was reading in Mark 1 and in verses 3, 4, and 12 they all talk about being in the wilderness. Jesus was saying the wilderness is a great place to truly rely on God and get to hear His voice. He was showing me we were where He wanted us to be and preparing us for the next day.
Day two: Woke up to animal outside our tent (or Lucas snoring, still not 100% sure). The first part of the hike was pretty smooth and the views were breathtaking. We knew that we would be going mostly uphill on the peaks of the mountains that day but we were not prepared for what was to come after lunch. We got caught in a hailstorm and had to run down into a little valley on the side of the mountain. We all tag teamed putting together Greg and Alyssa’s tent (while under the rainfly) in less than 30 seconds and all pilled in….well almost everybody. Lucas decided to literally lay down on the grass and put his rainfly overtop of him. Once the storm passed we hiked on for about an hour and a half when we came across another little valley and decided it would be the best place to set up camp for the night to and try and dry out all of our wet belongings which was basically everything I had. We were in bed by 6:30 that night since we were all so warn out and knew we would be up early with another all uphill day.
Day three: This morning it was difficult for me to want to get out of the tent because of how cold it was. Thankfully everybody on the team decided to chose joy and pushed one another to keep moving forward. As soon as we climbed out of the valley, we were walking in a cloud and could not see more than about 15 feet in from of us. Oh I can’t forget the hurricane level wind that we had to trek through. Thankfully the Lord provided us a rock to hide behind to eat lunch and rest. There were times on this hike I could only pray for God to move my legs because I did not have the strength to do it on my own. He is so good though because not only did He (finally) get us off the top of the mountain but He also provided us with a cabin to sleep in that was UNLOCKED! I don’t think I have ever been that happy to see hardwood floors and a fireplace in my life. Also my warmed canned chicken meat was especially delicious that night.
Day four: We woke up fully rested thanks to the cabin and knew our main goal was to get to the restaurant in town off the mountain so we could start on the next mountain. After about 3 and 1/2 hours of hiking down and everyone (besides Greg) falling at least once that day we finally made it off the mountain! Once off, we discovered that it was a christian hike…not exactly sure what that means but we know the Lord was watching over us. Once we made it to what we think was the only restaurant in the town, we all decided we had gotten all out of the hike that we needed and could head back to Mostar. It was cool to see how this was God’s plan too. We were going to have to walk about 8 miles to the bus station however a pastor we communicated with only through hand gestures drove us into town for free. People truly are so generous. We ended up getting back to Mostar a little after midnight.
God taught me many things that I hope to never forget from those four days. One thing He really showed me was that I need to stop waiting for Him or “the next big thing” and seek Him in every thing I do to feel His presence and truly rely on Him. Before the race, I was waiting around to get close to Him because the race was where I was going to be so close with the Lord. Before the hike, I was waiting for the next step to have that fire for Him. Even though God has provided so much in both those times, He should be first in everything I do and how I live. He is the one that is steadfast and I am the one who has to make changes to get closer to Him.
Also big shout out to everyone on the team because of how wonderful they are and the hike was a prime example of needing to go through life with a strong community!
