adventurer (noun)
1. someone who seeks dangerous or exciting experiences : a person who looks for adventures
To say that the group I went to Ometepe with were adventurers is an understatement. You see, in these two all-squad months, we have formed a team of adventurers made up of some of the most risk-seeking people in our squad. This prized team takes on many names, but most know them by Womamacackablugi, a monstrosity of a name that combines all the teams represented within this group. Us adventurers had a successful Red-Cross-camping, under-waterfall-standing, bingo-playing adventure in Zarcero, Costa Rica last month, so we stepped out again seeking adventure in Nicaragua. You see, the premise of a Womamacakablugi adventure is that nothing is planned. We pick a place to go, and then we go and figure it out along the way. That means a lot of asking the Lord, speaking to locals, and throwing expectations out the door (expectations are just premeditated resentment, as Cameron would say).
Our eyes were set on Ometepe, the rural island made up of two volcanoes in the middle of Lake Nicaragua. Ometepe is actually a place I hold very closely to my heart – it’s where I first went on international missions six years ago. My home church regularly visits the island and I have a lot of super sweet memories there, including being baptized in the lake with my best friend. So, naturally, I was eager to return. After two buses, a sketchy taxi ride, the ferry and yet another taxi, we started our climb to the top of Volcan Madera, the smaller, dormant volcano of the two on the island.
Now, here’s what our guides told us:
- The hike will take about three hours each way
- This hike is fine for amateur hikers
- You will have to hike down in the dark, but it won’t be too difficult
- You can carry your big packs and be fine on the hike
Here’s a little peek into the reality of the hike:
- It took about five hours to get to the top of the volcano
- It was one of the most technically difficult and strenuous hikes many of us had experienced to date
- It would be extremely unsafe to hike back down in the dark with all the rocks, steep slopes, and sometimes a literal lack of a trail
- People without big packs on struggled immensely and the big pack added to the challenge significantly
We wound up camping at the top of the volcano in order to safely descend the mountain by light in the morning (in case you were wondering, you can fit ten people in two 2-person tents!). Before we knew it, this care-free adventure day turned into a battle of endurance, patience, and reliance on our Lord. Thankfully, we had some incredible people in our team, and I just want to call out the ways they pointed me back to Jesus as we clambered up this mountain:
- Cameron: humility; he turned to me at one point and said “I could be manly about this and say it’s not exhausting, but I’m really struggling” and that both encouraged me immensely and exemplified humility to me in that moment.
- Marah: growth; she had a goal to carry her whole big pack the entire way up the volcano, but, as she was struggling and fading under the weight, she finally allowed our guide to take that weight on for her. She didn’t want to take it off but she swallowed that pride and realized ways it was keeping her from doing what was best for her wellbeing.
- Mary: positivity; from focusing on the “gains” she’ll receive from carrying her big pack the whole way to encouraging us to tell stories to get our minds off the hike, Mary was a consistent source of positivity throughout our journey.
- Matt: perseverance; Matt had a hard time with the hike, but I only say that to brag on the perseverance he displayed throughout. Despite falling and hurting to the extent he did, he still showed incredible endurance and perseverance throughout the hike.
- Michael: lightheartedness; he was chewing coffee beans, picking limes from trees and saving leaves to make tea when we returned. His desire to see the good things he could get from the hike helped take my mind off of the intensity and added a reminder that there was more to this than the struggle.
- Mike: steadiness; he seemed to have the easiest time with the hike – even while barefoot the whole time. He was cool-headed and focused while also helpful in offering to carry other people’s bags because the burden wasn’t too much for him. It was a humble steadiness that I really admired.
- Rachael: humor; like she so often is, Rachael was a source of humor and optimism during our trek. She was cracking jokes while also motivating people with her encouragement, and if you ask me, that’s a winning combination.
And, finally, there is Francisco. Francisco was our main guide for the hike up Volcano Madera, and I did not expect to learn so much about the love of Christ from a Nicaraguan tour guide. This man was my rock. I stupidly wore my Tevas and they do not mix well with steep, muddy hikes. He would hold my hand and help keep me steady, often making sure I was in the front of the line so he could help me maneuver through particularly difficult terrain. He even took on the weight of carrying Marah’s pack up the mountain. Every time I slipped or put a little more weight on him, his smiling reply was always “no problem”. As we were forced to camp at the peak, Francisco chose to abstain from sleeping to sit outside the tents with his machete at the ready for potential snakes.
You see, I have this place I go when I want to meet Jesus. It’s the top of a mountain, one of those mountaintops where you’re above the clouds and all you see is sky and white puffs. Whenever I meet Him there, He is carrying a huge backpack. Bigger than any of our packs we brought on the Race (and that’s saying something!) and He walks around like He isn’t carrying anything at all. The burden of the pack isn’t even a burden to Him. It’s no problem. And when I see Him with that pack and wonder why He is carrying it, I think back to something my friend Cameron said during a travel day as he took my pack I was struggling with from me. “I know you can carry it, but you don’t have to”. Jesus knows we can bear and struggle with our burdens, but there is no need to. He wants to take them on. We just have to suck up our pride, and hand it over. He wears that pack with a huge smile and even still offers a helping hand. He sacrifices every comfort in order to ensure that we know we are both loved and protected.
As we chatted during the hike, Francisco told us about his faith and how he loves our Lord. He is Catholic and was extremely excited to guide a group of missionaries in Ometepe. The love of God overflowing from him is the only explanation for his tenderness, optimism and generosity towards our whole group. I’m so thankful that Jesus chose to meet me and teach me more about His character on that treacherous volcano through my friends and strangers alike.
grace + peace
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