Check out the video of the hike, made by my teammate and friend Taylor Baker, “Hiking Pichincha -Ecuador- The World Race Gap Year” https://youtu.be/GRipvQ-zxpM
We had a half day off and one of our ministry hosts is a professional tour guide and took my team hiking, we hiked the Volcano, Pichincha. It is absolutely breathtaking to look out and see all that God has created. To the left and to the right we saw hills and mountain ranges. As we hiked we were surrounded and within the clouds.
. “1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” ( Hebrews 12:1-3)
As my team, and our ministry host Janela hiked, a storm started to roll in. After about two hours we reached the base of Pichincha, the last leg of the journey before hiking to the top of Pichincha, we ran out of time to continue any further and at that point it started to hail. The way that the mountain is positioned we weren’t able to see the severity of the storm that was rolling in because the mountain blocked our view. Within minutes hail was pelting our bodies, blowing in sideways, the dirt trail then became a funnel for water to rush down and collect, and directly to the right, the left and overhead were flashes of lightning and rolling thunder. God speak! Literally we were in the middle of the storm running down the trail. The hail was freezing, our hands were numb and lost feeling, our clothes and bags drenching wet. We ran down the trail for an hour in the midst of all this, trying not to fall, praying to God that the storm would stop. And during this time our ministry host Janela was having an allergic reaction to something, and began to itch, and broke out in hives. Once reaching the end of the trail we got in the cable car and headed down( safe right, riding in a metal cable car as lightning struck all around, but God was protecting us the entire way).
God showed me a few things that day and especially in the midst of the storm. The entire way up we were all individually praying that God would speak to us and show us things we have been asking for. Though He didn’t stop the hail and lightning for us, He was still in the midst of the storm right their with us. We all were suffering hardship yet God didn’t take us out of it, the greater purpose was being shown.
1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, wea have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And web boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but wec also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:1-5)
Jesus placed on my mind on the way down, yes you are cold,soaked to the bone, and still having to move forward to reach the end, but I’m right here with you and you still have me as your living hope. Then I thought of those who don’t know Jesus and where they will be spending eternity, eternally separated from God in hell fire. God brought me that awareness to show me “you’re feeling this coldness for only a few hours, now think about my creation who haven’t accepted me, and for eternity where they will be”.
9Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
12Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—
13To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law. 14Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come.
15But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! 16Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 17For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!
18Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. 19For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
20The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:6-21).
God is always with us, through the toughest storms of life, on the mountain tops, in the valleys and everywhere in between!! His great, unfailing love and the free gift of eternal life is free and accessible to all. All you have to do is ask, accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, and live for Him.
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”e 12For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:9-13)
Love you all, God bless, thank you for all your financial support and endless prayers!!
