The end of month eight was our squad debrief in Banos, Ecuador.
During debriefs we have squad sessions, worship, and prayer, there is also time for adventuring and exploring the city.
A few girls and I had decided we would go canyoning (repelling down waterfalls) while we were there.
We paid the fees, signed the release forms, and got suited up in our wetsuits.
After a 45 minute ride on curvy roads through the Andes Mountains we arrived at the destination.
We put on our helmets, life jackets, and harnesses, we received a crash course in repelling and then we were off to the first waterfall.
Our adventure started out with a small jump into a little pool of water.
How fun!
Then, as we continued, a slightly bigger jump.
And again another bigger jump.
As I stood at the top of the waterfall questioning my sanity when I made this decision I realized I had no choice but to jump.
I could not go back the way I came.
So I mustered up the courage and jumped off the ledge.
My body was free falling for a few seconds and I had to simply fall and trust that I had jumped far enough not to hit the rock walls surrounding the pool of water below me.
(check out video below!!!)
I successfully jumped off a 20 plus foot waterfall and conquered my fear in the moment.
I felt so brave!
I stood and watched as the other girls took their turns each conquering their own fears in the moment.
What an awesome bonding moment.
Then we got to repel and zipline down the next waterfall.
Looking at this one I wasn’t as intimidated as the first.
I was excited to zipline to the bottom.
And then it started to hit me…………
I was playing in God’s beauty.
It was my turn and I had a blast.
When I got to the bottom of that waterfall I looked back to see what I had accomplished and knew this was such a monumental moment with God.
We were literally frolicking through the Andes Mountains down waterfalls, taking in God’s beauty, celebrating with each other, and praising Abba amidst our fun!
We arrived at our last waterfall of the day.
I was strapped in and ready to trust the harness to hold me.
I was standing on the side of the rock basically horizontal (see pic below)
I repelled down the side of the rock and then they told me it was time to let go of the rope and jump.
And I did.
Looking back, this day was one of the best days I have ever had!
Not because I was doing adventurous things I had never done before.
But because God revealed himself to me in multiple ways all within a few short hours.
I stood at the bottom of that waterfall, my memory trying to capture the exact picture so I would always remember the exact moment when I realized God’s love is more powerful than the water rushing over the edge.
I cannot even put it into words……
God
Abba
All Mighty
The Creator of the universe
He loves me more than I could ever fathom and deeper than then deepest depths of the earth.
He loves me.
Even when I don’t deserve it.
He chooses to love me despite my past.
And his love for me is more powerful than 30,000 gallons of rushing water every second!
That day.
That experience.
That exact moment.
I will never be the same.
