My team and I spent the last 5 days living in a yurt in the middle of the mountains of At-Bashi, Kyrgyzstan. The scenery is nothing short of breathtaking!! The lifestyle is simple. The people are the kindest. And the food is DELICIOUS!!!
The yurt was nicely placed at the base of a mountain. There were flower fields and green everywhere you looked. In the distance snow covered mountains. There was a stream right near by with fresh mountain water and our source of water for all things, drinking, cooking, bathing, etc. There was no electricity, no WiFi, no tourists, just our team and the sweetest couple you will ever meet!!
Every morning I would start the day with chai or coffee and sit on a rock down by the stream and have my quiet time. I will say my quiet times there were the best I’ve ever had. Being in the midst of God’s beautiful creation reading His word and praising His name was AWESOME!!!! My favorite part was that there was no one around, no distractions, just me and Jesus and His creation. I am doing a chronological read though the Bible in a year plan cause it seemed like the perfect year to do it. So most of the time I was in Isaiah. In addition to that I really felt the Lord telling me to be raw with him like the psalms so I spent a lot of time there. And last but not least we are continuing our journey through Job as a team. I would always end my time joining the stream in singing praises to Jesus. The sound of running water perfectly drowned out my praises to Him (my singing is definitely a joyful noise to the Lord but I doubt most people would describe it that way haha). Anthem Lights and United Pursuit were at the top of my playlist. My last morning I was sitting there singing the blood medley by Anthem Lights I had my eyes closed and when I opened them there were about 20 horses all around me passing me on both sides. I can’t even tell you how amazing it was and it felt like such a gift from the Lord. Psalm 95:4-7 In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.
As you know my team is team summit so we decided that we should live up to our name and summit a mountain! I told you the back drop to our yurt were snow covered mountains… well my teammate Kailey decided that we should go touch the snow! So myself, Kailey, Alyssa, and Anna (a raised up squad leader who is with our team this month) were determined to do it. As you may know I’m not the most experienced hiker but part of this race is being challenged not just spiritually and mentally but physically. It was probably one of the hardest things I have ever done and there were times I wanted to quit but a little over 3hrs and 4miles straight up we made it!!! I touched the snow!!! Unfortunately the way down was just as rough haha but we completed it!!! Then I quickly realized that there is a big difference in my 23year old teammate Kailey and my 33year old self. I literally hurt ALL over but it’s a memory I will never forget! Psalm 121:1-2 I lift up my eyes to the hills- where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
We got 3home cooked meals a day and it was some of the best food I have had on the race thus far. Batma our mom for the week was an amazing cook and with only a tiny stove and an outdoor cauldron over a fire she made some amazing dishes. We got to try all sorts of new food such as rabbit soup, horse meat, horse milk (not something I will ever intentionally consume again) and had fresh cows milk which she obtained every morning. We would joke that we ate so much to honor our host but in reality it was just so good we would stuff ourselves!!
The nights were COLD!!!! The moment you regret dropping your sleeping bag in Nepal cause you’re usually sleeping in a puddle of your own sweat was now! I slept in slippers, pants, a T-shirt, a sweatshirt with hoodie on, had a sheet, two blankets, and a comforter on at all times!!!! But the view of the moon and stars and planets could not be beat… stood out there just long enough to see a shooting star.
It was a time of restored joy in the Lord. A time of greater intimacy with Him that each one of us experienced. While I do not believe that God created me to be a nomad and live that lifestyle on the regular, it truly ended up being a blessing! Getting away from all the craziness, and distractions, and phones, and unnecessary business and refocus on what and who matters!! If you ever find yourself in Kyrgyzstan I highly recommend this yurt experience!! If that’s not the case, at least take some time, put down your phone, go out in God’s creation wherever that might be and take a moment to remember how glorious and mighty he is!! Isaiah 40:28-31 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired and weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
