A couple weeks ago some of us world racers decided to climb the a mountain. We could see it every day from the children's home and we were excited for a the adventure of it.
The mountain is called Mt. Kitanglad which makes me think of glad kittens. But it’s pronounced Keet-ang-laud. It is the fourth highest in the Philippines and one of the most difficult to climb.
Seriously.
There was a team on the other side of this mountain training for Everest.
Our team consisted of a couple children’s home workers, a soldier, a missions recruiter, a student, an insurance man, a Canadian, a teacher, a school bus driver, a ballerina, and our guide had just the day before ran a marathon.
All I can say is we were quite the motley crew and we had no idea what we were getting into.
So we set out carrying all the food and blankets and clothes we would need before coming back down the next day. It took 7 ½ hrs to climb the 8,000 ft to the sumit.
It was pretty intense. There were places where it was so steep there were rickety stairs to make it even possible to climb. And the whole thing was muddy, muddy, muddy! By the time I reached the top my legs and shoes were coated in a thick layer of mud but I was just happy I had made it and was actually one of the first to the top!
I hadn't done anything that physically exerting in a long time so I really surprised and impressed myself!
Then we spent the night in a little house at the top at an elevation of 9,000 ft. The little cottage with missing windows was made warm with tuna spagetti, hot chocolate, and good company.
It was freezing up there and the view was limited by the fact that we were above the clouds and surrounded by radio and tv towers.
But the stars at night were amazing! And while we were having the coldest star gazing party ever, God gave us the best lightning show ever! I had never seen lightning so bright and vivid.
(Actual picture of lightening from the sumit. by Emily Chan)
We joined creations song with songs of our own and had a glorious time.
The next day we some of us got up early to watch the sunrise. There’s nothing like watching the sun rise over a mountain vista, from a mountain top. If you ever get the chance to see one, take it.
We started down right after breakfast and our very optimistic, and very in shape guide said we would make it down in 3 hrs.
Um, no.
I was so sore and tired from the day before that I ended being the last one off the mountain after climbing down for 7 hrs.
If there had been a way to give up somewhere in the middle of that and not climb the rest of the way down, I would most likely have not finished.
But God is faithful, and I’m stronger than I thought both mentally and physically. I’ve never had to push myself that hard in my life. But I made it and that’s what counts.
I could barely walk without wincing for the next three days.
But I looked up at that mountain every morning and praised God for getting me off it. And along with everyone who went with me celebrated the fact that WE ROCK!
