As promised in a previous blog, I want to follow up with what I’ve found out about Kilimanjaro. But instead of just giving you the straight facts, I thought it would be fun to make it into a list of the necessities for climbing.
- When to Climb
The best time to climb is in the warm season: from December to February. Since we arrived in March, it was kind of iffy if we would even be able to climb safely. After talking with the guide who also led 13 climbers from H Squad up Kilimanjaro, I found out that the rainy season begins towards the end of March. Which means I should be good to go! It’s still safe to climb. If we would have come in a month later, I would have been out of luck. Green light number one!
- Length of Climb
The fastest to safely ascend the mountain is in five days. We will climb to four different base camps before summiting. Since it will take five days, I was nervous about getting the go ahead from Pastor. That means missing five ministry days. But, he came to the meeting that I had with the guide, and I was able to ask him right then and there about this concern. He said, “This is the reason you came to Moshi.” I told him, “No, it’s not. I came to work with you!” He nodded and said, “Yes, but God has brought you here to give you this gift. This is a memory you can share back home from Tanzania.” I totally agree with what he said! I have wanted to climb Kilimanjaro since I read the blogs of the 13 racers who summated back in November. I had no idea how close God would bring me to the mountain. I literally get to do ministry every day with Kilimanjaro as my backdrop. It is a gift and a blessing.
- How to Climb
Here in Moshi, even though we are super close to the mountain, it is sun-scorching hot during the days. This means it will be pretty hot the first few days of the climb. And then it gets cold. Freezing cold. As I gazed longingly at the mountain yesterday morning, I could see the top: covered in snow. So, it will be necessary to rent poles, boots, warm coats, and other miscellaneous equipment. Along the way, we will stay in cabins. We will have a cook, multiple guides, and emergency workers with us – actually climbing next to us. Our guides will carry our packs, water, and food.
- Cost of the Climb
Here’s the tricky part, and honestly, the most difficult part for me to type out. To climb for five days, summit, stay in cabins, have three meals a day, guides, emergency staff, park entrance fees covered, and with equipment included, it will cost a little over $1000 per person. I was talking with my team and the passport team here with us, and they encouraged me to ask you, my supporters, for help. One girl said something that really made me think. She said, “They have supported you to go and do God’s work. Why would they not want to support you in doing something fun?” So, I want to humble myself and do something that I really despise doing. I want to ask for your help. God helped me in raising money to come on the race. I have been blessed by not having to fundraise while on the field. He completely covered me before I even left the country.
This has been such a wonderful and difficult and life changing experience, and I have you to thank. If you would be interested in sponsoring me to help me climb Kilimanjaro, please don’t send money to me through my blog, but send a check to my mom and she can put it in my account. God has been so faithful with providing personal money, and I’m trusting him in this now. He’s brought me closer to Kilimanjaro than I ever thought I’d be and I completely believe He’s going to bring me up the mountain too.
