“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”
Yesterday (Thursday) 22 of the world racers headed of to the volcano to hike up and see a l
ittle bit of lava.
A smaller group had gone on tuesday and came back saying it was a rough climb.
I think to myself, alright it might be rough but I want to go up this thing.
How many people can say they have climbed up a volcano and seen lava up close and personal.
It might be tough and be a great workout but not big deal.
No big deal…yeah right!
We took a bus from Antigua to the volcano about an hour and a half away, and rode about half way up the mountain to where the park started and we could get a guide.
It was pretty steep right off but I was right there in the thick of it, keeping up with everyone. But a few minutes into it my asthma kicked in and my chest started to tighten and I was fighting for breath.
I end up in the back of the pack with a few guys that were nice enough to stay with me as we work our way up to the lava.
By this time I’m really frustrated that my asthma has decided to show up and all sorts of lies start going through my head and I get emotional which only intensifies things. I keep thinking what more can happen. I’ve already been sick the whole time we were in Mexico, I’ve sprained my ankle twice, and now I can’t breathe.
I feel like I’m keeping the guys from being up at the front and moving faster and that I’m slowing everyone down.
We stop as I fight these emotions that are coming up and as I have a minor breakdown. At this point I’m questioning whether I should keep going. I really want to, that’s the stubborness in me, but I’m having such a tough time breathing that I’m not sure that I can go on.
The guys pray for me that breath will come and I won’t be fighting to breathe the whole way up.
After this I calm down and start to breathe a little bit easier and we catch up to the rest of the group who are stopped waiting on us.
One of the guys offers to buy me a ride on one of the horses for the rest of the way up but I decline.
I feel like I’m slowing everyone up but I need to do this by walking the rest of the way and not taking the easy way out.
I know that the Lord is teaching me as we continue the walk up. He’s teaching me about being totally dependant on Him, not on my own strength.
That I don’t always have to do everything myself and that it’s ok to let others help me.
I should know this by now but it’s a lesson that He keeps teaching me over and over.
Finally we get to the top of a lookout and have the opportunity to really take in the the surrounding mountains and volcanos.
Absolutely beautiful!
After a few moments of rest we head up to where the lava rock starts.
By this time I’m starting to regain some breath and really be able to enjoy the Lord’s creation around me.
Thank you Father!!
I find that the Lava rock is not as difficult to go up because it’s not near as steep as some of the rest of the climb.
Don’t get me wrong it wasn’t a walk in the park, but it was easier.
We continue up further and start to feel the heat rising from below and even start to see spots where there is lava flowing.
I stop on some of the lava rocks where many other tourists are standing and take it all in.
As it starts getting dark our guide grabs us and we head down the mountain. By the time we get off the lava rocks it is completely dark and we are using our headlamps to make our way down.
It takes around an hour, probably more, to get down the mountain.
It was a great time though walking down with people from different teams who I don’t get the opportunity to talk to very often.
ven though it was a extremely rough start I am so glad that I was able to climb this volcano and that the Lord breathed life back into my lungs.
I made it!! This is the lookout right before we climbed up the lava rocks.
