Hiking Acatenango!

   Hey everyone!! Last weekend about 35 members of my squad hiked the volcano Acatenango. It was one of the hardest and coolest things i have ever done! We hiked for about 6 hours on Saturday, until we got to base camp, and slept there until 4:00am when we hiked to the very top for sunrise! The whole experience was full of challenges: my calves burning, knees hurting, exhaustion, poor sleep, and cold weather were not super fun to experience. However I would not take it back for anything. If the journey to the top of the volcano had been easy, then I would not have seen that sunrise in the same way. I would not have smiled so big making it all the way up if I had not have been crawling on my hands and knees just a few minutes before trying not to slip. I wouldn’t have been as proud of my friend hiking beside me, or as grateful for the ways i was encouraged all the way up. I would not have thanked the Lord so quickly when i made it and reflected on what we had just done. The Lord taught me me a lot from this experience. He gave me a tangible reason for why He gives us difficult, painful trials. If you are not pushed and stretched on the way up to the mountaintop, what do you have to rejoice in & praise Him for once you get there? If the journey up was as simple as standing on the mountaintop, then what makes the top so special? You cannot have victory without trail, you cannot have light without darkness. We need these hard moments so when we get to the top all we can do is praise the Lord & acknowledge Him for getting us there. This was truly the experience of a lifetime, and even though I still feel the repercussions of the hike, it was so worth it. 

Heavenly Father, 

Thank you for the trials you bring. Thank you that you lead me to uphill paths where my only resort is to lean into and trust you deeply. Thank you that life with You is not easy, but rather full of crushing and pressing, where New Wine is being made. Thank you for the times I get to stand on the summit, rejoicing in all the strength you gave. Thank you for your faithfulness through every season, & the deliverance you always bring. Continue to give me uphill battles I can only hike with You. What an honor to be challenged so I may bring You more glory & know You deeper. Thank you Father. 

Psalm 34