Welcome back, friends! Here is part two of our trek in July:
Have you ever had an experience in life that drew you closer to the throne and the Lord had shown up in ways you could have never imagined? Has God ever asked you, “do you trust Me?” Well, that is exactly what happened during our trek.
This is a story about the power of prayer, hopes coming into reality, and God providing every step of the way.
When we prayed in preparation for the trek, we received some really incredible things from the Lord. For example,
- Refinement
- Matthew 10 – sending out the 12
- “Completely pursue me,” putting everything down and picking up very little.
- God will bring people alongside us as we go; be interruptible.
- Backpacking and trekking from village to village.
- Trusting the Lord where we will be staying.
- Don’t take extra food. Also, don’t spend money on food or shelter.
Now, our trekking experience is no ordinary story. In the span of eight days, this is what took place…
We got lost and dropped off in the middle of nowhere, which happened to have been three hours south of the trailhead. Once finding our way to the trail, we got picked up in the back of a truck to take us farther up the mountain. We may or may not have been able to find the actual trail which led us into scaling the side of the mountain. As a team, we had to hitchhike several times because we were running out of time to finish. Last but not least, we rode across a raging river on a horse. And so much more.
Jackie and I standing in front of the first glacier I have ever seen! We camped right beneath it the night before.
Each prayer came to fruition and that is the very nature of how God was moving during our time on the trek. He is faithful!
So, when the Lord tells you not to take much food, what do you do? You might feel crazy… and you might be right. But God will always show up and provide. When we packed the food that we had, I was a little concerned about how we were going to be sustained for several days.
We were trekking for eight to nine hours a day and having one meal a day… barely. You might question if our dinner was actually filling. We were being sustained by faith and prayer. God never failed us; He was always protecting us!
As my energy levels were running low and my body became tired, I was hardly getting myself to continue. I wasn’t the only one who was struggling, we all were. “Breath by breath. One foot in front of the other” I repeated to myself daily.
I have been on many hikes in my life, but this trip was one of the hardest.
This was one of the hardest obstacles I have ever had to overcome: trusting and relying on God to provide not only when I have needed it most but when my team has also needed it most.
On our seventh day, we had a long way to go, around 14 kilometers. Early on in the day, around lunch, we ran into fellow Americans. The couple, Keith and Lisa, offered us lunch but our pride got in the way. We turned down the food they were offering. We had been praying for God to provide us food and He did, but we thought we could do it on our own.
Five kilometers later… midday showers rolled through as we stepped into a small village, Adishi. The cool breeze began, our bodies disintegrating, and our wills collapsing. God provided a warm and dry shelter at a nearby guesthouse where we could rest for an hour.
Shortly after the rain let up and the sun came out, we hit the trail once again dragging our feet. Not even 15 minutes into our six-kilometer finish, we came across a gift from the Lord.
In the middle of the trail, untouched, dry, and completely whole lied three boiled eggs and one fresh tomato. It didn’t feel real… there was nobody on the trail, not a soul to be seen. The manna lying on the ground was surrounded by cows, none of which touched it. Only through the Lord, we were sustained.
Low-quality picture, high-quality moment: Mary’s first reaction when we came across the sweet surprise from God. We were all pretty jaw dropped!
The Holy Spirit came around us during our trek and was with us in every single step. When it rained, God provided a warm and dry shelter. When we were hungry, God provided food.
My faith, once again, was made stronger and deeper. Thank you, Holy Spirit, for showing up and moving.
As I sit here and type this story out, I am laughing. I am continuously overwhelmed at how incredible God is. I am in constant awe of how powerful prayer is. I am reminded daily of all the ways the Holy Spirit moves.
Check out those dry treats… completely untouched! I am still in awe to this day, a literal miracle.
Jesus said to His disciples, “For this reason I tell you, do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat; or about your body, as to what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow [seed] nor reap [the crop]; they have no storehouse or barn, and yet God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than the birds! Luke 12:22-24
The Lord’s provision is guiding and leading each of us daily. How are you seeing God show up in your day? How much trust are you placing in the Holy Spirit? Pray for more, ask for more, and God will show you more.
Check back in for my upcoming blog that will cover the last part of our trek through Georgia! In this last blog concerning our trek, I will be discussing how the Lord moved in me personally. The Holy Spirit touched my heart in a new way where I found myself in a ferocious faith. God spoke to me gently and I listened intently.
with all my love,
PJ
