This past adventure day my squad and I decided to take the word adventure to a whole new level, 3,789 meters higher to be exact. We hiked Acatenango(a dormant volcano in Guatemala) it was 11miles up and down. Leading up to the trip we were all so excited, my teammate Steph kept saying “this is gonna be more than a hike” she was so right. She was speaking in terms of spiritual growth and revelations. 

Before we came to Guatemala we had a short stop in Georgia, during this time we had a couple times of devotions. The theme of most, if not all, was being in the valley and being on the mountain top. Well this past weekend I experienced that spiritually and physically. When you’re hiking a volcano and trying to adjust to the altitude, it doesn’t leave much room for conversation. So I had a lot of self reflecting time on the way up and down( it took us 8hrs to get to the top where we camped and 4hrs to come back down the next day). 

Going up was so difficult. Between being out of breath from the steep incline and the weight of my 40lb pack, with my food, water, tents, and everything else we needed to make it through the night at the top of a volcano(where it was 0 degrees Celsius the night before) needless to say we packed some extra layers. Through the difficulty it reminded me of how much I struggle growing in my spiritual walk with God. When I was walking with my pack it seemed impossible. Luckily, I had an amazing guide, who took my bag and made me a second walking stick. All I had to do was carry myself. His kindness and patience reminded me of Christ when He’s leading us up a mountain. He not only leads us the easiest way, but He takes all of our burdens. My mantra all the way up was “si se puede” ( it’s Spanish for yes you can). 

I was having a rough time in Guatemala. Not understanding a disconnect I was feeling with God the Father. On my hike He showed me again that together we can do hard things. He has never left me and He is carrying my burdens. Nothing is impossible with God. By the time I got to the top I had no idea how, it was definitely not by my own strength. God brings us up the mountain so we can be closer to Him, but He doesn’t stand at the top and watch us. He comes down to the bottom and walks alongside us. 

-Elizabeth