The past few weeks have been jam packed. We had our first opportunity for evangelism since being here, last week. It was stretching, fun and a little disheartening. I maybe thought it would be easier to talk with people but I guess sometimes we are so focused on what we need to do that we don’t have time to listen to what people have to say. I experienced what it felt like to be on the receiving end of that. I was able to pray with a few people so I’m sure God will use that in whatever way he desires.
We also had our first day of ministry which was awesome. We (the guys) and one of the girls teams (Revel) went to a home to do some maintenance work like mowing a path down to a pond. Also sanding a deck and stairs so they can be repainted. It was really awesome to see us work together to get the job done.
A huge thing that happened this week was our “Fitness Hike” I put that in quotes but don’t mistake that for me saying it was easy because it most definitely was not. The hike itself was not terrible but the hike came with a bit of a twist…
A week or two ago one of my teammates (Parker) broke his heel. Parker is a big outdoors guy, he also cares deeply for others. So he was really looking forward to the hike and when he found out he broke his heel he was pretty upset. The boys team was presented with the option: Carry Parker up Mt. Yonah or leave him behind.
“If he broke his heel out on the field we would still need to get him wherever we are going.” I said. Parker although he really wanted to go up the mountain said “No I really don’t want to be a burden to y’all.” With a nod of our heads all the guys decided we would do it…
We begin to devise a plan and decide that a stretcher is the best way to carry him. “We need to find two long sticks for each side.” Michael said. Nick (one of our squad leaders for the guys) got a tarp and we boy scouted that thing into a stretcher. We stand at the bottom of the mountain, two mile hike ahead of us and we collect together and pray. I thought to myself “This will be easy, he’s not heavy and there’s four of us carrying him.” One of the girls says “If you guys need help we can help too.” On the outside I said “Thank you.” On the inside I arrogantly thought to myself “We got this, it will be a breeze.”…
Oh boy, if you every pray for God to humble you, be prepared for exactly that. Cause man, I did not expect it to be as difficult as it’s about to be. “Three, two, one, up.” I said as four of us guys lift the stretcher onto our shoulders. We begin to venture into the dense Georgia forest. Music playing, people laughing and the group of us marching we quickly realize “The wood is digging into my shoulders. Could I use your sweatshirt as a pad?” I said to one of the girls. Just a few minutes in and our first problem, the pain of having a mans body weight push into your shoulders…
We push on another few minutes before the inevitable happens “Let’s set him down.” One of us says. “The first stop. We are probably only a tenth of a mile in.” I think to myself. A few people switch out and we continue on. “We are weak men if we can’t get him up this mountain.” I say, but instantly regret. “Why would I say that.” I think to myself. Sure enough not too much later I need to switch out… I’m a little frustrated with myself at this point because I was expecting myself to take a longer turn than I did. I look at the stretcher and see that the girls are now joining in on carrying Parker and I am really taken back.
“Why are they so willing to help after I said the guys would do it?” I thought to myself. This is how the hike continued, every time I thought I had energy I would hop in to help. Then I’d need a break. Then help. Then break. Through switching in and out I watched everyone on my squad carry Parker. Humbled. I thought the guys were going to be able to carry him the whole way but I was wrong. So terribly wrong. Praise God for his grace and patience.
Three hours later we reach the top of a two mile hike and it was so so worth it. We made it up just in time for the sunset. Thank God for hotdogs the first one I’ve had in a while and man it was so good. Thank God for people around me that are willing to ignore my flaws like, expecting I was gonna be able to carry a man all the way up a mountain by myself, and are able to have my back. Thank God that he answered my prayer and humbled me and I pray that he would continue to do that.
We had a great time on the mountain and I’m so glad we decided to carry Parker up.
