August 2021
Colorado with our leadership team was amazing!!! We took 94 students, staff, and interns all the way to Durango. One day we went on a hike up Mt Engineer and I asked two of the girls who came with me to share what the Lord spoke to them. Felicia was also baptized while we were in Colorado.
Felicia
“Hiking Mount Engineer is high up on the list of hardest things I’ve ever done, but looking back I know it was 100% worth it. Each of us had our own challenge, and what was mine? I had rocks in my backpack, and was told I had rocks in my backpack. At any point during the hike if someone asked me to take my bag I had the choice to give it up or to carry it all the way to the top. At first the bag didn’t bother me all; but then my backpack seemed to get heavier. I was ready to give up the weight, so when one of our group members asked if he could take my backpack from me I didn’t hesitate. “Please do!” I said, but then Jen interjected. At this point Jen had become the leader of our group, making every step purposeful, and when I told Bradley he could take my bag she looked at me and said that I needed to carry it to the top. “WHAT??” This certainly was not what I was expecting, but I trusted Jen’s judgement, and trusted that the Lord was going to teach me something through me carrying my own bag. I would be lying if I said it was an easy task. There were several times that I asked Jen if I could give my bag up, but she was persistent in having me carry it all the way.
The weight of my bag was really starting to get to me and I wondered why I had to carry it to the top. I would have been just fine with giving it up. My shoulders were hurting. I was struggling to catch my breath. I was tired. I had no problem voicing all of these pains, and more. We were getting closer to the top and I was partnered up with Alyssa (great choice Jen). It didn’t take long of hearing my complaining for Alyssa to step in and challenge me. She asked me if I was willing to carry the burdens of others, and to push past all the pain to get others to the top of the mountain! I was! From that moment on I thought about my roommate who doesn’t know the Lord. “I’m doing this for my roommate, Staley” I constantly reminded myself. This reminder didn’t take the load off of me, or make the hike any less perilous, but it gave me a reason to keep pushing. And guess what? I made it to the top with my backpack full of rocks!
As we made our way back down, I thought of the willingness I had to make it to the top with my backpack, and how I want to have to same willingness when it comes to leading others to the Lord. I want to be willingly step up and carry others burdens because I’ve been to the top and it is beautiful. So moving forward, when it comes to my roommate, or anyone who doesn’t know the Lord, I will choose to push them when they need to be pushed, carry their load when it seems too heavy, hold their hand and pull them up when their strength is failing, and remind them of who He is. I will choose to do all this and more if just to offer them the opportunity to know the Lord because I have tasted and seen that He is good, and He is so beyond worth it.”
Meghan
“I’m not a person that typically enjoys hiking. It’s a activity that is really hard on my body. When we arrived to Mt. Engineer, I had already disqualified myself just by looking at it. I started on the up the mountain and gave a good attempt. About ten minutes in I had made the decision to quit. Needless to say the Lord had other plans. He had purposely placed Jen and Alyssa at the end of the line of people going up the mountain. I quickly realized quitting was no longer an option. I was meet with the two most determined and perseverant women that I know. They both encouraged me to keep pushing my body further. They stuck with me the entire way. They constantly encouraged me. They saw more in me than what I saw inside of myself. With many stops and a minimum amount of complaining, I’m proud to say that I made it to the top! It was by far one of the most challenging things I have ever done. I couldn’t have made it without the Lord walking with me every step of the way. His love for us is so constant, much like how Jen and Alyssa were with me. God pursues after us with such an unwavering heart. He doesn’t allow us to give up, but most importantly He doesn’t give up on us.”
Many wanted to quit that day but the view at the top removed all thoughts of quitting. The journey down was a totally different experience as the girls all noticed the beautiful creation they had missed on the way up. The Lord spoke so much that day!
Thank you so much for all your support and prayers!
We are looking forward to a new school year pray for us as we reach the incoming Freshmen.
Alyssa
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