Mountain top experience....

yes, friends and family...i reached the summit of mt. kenya's lenana peak--16,355 ft-- by GOD'S GRACE...sunday morning at 7:05 am. see this link for a pic as i am having difficulty loading pics from here: www.asyoulikeitsafaris.com/images/MtKenya.jpg


we (myself, karen--on LEGS team, and 4 locals to carry bags, guide and cook) set out friday-- 9.94 miles through thick forest-- i saw zebras upon entering the park. yes folks, real zebras. so cool. after getting a late start, we ended up hiking a bit in the dark. not exactly a city girl's comfort zone knowing that rather large animals are nearby. many prayers were sent up and sounded a bit like this: dear Lord, i really want to see an elephant...but not at night and NOT NOW. protect me as my only weapon of defense is a water bottle.

all that being said, we safely arrived at base camp standing tall at 10,826 feet. by this time, i was struggling with altitude sickness (lets remember i am from sea level). not what you want to have on day 1 of a 4 day hike. so yeah, i was up all night sick and praying that the Lord would heal me. He was indeed faithful and i was able to continue.

saturday held a 9.94 mile hike to a 13,779 ft camp. the terrain was incredible and the hiking was challenging ( little did i know). we stopped frequently to look at wildlife and take in many different views of the valley and 3 peaks. it was incredible to see how the plant and animal life began to dissipate as we climbed higher and higher. sat night was rather rough as i was unable to breathe. not fun. it is a funny thing when you have to remind yourself how to breathe--in with your nose, out with your mouth, megan. not my idea of fun--but an experience nonetheless. it is increasingly more frustrating when you know that you have the hardest aspect of the hike-the summit--awaiting you at 2:30 am. yes, we began the ascent in the early AM so that we could reach the top before the clouds roll in. it is unreal how quickly they cover the mountains.

sunday morning we set out with the moon as our flashlight and headed 3.10 miles uphill for summit. i specifically remember thinking--this is CRAZY and if my mom knew i was doing this--she would die. i also knew--there was no other option but getting to the top. so picture this: its 2:30 am, pitch black, and we are hiking at somewhere around a 45 degree angle on gravel-like rock for nearly 5 hrs. yes, 5 hours uphill. this was the part of the trip i somehow overlooked in the description---or else i would not have signed up :) oh and you must know it was somewhere between 10 and 20 degrees and im wearing EVERY layer of clothing i brought--and i look like the kid in The Christmas Story :) altitude sickness was the theme of the day (again)--and i literally dry heaved up the mountain and puked the way down. good times. there was a point that i prayed that someone in the states was praying for me--so that i could get through. that was the 1st time ive ever cried out for someone else to pray for me--due to exhaustion. so--if from around 7 to midnight on sat night--you thought of me and prayed--thank you. it was heard :)

the summit was unreal--cold and full of God's splendor. when i think about the Lord--i think of His beauty and then...the ALL-powerful aspect that is somewhat unsafe. that is what the mountain embodied. majesty, splendor, glory, creation YET dangerous. i felt ALIVE.

a valuable lesson was learned: you CAN, in fact, push through sickness and accomplish a task. im so accustomed to home: you feel sick, you lay down. that was not an option. it was awesome to see that the body can keep going as long as the mind is on board. im pretty proud of myself :)

the hike down took 1.5 days and my favorite part was through a bamboo forest where i hoped to see---but didn't--elephants. i saw fresh tracks, HUGE piles of poop, but no elephant. maybe it was the Lord protection. all in all...HE is good, faithful, and the keeper of my steps.

that brings me to today--my 1st day with amputees. we had 3 guys come in from all around kenya. they have been walking on the LEGS knee for 1+ years but all need new sockets--the aspect that holds the residual limb--due to weight gain. as i met with peter, kenneth ,and joseph today, i heard how they lost their legs and each one shared how the Lord has used this to reveal Himself. i am humbled to serve these faithful men.

i am currently teaching a therapist, michael, to evaluate and gait train amputees. he is eager to learn and we get along well. your prayers are being answered...day by day. i feel them...and for that, i am overwhelmed with gratitude.

please continue to pray for the amputees to arrive safely, for God honoring relationships between us and the AIC CURE workers, and most importantly--that the Lord's work would take place.

you are loved,

megan