After sleeping at the base of the mountain,  a bit anxious about the adventure we were about to undertake, wondering about what  will be hard, painful, beautiful, what will push us to our limits, wondering if we packed everything we will need… In the morning we walked down the road to the bus stop that was going to take us to the beginning of hike. The bus was packed. We squeezed in awkwardly with our large backpacks and rode the bus for 20 minutes at the foot of a waterfall. The bridge was washed off and was being rebuilt. So we added 1km to our hike to cross a white loud river. 

We were so happy. Stopping often to take in the vista, to eat our energy bars and take pictures. It seemed like a walk in the park. The rain that drenched us in the first half hour stopped and the sun came out. The pine trees were gorgeous, the flowers beautiful, the rivers trickling down steep alpine faces. 

The second part of the hike we walked through a valley having a spectacular waterfall in sight. Then the last climb began. Every switch and turn had incredible vistas. When we arrived at the hut the sun was out. The wind was chilly and we had hours to kill before dinner. So we hung out in our corner booth, telling stories, playing games, drinking beer. 

The sleeping arrangements were questionable, and they invited wild hill hilarious conversations. There were strangers sleeping in the attic in pods of three. We had many combinations of sleeping arrangements already.

Nobody slept well. People snored and the storm was thundering outside. Worrisome for our next day hike. We put a stone down for Karen and Michele. And it was a sweet moment in the rain. 

The best day was the following morning. Extraordinary views despite our expectation to get drenched. The second part of the hike. After two guys swam in a  glacial river, was scary and Hard. Hiking in the rain, in the fog, on steep sloped, tired and bruised. Some people tripped, some scraped some lost their water bottles. We had via Gerard areas, and we flirted with death at every step on the way down. 

We were soaked. We were exhausted. Yet our muscles don’t hurt as much tonight. 

Tomorrow there is another longer hike. We did well so far. We prayed for salvation. For safe keeping for God to walk ahead and behind us. (Funny how you rediscover your faith in extreme situations).

We all long for God to show up, to show us his face, to speak, to guide us. 

I wondered today for the first time why am I submitting myself to this much pain. I focus on walking. On resting. On eating. My needs have become very basic. Maybe that is the point. The kids called me just when I got signal on a peak. They are ok. They miss us.   But I won’t be able to touch base with them again in the next 24 hours. May we learn to let go. And not nag. May they listen. May we listen to them as well. 

We are among friends. Old friends. Friends of a lifetime. Tied together by faith, vulnerability, psalms and poetry. Adventure, and fun. They taught us that fun is ageless since we were in our 20s and even earlier. 

And we show up, joyful, grateful, thirsty for God and willing to carry on the torch of discipleship. God is so good to us. Always. Even on the valley of sickness, loss, death, hurt, and on the peaks of hope, and extravagant love.