Just wanted to share a quick story about our adventure this past weekend! This past Saturday and Sunday we had the opportunity to hike a volcano in Guatemala, one of the highest peaks in all of central america. We hiked Volcan de Acatenango, which had an elevation of 13,045 feet. We gained over 5,200 feet in elevation as we climbed up, and it took about 6 hours of hiking the first day to reach our campsite.
The squad about to take on Acatenango!
The members of Team Evergreen who hiked
It was a pretty difficult hike. As we climbed up, there was a point where I was so out of breath. I began praying, and this thought came to me, “God, you are SO much bigger than this volcano. If this is what it looks like to follow you, it is worth it. I will climb. When we are falling and sinking and struggling… I choose to keep climbing.”
The foggy climb up
The hike was a physical representation of what it looks like to me to pursue Jesus. There were points where our shoes were filled with lava rocks and we were sinking down while we were hiking. There were points where we were using our hands to climb, and other times where moments to pause were necessary. I think God used this difficult hike to remind me that following Him is not easy, we can’t always see the summit, and life requires diligence and dedication to have results…but it’s worth it!
Our view of Volcan de Fuego at night from our campsite
Volcan de Fuego in the morning
As we got to our campsite, I got altitude sickness. I had a migraine, was nauseous, and was shaking uncontrollably due to the cold and the anxiety of feeling sick. I couldn’t sleep, so I left the tent and started pacing. I walked over to the fire, where our guides were still awake as well as two people from the squad. Our squad leader Hannah was still awake, and as soon as she saw me she prayed over me. That prayer was answered instantly. Before she even finished her prayer, my migraine and nauseousness just became a dull ache, and my body had completely stopped shaking and became still. It felt like a wave washed over me and I was warmed from the inside out. That was completely the Lord.
Hannah and I at the summit
Another answer to prayer on this hike was the weather! We are currently in the rainy season here in Guatemala, and it is normal for it to rain every day here. Our guides informed us that the sooner we get to camp, the more likely we would be to beat the rain, because it becomes much more difficult to hike up when the trail is wet. I was praying, alongside maaannyyy people from the squad. And God provided. He kept the rain away. Not only did we hike up with not more than a few droplets here and there, but even after our tents were up we didn’t experience much rain! The whole second day of the hike was clear of rain as well! We hiked up and down the volcano with weather that was completely an answer to prayer! Thank you Jesus!
View hiking up vs. hiking down the next day. God is good!
Last thing – this hike also became an awesome opportunity to practice speaking Spanish. I have been studying this month and have so far to come, but I got to have conversations for HOURS on the way down the volcano with our guide who only spoke Spanish. It was so cool to not only understand what he was saying, but to converse with him and learn about his life and family and his heart for Guatemala!
Our squad at the summit with our awesome guides!
God moved on Acatenango this weekend. It was a bonding experience, a rustic experience, and a moving experience. We all bonded (there were 4 of us sleeping in a 2 person tent!:), we got to enjoy the rusticness of camping with few amenities, and we saw multiple answers to prayers, as well as a view that one can only look at briefly before just praising the Lord for His creation.
View of Fuego from the summit
Another angle from the summit
We made it! Squad pic after we finished the hike 🙂
Oh wow, Jessie, that looks amazing! God is so good, your journey sounded like an awesome, once in a lifetime adventure. Praise the Lord and congratulations for making it up and not giving in.