Mt. Kilimanjaro: Following the Leader! Mt. Kilimanjaro

I’m still in shock that the Lord sent me all the way to Tanzania, Africa to get my attention:

I learned many lessons along the way...
The one I want to share with you today is about ‘Following the Leader’:

We have all played that game at one time or another. I’ve never really been very good at it! Unless I was the leader, then the boss came out… LOL

Our Climb to the top of 19,341 Ft. Mt. Kilimanjaro was 5 days up and 2 days down.
I trained very hard for it! However, training for altitude, for me, was impossible...
I definitely had to fight some demons and I took this verse with me everywhere and quoted it often: Proverbs 3:5&6 "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path."

I struggled to let go and let God many times, wanting to do it on my own. Then, He grabbed my attention:

Day 1 & 2 went great! It was a fabulous trek.

Day 3, they pulled my partner! Susan had to be evacuated because she couldn’t eat or drink. (we believe it was the malaria pills, she took the ones not recommend, eek) My worst fear is sleeping in the tent by myself, that is another story by itself, but God prevailed.

No partner and I’m still taking the back of the pack and ready for another 8 hour hike. It was the most amazing day. I loved every minute up and down ravines, under and over rocks and going through small creeks. I was actually goofing off and playing around taking tons of photos. Respicius, our guide, told me many times “poley poley” which means “slowly slowly”. Amy asked me how I was doing and I said “great, I’m trying out for Ninja Warriors” laughing. I was jumping from rock to rock – pulling myself up and refusing help (showing off). About 6 hours in, we get to a lookout point, I’m tired, and we are at 13,000 ft. I point across a very deep ravine and say are those our tents at the top over there? Yes, they are! Oh man, I’m in trouble! By the time I got to the top and head to our camp where the 27 porters were singing and dancing to welcome us in, I was exhausted and struggling to breathe. I escape to some shade by the mess hall and try to catch my breath – Wow! I’m so exhausted and it takes all my breath just to move. I’m there a good 15 minutes praying and just trying to breathe – taking off your coat at 13,000 ft is difficult. Poley Poley – everything is slowly slowly. I miss the festivities and head to my tent to get ready for dinner. At breakfast/lunch/dinner our guide ate with us and took our oxygen and asked how much water we had or how much we drank. We had 3 hot meals a day and we were always holding hands and praying over our meal. Such a blessing...

After dinner on day 3, Respicius said after watching us and being with us, he is recommending we change our course,

that on day 4 we head directly to 15,000 ft base camp making it four 8 hour days (I was looking forward to an early day after my struggles, but it made sense to get up at 4 am to summit vs. midnight and to return to base camp at 15,000 ft vs. 13,000 ft. So a 12 hour day hiking instead of an 18 hr day. We all agreed – at that point is when the Lord impressed upon me that if I’m going to make it, I need to change my focus and stick close to the one who was guiding us. I asked the girls if they minded that I took first position? They said to go for it.

Day 4, 8 hours I stayed in the shadow of our guide. What a difference! I acclimated fine in our 8 hour journey to 15,000 ft. I was tired but able to enjoy the festivities. My breathing was good. I felt great!

Day 5 Summit – 5:00am departure. Crazy going from 15,000 ft to 19,341 ft in 3 miles. It took us 9 hours. People were coming down that had altitude sickness. We heard helicopters picking people up. We made it! Praise God! Home by 5pm, lol, 12 hour day! When Pascal, our waiter saw me, he said Diane Diane (while giving me a big hug) glad you made it, we didn’t think you would! The next morning at breakfast, I told Respicius what Pascal had said and that he had said “we” and I asked him if he was part of the “we”. Respicius said yes, he was, and then I thanked him for not ever showing that to me. He said he did didn’t think any of us were going to make it when it took 5 ½ hours to get to the half way point of the summit that generally takes people 3-3 ½ hours to get to. I said, “well, weren’t you the one setting the pace?” and he said, “yes, by listening to your breathing”!!!

Oh my I almost fell out of my chair... I lost my breath in awe of what he said! Ok Lord, you have my full attention:

Jesus your presence is changing my life!

I have a free will to do whatever but the farther I get from you, the harder my life is going to be. Staying in your shadow is the safest, and best, place to be. You know my every breath and you are there to gently guide me. I love you Lord Jesus, Thank you for getting my attention in Africa!

Psalm 16:11
He will show me the path of life, in His presence is fullness of joy: at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore!

Thank you for letting me share!