Snapshot Pt 2

It was the night before a huge day and my stomach was turning as to what was waiting for me the next morning. I knew this moment will come and I was ready for it, but wasn't sure the intensity of it all. We woke up early and arrived at the church at 7:00am, we were headed to Pinnacle Mountain for a time of exercise and a hike. We arrived, and their in the parking lot we started our morning exercise. If you don't know me, let me describe the physic of my beauty. :) I am 6.2ft tall and currently weigh 330lbs, I am not active and physically inclined. I love fellowship and food, I have no upper or lower body strength and I hate to sweat a lot. Some would say that I can be a metrosexual at times. However that morning I faced the fruit of pain and discomfort due to my laziness and inactive body! Each exercise got harder and harder and I don't even think I did any of them correct or fully and I tried my hardest, my body just wouldn't function the certain moves we did. It was hard and painful...but I really tried my best in every exercises. By the end of our "morning warm-ups" my body was yelling at me and I can feel the knots and muscles tighten up...quivering I was ready for what was next, a HIKE! YAY!!!!....

not so much...I went to Guatemala a few years ago and we hiked two hours through hills and rocks and thought, "hey if I can do Guatemala, I can do this"...except what I was about to face wasn't hills, it was a mountain!

James, gather us Twentyfour Seven folk and gave us a prep talk, with that talk game a medium size rock that we must carry up on this hike. (Like I don't have enough pounds to carry ;). So we started out hike and I noticed quickly that everyone was ahead of me, as though they have done this plenty of times (except 1st years). I being as heavy and inactive as I was took my time, I immediately knew this was going to more than just a Guatemala hike.

Within about 15 minutes I notice the incline was getting steeper and harder, I was breathing harder and I was tired. What did I get myself into and how did I get myself here was running through my mind as I was hiking my way up this mountain. I was silent, I didn't want to talk, I didn't want to say anything, I was determine. One thing I tried not doing is not speaking negative things, like "I can't do this" because I was wanted to do thing. I was determined and with the help of James and a few others I was able to overcome the obstacles of that mountain. The result was a beautiful site and a breath taking view. I spent sometime worshiping and just sitting taking in the aweness of God's creation, thanking God for the strength to overcome my obstacle. I was excited to get rid of the rock that I carried all the way up the mountain, I tossed it as a significance to burdens that weigh on you. It was a relief and a joy to leave those burdens at that mountain.

When the hike was over, we played kickball, a time of fun after an intense hike (at least for me anyway) :). We then headed over to the church, changed and helped the Dream Center hand out over 500 turkeys to a needed community, that was just simply heart filling, helping out a community in need by just handing out free turkeys! We then had service which we served in different ministries. The night ended with a bomb fire, a lots of great conversation, with a closing from James Bennett. We reflected on the weekend and had a great time with the relationship we had made in just two short days.

The rest of the weekend was a blessing, Sunday morning services, a performance by the TUTU choir from Africa (wonderful) and great time spending with my friends August and Maja, just hearing their hearts and what God is doing in their lives. I left Monday full of hope and expectation, looking ahead of what's next to come!

I'm excited needless to say and looking forward to the next season God has for me ;)