. . . there and back again

I've always wanted to feel like I was in "Lord of the Rings"  and now . . . I can consider that wish granted.  Seriously.  We got back a few weeks ago from an epic adventure climbing none other than Mt. Kenya, second highest peak in Africa.  Four days and one mountain later, we can now look back at our success.  (We all made it to the top)!  And, it is a success:  probably one of the hardest physical things Karis and I have ever done, and we rocked it!  It was epic.  Enough said.  Okay, so meet the Fellowship of the Ring.  For real.  There were seven of us plus our two guides.  If nine isn't the fellowship, then please, tell me what is.  As you can probably tell, the LOTR references were a bit on the "out of control" side.  Karis and I may or may not have gotten just a little carried away with the theme music, but we were ascending Mt. Doom, so it was only fitting. So, four days you ask . . . why so long?  . . . because we trekked an impressive  52 km.  Anyways, it was physically exhausting, but the fellowship was sweet, and it was so refreshing to be in such a beautiful place.  God felt very near.  

On the morning (2 am in the morning to be exact) we got up to summit, it was cold and dark.  We all had our headlamps, but we didn't end up using them.  We hiked up by moon

light, and I'm not sure that I really have the words to describe it.  The stars were unb

elievable. . . perhaps the most beautiful I have ever seen.  When I saw where we were to hike up the face of the mountain, it didn't look possible.  Someone (Karis) started the rumor the night before that we were not climbing up the face of the mountain, but rather walking around the ridge.  Yes, it was just a rumor.  I'm actually glad we climbed up in the dark, because I'm positive my fear of heights would have kicked in.  

We were climbing up single-file, and you looked to the right, and there was the mountain: impressive, formidable, intimidating, and yet dangerously beautiful.  I want to remember the picture I have in my head forever:  the dark sky with the moon and the stars only illuminating the step in front of you and that dark, snow capped peak.  It was erie and incredible.  I really felt like I was part of some epic  journey and this was the culmination!  For the last leg of the journey, we had left everything behind but our water.  This was it!  Even though the climbing was so hard, and the air was thin, I felt great.  It was like I had this strength that I didn't expect.  Over and over in my head were the the words of Isaiah 40:31 ". . . you will walk and not be weary . . ."  We all made it to the top,

 and I don't think we could have done it with out each other.  It wasn't a race, but Karis did touch the flag first, for the record . . . we ended up on top a half hour earlier than anticipated, so we got to huddle together, freezing cold to wait for the sun to rise.  It was worth the wait.  We had a rare clear day, so clear that we could see Kilimanjaro from the top.  On the way back down, Karis perfected her dirt-boarding method (it looked sweet I tell you), and Lydia suffered a slight twisted ankle.  Other than that, we came out pretty good (as good as you can come out not showering for four days).  Overall:  so worth it!  Other than obviously being at the top, some of the highlights were:  campfires, singing and time of devotion with our guide and porters, playing American football at the base of the mountain (yes, it did make the cut in the 25 kilo limit), the nap we got to take after summiting and just being together.  So, yes, the fellowship successfully destroyed the ring on Mt. Doom and we are safe back in the Shire (Nairobi).