I have been to the far side of the Continent of Africa, and God is here. It has been a blessing to serve God in new ways, and to trust God in new ways…and on new trails.
In the past week and a half, new arrivals have come from other nations to learn and serve here in Nkhoma — Zimbabwe, Netherlands, Scotland, Ireland, and Germany. Yesterday, along with a few Malawians as well, we had the privilege to hike together. There was great joy and acceptance in getting to know one another and working together to make it to the top.
As in our faith journey and in our hike, some of us were more equipped, were more prepared. Some were more fearful, some lost track of the goal, some joyfully endured appreciating all that we were experiencing (“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. When one part suffers, every part suffers with it; when part rejoices, every part rejoices with it”—I Corinthians 12).
The hike was up Mbala Mbala, which, as you’ll see below, is such an impressive peak. It is a hike that should be taken with someone who knows the mountain, because there are many paths that crisscross and sometimes fade away to nothing. At times, we had to walk by faith. Wherever we were, God was with us. (You needn’t worry. It is Chuck’s favorite mountain, which he has hiked more than 20 times, more than any other person we have met or heard .
Ample lessons existed all along the way:
+ Pictures to be taken of beautiful breathtaking scenery (“O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name above the earth! When I consider the heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what are humans that you are mindful of them, that you care for them?—Psalm 
.
+ Sometimes, we had to claw our way up or cushion our way down on slippery soil. There were leaps from rock to rock and other rock-faces that required doing the ol’ fashioned crabwalk. There were times when some wanted to turn around and just give up, but the stronger, more experienced, hikers came alongside and lent helping hand, or push from behind, or a simple word of encouragement. It all reminded me that God is our strength and help, and God has given us others to help us or just be by our side (“I lift up my eyes to the hills-where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord maker of heaven and earth. The Lord watches over you-the Lord is the shade at your right hand; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forever more”—Psalm 121).
+ There were parts of the trail that we were edgy in every sense of the word. We had to keep our eyes the Goal, which, on the journey of faith is God, our Savior (“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the seas, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast”—Psalm 139).
+ The view from up top was glorious!! Breath taking!! It was a joyful experience!! We have much to be thankful for, for eyes to see, for ears to hear, for healthy bodies, for majestic mountains, for……. May our thanks to God be endless! God’s Glory is over all the earth. Be exalted, O God (“For great is your love; higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, and let your glory be over all the earth”—Psalm 108).
+ Yes, we fell, just like we do in every other area and activity of our lives. So, in life and as in faith, we confess, receive God’s loving grace and move on to the next trail. Through it all, we pray to be surrounded by God’s traveling mercies and fellow-sojourners (“Go out into the world in peace, be of good courage; hold fast to that which is good; return no one evil for evil; strengthen the fainthearted; support the weak; help the suffering; honor everyone; love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit”).
Joy in the Journey!
Much Love, Deb and Chuck
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