ST. KITTS - "PRACTICE HILL"

Greetings from St. Kitts.  

My wife and I are here on the Caribbean island of St. Kitts on vacation visiting our son and daughter in law.  They have been here for a year and a half doing missionary work with another couple.  Before we arrived I told my son I would like to do some climbing to train for the upcoming Kilimanjaro quest.  There are several volcanic peaks here that are quite a challenge.  Originally he said we could climb the normal route to the largest volcano crater and we could descend into the crater and spend the night.  This sounded really sweet!  Then he later spoke to a friend from South Africa who said he had climbed a very remote trail leading to the highest point on the island.  This was to be our journey.

The highest point sounded like the place to go.  My son met with his buddy who showed him about where the trailhead began.  It was twilight and he could barely remember the exact location.  Our day to climb arrived and we left early for the "trailhead".  After about a 30 min. drive to the other side of the island he decided we were at the right place to exit the road.  We drove over very rough terrain for about 3 or 4 miles until we could go no farther.  Time to start walking.  



That's Where We're Going

 We could se several peaks in the distance but weren't sure exactly which one we were headed for.  Off we went through shoulder high grass to the direction that seemed best.  We came to a clearing in the rain forest and there were several ways to go.  After awhile we found a red ribbon tied to a tree limb.  This was to be our guide the rest of the way.  We continued along nearly impassible trail following the ribbons as they would appear.  After over 3 hours of climbing we were still not to the top.  We were now above the trees we had been holding onto and the "trail" was straight up.  It was so steep that to stand up felt like you would fall over.  

We stayed low and clung to the mountain.  Brandon asked me if we were above 3500 ft.  The altimeter on my watch read 3640 ft.  "That's it we're done."  The top seemed unreachable.  We clung to the side of the trail for awhile when we realized Luke was gone.  Then we hear him say "I'm at the top".  Looks like we are going on!  We maneuvered around the corner of the volcano trying not to look down.  There was little foot hold and nothing to grab but wet grass on the mountain face.  To slip and fall would have been extreme injury or possible death.  What were we doing?  We pressed on and made it around the face to the open area which led us to the top.  

Wow.  We made it!  At the top was a mailbox with a scripture in it of all things. It was 1 John 4:4..."He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."  That made our climb!  We prayed and ate our lunch and then began the long treacherous climb back down.  After another 3 hours we were safely back.  7 hours total and we were all wiped out.  

We looked back at where we had been and couldn't believe we were really there.  I couldn't help thinking about Kilimanjaro and the difficulty that climb will present.  One thing I learned is that you don't conquer a mountain...you meet it and as you climb you get to know it intimately.  In life we have mountain top experiences and we have our valleys.  On the top we rejoice and in the valleys we grow.  

My heart jumps when I think of Kilimanjaro and the challenge ahead.  Kili, I can't wait to meet you, and If the Lord is willing.....your SUMMIT!  

Yours in Christ, Shannon