INCA TRAIL BEGINS
4am and we just sent the crew down to begin the Inca Trail hike towards the Sungate. They will have a long day but all will be well worth it. The memories they will take from this will FOREVER be etched in their soul. Most of them looked ready, one had to stay behind.
That young man you see in that pic is the one I am most proud of. Hayden Oliver. 19 yrs old and his whole life is ahead of him. I promised him if he would graduate, the Inca trail would be a part of his reward and here we are. I personally desired to climb with him but unfortunately my nerve damage on my right leg couldn’t afford me to do so. Mostly, I didn’t want him to be dragging behind thinking about his “popo” along the way. I climbed this trek several years ago and what an amazing experience when you have to dig in and find yourself along the way. The lessons I gained on this trek have continued throughout the years but I wanted to use this blog to give you my journal entry into that Day several years ago. Cant wait to read Haydens when he writes his own.
JOURNAL ENTRY – DAY FOUR
Suppose to be the shortest day but after all the drama coming home it turned out to br the longest.
Every other camp woke up at 2am and began their trek day except us. We decided to stay behind and begin at the ususal time 5:20 and off to our last 2 hrs of hiking. It seemed as though they kept saying 30 mintues to go all day but I think it was the soreness and bruising of our legs, calfes, and feet. Man did they hurt!
It was a simple trek on mostly level ground with the exception of the straight upward steps going into the sun gate. I saw the sunrise again on the way and as soon as we got up to the sungate…. Wow…. Macchu picchu was there in the distant. Still took another 40 min or more to get to it. Looked small from top but when you come close…. It was huge……30 yrs to build and 30,000 men on a rotating basis every 90 days.
The guide took us on tour for another two hrs and another two just staying there to enjoy the scene. Had to catch a train back @ 2:30 for lunch and spend the rest of the evening un a little town till we caught a train at 8:45pm.
From the train to a bus to another bus and then home to cusco…. 2:30am arrival time! What a long day! On the way home an 18 wheeler is stuck on the road so an alternate route was given. On the alternate route, a van got stuck on a bridge so our van had to unload along with about 100 + peolpe and walk 15 min to another alternate route and locate our next bus. Our bus driver was not in any hurry as we could not find him . He was in his bus alseep while other drivers were outside with signs letting everyone know where they were in te midst of all the chaos! Our team was split in three different vans and it was a miracle we all got back together after that fiasco!!! Hilarious! On the bus, it would not move because a Peruvian would not budge claiming his rights to remain in the way of all the tourist … Ahhhhh not good! Got in an argument with Joel and a police driver and finally we got on the road again! What a crazy experience. Joels leadership was evident!
Nevertheless, here are some lessons from the day!
1. There is a difference betweeen a Plodder and a Plotter! Staying steady and faithful one step in front of another will get you to your destination. I am definately a Plodder. Slow but steady! Allow Grace to set your Pace…DO NOT…set your own Pace and then ask for Grace to Follow… Allow Him to lead.
2. Don’t worry about any one elses personal goals.. Set your pace and rythym and stay faithful. Competition is good, but iif you run anothers personal race, it can get you winded and ultimately get you out of the race.
3. Enjoy the journey to your destination. It’s about the process. Your final destination is never the goal. What is He doing in you as you move toward your goal? After you are completed… Can you remember any lessons along the way?
When you reach the end, it creates a deep desire for more! More to expand… Accomplish…endure and never fear.
Looking back…what you thought would never end has come and gone and it gives you a vision and appreciation for future obedience.
4. When you place youself in an impossible situation it is amazing what the human body and mind can endure. You never know what you can do unless to are stretched to maximum. Move forward or die!
5. When you reach the end, it creates a deep desire for more! More to expand… Accomplish…endure and never fear. Looking back…what you thought would never end has come and gone and it gives you a vision and appreciation for future obedience.
6. The more you focus on your pain… The harder the trek is. It can become unbearable!
7. It’s amazing what a little encouragement from someone who’s been there does to the heart and mind and body of a man. Encourge anothers personal race. The guides( fernando, ephrain, americo) were always there every step ofthe way.
8. It’s important in accomplishing physical goals to be physically fit. It’s amazing what packing a little extra weight does to the overall mindset and body and confidence. If you need to: lose the extra weight!
9. Don’t be embarrased when you come short of breath along the journey. If you need oxygyn… Take it! Breath in
10. Deep breaths and pauses are necessary to all journeys. It’s not possible to maintain an “all out” pace and finish strong.
11. How will you ever know you can accomplish something if you never get out on the mountain.
12. Speak back to your body when it’s yelling at you to quit! The voice of your flesh must be overidden by the voice of your spirit.
13. The fingerprints of God can easily be missed when there is pain all around.
14. You will never appreciate level ground unless you are willing to climb mountains and decend into valleys
15. No filtering system will ruin your trek and end it prematurely. Fresh water is a must!
16. In order to get up high, it takes sweat! Strain+Sweat=Success.
17. When leaders come together…one thing is for sure….you are stretched!
18. Leadership lesson: there is more than one way to do church. I love the variety of our team. Pastors dont know everything. Hahaha
Many other lessons as well .. I’ll get back later.
