Climbing the Mountain...enjoying the trip
My most difficult mountain climbing experience was not a scheduled fellowship with youth believers. - Last Friday, September 8, I woke up and heard the noise of 3 people in our corridor. They were my bro-in-law Bong and two other guys. 3 days before that, I heard that they were planning to climb Mt. Pulag. I was not interested because i know that mountain climbing is not that easy. At that moment that they were waiting for the other two ladies who decided to go with them, I started thinking of going with them. But I already lend my backpack to one of them. Still, I decided to go and so I went to the office and told my sister Margie that I am going to Mt. Pulag (hoooo...me and my decision...again). I think I really didn't ask permission...that was just to let them know (sorry about that manang...I just realized it when I was in the bus) that I am going with the others who decided to climb the mountain.
We took the 8:30 trip going to Baguio and arrived at the house of Johnny's aunt at about 4 pm.(Johnny is one of the students living at the center...by the way, he's a nice kid too.) We had coffee and some bread...while Johnny our host prepared dinner. After almost 2 hours, we had our supper, and got ready for a more ore less 20 kms. hike. It was raining hard when we left the house, and I was a bit hesitant to go because they told us that we might hike for about 8 hours before reaching our destination. But because that's the reason why I went there...so I conditioned my mind. I am aware that I was not conditioned physically though. We started our journey at 6:30 pm and arrived at the camping ground 2 at about 12:30 am. It was very cold. My hands can't even handle my cellphone because I was freezing. I didn't even dare to drink water because it was really very cold. While we were walking, a thought came up...I asked myself "Is this eternal or just an experience that will not help me grow in my spiritual life?" I was a bit upset thinking that my motive in going was just to see a new environment.
Before we slept that night...oh it was about 1 am... we prayed and set our cellphone alarm because we need to continue hiking at 4 am so that we will see the beautiful sunrise. That was our major goal, to see the sunrise...personally I appreciated the place but I don't remember thanking God for creating such a beautiful mountain where you can overlook the other mountains and valleys. Upon reaching the summit through the help of one of our companion...I saw the fulfillment in my companions' faces despite the tiredness that I'm sure everyone is experiencing. We stayed there until 8 am and started our journey back. The clouds are already rising...so we thought that it might rain in a few hours. While walking...we paused for some picture taking and also...it was good that kuya Bong brought the video. We really had fun when we were heading home though I experienced some inconvenience...well I had a bit scratch in my elbow
After 3-4 hours, we reached the village where we left our food for lunch. There, I met my teacher in grade 1 & 2. She’s still beautiful despite the gray hair. We went to their house and Johnny, our youngest prepared our food again. Before I had my lunch, I decided to take a bath first. The water was extremely cold but I had no choice. After eating, we left the village. I was thankful because it wasn’t raining. After a couple of kilometers, a heavy rain had gotten us in nowhere. There was no choice but to continue walking. Using the cellophane that we used the other day, and rolling our pants to keep it from getting wet, we continued going down the rough and slippery road. Then I felt some pain in my stomach…oh no…I am not having diarrhea. May be it is just because I just had lunch and then we started walking right away. I don’t know how they call that in English but in our language, we say “naalibo-bo”.
Almost halfway through, we heard a car coming down, though I felt helpless because we are not sure if the car will fetch us up. Thankful I am, I hopped in and started gripping anything that I can hold on to so that I will not fall off the elf. My companion almost fell off so I tried to be more careful. Our knees were shaking…but we are still thankful for the ride. Once more, I asked myself, “Did I thank God for the ride?” Oh come on Sarah…I hope I did.
It’s almost dark when we arrived at the house of Johnny’s aunt. We were happy that we’re all safe. Thank God for safety…and Praise be to Him for everything He has done…the beautiful nature…the beautiful people inside and out.
We slept soundly, it was warm…and I almost sweat because I was sandwiched between two young ladies. Young in height just like me…we woke up, had some coffee and bread…and then breakfast and headed to the sulfur spring.
At the sulfur spring…we inhaled all the bad odor…but I enjoyed because it was my first time to see a sulfur spring…all for now…comments and questions are accepted.
We took the 8:30 trip going to Baguio and arrived at the house of Johnny's aunt at about 4 pm.(Johnny is one of the students living at the center...by the way, he's a nice kid too.) We had coffee and some bread...while Johnny our host prepared dinner. After almost 2 hours, we had our supper, and got ready for a more ore less 20 kms. hike. It was raining hard when we left the house, and I was a bit hesitant to go because they told us that we might hike for about 8 hours before reaching our destination. But because that's the reason why I went there...so I conditioned my mind. I am aware that I was not conditioned physically though. We started our journey at 6:30 pm and arrived at the camping ground 2 at about 12:30 am. It was very cold. My hands can't even handle my cellphone because I was freezing. I didn't even dare to drink water because it was really very cold. While we were walking, a thought came up...I asked myself "Is this eternal or just an experience that will not help me grow in my spiritual life?" I was a bit upset thinking that my motive in going was just to see a new environment.
Before we slept that night...oh it was about 1 am... we prayed and set our cellphone alarm because we need to continue hiking at 4 am so that we will see the beautiful sunrise. That was our major goal, to see the sunrise...personally I appreciated the place but I don't remember thanking God for creating such a beautiful mountain where you can overlook the other mountains and valleys. Upon reaching the summit through the help of one of our companion...I saw the fulfillment in my companions' faces despite the tiredness that I'm sure everyone is experiencing. We stayed there until 8 am and started our journey back. The clouds are already rising...so we thought that it might rain in a few hours. While walking...we paused for some picture taking and also...it was good that kuya Bong brought the video. We really had fun when we were heading home though I experienced some inconvenience...well I had a bit scratch in my elbow
After 3-4 hours, we reached the village where we left our food for lunch. There, I met my teacher in grade 1 & 2. She’s still beautiful despite the gray hair. We went to their house and Johnny, our youngest prepared our food again. Before I had my lunch, I decided to take a bath first. The water was extremely cold but I had no choice. After eating, we left the village. I was thankful because it wasn’t raining. After a couple of kilometers, a heavy rain had gotten us in nowhere. There was no choice but to continue walking. Using the cellophane that we used the other day, and rolling our pants to keep it from getting wet, we continued going down the rough and slippery road. Then I felt some pain in my stomach…oh no…I am not having diarrhea. May be it is just because I just had lunch and then we started walking right away. I don’t know how they call that in English but in our language, we say “naalibo-bo”.
Almost halfway through, we heard a car coming down, though I felt helpless because we are not sure if the car will fetch us up. Thankful I am, I hopped in and started gripping anything that I can hold on to so that I will not fall off the elf. My companion almost fell off so I tried to be more careful. Our knees were shaking…but we are still thankful for the ride. Once more, I asked myself, “Did I thank God for the ride?” Oh come on Sarah…I hope I did.
It’s almost dark when we arrived at the house of Johnny’s aunt. We were happy that we’re all safe. Thank God for safety…and Praise be to Him for everything He has done…the beautiful nature…the beautiful people inside and out.
We slept soundly, it was warm…and I almost sweat because I was sandwiched between two young ladies. Young in height just like me…we woke up, had some coffee and bread…and then breakfast and headed to the sulfur spring.
At the sulfur spring…we inhaled all the bad odor…but I enjoyed because it was my first time to see a sulfur spring…all for now…comments and questions are accepted.
posted by pinehills @ 6:26 AM
3 comments
