The Backpacking Trip - by Nate Dreesmann

It's our first full day at Makani after our 10-day backpacking/mountaineering trip and it feels great to be back! The trip began gradually with a stay-over at a cabin the first night and a nice cave overhang the next, yet my ideas of what a camping trip might entail was challenged greatly over the next eight days that followed. We walked through trail no wider than a foot with a hundred-foot drop on one side and a wall of rock on the other, through rain and mist, through water that was up to and over our waists, and over and down waterfalls and mountain pools. We climbed over and through brush that stood up to our chests, and made our way over several mountain passes and even “bagged” (climbed) a peak of over 900 meters! To be honest it was a terribly difficult trip that tried both our bodies and minds, but through it we became a better team and better individuals. To be honest I don't think any of us could have expected the challenges that came, yet I am so very glad we had the opportunity to grow and mature through it. The end of the trip came with a day and a half fast in which Kristen was able to join us at an awesome cave with beautiful flowing pools and a wonderful valley view. We returned home yesterday, got a some McDonalds burgers to welcome us back to civilization, and then had a reunion with several other students and our leaders at an awesome Italian restaurant. We look forward to our two church services tomorrow, and then beginning our service work on Monday.

I think something that really hit me on the trip was a phrase I like to throw out: “If it wasn't difficult, it probably wouldn't be worth doing.” I usually would say this in terms of relationships or other things, but I definitely felt it applied to our trip as well. It was one of the most difficult things I have ever done, yet it was also one of the most worthwhile things ever. We were able to walk through areas that have never been explored, and we saw some wildlife and views that were nothing short of awesome. I think this trip was an opportunity for us to really get outside of our comfort zones, do something we may not initially have had the strength or ability to do, and to come out on top realizing both our ability to overcome and our utter need for Christ. It was definitely a great learning experience, but I see it more as a time where I grew to understand what it means to be a man or woman of God.

Please continue to pray for us as we continue to learn, grow, and mature in our faith. Pray also for our fellow students as well as our leaders too! Thanks for all your support through all of this, we've been here for almost three weeks, yet we're just beginning to immerse ourselves in the culture and wonder of South Africa. It's great, and we look forward to keeping you all in the loop!
Blessings,
-nate