[The village is in the background of this picture!]
After a 3 hour hike from the bridge to the village of Patuy, they met up with the lay-pastor from that village, as well as several men and boys who were going to accompany them on their big trip!
[Loading up the mules!]
The plan was to hike up Ximiagua, one of the tallest mountains in Guatemala! After a brief rest in Patuy, they began their ascent. Thankfully, once in Patuy, they were able to load up some mules with the backpacks. The packs were especially heavy because of the need to carry food and water, along with sleeping bags and everything else!
[Poor Nate didn't have a lot of energy after several upset stomach sessions! But it did mean he got to ride a lot of the way up!]
They hiked for four hours straight up the mountain. (Emphasis on the up...and up...and up!) But there was lots of encouragement for the trip...incredible views, beautiful pine forests, and especially the abundant blackberries! And the higher they got, the nicer the weather became. In fact, it was downright cold at the top!
[Here's Nate with some blackberry stains around his mouth!]
One of the worries was about having enough liquid along for the trip. They were assured that there was an ample water supply near the top of the mountain -- which was true -- in part! The locals filled their water bottles in the horses watering hole. Wilf and Nate just couldn't bring themselves to do that...especially with the quantity of manure that filled the watering hole!
They settled down for the night, only to be awakened at midnight by the beginning of the rainy season! That meant packing up, and hiking till almost 4 AM, getting lost in the fog and rain...and eventually making it back to the village of Patuy where the hard wooden church benches seemed like Hilton's finest beds! (They were also very thankful to have an outhouse again for the rumbly tummies!)
5 comments:
Well, at least it was a memorable trip:) I can't believe that they could make it in such a condition! The bathroom part probably would have been the worst for me, but the rainy part seems pretty bad too:) Thanks for keeping us all updated! I love reading the posts about your life there. We especially can't wait till your back, not that much longer now!
For some reason I can't view all your pictures - I guess they got censored by our filter or something...? :) Anyways, sounds like a rather dreadful time! I can just imagine arriving, tired and thirsty, at the top - and having to decide between drinking out of a manure puddle or holding out for a drink of clean water in a day or two...?! Eeyikes!
However, your little family outing looked nice, Warden (what I could see of it)! We're thankful that you were kept safe in the city!
Sharon, thanks for posting! I was curious to find out how they fared -- we were praying for them. Sounds like quite the experience -- what a difficult climb! I don't blame them for not wanting to drink that water! :) I hope everyone is feeling better now. Miss you!
Are they feeling better? Yikes - I can only imagine their consternation, being faced with the prospect of drinking from a manure filled puddle or going without! Especially when they'd been....ahem....losing fluids all the way up :( Glad all is well - we can thank the Lord - again! -for His protection and provision.
oh my... I just read Nate's email to Jess about that trip. I cannot imagine. Thank the Lord they are safe, and hopefully feeling better too...??
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