The Enchanted Forest

This area that we passed through to get to our hiking trails was dubbed "The Enchanted Forest." It was really beautiful and cool!

You can't really tell in the picture, but this trail was so steep and rocky. It was tough going down and back up as well! It was a beautiful hike with some breaktaking views!

A bit foggy, but beautiful...all the trees gave the terrain a very different feel and look.

We passed these ladies on the trail...they had some major nose jewelry.

A little closer look. The women are so beautiful here!

Some beautiful flowers.

The sun was started to set on the way out. There were people that had shimmied up these HUGE trees and were cutting things down to use! Amazing!

The Overnight Team

This was the first time a team was going to hike out and camp out to be able to penetrate deeper within the mountain. To decide who got to go, names were pulled from a hat. These were the guys that got to go!

Heading out!

One of their visits.

Bryan visiting with some children.

I don't know all the stories from this trip, but I know they had some great visits...a decision was even made! They also met someone who invited them for dinner and allowed them to sleep in a school...what a blessing that they could be protected from the elements and the wildlife!

On the way out

This picture was for my mom! I came home from a trip without my family and had no pictures of myself. Mom told me it looked like I hadn't even been on the trip...every since then, I try to make sure I get a picture of just me!

We passed these boys who were on their way home from school. These kids deserve to do the "I walked uphill both ways in the snow" kind of stories for their daily trek!

A house we passed on the way out...it smelled like we were very near their bathroom spot.

I was amazed at how agile this donkey was. The path was very uneven and steep in spots. Amazing!

I think we were the last team in that day...we were hot and tired, but it was a GREAT day!

Day 1 Visit Four

We were fortunate to have so many visits in a day's hike. This lady was sorting beans. I always love seeing the colorful assortment of foods and am amazed at how much work they accomplish.
I was able to share my children's story with these kids. My team members said the girl in the red skirt seemed really tuned in and interested in the message. She is able to read and is hopefully still reading and sharing with others the gift we left.

What a sweet visit it was!

Day 1 Visit Three

This lady was out doing some dishes as we passed by. Our translator had a short conversation with her.

This child had some type of injury on the head. The purple stuff is some type of medicine. Prayers were lifted up for healing.

I didn't get a picture of the couple we visited and shared with. The kids were being a distraction inside, so I pulled them outside to play with them so the adults could focus on the message being shared.

My normal little games and tricks of the trade weren't working. I resorted to taking pictures of us and showing them to them.

These children were so cute!

Day 1 Visit Two

Dark clouds and thunder rolled in . I remember thinking how interesting it was going to be navigating these steep trails if they were wet.

He happened to come upon this house just as the skies were ready to open up. As you can see, this family owned an incredible amount of farming land...this is just a portion of it.

We were visiting outside the home, and then the man invited us to go in for chai and cookies.

The stairs we used were right behind the water buffalo. It started raining on us as we were removing our shoes to go in. It poured while we were in there, but we had a nice long visit and it had stopped by the time we left!

I think she was the daughter-in-law...she was so sweet and beautiful. She served us the chai and cookies, but was too busy working to sit and visit with us. I was sad she wasn't able to hear our conversation.

This man was 80, which is quite old for mountain living. He was very strong and his mind still very sharp. It was a very interesting visit. He did lots of talking. He also did quite a bit of debating with our translator. He kept talking about how Brahim made the uppercaste (his family) from his head, the middle class from his hands, and the lower caste from his feet. He talked about days of British rule and war. He also talked about the upper class killing the lower class because they were converting to Christianity and buying into the concept that all men are created equal.

It was sad to hear him so resistant to the truths we were sharing, but despite that, he was very kind and hospitable and allowed someone to read from Romans and teach. Most surprising was as we left, he pointed out where his neighbors were so that we could go and visit and share with them.

His grandchildren were in the room during much of the conversation...hopefully God's Word will stay in their minds and penetrate their hearts and help them know that we were all made by a loving God that wants a relationship with us.

We were able to pray with the family and speak heartfelt words of praise for him being such a man of peace who welcomed us heartily into his home (not all will do this).

Day 1 Visit One

After getting our assignments for the day, each team headed out to hike. The mountains were beautiful, and I was so excited to be done with all the planes and trains for a few days and be in the mountains among the beautiful people.

Not far into our hike, we passed a home where several women were home and on the porch. The original intent was not to stop yet...we usually head in first and visit on the way out...but my heart was longing to stop. Thankfully our translator, felt we should stop, so we did.

It is common for multi-generations and multi-families to be living in a house. We passed out candy to the children and began to visit. As we were visiting, one of our team members noticed one of the ladies wearing a cross necklace. When he asked if she knew what the cross symbolized, she said no...she just bought it at the market. He asked if we could tell them what the cross symbolizes, and they were fine with it, so I had the amazing opportunity to tell them about Jesus and what He has done for all of us.

There is a place in the story where it is natural to stop and see what they understand and how they are feeling about the message and ask them if it's OK if we share more. It was at this point, that the eldest female talked about her confusion and how she could not understand, and how she was not ready to hear more because of her confusion.

I was reminded of 1 Corin. 2:14, "The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are follishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned."

I felt like you could visibly see the spiritual battle within her and the fear and the confusion Satan was throwing at her to keep her from understand the most beautiful truth of love, and hope and freedom that is available to her. It was so heartbreaking.

When we left, we gave the lady with the necklace the pictures drawn to help them understand the message. We told her to keep it and remember the meaning of the cross. Hopefully she will remember it and be able to share it with others and that one day their hearts will be penetrated by the message.

It was so difficult to see all the flies hovering all over the children.