Relaying on Him for the fundamentals of life

"No way are we going to make it down before sunset..." we had been working our way slowly down Mt Donaldson for the past two hours and everytime i looked up, it seemed like we havent cover much yet. In reference to all my OBS, leadership camps, mountain climbling trips expereinces, scaling down Mt Donaldson was the toughest of all.

What made it so tough was
1. the rocks on the side of the mount are loose (hard to find balance on one fixed spot for too long a time)

2. there are "stinging" trees(we named them ourselves due to the tingling, followed by a thousand stabbing needles-into-your-flesh-feeling when any part of your skin come into contact with either its heart-shaped leaves or trunk) along a certain altitude of the Mt which are almost everywhere as we scaled down

3. Not forgetting nettles which hurts lots too

4. Uncomfortable and ill-fitting walking shoes which gives me "tennis toes"(i've got blackened toe nails due to lack of circulation while walking)

5. Besides being the first time exposed to such terrain, i've to balance a backpack

6. I have to make sure that i'm scaling fast enough to get down to Donaldson's creek in time to find drinking water (we were running out of water at that time) and a suitable camping spot to reside for the night.

It was indeed a mentally challenging moment to convince my mind to coordinate all its movement to prevent myself from sliding, to be aware of "stinging trees" ahead and remember not to use them to balance, to convince myself that sliding is not a bad thing after all since i would be moving in the same direction after all (just with less strength required but more scratches accumulated). It was through this entire experience i see the patience in the guys especially Joshy who waited up for me and kept encouraging me that i'm doing a good work. When he realised that i was going through much mental torture, he offered to carry my backpack (additional to his which is one of the heaviest among all of us) to lighten my burden. I have to admit that it was so much easier coming down without any additional weight and if not for the loving tenderness and understanding on my husband part, i think this trip wouldn't be as enjoyable as it would be. Through him, i see how Christ love the Church by being so loving to her even though she might be so stubborn in her own old ways. Through him, i realised the multitude of self sacrificing and love Christ had for the Church to lift her up whenever she is down, troubled, discouraged or defeated. Through him, i realised its not easy loving someone who can be so ultra hard to handle especially in stressful and trying situations.

And i'm reali thankful that God gave him this boundless amount of love and tenderness which gave me much comfort and security esp when i'm placed out of my comfort zone. Its with the presence of him, that i'm able to enjoy the beauty of God's creation being magnified. Its with him, that i see the brighter side of every problem that we been thru.Its with him, that i dont dread sleeping in the wild (i was so comfy and well worned-out that i slept about 10 hours all the nights camping). Now i realised what God mean by " two is better than one".

......sorry...dint reali finish off the blog the last time i started...And i noe this bloog is long overdue. Since coming back from the camping trip, i have been quite occupied with many other stuff like chores, visiting people, attending the church family day etc...that i have no time to even come to uni to use the net (our house connection still doesnt work...yes, i know what a bother it is). Anways, would be ultra busy this week with two assignments due soon and on top of that i have to finish one before fri. Cos the deadline is on fri and i would be going away fri morning for Sundown again. Yup thats for the youth group and we would also be there for another four day. Would definitely be fun but of cos...have to reali work hard for that fun. Take care all you gurls and of cos guys....would pray for the church. Someone pls update me on the situation k? I'm reali lost abt it....thanks..=) AND OF COS....abt how you gurls are going too....=)i miss all of you....Though life is reali fun here....i still do miss the Singaporean part of life...=)