Day 6

The air is different up here!

We did a four hour hike today - up to 14,000 feet and then back down to 12,500 feet and you can definitely feel the difference in the air that we are inhaling.

Tomorrow we will hike for a good part of the day. Then we will go to bed and wake back up at 11:00 pm and then head out at midnight and climb for approximately 6 hours to the summit.

Some guys from our group are still battling with altititude sickness. Luckily Tom and I have been ok and have not had any problems.

Our guides have an oximeter. It's a tool that measures our blood oxygenation levels. Tom and I both have good levels so we are thankful for that.

The guides and sherpas have been entertaining us with some of their traditional tribal dances. Last night they got Tom up to dance with them!

Will check in tomorrow...The anticipation is building!!!

Day 5

We hiked for seven hours straight today and reached 12,500 feet!

Of course the scenery and the temperature have changed from yesterday. Today we enjoyed the sun as it shone brightly and warmed the air to about 45 degrees. We have not seen any wildlife at this altitude. But we have been walking through the clouds - it has been beautiful!

Last night was a little rough. We slept on wooden bunks. But the worst part - two guys in our group were dealing with altitude sickness and they were puking most of the night. Not a pretty scene.

We've been talking to folks as they descend from the summit - they are warning us about the headaches that are beyond belief from the altitude. Hopefully, Tom and I won't be as severely affected as some of the others.

Tomorrow we will hike five hours up the mountain and back to help us get acclimated to the altitude.

On a funny note - the guides and sherpas are calling Tom Patton "Babu" which means "respected old man"! (Tom will be celebrating his 61st birthday on September 3.)

To be continued...

Day 4

OK, we made it to 9,000 feet - a little better than we anticipated. But it is hard work and we're tired at the end of the day so we've not had any problems sleeping!

We've been walking through rain forest terrain and it has been a little cool. (We've been drinking hot water and hot tea to warm up.)

The rain forest is a very cool place (not talking temperature this time). Spectacular waterfalls, vivid colors and awesome wildlife - mongooses, white-winged ravens, and colobus monkeys (black monkeys with white tails).

So far, everything is going well. Our group is really good - the guides and sherpas (porters) have been great.

Tomorrow we'll head to up to 12,000 feet and we'll spend two nights there at the Horombo Hut getting acclimated to the altitude. We'll be up at 7:00 am and start our ascent at 9:00 am.

I'll keep you posted!

Day 3

We are now in Africa!!

After an 8 1/2 hour flight we have arrived in Tanzania. And thankfully, our luggage and gear have arrived with us.

Our trek begins tomorrow morning at 9:30 Tanzanian time (which is 7 hours ahead of Eastern Daylight time). We will start our climb at 4,500 feet and will continue up to 8,000 feet. Tomorrow night we will be staying at Mandura Hut.

Stay tuned...

Day 2

Great flights into Amsterdam.

Watched Iron Man, ate chicken with some kind of green sauce on it and then slept for a few hours before we landed. (Loved Iron Man, take a "pass" on the chicken.)

We're now six hours ahead of Ohio time. Pretty serious jet lag . . . which is why we're spending the night in this amazing city. Massive cathedrals everywhere--very few actually home to the church. I love the hustle, bustle, outdoor cafes, waterways . . . but there is such a dark cloud . . . a city that desperately needs God. I know God is here (for one thing, He is in me, and I am here), so please God, consume this place with Your love!

Early AM we fly to Tanzania--8 1/2 hour flight.

All is well.

Day 1

It's 3:30. I'll leave for the airport in one hour.

I know that many people travel the world on a regular basis. So why do I feel this angst? Climbing the mountain? Visiting an AIDS infected area? For me, it really comes down to the summit of Kili.

A bit embarassing. The whole "I have to make it to the top" thing. Just being honest. Having exposed this trip to thousands of people it will be a bit embarassing if I have to say, "Hi . . . made it to 12k but couldn't go any farther."

Anyhow, we leave Akron/Canton at 6:50 PM and arrive in Amsterdam at 10 AM.

So this is day 1 . . .

Into Africa

Tomorrow I depart for Africa.

I'm experiencing a myriad of feelings. Excitement. Angst. Hope. Fear.

Our actual climb of Kilimanjaro begins Friday, August 29. We will begin our climb at 4,600 feet. On day one we will climb to 8,860 feet and spend the night. On Saturday we will climb to 12,200 feet and spend an extra day to acclimate our bodies to the altitude. On Monday we will climb to 15,430 feet and spend a sleepless evening (It is difficult to breath at this altitude). Tuesday at midnight we begin our final summit ascent to 19,400 feet.

This final leg of the climb is by far the most challenging. It is an 18 hour day. The first 6 hours will begin in the dark. We'll climb at a 27 degree incline. The temperatures will be sub-zero. It will be like walking in sand due to the volcanic scree. Sounds like fun!!!

The last two days will be our descent.

Next Tom (my climbing companion) and I will head to the Compassion projects. We'll get to meet the children our families sponsor in Tanzania. We'll visit the cottages that RiverTree helped start that provide homes for children who have been orphaned as a result of the AIDS pandemic. This is the part of the trip that I am most looking forward to.

I have been gaining partners in climbing Kili that are sponsoring me for every foot climbed. 100% of the funds raised will go to begin new cottages for the orphans in Tanzania. Currently I am at $30,000+ in funds committed. Yeah God! More incentive to reach the summit.

I'm taking a satellite phone with me so that I will be able to blog throughout this journey (even from the summit!).

I covet your prayers as you (in spirit) travel with us around the world.

Kilimanjaro for kids

A week from today I depart for Tanzania, Africa. The primary purpose of my trip is to visit cottages that RiverTree partnered with Compassion International to open. The cottages provide a home for children who have been orphaned as a result of the AIDS pandemic.

While in Tanzania I'll also have the privilege of meeting two of the children Julie and I sponsor, Bakari and Godfrey. Last night we were packing backpacks full of gifts for me to take to them. It's an amazing thing to think about actually meeting the children we have been writing and for whom we have been praying.

And since I'll be in Tanzania . . . I thought I might as well climb Mount Kilimanjaro!

Kilimanjaro is 19,400 feet at the summit. The climb will take 6 days (four up and two down). The team leader of our Elders, Tom Patton, will be making the climb with me. I've been training for about six months now.

Why climb? For one thing, I'm just wired for adventure. But more important, we're getting sponsors for our climb that are making pledges for every foot we ascend. 100% of the raised resources will be used to open new Compassion cottages.

Please keep us in your prayers.

Contentment

This past Friday night I camped out with my nine year old daughter, Tabitha. Earlier in the spring my dad built her a treehouse on the hillside beside our house in the woods. Nice . . . but nothing extravagant.

We lugged our sleeping bags up to the treehouse along with cheese and crackers, flashlights and bug spray. My wife bet me that we would be back inside before midnight. She lost the bet . . . we made it all the way.

Sometime in the middle of the night Tabs and I both awoke. Our faces were about two inches apart and she asked, "Daddy, is it almost morning?" I thought to myself, good, she probably wants to go inside now . . . back into my comfortable, warm bed. Enough of this sleeping on a wood platform with bugs and dew. At that moment I was not very content. I responded, "See how the sky is lightening up? It will be morning soon. Why do you want to know?" Tabs looked at me and said, "Daddy, because I don't want this night to ever end."

Hmmm.

"We'll do this again Tabs."

She responded with one word . . .

"Soon."

Suddenly I was content. It didn't matter that I was sleeping (or not sleeping) on plywood. What mattered was that I was with my daughter who loves me and whom I love.

The Apostle Paul wrote, "I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing, or with everything." (Philippians 4:11b-12a)

God, in every area of my life, help me find my contentment simply by being with my Father who loves me and whom I love.

Fastest-Dying Cities in America

Forbes.com just released their list of the top ten "Fastest-Dying Cities in America." Four of the cities are in Ohio: Dayton, Cleveland, Youngstown and . . . you guessed it . . . Canton.

There was a time when I would rail at God for placing me in such a depressed area to be a Pastor. "Why am I stuck in an area that is declining rather than exploding with growth and opportunity?"

But in the past several years God has been dramatically changing my heart.

It is in the darkness that God's light shines the brightest. It is in times of greatest need that God uses His church to meet those needs. When things are at their worst, the followers of Jesus must be at their best!

Rather than be discouraged by the fact that four cities in Ohio have made a list on which no-one wants to be included, we need to be encouraged that it is one of the greatest opportunites for those of us who follow Jesus to lift others up, to be involved with God in community transformation, to bring hope where hope may be hard for many to find.

I, for one, am glad that God has called me to live and to love (in His name) in the great state of Ohio!

The end of summer break

Well, today is the last day of my summer break. It's been a very good four week interruption of life's normal daily grind. I've been taking this break for about 8 years now. Here's why it's so important . . .

*Time to disengage from the world and re-engage with God. On break I begin virtually every day simply sitting in God's presence, journaling and reading large portions of Scripture. As the weeks go by I find myself doing more and more sitting or walking in God's presence.

*Review of the previous year. I spend a good bit of time reading through my journal from the past year, reflecting on what God has been up to, learning as much as I can from the journey. It's very easy to forget what the past year has contained and very easy for me to overlook God's hand in my life. I have to be intentional.

*Refill my tank. Much of what I do in life involves "pouring out." For four weeks most of what I do is "take in." This break I read 21 books, watched a bunch of movies and simply breathed in the best of life. Now I'm ready to pour out again.

*Reconnect with Julie. Every morning Julie and I would go on a 2-3 mile walk. We would talk about insignificant things and very deep things. Talk about our future and what we're hearing God speak into our lives. Without the normal daily pressures . . . many conversations that have needed to take place are able to take place.

*Extended time with my children. I fell deeply in love with my new son Elijah. Every morning at 5:30 he would wake up and I would feed him on the front porch. It was great "daddy" time. My daughter, Tabitha, learned to dive on this year's break. In year's past she has learned to ride her bike. I make it a priority to put my book down and be fully with her.

Sooo, I'm incredibly grateful for a church leadership team that values my time away as much as I do. For a staff who keeps things moving forward in an incredible way. For friends who graciously provide us with a vacation home--free of charge. For a church that is always glad to see us return!