The Train Blogger: 2016

“And if these mountains had eyes, they would wake to find two strangers in their fences, standing in admiration as a breathing red pours its tinge upon earth's shore. These mountains, which have seen untold sunrises, long to thunder praise but stand reverent, silent so that man's weak praise should be given God's attention.”

― Donald Miller, Through Painted Deserts: Light, God, and Beauty on the Open Road

Yes!! One month ago, I got the opportunity to tick off the first item on my bucket list: to climb Mt. Kenya. I accomplished this with a group of 11 others who were part of Tandaza Trust’s Mt. Kenya Challenge, an initiative organized by General Electric (GE) and Tandaza Trust. Tandaza Trust is a non-profit organization established in 2012 as the social justice arm of Kileleshwa Covenant Community Church (K3C). Its vision is to transform communities through economic, social and spiritual empowerment. The Trust does this through the following programs:

{ Street Ministry

{ Rehabilitation

{ Education

{ Empowerment

{ Sports & arts

Since its inception, Tandaza Trust has been able to reach out to, rehabilitate, empower and equip over 200 former street children, men and women. The Trust runs a Transformation Center for rehabilitation and empowerment at Kiserian. The land where the center is located is leased, but Tandaza Trust has a desire to buy the property. To raise seed money for this endeavor Allan Kilavuka, an employee of GE and a member of K3C organized the Mt. Kenya Challenge.

Pre-Climb

Getting ready to start the climb

Xtrym Adventures is the awesome company that was hired to handle the rigorous pre-climb training and also the actual climb. We had several excursions including Kilimambogo, Kilome Mountains(Kiou & Kayata Hills) and Ngong hills in preparation for Mt. Kenya. We also went shopping for climbing gear including water and wind proof pants and jackets, thermal wear, climbing poles, camel bags among others.

Actual Climb

We took the Sirimon Route. It is the most popular and gentle route in Mount Kenya and also the most interesting because it is on the drier side of the mountain. We left Nairobi at 6am, stopped at Nakumatt, Nanyuki to buy snacks then headed towards the Sirimon gate. Our climb started after we registered with the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS). The rest of the story will be in the pictures at the end of the post. In the meantime, here are 5 profound lessons I learnt during the 4 day affair at Mt. Kenya:

1. God’s love is so high, I cannot fully understand it

When we got to Old Moses Camp which is a gentle 9 Km climb from the Mt. Kenya National Park gate, we could see Batian, the highest peak. It was a far off, about 12 km from Old Moses, but it stood as near the heavens, beautiful and majestic. I gazed at it as dusk approached, its jugged rocks covered in shimmering snow and I was overwhelmed. And I was reminded of this scripture:

Psalm 36:5-6a

5 Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,

Your faithfulness to the skies.

6 Your righteousness is like the highest mountains…

Batian peak, Kenya's highest point, shrouded in mist

If God’s love is higher than what I could see, then it was beyond my understanding. I can only embrace it.

Psalm 8:3-4

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained; 4What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him? 5Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty!

He is mighty, but He loves us still.

2. Sometimes the darkness in our path is necessary

On the second day of our climb, after a 12km climb though rain and mist we got to the foot of the majestic peak Batian. The peak was shrouded in fog but as it cleared, I asked Duncan, the XTRYM adventures founder how we were supposed to get to Lenana peak, which was behind Batian. He laughed as he pointed to an imaginary path up the side of magnificent Batian. I could not see the way! And he responded: “that is why we start the climb at night.”

Climbing to the summit in the morning darkness

I did not understand what he meant until when we started the climb at 2am. We were well covered in layers: thermal pants and tops (long and short sleeved), long and short sleeved fleece, cargo pants, water/wind proof pants and jacket, balaclava, woolen hat, 2 pairs of gloves (including water proof, 2 pairs of winter socks and water proof boots. Strapped around our foreheads were headlamps to aid in lighting the way. As we began the climb, I realized that I could not see elsewhere except behind the guide who was in front of me. When I looked besides me, all I saw were silhouettes of steep jugged rocks. And I realized that if indeed it was during the day, and I saw how steep the sides were, I would freak out and not make it to the summit. Darkness covered the treacherous way, and therefore I focused on the path lit by the head lamp.

Psalm 119:105

~Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path~

3. Trust the guide

Throughout the climb, I learnt to trust in the guide. I was always behind Abass the lead guide and had to trust that wherever he stepped was safe, especially in the darkness. The way was treacherous and one wrong step could be fatal.

Psalm 37:5

~Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass~

4. If in need, ask for help, be vulnerable sometimes

All my life, I have been taught to be self-sufficient. I have learnt to be strong. But as we neared the summit, I felt my body give way, my strength was gone and my will power gone. I could not move another step. So I told everyone: you guys go, you will find me here on your way back. But everyone was adamant. We are not summiting without you, they said. I tried to move but I couldn’t. I got so frustrated that I began to cry. Tyson, one of the climbers put his hand on my shoulder and made a short prayer. Then Abass the guide came back a few steps and offered his hand. I, who rarely asks/accepts help put my hand on his and for the

rest of the climb to the summit, he held me like a child, leading and clutching my hand every step of the way, upto the summit. I cannot claim that I did it on my own. I did not get to the summit just because I am physically fit, or because I have a strong will. I accomplished it because I was with a supportive team, I had awesome guides (and porters who carried the bulk of my stuff) and above all, I had God.

Excited to have reached the top but very exhausted

Phillipians 4:13

~I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me~

5. Never give up!

This sounds so cliché. Everybody says it. But on that day when my body refused to move and I nearly gave up, I learnt that it is indeed true that sometimes, we want to give up when we are so so close! I had come 95% of the way, I could see the peak right above me, but my will was nearly zero. Yet if I had given up, I would not be writing this, I would not claimed that I had climbed Mt. Kenya.

The whole team at the top of the summit

I learnt many lessons on that climb, but for now, those are the major lessons. I hope someone will be encouraged to climb Mt. Kenya and learn their own lessons. It was one of my greatest experiences. More pics below.