Dartlo to Girevi
14 Kilometres or 8.7 Miles
July 26, 2021
My sleep was far more restful last night than the night before. Who’d’ve thunk a porch in an abandoned stable would provide a much more comfortable space than my tent. Everyone began to pack their sleep systems away and we were gathering to pray together when everything changed.
Jerome stood before us and told us that he, Raquel, and Lindsey had sought the guidance of their leadership and had come to the conclusion that the Lord was not asking us to return to Omalo, but to press forward into the remaining four days of the trek. He offered a moment for us to check with the Spirit and then asked for our responses.
“Don’t speak.” The Lord CLEARLY whispered to me.
Confused, I returned to the group and kept my gaze on the grass beneath my feet, grabbed my pack and then took my place as the caboose of the group as we navigated the trail to Girevi.
One of the ideas that Jesus has been teaching me is that I can verbally process with Him. It draws us into deeper intimacy as I learn my position as a member of his Bride. That’s been tough for me, but I knew that’s what He was asking me to practice right now, so I ran through the situation in my head and kept asking myself one question.
“Do I actually hear the voice of God?”
If I do, then why are we going the opposite way of what He told me. He kept affirming that in me and I refused to believe it until I finally asked Him to restore my joy to me if we were following His voice and almost immediately we walked passed a group of sheep and goats down by the river and that brought the biggest smile to my face because baby goats are my favorite animal.
Not too long after that, my brother, Kevin, came to me and gave me a word.
“I feel like God is telling me to let you know that you DO hear his voice. You DID hear him correctly.”
I don’t know why, but that hit me as truth a lot faster than His voice in my own mind.
I can’t explain the peace that I began to feel as I embraced the fact that there was no turning back now. We’re here.
My time of processing ended with two specific questions to ask my leaders about why they handled the situation the way that they did and God told me he’d bring that up when the time comes, but I shouldn’t seek the opportunities for myself.
We stopped for a break next to the river and Raquel looked up the hill to a shepherd family that had been watching us hike and she gave them a shout, “Do you know Jesus?” Before they could even respond, which they wouldn’t because they didn’t know much English, she busted up the hill looking back at us “They said no, so I’m gonna go tell them.” Jacken followed behind her and the rest of us hung out next to the river before we saw the silhouette of Raquel come to the edge of the hill with her arms high over her head. Her left hand balled into a fist and her right hand holding a wedge that we all recognized immediately. God had given us WATERMELON again!!!!
The team climbed up to join her, met the family and they showed us incredible hospitality by giving us watermelon, bread, cheese, and some homemade beer.
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Just a little family picture.
Raquel was quick to let them know that God has been providing watermelon for us as a sort of sign that we were on the right track and they rejoiced at His faithfulness with us and invited us to “wait for the flesh to boil.” I’m not kidding when I tell you that they prepared an insane feast for us that included bread, two types of lamb, tomatoes, cucumbers, melon, coffee wafers, butter cookies, coffee, and homemade wine. They also invited us to stay the night on their property, but we knew that we needed to press on, so we parted ways and headed toward Girevi.
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Our FEAST! Creds to Jacken for this picture.
On the way, I got to have a one on one with my old team leader turned squad leader, Lindsey and she called some hard stuff out in me. I asked for some feedback and she delivered and praise God, she didn’t hold back. It was pretty emotional for me to receive, but so incredibly necessary.
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I began to cry and then Lindsey comforted me so kindly.
Upon arriving in the village, we registered with the border guards, set up camp, and found dinner within our budget yet again. The Lord’s provision this far has left me astounded, constantly.
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Our dinner spread in Girevi!
Girevi to Kvakhidi Meadows
14 Kilometres or 8.7 Miles
July 27, 2021
Not knowing what was ahead, I opened my journal and wrote this to describe this day:
Today was undoubtedly the most physically demanding day of our trek and I’m feeling it all over my body. My comfort today came from the ever changing views and creation’s cry of adoration ascribing glory to you, Father.
God’s provision of food today came to us when we found a lone shepherd in his home in the afternoon. We walked up to him and he invited me to help him move is boiling cauldron and we took turns guessing what was in the pot and to our surprise, our friend Leo (pronounced Leyo) was boiling bread! He so kindly shared his bread, cheese, tomatoes, tea, coffee, and some milky yogurt substance with us before we prayed for him and continued on our journey.
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praying for Leo and then his dogs followed us for a little stretch!
When we arrived at the meadows, we consulted with the men working in the shepherd shack and they didn’t have our typical spread, but they did have packages of spaghetti noodles, butter, and salt that they allowed us to buy off them, so we cooked our poor man’s noodles and called it a day. We knew that today was tough, but looking at the stats, tomorrow wasn’t looking any bit easier. We needed all the rest we could get.
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Our view of the meadows from afar.
Check out what happened next HERE.
I love you.
AWM
