8/23/89 Wet Sleeping Bags & Rope Burn

I can’t believe it. I mean, it’s the total opposite of what I had planned.

Last night I thought to myself [and noted from past experience] that either the morning dew or rain will always give you a wet tent and sleeping bag. So what I do is take my large plastic bag and put the bottom half of my sleeping bag inside. I do that thinking that I’ll have a dry sleeping bag and feet that aren’t soggy in the morning.

Now, can you guess what happened?

I woke up to find myself dry, my mat dry, the tent bottom dry, Eric and his sleeping bag dry, and the bottom of my sleeping bag wet! Of all things. Well, I thought and came to the scientific fact that heat generating from within an enclosed plastic covering produces moisture condensation. I’ve also learned never to sleep inside a plastic bag. Boy, I’ll never do that again. I’m glad I learned that early.

Jogging, I learned, was so much fun that I’ve decided to get into a regular schedule every day (starting the week AFTER Highlander!) I really enjoy it and have found that it’s one of my strengths. I hope to one day join the cross country team at Houghton, but I will just trust the Lord for His leading. Thank you, Lord, for my health and my ability to run, and may I use it to bring glory and honor to your name.

Here we are at the climb. . . Woe and wow! It’s incredible, awesome! The expressions on everyone’s faces are a sight in themselves. The sky above the top ridge is beautiful and also the view is tremendous.

I just belayed and my hands are killing me. Anna was climbing and she had a tough climb element, the Army Days climb. She struggled at times, but was determined not to give up. Anna is really a person who fully commits herself to whatever she does. She has really taught me a lot about self-confidence. She also changed her perspective and searched every angle fully. From that she chose her route and succeeded to the top carabiner. She fully trusted me and I then felt the unity between her and I in my climb. We relied on each other and trust in God to pull her through.

I MADE IT! I’VE CONQUERED ROGUE GALLERY!

My first climb. It was attempted by Terry and Rich, both of which tried super hard with strong determination, but just got worn out and frustrated. Matt later tried and made it. I followed Matt and made it too. That really felt good and built my confidence. I learned to trust in the strength of my arms and the rock and the Lord. . . TOTALLY.

My next climb was Rogue Gallery. I again followed Matt, who did an excellent climb. I got hooked up and started up. It was fairly easy up to the cave part. But once under there you couldn’t see where to go. The tree right there is so tempting to use but it really doesn’t help you. You really have to trust in your feet to push you out and over. I tried and failed at the attempt, but I really asked God to give me the strength because I was being quickly drained of all, and I mean all my energy.

But even after, I still slipped and boy, was I scared. I got closer but only very slowly. I had to jam my arm in the crack but, unfortunately, my right arm was still really sore from rope burn. The pain was so intense and the task so difficult that failure was flashing before me.

I really didn’t know whether I would make it or not. The Lord really revealed to me a lot about myself, there in that awkward spot. But I surged forth with my every last bit of energy and reached above to a better hold. I then had made it. The encouragement from above and below was so needed and helpful. I felt like part of a family, really. Thanks, everyone, for your faith in me and thank you, Jesus, for giving me the strength and protection.