so, when i came upon this sight here in the picture below (backcountry of grand teton national park), i was in awe more than ever before. i literally gasped for air and then could only say – “wow.” then, soft expressions of – “oh my word.” it was stunning and overwhelming. to the right of this range was the back side of the “grand teton,” and i was not far below the peak. it was huge and encompassing. i felt small and minute in the overcast of its face. i was stunned. though there was a lot of beauty in the miles preceding this point, the last stretch here at the end of the hiking day was a long climb – over barren rock and lifeless ground. i kept seeing a horizon ahead of me that seemed to never be overtaken. and then, just as you think the climb will be eternal, the massive peaks are directly on you. but, the “scenic overlook” is minimal because just over the edge of what you see at the bottom of this picture is a drop-off, down to a crater with glacial water and a route through and down from the majestic peaks. there is only a brief spot from where to gaze on the peaks.
only, i didn’t have much gazing time. i would have had tears of awe except that at the same time, there was a white squall type storm growing. it was also overwhelmingly cold. the area where i was walking was called “hurricane pass” – for good reason. the pelting snow b-b’s were hitting at full force. i didn’t care at the moment, though. i was too stunned by the scenes in front of me – over me – swallowing me. i have been to a lot of beautiful and majestic places, but nothing has quite compared to this. but, i do not even have a good picture of the back side of “the grand” because of this storm that was swirling in and around me. you see, i had a glimpse of this miracle of creation for a meager 2 minutes. that was it. i saw the entirety of all the peaks for less than that before clouds overtook them. the sight of sheer majesty and power and beauty and immensity was a mere glimpse.
i worked so hard to get to this point. i had read that hurricane pass was “the” place to be to see the tetons; it was on lists as one of the best hikes in america. i worked out for months to reach the point that i could manage the climbs and pack-carrying to get here without passing out. and…i got 2 minutes of it. then, it was gone. hidden behind the clouds and snow. i was left frigid but having to press on because to stay and wait to see it again would have been foolish. the cold and conditions were too dangerous, and darkness was going to settle too soon. camp had to be reached and set up. i could have stayed and waited for another break of the clouds – for another glimpse, but that would have not been productive.
that night the cold went to the bone. the next morning the tent was unzipped to a nice layer of fresh snow. the peaks could still not be seen. and, all there was to do was continue out of the mountains and down to the valley, even a day earlier than planned.
but, the thing is, i wouldn’t trade any of it. sure, it would have been swell to linger at the peaks and have a clear view. but either way, it was worth it. that bit of being overtaken by creation was worth the work-outs, sugar-free eating, travel time, money to get there, the climb up and climb down. and it’s funny because the next day, even as the hike was shortened, i and my partners were having a blast. we were cold and sore and a bit bummed to be hiking out. yet, we were energized. we had some good laughs and were fully ok with pressing on to the next part of the trip. we had experienced something none of us could quite describe. we had reached the summit. the work continued, the struggles remained, but our spirits were renewed in that time.
and then, 2 days later, after more snow and cold even in the valley, we saw the peaks of the tetons in absolute clarity on the front side. they weren’t magnified in our face, weren’t as detailed, weren’t as overwhelming and near. still, the knowledge of their power and bigness were ever-present. i could still clearly picture the view from hurricane pass. we were in the valley, but the looming presence of the mountains was always there, watching over – being a guide – a regular reminder of all its amazing qualities.
this experience describes my year and reveals lessons to be learned for my everyday life.
often in my life, and especially here in uganda, all i do is work out and climb and live in the valley. i have glimpses of the majesty and power and beauty and immensity of god and his work and his spirit overcast on work and life here. then, after that moment, the storms emerge again, and the journey goes on in the cold and soreness and direction that seems so far away from that intense presence of god.
any christian is regularly challenged with needing to trust god more. i should say – any christian who is seeking more of god, more of a life of relevance in the kingdom, more maturity as a follower of jesus is going to be challenged with needing to trust god more. and so, to say that we are needing to simply trust god more can sound kind of dumb since it is an ongoing thing in most every situation of life. it’s like you tell someone – i need to trust god more. and the other person says, “well, duh.” yet, that sums up my life and the life of finding the way. and, are the two intertwined? sure. any god purpose in our lives is…our personal lives as well.
with finding the way, it is very much that we experience these incredible moments of god’s overcast presence – of provision to have great physical impacts, of salvation that is sought and received, of truths that are accepted and applied, of help that is timely and useful. it’s obvious. it’s in my face.
and then, before i know it, before i even have a chance to really enjoy what god’s done or let it soak in, there are more challenges – more storms that swirl – more pressing on in the journey that’s immediate. deaths, sicknesses, discouragements, bad roads, car problems, financial challenges, false accusations, being taken advantage of, etc. and etc. and, can i be honest? really honest? i’ve kind of resented it. i didn’t realize that i was, but i was. and, in so many ways, my energy and motivation have just been sucked out of me. i get to where i just really don’t know if i can continue on. i get more to where i want to stay and bask in the fullness of the good.
it’s just that, i know that if i try to stay in those places, i will die. if i had stayed on hurricane pass, i could have died. the wind alone was enough to knock you over.
the euphoria for a marathoner is at the end of the race. that sheer satisfaction of having survived and being renewed with a sense of purpose. (ok, i have never run a marathon, haha, but i’ll still speak on it as an authority). but, to get back to that again – to see that result – to produce that fruit – the marathoner must go out and train again. pound the pavement every day. do the monotonous. do the leg work (literally). eat right. wake early. suffer through heat and cold. and then at the next marathon, he/she gets to finish again and experience that purpose fulfilled again.
i confess that going through the daily purposes have grown harder the past months. the valleys seem deeper. the storms pushing me off the mountain stronger.
yet – yet – the mountains are always present. god is always present. (“well, duh.” i know) and so, i keep pounding the pavement. each of us here must continue to run the race with perseverance. i will cross over hurricane pass again, but the training and climb are still needed.
so, here is an “album” of some “hurricane pass” moments from finding the way this past year. and, through them, we learn to keep going because of the ones that are meant to come in 2011.
baptism of katina. she passed away in mid-december. she and rose and acayo and kenny were all lost this year, but bless god they are all with him now.
joel and 26 others were baptized. joel and his brother fred are overcoming the loss of the parents in the massacre of over 400 people that happened in one day at atiak camp in 1995.
2 shallow wells for clean water for group 3 and the surrounding community were constructed by the people working together.
a deep, bore hole well was put in at group 2. no more carrying water for 2 miles!
huts were constructed for groups 2, 3, and 4 this year – 21 in all, servicing about 110 people.
each person is proud and happy to have a shelter and proper home.
christmas meals and gifts for the kids and bibles were given to all the groups.
general blessed times of fellowship, worship, bible teaching, and prayer were regular times of connection with god and one another, bringing growth and encouragement, as the groups begin to give of themselves to the others in their communities as well.
self-sustaining. if there are few functioning business, then there are few jobs and little market for products. it is our heart to help people learn to live in productive ways and be an example of godly principles to those around them. 
it was really neat to see the people come together and discuss things. they shared a lot of challenges they face, but they also spoke of practical ways to overcome and to do things in ways that can make a difference. 
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