Rocky Mountain High, Colorado

Okay, so it wasn't the Colorado Rockies...more like Mt. Redcloud, a 14,043 ft. mountain outside a little town called Lake City, Colorado....

This past week I went with the high school youth group from my church to Camp Redcloud. A Christian Moutain Adventure camp in Colorado. It was an AMAZING week in an AMAZING place! Lives were changed and God revealed Himself to each of us in everywhere we went, in every activity we did - from service projects, to high ropes courses, to our overnight camping trip, white water rafting, and to the peak hike of this 14,000 ft. mountain, where my story takes place....

I have to admit, I didn't think I was going to make it through the first 15 minutes. All that was running through my head was: "What did I get myself into!? I don't think I am going to make it all 6hrs!"

We were clear out of the woods and were walking along the rushing river of melted snow when I heard God sweetly whisper to me: "Chiharu, stop. Take a look around you. My beloved, I have brought you here. I want to show you my glory. I will be your Strength. Trust in Me. I love you."

That was when my attitude and my focus turned to that on Christ. Now, that's not to say that the rest of the uphill journey was easy. There were still parts of the climb that were difficult but the difference was my focus on the Lord. Knowing that He alone is my Strength, that I was dependent on Him with each step, made the journey so rich. This type of perseverance with every inch, the dependence I had on Him with every breath in the increasing altitude, revealed to me how I desperately need Him with every minute, every decision, every aspect of my life.

We were at about 13,000 ft. when the weather started to take a turn for the worse. The wind had picked up, snow was starting to fall, and the temperature dropped to below 30 degrees. We were cold. We knew we were not going to make it to the top that day. Being so close to the finish line, seeing the end, the goal, right in front of you was disappointing. But then I turned around and saw where the Lord had taken me. Breathtaking! Absolutely breathtaking! The trees, the valleys, the mountains, all covered with snow and a ray of sunshine breaking through the clouds - God's glory was all around us! Tears, not from the cold or the wind, but tears of overwhelming joy and love slowly trickled down my face. This is what it means to be alive! This is what is meant to experience God's glory!!

"One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard; that you, O God are strong, and that you, O Lord, are loving. Psalm 62:11-12