Sunday July 26, 2009
What an amazing day! We left our hotel at 6am and we took a van and arrived around 7:30am. We went to the Mutianyu Section of the Great Wall and took a chair lift to the entrance of that section. Because we went so early it was not crowded at all and the weather was fantastic! We started climbing at around 8:30am and we had until 10:30am to climb to the top and back. The whole climb was my guess around at least 2 miles of stair climbing. It was intense! My legs were shaking for a good half hour after we were done. I wasn't very smart and wore sandals, but I had no problems and was still the 3rd one out of ten to climb to the top. I was even able to run a little on the great wall! It would have been a lot better if I would have had tennis shoes though. The climb was seriously one of the most challenging, but most rewarding experiences of my life! It is hard to put into words how amazing it was! When I was climbing all I could think of was James 1:2-4, which says, "Consider it pure joy my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." It was a joy to go through that trial to see God's glory afterwards! When we got to the top I was in awe of God's beauty and creation all around the Great Wall. When our all of group had successfully made it to the top we all prayed together at the top of the Great Wall of China thanking and praising God for giving us the strength to make it to the top and see His glory revealed! Our group was sharing the scriptures that encouraged them on the way up such as Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" and Psalm 121, "I lift my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Maker of heaven and earth." It was neat that we all found our comfort in the Lord through different scriptures and were able to share that with each other how the Lord truly is our strength! We all sweated so much that it looked like we all had just ran through a car wash. I think I sweated off ten pounds myself. We were all starving by the time we got back. That was probably one of the hungriest I had ever been because we hadn't eaten since 7 that morning, it was 1pm, and we had just climbed a gazillion stairs. Grace took us to a Tex Mex place. Some of the guys ordered 3-4 meals. I had a burrito, rice and beans, some chips and queso, a piece of toast and a piece of pizza from one of the guys, and a bite of a biscuit. I wasn't even full after eating all that, but I stopped myself because I thought those probably weren't the best things to eat. I did pay for it later that day, but I was just so hungry. When we got back I took a long nap, did some lesson plans, and then went to bed. It was a tiring, but amazing day! An experience I will never forget! I would love to do it again! I can now say that I have climbed the Great Wall of China!!

"He gives strength to the weary and increases power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will walk and not be faint."
Isaiah 40:31