Climb, Climb Up 🌄 Sunshine Mountain

Climb, climb up sunshine mountain

Heavenly breezes blow;

Climb, climb up sunshine mountain

Faces all aglow.

Turn, turn from sin and doubting,

Look to God on high,

Climb, climb up sunshine mountain

You and I.

Do you remember that little song from Sunday School? That's what I was thinking about the other day. I guess that's what you could say we did - Climb Up Sunshine Mountain. Except it wasn't all sunshine, and sometimes we weren't exactly climbing, but more like crawling. And..... it isn't exactly a mountain. But we made it! And our faces were definitely all aglow!

A friend, Shanda,  invited me to join her and a few others to go "up to the cross." We had planned to go last year when she was here but it didn't work out. So, this year we did it. Shanda invited two trusty guides, Juan and Junior, to lead us.  Juan asked "Do you want to take the long, winding way, or the direct route?" No discussion - we took the direct route. 

Whenever you go walking in the Colonia, it is never direct. We had so many opportunities to stop and share. Shanda and her group including two young teens, and a newly retired woman (who turned out to be from St. Thomas, Ontario!), had come prepared to share Jesus. They were carrying soaps wrapped in small crocheted bags/wash cloths. Shanda shared over and over, in Spanish, that we can wash our bodies with soap, but it is Jesus who cleans us from the inside. 

Shanda sharing her love for Jesus.

It turns out, the direct route had a few obstacles. Part way along, at a fork in the path, a house owner told us that the path Juan planned to take was impassable, but we could take the other path up a set of steps (stairs are for wimps we thought!) and would get to the road to the cross. I really kind of wonder if the house owner got a little giggle about sending us that way...... 

But, more sharing opportunites presented themselves. We were in a part of the Colonia I have never visited. And so for me, it was an interesting trek. Until the rain started.  And Shanda's asthma kicked in. 

Shanda wrote about this in Facebook. She wrote: 

For the first time in 6 years, I didn’t think I was going to make it! My left Achilles started burning but the worst part was my asthma BUT sometimes God takes our breath so that others can serve! We passed out the crocheted soap savers as we climbed the Colonia and when my lungs gave out and I couldn’t breath much less talk, it was such a blessing for the girls to step up and take over!

That was the first of two lessons Shanda shared with me that day. Do I need my breath taken away so I can allow others to step in and be blessed/be the blessing? For me it was a thrill to see two hesitant teens step up.

The rain was a double blessing. It stopped while we sheltered in a porch in a small house and the girls stepped up to share with the family who had invited us in out of the rain. Shanda had the opportunity to get her asthma under control. And there was no going back - the path back was as slippery as the path ahead. So - on to the cross. 

And we did find the road (I use that word loosely), and made it! It was on "the rock" where Shanda taught her second lesson.  We were overlooking the roofs of the homes in the Colonia - a view that always thrills me. She wrote about that too.  She said: 

When God looks down on the Earth, he sees his beautiful creation and he sees us scattered throughout the earth.... and he sees our souls, his children and those who are still lost. That is what the Colonia looks like from the top. It always puts into perspective for me how he sees us.
It’s a very hard life they live on the colonia and it’s very hard to get to them! They don’t get many visitors here. It’s raw here on this jungle mountain.

My desire is to be a light to those God sees. The houses we saw?  Some would be home to other lights, and some are homes with lots of darkness. My job is just to be a light - on a mountain, or on the street, or wherever my feet take me. 

From up above the Colonias, looking north. I could even see our neighbour's house! (We're treed in.)

Turn around - looking south - and we saw the new Colonia where so many newcomers from the Mainland are settling. 

And so, yes, we did make it up to the cross. 

And we also walked back down the hill. No rain!  We took the long, winding path which turns out to be a path/road I use sometimes when visiting - I've just never gone up, up, up to the top. We did see people who shine their light. And we saw some who might be in the dark. But, all are seen - and loved - by God.  Maybe another opportunity will come and I will be able to share the lessons Shanda shared with me.  

But, I plan to wait until it is sunny for the climb up Sunshine Mountain next time, and to take the path more travelled.