Adventure Athlete - to the Mtn!
It's my "Year of 40 Things" - my fortieth birthday turning into a birth-year where I tackle 40 things that are deeply meaningful or bring great joy. A few of these things are small, but a few are pretty big, like getting ordained (a discernment and qualification process for vocational ministry in the Church). THIS - climbing for a cause is absolutely the ethos of this theme!
Over the last 5 months I’ve been stretched. I’ve never physically trained this hard, doing CrossFit workouts 3x a week, climbing Mt. Wilson (elev 4747) just for training :) and adjusting my nutrition. Wildly enough in this period I was called back for a biopsy (negative!), laid out for a week with a low-back spasm, tapered off of a medication and worked through the detox symptoms, got bit on my leg by yet another (6x!) dog, finally kicked a 6 week ear infection and have been nursing a lingering and painful foot injury.
Its not just been the physical challenge, but I’ve asked hundreds of people to consider stretching their finances to partner with World Vision in sponsoring kids. I'm so fired up that we've reached 40 sponsorships so far!! This is incredible! That is $1560.00 in MONTHLY support for World Vision! Every ONE sponsorship affects FOUR other kids, so 160 kids are directly getting resources for clean water, education, nutrition, trafficking protection and spiritual vitality!!
I’ve put in the hard prep work, but I am still committed to the hardest parts of this endeavor - making the summit next week by climbing 19,341 feet up, AND securing the final 20 sponsors!
Go HERE to sponsor: https://www.teamworldvision.org/participant/Beth-Eckloff-Paz
I’m feeling all the mix of things: some nervous feelings - How will my lungs handle the thin oxygen with my asthma? Grief hits at odd times… and honestly I’m a little tired from a long ministry push. Tonight I’ll journal over my last American meal of Chicago’s deep dish pizza and with a good night of sleep - I’m ready to say JAMBO to Mt. Kilimanjaro!!!
#40/60/19341