As we came back out of the classroom, other children (not in school) began to gather around us. Several of us began trying to snap some pictures of them without being too obtrusive. We quickly learned, however, that most of the children loved having their picture taken. They especially loved seeing the digital image pop up on the screen afterwards and would crowd around us as we showed them off. They would laugh and poke and point at each other when they saw someone on the screen. We continued up the mountain and children were constantly joining us from each home and hillside we passed. Before long we had at least 50 children trekking up the mountain with us. It was incredible. I’ve never seen anything like that in my life. Thus, it truly was the hike of a lifetime! The children would run passed us, many of them barefoot, up the steep crossings, jumping from rock to rock, climbing trees, chasing cows, and whatever other mini-adventures they could find along the way. All the while they were in awe of us, our cameras, our voices, and our laughter. Some would imitate sounds we would make. We encouraged them to sing songs with us as we hiked. It was a beautiful sound! I just hummed along since I don’t speak Swahili. Many of the children were 4 or 5 years old and didn’t yet speak much English. Most of the older children spoke at least broken English and would say a few things to us here and there. I asked one little boy named Brian what he learns about in church and he told me about Moses parting the Red Sea. I asked what he’s learned about Jesus and he spoke of Jesus healing the sick, walking on water, and dying for us so that we may live with Him in Heaven one day. I thank God for the Gospel being present on that mountainside and I pray that more and more children will grow up hearing and believing in God’s Word.

Once we finally reached the top of the mountain, at least 2.5 hours later, we came to a market-type area. To me it looked like a colorful ghost-town you would picture out West. There were some people around, mostly older men… and of course the 50+ children that reached the peak with us. There were some little shops to buy sodas and bubble gum. Again, looking around everything seemed so surreal. I had simply expected a hike to a typical mountaintop with a panoramic view. Never would I have imagined all the smiling children and the colorful and mysterious buildings. We stayed up top for some time, took more pictures of and with the children, talked to some of the local adults, and began our trek back down another part of the mountain. By this time the children were even more friendly with us. Many would reach out to hold our hand, and shortly after beginning the descent down the mountain I stopped taking pictures as I had a precious little girl on my right and an adorable little boy on my left. Coming down a dusty mountain holding hands with little ones is no easy task, but by God’s grace none of the three of us did more than gently stumble from time to time. When we were about 20 or 30 minutes from campus, the last of the children waved goodbye and headed back toward their homes. Hopefully they made it back before dark. We barely did, and were greeted by a warm plate of food that we all inhaled graciously. :)