The Great Wall and the Great Unknown

Ask anyone the landmarks they think of when they think of China and the Great Wall is guaranteed to be one of them.  This was the IES outing of the weekend.  It might be one of my favorite things I have ever done.  Get ready for a long one!  Trust me, its really worth it.
 

About 30 of us went along with two teachers and two RA's.  We took the bus to the Jinshanling section of the Great Wall.  Once we were out of Beijing we started driving through big hills.  My heart was so happy, I could taste the adventure awaiting.  We were blessed with gorgeous weather, sun, blue skies (China?), and not too hot or too cold temperatures.  We started hiking on the wall.  This wasn't exactly a smooth stroll along smooth cobblestones.  This wall is a couple of thousand years old.  Up and and down and around we went.  It was so fun to gaze out at the mountain landscape, to take lots of pictures, to be with my friends.  We were all a little giddy I think.  It was a pretty big moment.  We're at the point in the semester where we're staring to realize the accomplishments that we've made in coming in here, in learning language, in discovering new things.  The group drifted into two, lets call them the mountaineering group and the enthusiastic photography group.

I eventually found myself alone and between the two, a little bit on purpose.  The feeling of something profound was tugging at my heart.  The Great Unknown was feeling closer than it has before.  The thought struck me.  It was a big one.  It made me smile like a fool to myself.  "If He had never called me here, I wouldn't be here.  If I had never followed that call, I wouldn't be here."  I wouldn't have been hiking the Great Wall surrounded by the most beautiful BLUE sky.  The theme song of this time abroad is listed at the top of my blog.  In the way that God placed this song on my heart, I had the feeling that there would be something that He would reveal to me here as I sought the my limits and the Great Unknown, if I kept my eyes open.  I think I might be starting to figure it out.

So here's where my thoughts get a little less defined.  Maybe, The Great Unknown is simply knowing God Himself.  Maybe the Great Unknown is simply following Him on life's adventures.  Maybe the Great Unknown is simply loving these people, at this time, in this place.  I am here for this season and it is a good, beautiful, thing.  Over thinking it or being overly critical of myself doesn't help.

I walked on the Great Wall, and it was beautiful.  It was good.  I got praise God in His creation.  I don't think I will ever be a city girl, not without the opportunity to escape like that.  My soul needs to see God simply for who He is in the way that His creation quietly allows.  I talked and laughed and took four million pictures with some people who, I must say, are a pretty stellar crew.

Here's the next part of the story.  We stayed overnight at a little Chinese village.  The people made us amazing food and sold us overpriced souvenirs and we bought them.  We stayed in rooms that had giant HEATED beds that could sleep 6-8 people.  We watched the sun set over the Great Wall in the distance.  And oh, bless the Lord oh my soul, we got to see STARS.  There's no lights anywhere around here kind of stars.  We got to stand on the edge of a cliff and look at so many stars.  Even though the Beijing light/cloud/smog was distracting us from over a hill.  This semester has been a pretty big season of doubt for me at times.  This weekend, I had no doubts about who God is.  Bumping along the dirt road to the village in an uncomfortable van reminded me of mission trips, all of it reminded me of camp.  I feel like I got a little bit of myself back again.  And that was only the first day.

We (yes this did include me!) got up at 4am the next day for a sunrise hike.  I was told it would be grueling.  This was not a lie.  I have no idea of height or anything but we basically hiked straight up the side of a mountain to get to the highest point on the wall, Wanjing (view of Beijing).  Here was my thought process that ultimately failed me (kinda): "If I start off at the front of the pack, even if I drop back I won't be as far behind."  Our guide was and elderly Chinese man who must do this for fun regularly.  Up we climbed.  There was no xiuxi (rest) to be had.  I pushed myself and eventually stepped aside for a break.  Too late, for whatever reason I was starting to feel sick.  Water helped.  I climbed some more.  The group had spread out much more by this point, and I was with my friend Jackie (who so graciously carried my water in her pack, thus solidifying my nickname for her of Jack Pack), and one of the RA's Will.

My brain said, "you CAN do this, you WANT to do this, you HAVE to do this."  My body was debating between throwing up and passing out.  Not pleasant to say the least.  Not conducive to hiking straight up the side of a mountain.  Will and Jackie were very encouraging- "I don't think its too much farther!  You're doing great!"  Me: "I'm pretty sure you guys are just saying that but thanks for the sentiment, and I would say the same thing in your situation."  It was frustrating because mentally I wanted to do it, but I was doubting if my body would let me.  My motto of "the view from the top is always worth it" seemed suddenly possibly to disprove.  We kept going.  The last part was more climbing up rocks than anything.  I turned around and saw the world below me and I screamed (joy not fear) at the pink glow that was lighting up everything.  It was so close I could taste it.  I stopped thinking so much about what my stomach felt.  Will: "Scream when we actually get to the top!  Keep going!"

Breaking over the mountains!

I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made, Your works are wonderful, I know that full well! Ps. 139:14

Check out this golden joy!

"I lift my eyes unto the hills, where does my help come from?  My help comes from the Lord, maker of heaven and earth.  He will not let your foot slip, He who watches over you will not slumber." Ps. 121:1-3

Jack Pack!  So thankful for her that morning (and other times too)

Holy is the Lord, God almighty, the earth is filled with His glory!

We made it just in time to see the sun peak over the top of the Great Wall and turn the world GOLD.  Yep, the view from the top is always worth it.  I climbed up, and smack, touched the highest point on the Great Wall.  JOY.  We talked and laughed and marveled.  My heart was full of praise.  Glory, glory glory.  I'll let the pictures do the rest of the talking, but here's what the morning hike meant to me.  It was hard, but I did it anyways.  I couldn't have done it without the people that I was with and the God of the universe.  I saw Him even more in that morning.  His glory for the whole world.  We came down with knees shaking but hearts full.  It was the most glorious start to a day I've had in awhile.

"If you never leave home, never let go, you'll never make it to the Great Unknown, so keep your eyes open my love."