TruthQuest Journals:

Janie Jo
YOSEMITE, Calif. (BP)--We started the day off by repelling and climbing a small rock. Then they took us to the real rock and it was 150 feet high and classified as a 5.9 climb. It took a long time for one person to get to the top so Cara, Katie and I decided to go to the Lodge and use the bathroom. So we trecked the three or four minute walk and used the bathroom. Well, I had this great idea of going on a shortcut. Bad idea. My “shortcut” ended up taking almost an hour and a half. At one point we had been walking for about twenty minutes and stopped. I said that I thought we were lost and Katie pointed out where north was. That did not help us. We had so many adventures on our little trek. We finally found Mo in the Lodge cafeteria. It must have been so funny to see us. Three girls burst into the cafeteria and through ourselves onto David and our photographer, and Cara started crying! We were so funny, I’m sure.

Katie, Chip, Freeman and I were able to climb Lena’s Lieback. Katie was like a climber chick! She scaled that thing in eight minutes flat! Andy, who had the best time, did it in eleven. Of course, Josh had to make up all these excuses for why a girl beat him up the cliff. Anyway, Josh and Chip had a bet going. If Chip made it to the top, Josh would have to wear make-up to our Centrifuge appearance. If Chip didn’t make it to the top, Josh would get to shave his head and his “beard”. Guess who made it to the top of the mountain? Oh yes. Chip won the bet. Josh is so worried about what us girls are going to put on him. I do have so great orange eye shadow that would look great on him!

When I climbed the mountain, things didn’t go as smoothly for me as they did for Katie. I think I’m a whoosh. About half-way up, my legs and arms seriously just stopped working. My legs were shaking like jello. I really wanted to give up at several points, but I kept on going. I was so glad I did. The view was gorgeous and I overcame what, at one point, seemed impossible. The mountain also kind of paralleled with my situation with my dad. There were times when I would get a really good foot hold and I would get so excited. But there was still so much left to go. That’s how it can be with my dad. Everything will be going well, then he’ll have a bad seizure, or have to change medicine, or have another MRI. It is such a hard struggle and sometimes I want to give up. But I’m trusting that the view at the end will make it all worth it.

Verse of the Day:
Rom 5:3-5
3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
NIV

Help me to rejoice in my suffering and to produce perseverance in my life. Also give me hope. Hope that you will do what you promised by giving your love to me by the Holy Spirit. Thank you for the awesome (and humorous) events of the day.

Back to Episode 5