A Serving Free-Spirited Adventurer - Freedom Challenge Africa

Testimony from Sue’s Fifth Journey to Kilimanjaro to Celebrate 10-Years as a Ministry

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!”
Philippians 2:3-8

The following is a testimony from our free-spirited adventure partner, Sue. She has been serving us for many years by organizing challenges, including our latest one to Kilimanjaro! Check out the highlights from our first ever challenge, which Sue also organized to Mt. Kilimanjaro. We know you will be blessed by her story, so read on!

Serving

“Servant-heartedness. That is the lesson God taught me on Kilimanjaro. It may have been my fifth time to this mountain, but God spoke to me in such a new way, especially as it relates to serving others. It started with our guides and porters. They showed such immense humility and eagerness to serve our group of 26 ladies. From the person who cleaned our toilets, to the people who set up our tents daily, to those who brought coffee or tea to our tent each morning, and the list goes on. Even after the challenge, and they had already received their tips, they were still serving! That spoke volumes to me, and even makes me emotional to share about it!

Even after the challenge, and the guides and porters had already received their tips, they were still serving! That spoke volumes to me, and even makes me emotional to share about it!
-Sue from Free-Spirit Adventures

But what happened on the night before the summit attempt was not what I was expecting. I was hoping, planning, and had to trained to summit this mountain all along! However, God had a different plan. It wasn’t that I felt my body couldn’t do it. After a difficult day one, my body felt great! I had no problems adjusting to the altitude and my feet were miraculously feeling great as did the rest of my body. But God not only wanted me to see the example of such servant hearted people, He also gave me to opportunity to practice it!

But God not only wanted me to see the example of such servant hearted people, He also gave me to opportunity to practice it as well!
Sue

Summit Day

It had been decided in the final groups’ planning for the summit push that I was to lead a group of three women at a slightly slower pace. I entered the mess tent around 10pm to find one of the ladies’ oxygen levels was not acceptable. We could even hear a ‘gurgling’ in the lungs. The tough decision was made for her to go back down the mountain. I knew that I needed to accompany her, with a small team of experienced guides, who carried the oxygen cylinder, our gear, etc. It was an easy decision for me. While some people surmised that it saved this lady’s life, I don’t believe so. However, I knew I had to go down with her, along with the professional guidance of the team, to get her the medical attention she needed.

Even during this time, the guides and porters were serving us with a professional and joyful attitude – treating this matter with professional care, checking her oxygen saturation and pulse regularly, as well as carrying our packs and setting up our tent. That continued to inspire me. Thankfully we got down the mountain the following day, a car was waiting for us, and the team got her to hospital for the medical help she needed. It only slightly hit me later that I missed out on my fifth time summitting the Roof of Africa. But I had my own personal summit, even though it wasn’t at the top of the mountain.

More importantly, I learned a timeless lesson of what it means to serve like Christ served. Nothing can beat that! I pray I take this lesson with me through the rest of life. Will you pray this for me too? What a beautiful attitude as well as we think about serving vulnerable and enslaved women and children in Africa?”