Al Volcan (to the Volcano)

Breakfast started at 7:15 which was bagels and cold cereal. We then headed on the bus around 8:30 for our volcano hike. The bus ride took about an hour and a half and was very fun with lots of beautiful scenery. We saw our first small garbage dump, and traveled up the mountain at a slow pace with our bus! Two-thirds of the way was pavement the rest was dirt roads very curvy with lots of potholes! The scenery was absolutely gorgeous but Joel was so frustrated that it wasn't a clear day to see the scenery, and we couldn't see how it could be any more beautiful!!

At the base camp, there was a little village with lots of children selling walking sticks. You could even rent a walking stick, and the child was waiting on the bottom of the volcano when you returned so he could have his stick back! Some of us were a little apprehensive about the hike, but all had a Great attitude and were ready to GO! :)

The first 10 minutes of the hike was very difficult and very steep. Legs were burning! After that it was a black dirt path that would sometimes be level, but still quite uneven. Everyone was encouraged to go at their own pace, and we all found our little groups to climb with. We saw cows grazing on the mountainside and dogs everywhere that we named, and much of the time we could hear the volcano huffing like a dragon chasing us! Some named the volcano Viktor and when we would hear him snorting we'd say he's getting mad! It's really hard to describe the hike other than to say that EVERYONE did such a fantastic job giving it their all, not complaining, and having sooo much fun! Some groups took frequent breaks, not so much because of the strain, but because of the altitude. Aubrey wanted me to be sure to say that she made it just as far as the guys and got to see the lava up close. Everyone made it to the area before the hard lava started and had some of our lunches. After that, it was hiking through the hardened lava rock. I would describe it kind of like walking on the rocks at the pier, it's like a giant puzzle and you have to try and figure out where to step next. It just went on and on and on! It was pretty warm and you could see the steam coming out of the rocks. We would describe it as a sauna - very dry heat, but also with a cool breeze. A couple of times some clouds rolled in and we were in the middle of them - you couldn't even see the people 20 feet from you! It felt really weird too. The hike to the top took an hour-and-a-half, but we explored on the top for a lot longer than that. We left the bus at 10 and returned at 2.

Everyone made it to the top, not of the volcano, but to the spot where you could see the lava up close. After some trial and error, we were able to find a spot to roast the hot dogs, and they were really good! It ranks right up there with a dog at the ball park! :)

After a group pic, we headed back down which took about a half hour. Jamie Hop and Tami S. are writing this and it's hard to tell you the beauty, glory and awesome experience of this day. The whole group would say that! We had such a fantastic time and really bonded as a group. A great way to start the week.

When we got back to the center, we only had 45 minutes until supper, so some of the girls donned the suits and took a group shower, giggling the whole time! :)

Then we walked a block and a half to a fabulous restaurant where we were served kind of like a fajita tray that we could assemble. We were all soo hungry from the hike, we devoured all of it. We had to order a 2nd tray for the guys table!

Walked back to the center in the rain, and now have some more veg time. We'll do personal quiet time and small group devos along with team time talking about the day when we give some 'Yea God's' again.

We don't feel like we did the day justice by writing about it, but we gave it our best!

Jamie Hop and Tami Sneller