We are well underway in training these days. What a journey it is becoming already! The two-week “tell it tour” in Pennsylvania and Maryland last month was amazing and we met many new friends and partners along the way! (We will have a video to post for you in the next few days!)

Also since our last post, we have received the nicest correspondence with Pearl Alliance about the climb! They are fully on board with us and excited about being selected as one of our charities to support. You can watch a video about that charity on our Facebook page.

To bring you up to speed, especially if you are new here, let me say that, although I’ve been a Wellness Coach for the past 12 years, I am not naturally athletic and I am certainly not an extreme athlete! Yes, I am strong, healthy, and mindful that my body is divinely designed for a purpose. But, in many areas, I am just like most of you…

I am an ordinary person housing an extraordinary dream waiting to be birthed into a natural environment that, at best, seems a highly unlikely incubator for that dream.

But climbing mountains was never one of those dreams! Never. Coaching people back to a wealth of health, Spirit, Soul, and Body, seeing them live long, satisfying lives, in the fullness of their purpose… now that is my dream!

So why would this ordinary gal from Arkansas, nearing my 50th birthday, with 8 children and 3 grandchildren, a husband and full-time ministry, train for months, travel to Africa, and climb Mt. Kilimanjaro? All 20,000+ feet of it, five miles into the sky-high! WHY climb?

To remember you. And to remind you, and me, that health and wealth are more than pie-in-the-sky unattainable dreams. They are sure and present possibilities for those who will believe that there is a better way of life and ACT on that belief. And to use that wealth and health to tell others, many living in horrible circumstances, that they are remembered too!

We stepped out to make someone else’s dream –  be it health, wealth, safety and security, good drinking water, or Good News delivered to the uttermost parts of the world – we stepped out to make that dream not just a possibility, but a reality.

And, so can you! Join us for the journey and be inspired as you take your own type of mountain!

TRAINING STRATEGY

Listen, we live in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas and Southwest Missouri. They are sufficiently steep hills, but they are nowhere near as tall as Mt. Kilimanjaro. When we began to train, I could hike about 2.5 miles daily on these hills without injury. I did other forms of exercise, like rebounding, Pilates, etc. but not hiking. So, in order to be in top hiking shape by January, I set a goal to hike the hills 6 out of 7 days per week and increase by just a half-mile every month until January.

That strategy, along with some monthly mountain hikes and other special training excursions, combined with cross-training on EWOT, the exercise of Olympic athletes, was our training plan to prepare me for the climb.

(Pop over to “Shh! Secret Exercise Tips of Olympians” at The Picture of Health site to learn about EWOT.)

But… you need to hear this! HERE’S THE GOOD REPORT: 

Wisdom and strength are growing in me and God is supplying tools to take that mountain.

As of this week, just three months into training, I am now at 6.5 miles of Ozark hill hiking 5-6 days per week! Yes, that is several months ahead of schedule, thanks to the Lord’s equipping spiritually, emotionally, and physically, with some amazing love and some great new nutrition.

Every step I have had exactly what I needed to rise a little higher! I am so thankful for that and for all the prayers that are keeping me going strong despite some huge hurdles!

And I believe, no, I know! He will do the same for you! Whatever your mountain is, we are standing with you for God’s best to change your circumstances into victories as you step out on the path of hope!

So, connect with us if you haven’t yet! Join us for the epic journey – more than we ever imagined! Be a part of it all as I train, as our team hikes the hills and the mountains, remembering each of you with every footstep.

Our partners and sponsors are rooting for you, remembering you, and remembering that God has the GOOD plan for each of you – it is a plan to prosper you, to heal your body, and to do you good!

I’ll see you on the mountain tops, or from them, if you snooze! 

(P.S. If you are interested in hearing more about how I DOUBLED my weekly mileage in just 8 days, Dr. Ray and I will be sharing about this powerful new nutritional discovery with our team this month in The Joshua Groups online wellness coaching. DO IT NOW. Champions live differently… they don’t make excuses!)