Hello all,
Each year, there are around 2,500 people who set out to hike
the Appalachian Trail (or “AT”). This 2,189-mile trail spans between Georgia
and Maine. Sacrificing most of life’s basic amenities, these “thru-hikers”
spend upwards of six months living on only things they can carry in hopes of
reaching the trail end. Enduring brutal weather conditions and multiple
hardships, only one in four of the hikers who start this journey end up
completing it.
So why
would someone subject themselves to such enduring discomfort? While many thru-hikers actually enjoy the
simplicity and challenges of this lifestyle, studies show that a large majority
of thru-hikers are seeking spiritual truth and personal significance on this
journey. Sadly, many of those who
complete the physical portion of this trip still find themselves spiritually
unsatisfied.
Since I was a child, I have always found myself in awe of the
great outdoors. Having graduated college, the opportunity of fulfilling a
lifelong dream of thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail has come. I will be hiking
with my best friend Max Nash and his dog Apollo. Max has also recently
graduated from college with his bachelors in Christian Studies with a concentration on missions. With this
opportunity, it is our desire and plan to use
relationship evangelism, prayer, and care ministry to present hikers with the
adventure of a relationship with Jesus Christ and the Gospel of grace and
forgiveness in Him. During the next six months, we will be embracing
this calling of radical abandonment of the comforts of the world and stepping
into the path God has for us.
We will be leaving around March 10th and I will
use this blog to keep everyone updated on everything that is going on as we
hike the trail. Whether it is the people we meet and the relationships built or
the struggles of everyday life on the trail. I will be as open as I can, to
ensure you all know exactly how our journey is going.
I am looking forward to embarking on this mission, and hope
that each and every one of you will follow along and continually pray for God
to work through Max and I as well as our well-being.
