We ride at Dawn.

In a few hours I leave for the mountains. I am wearing only one outfit the entire time, with an extra kurta in my pack for village visits.We will trek in the Himalayan mountains for the greater part of a month, before crossing to India until February. (I’ll definitely buy more clothing in India lol— but not bringing it while I must carry everything on my back.)

77 days of traveling place to place, making contacts for freedom. Snow waist-deep in some places, no immediate access to pure water, or warm water, often unable to bathe because getting wet in the highest altitudes of the earth, in the coldest months of the year, means getting sick. A team of 9 fearless friends. What an honor. What a privilege. This is the most character developing “Yes” of my life. May I always say yes to Jesus.

There’s a guy here (Peter) from whom I’ve begun to shamelessly solicit bike rides for my errands because he drives to my taste (craaaazy). And now I’m wondering how I can ever go back to bland American roads, sterilized by timely pothole-fillings and traffic laws.

Last night he drove me to Min Mart for some last minute snacks, and a pop-up market bedecked the green. Live music — and an open mic. Peter ran into a friend, we sat down to chat, and Peter told me to go sing.

5 minutes later I was serenading the entire market with Country Roads (John Denver) because that was the only American song any man present could strum on the guitar.

I love you guys. I‘m not sure when I’ll get WiFi now, but I’ll update you whenever I can. I’ll be back near the end of February.

And then I’m climbing Everest real quick.