We were five Americans, our guide Sunil and six Sherpa porters. Our trek was from Lukla, Nepal to Mount Everest base camp. The round trip distance is about 100 miles with no flat trail area. It’s all up or down, mostly up.
Nepal is a small country between Tibet and India. Mt. Everest is the highest mountain in the world 29,035 feet above sea level. We had backpacks but the Sherpas left camp early each morning and carried the camping and cooking gear. I acquired my introduction to the concept of acclimatization high in the Himalaya. The higher we ascended, the less oxygen there was in the air. Having to breathe in the cold, dry air in greater volume to get the same amount of oxygen, dried out our throats and lungs and caused in some of us a severe cough.
My abdominals were so sore after a few days, I had to hold my gut to cough and it still hurt like being kicked by a mule. The Himalaya has been described as magnificent misery and that description is one I definitely agree with.
Our first night camp was at Namche Bazar. We had ascended a little over 2000 feet and fifteen miles over very rough terrain the first day. We stayed there an extra day to let our lungs and blood acclimatize. Normally that takes six weeks.
The next night was Portse Tenga. By this time we were getting used to sleeping in tents on very cold ground and the misery factor was already pretty high but nothing compared to what it would be in another week. We would be at Gorakshep, only a few miles from the base of Mt. Everest.
At Portse Tenga there were a few hours of daylight left after we set up camp. I noticed the Sherpas had found a flat area and they had a Frisbee. They were accustomed to the high elevations and the shortage of oxygen did not seem to bother them in the least.
There was however, a little problem; they did not know how to hold a Frisbee for the throw. Watching them for a few minutes trying to throw the Frisbee like a baseball, I couldn’t stand it any longer. I did not know how they would feel about an American giving them a Frisbee throw lesson but it was worth the chance.
What was the worst they could do? Throw me off a mountain! That didn’t seem likely, so proceeding to their Frisbee field I gestured for the Frisbee. The Sherpa looked apprehensive but handed it to me. I showed him how to position his hand on the Frisbee and move it under his other arm and sling it with a spin. Giving it his best effort the disk wobbled off target and crash landed about thirty feet from the others.
When it came back to our side, I took his hand and positioned it on the Frisbee in the correct position. He slung it again and it proceeded much closer to the intended target, spinning perfectly flat.
Success! He and the others jumped up and down shouting. They came over wanting me to show them how to hold the Frisbee. We played until dark and after that, even with the language barrier, we became friends. That barrier prevented the sharing of the Gospel and we did not have an interpreter for their dialect.
After the Frisbee throwing, we had some interesting experiences with our porters; we laughed, played cards and threw snow balls. With the cards they played hearts and one in our group taught them how to play poker.
Sunil told my son that he had been guiding treks to the Everest region for many years and had never seen an American do what I did with the young Sherpas. Most Americans isolated themselves from the indigenous people but that’s just not me.
Trekking in mountains has been one of my greatest experiences. Some of the trips I have been alone but the thrill of meeting people of other cultures, places and ethnic origins is also very good.
Being a curious and friendly sort, I meet many people. A simple smile and hello opens a lot of doors. Most when spoken to, display an air of friendliness.
Of all people, Christians should be the friendliest people in the world. We are blessed with eternal salvation given to us by God on earth, Emmanuel (Matthew 1: 23) who sacrificially gave His life for our eternal salvation.
All He asks us to do is believe. John 3: 16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
The variances in personalities make me wonder if we’re all accurately classified. Going into many churches in which we’ve not been has become an exciting experience. Making it a point to greet people I’ve never seen before has become a challenge. It is interesting to see the reactions especially when I’m the visitor.
I find it alarming that so many “happy” Christians are so sad or gloomy. Of course we’re not all alike in personality or the shyness factor, but we must make an effort to welcome visitors into our churches.
I fear greatly for the many that have gone to a church diligently seeking a spiritual connection and because of the treatment they received never returned.
If we do not feel a burden for those without the knowledge of the saving grace of our Jesus, somewhere along the way, we’ve missed the point.
Van Yandell is a retired Industrial Arts teacher, an ordained gospel evangelist and commissioned missionary. His email: vmy2121@outlook.com