After our mission trip in Peru, I’m sure many people will be sharing touching testimonies and experiences. So, this time, I’ll keep things light and just tell a few fun stories from our trip to Cusco after the mission.
After we finished the mission work, our team went to Cusco, a city high up in the mountains. We planned to visit Humantay Lake, a beautiful greenish-blue glacier lake, and Rainbow Mountain, which is famous for its colorful stripes. Even though we had prepared for altitude sickness, we still felt a bit nervous and unsure about how our bodies would cope. I thought the most memorable part would be the view from Rainbow Mountain. But the thing I remember most was the hike to Humantay Lake – not the lake itself, but the journey to get there.
At the start, we had two choices: ride a horse up or hike for about an hour. I wanted to ride a horse at first, but the mountain didn’t look too steep, and a friend wanted to try hiking. So, I followed along. Big mistake – the mountain was much steeper and longer than it looked. That’s when I stopped trusting how things “look”. At first, hiking was okay. But halfway up, the path got steeper and covered in loose rocks, so we had to be very careful. The air was thin, over 4,000 meters up. I had to stop every few steps just to catch my breath, and my heart was beating super-fast. Luckily, after a short rest, I recovered quickly. Bit by bit, I found my own pace and didn’t feel so anxious. I did feel a bit stressed because my group had already gone ahead and disappeared out of sight. Only the guide stayed with us and kept encouraging us. I wanted to walk faster, but I knew if I pushed too hard, I might get altitude sickness. So, I learned to go at my own speed, pray to stay calm, enjoy the view, and walk alongside those still climbing too. One thing that really helped was the other hikers. Even if we didn’t speak, we’d smile or look at each other to say, “You’ve got this.” Some people walking down would tell us, “You’re nearly there!” – that kind of support from people who had already made it meant a lot. These little moments of encouragement helped me keep going.
When I finally got to the top and saw the lake, everyone was cheering. I think it wasn’t just about the lake – it was about finishing something tough together. I didn’t have the energy to cheer loudly – I was still catching my breath – but inside, I felt so happy and proud. It was a quiet kind of joy, like the calm, clear lake in the mountains. Peaceful and beautiful, like a gem. For me, the best part wasn’t the lake, but the journey – the struggle, the effort, the people who walked with me, and the encouragement along the way. That’s what I’ll always remember. And going back down, I tried to smile and cheer on the people still climbing, just like others had done for me. It made me think – maybe following God is a bit like that hike. It can be hard and tiring, but with others around us, some encouragement, and faith, we can keep going.
After this, I’ve come to enjoy hiking more – and I really love Peru now! If you ever get a chance to go on a Peru mission trip, don’t miss the chance to explore Cusco too!
(P.S. Big thanks to my Converse trainers! I thought I’d be riding a horse, so I didn’t wear hiking boots. But those shoes turned out to be great hiking buddies in the end!)
Pastor Tobey Chan