In June 2026, in the early hours of a Sunday morning, the youth at Triumphant Love loaded into four vans, and set out for a 16-hour drive to Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp in Westcliffe Colorado. Prior to which we had been planning, packing, and hydrating like crazy for the week ahead. Once we finally arrived, we were quickly welcomed by the kind smiling faces of the wonderful camp staff and a delicious home cooked dinner.
Monday was spent building community with activities that strengthened old friendships as well as new ones. We quite literally learned to lift each other up as we pulled friends over a wall and raised each other up over our heads. Next, we headed to the high ropes course where many traversed long and difficult obstacles (very) high in the air. Closing out the day we, again, ate a fantastic meal, worshiped together, and prepared for the big hike the following day.
On Tuesday, we got to celebrate a birthday before we split into three groups, ready to conquer three different hiking trails. As we left our phones and technology behind, the trek felt uncomfortable at first but it was not long before conversation filled the air. As our endurance faded, the encouraging words of friends kept us going until we finally reached our campsite. It is truly special to experience the connections that are formed with one another in nature admiring God’s creation. From cooking food on our campfire, hoisting the bear bag into a tree (Trail 3 actually had a bear sighting!), and setting up our tents (for which many of us was a first time experience) we ended the day feeling accomplished and ready to pass out in our sleeping bags.
Early Wednesday morning, we set off on a day hike with a goal to reach the peak of the mountain. Trails 1 and 2 each hiked up opposite sides of the same mountain, where they got to meet up at the top. Trail 1 made it up first where they watched Trail 2 ascend from above, while Trail 3 hiked up a separate mountain. The following day we hiked back down to the main camp, and spent the rest of our week in fellowship together, worshipping, white water rafting, and resting.
While some went on this trip worried about the physical demands, and others not, everyone had moments where it felt hard to keep going. I think we can all say, despite those moments of wanting to quit, with encouragement of friends and the Holy Spirit alongside us, all of us persevered through and we made it to the top together. I feel confident in speaking for everyone when I say that we all came off the mountain feeling a tremendous sense of accomplishment and incredibly proud of one another. This was an exceptional experience that we are all so grateful for, and I know we will always cherish that very special week in the mountains of Colorado.
