Before the mountains were born, before the earth or the world came to birth, you were God from all eternity and forever.

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1 March 2, 2017 Before the mountains were born, before the earth or the world came to birth, you were God from all eternity and forever. Psalm 90:2 Fr. Adam on his inspiring journey reflects on climbing Mount Kilimanjaro for the second time! In my life I was born with two passions that are very strong and that tempt me with their charm and beauty. Despite not being as young as I am (60 years in May this year), they resound within me from time to time, which I cannot resist. And this is good! These "spiritual temptations" make me forget for a moment about my pastoral duties, private life, and get me out into nature, so that I can be there to enjoy the beauty of God s creation. My first passion is climbing and the other is cycling away from crowded cities. While studying at the Seminary of the Congregation of the Resurrection in Krakow, from time to time we set up to Zakopane, the capital of the Polish mountains, where we hiked many different mountain trails. This is where my passion for mountains began. Even though the mountains in my country have many trails, they did not cause me too much difficulty (the highest peak Rysy is only 2,499 meters above sea level), so I was always tempted to venture on to higher pinnacles. Finally to fulfil my long expected dreams I went to Tanzania. There, I hiked and reached twice the Roof of Africa (Mount Kilimanjaro) in August 2015 year (rainy season) and February 2017 (dry season). Fr. Andrew Madry, (the first Resurrectionist who began working on missions in Tanzania), whenever came to Canada, would always invite me to visit his parish and while visiting to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. I postponed his invitation year after year, until another Resurrectionist Father Daniel Hinc came to Canada in 2014 and encouraged me to come to Tanzania without any excuses. During his visit to St. Joseph s Parish in Brantford, we made the final decision that the three of us (Fr. Daniel, I and my friend from Hamilton), would go together to Africa in August 2015 to climb Kilimanjaro. We would also go to the novitiate, where the new candidates begin their religious formation to the Congregation of the Resurrection and visit the 1

2 parishes under the jurisdiction of our religious order in Tanzania; and so we did. The Marangu route, which we climbed in 2015 was one of the most popular trails to be hiked. This is the schedule of the first 6 days of our mountain expedition: Start of Marangu route Day 1. The road starts at Marangu at an altitude of approx m above sea level. You have to cover the route in 5-6 hours hiking through the rainforest to the shelter Mandara Hut (2,720 m). Arriving at the Mandara Hut Day 2. The way out of the woods is on the exposed slopes of Mawenzi, on the side of the volcano Mount Kilimanjaro. A long day's walk - 16 km. Overnight was spent in the shelter Horombo Hut (3720 m). 2

3 Day 3. The travelers spend the whole day in Horombo Hut and walk around the area to be acclimated. This is a recommended trip to a height of over 4000 m. and then return to base for the night. Horombo Hut Day 4. The long approach to the shelter Kibo Hut (4720 m), is where you acutely feel the impact of altitude on the body. Arriving at the Kibo Hut Day 5. This is the most exhilarating and exhausting day as you bid to reach your goal. To exit the summit, the tourist must leave the shelter Kibo Hut at the latest by midnight. You must be prepared for a very steep, arduous and exhausting climb. On the road, even in the summer, the temperature falls below -25 degrees Celsius. We successfully climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest in Africa to Gilman's Point (5685 m). Overcoming this climb takes about 8 hours. It is at this point, most people decide to quit. On the same day after reaching the summit you have to go to the shelter Kibo Hut before noon with plenty of daylight left, then to Horombo, where you spend the night. The descent to these places, with your lungs absorbing the increase of oxygen, is a big relief. 3

4 Day 6. This is the easiest day, all downhill with oxygen intake ever-increasing. You will easily make Mandara Hut and the base in Marangu, finishing climbing. To be selected to climb Mount Kilimanjaro several essential requirements must be met: a. To have a deep desire to achieve something that is unique, difficult and fascinating. About 25,000 people annually climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Only 25 to 35% of the tourists are able to reach the top of the volcano. The main reason for failure is: not having the necessary vaccines and medicines (malaria and other tropical diseases, etc.), altitude sickness, the problem of acclimatization (feeling the lack of oxygen - in the upper atmosphere there is only 25% oxygen) excessive haste, fast pace, and a small number of days that tourists spend on getting up. b. To be in good physical condition (it is necessary to have long-term fitness training before going on an expedition). c. To have comfortable hiking shoes and appropriate climbing clothing. Gilman s Point In February this year, once again I went to Tanzania in the company of Mr. Kazimierz Chrapka, an organist at St. Stanislaus in Hamilton, Mrs. Iwona and Mr. Marek Organiściak of Brantford, two guides, a cook and 13 porters. Government regulations in Tanzania prohibit climbing without the assistance of guides and porters. "Western Breach", a seven-day route was chosen by us as it is the most difficult and dangerous. Several years ago, it was here that lava flooded a group of American tourists; resulting in the route being closed for a long period of time. Recently re-opened, you must obtain a 4

5 special government permit to climb it and the weather must be favorable. In the middle of the expedition we climbed during the night, a trail designated for mountaineers only. It is very steep and only recommended for the very fit. In the middle of the slope the tourists encounter a rocky ridge like a staircase which requires scrambling up and descending down carefully. Our guides, with 25 years experience, have successfully led groups on this road only four times and the last time was four years ago. Before starting the trip, they suggested a couple of times to change the route, but we had been steadfast in our provisions. We wanted to meet the toughest requirements of the expedition, regardless of the supreme effort and toil. The prize of the realization of this difficult route was to arrive and stay for the night in a tent on the top of the crater of the volcano at a height of 5730 meters and admire glaciers that surrounded us. Other groups did not have such a possibility. At dawn the next day we launched the attack on the highest summit of Kilimanjaro (Uchuru Peak 5895 m and 5756 m Stella Point). After taking some pictures, immediately we had to descend from the top down, nearly 3,000 meters along a difficult route strewn with gravel to stay overnight at the base. This day trip swallowed the remnants of our strength and energy. What have I learned from the expedition to Mount Kilimanjaro? - It opened my eyes wider to my faith. Joking I said, I was much closer to God, my Boss. I admired the beauty of nature created by God which we cannot overlook. We must be grateful to God for the gift of creation of the world for human beings. - Celebrating the daily Mass was the source that gave us the strength and power to continue on our journey despite being exhausted. - Every morning we started our expedition with prayer; porters were praying aloud in their tribe s language and we, in Polish. We were not ashamed to do that in the presence of many travelers. - There were many opportunities for meditation and personal prayer. Due to the limited amount of oxygen there is plenty of time for reflection, meditation, contemplation and conversation with God during the long hours of climbing. - Mountains teach in a special way the virtue of humility. There, on the route visually I feel that I am such a small man in an immense cosmos around me. On the road anything can happen such as disease, a broken leg... even the death of a tourist. Unexpected wind can come in any moment and spoil and sweep away all my plans and intentions to reach the famous summit of Africa. There I felt so powerless and could not do anything. My pride and human wisdom were stripped and humiliated in a fraction of a second. My whole life and walking on this planet earth is totally composed in the hands of my providential God. "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled..." - During the climbing of Mount Kilimanjaro and in every day of my life, I am called to overcome my own weaknesses and limitations through my self-denial and discipline. If I proclaim the Good News of Jesus to my parishioners and different people first of all I must lead by example. 5

6 - I did not come into this world to live in conditions like young plants grown in the greenhouse. I do not spend my holidays in tourist resorts such as in Cuba, the Dominican Republic or Mexico where everything is included in the price. There is a wise proverb, No pain, no gain. During the climb I have to accept discomfort (for a week there is no water to wash up, or shave), I eat the local food of poor African people (instead of potatoes or rice I eat popcorn and porridge). As a pilgrim, a traveler, a tourist, I have to accept variable weather conditions. One day the weather brings sun, snow, frost, rain, high humidity - therefore I have no choice but to sleep in a tent in a damp sleeping bag as well as walk in wet shoes. Catching blisters on my toes, frostbite on my fingers is the price one pays for hiking and climbing to reach the goal of his journey. Watching TV day after day, sitting at the computer for hours, participating in numerous conferences and meetings, a man will never experience what I have experienced on the way to Mount Kilimanjaro. When, in 2015, I returned to Canada from my first expedition to Mount Kilimanjaro I said to myself: "This is my farewell to Africa. Do I remain faithful to my resolve? There is another saying - "the wolf is always drawn to the forest." And that is the truth! It did not take for me even one and a half years when once again I set foot on the highest point in Africa. And some say; third time is a charm. Fr. Adam Wroblewicz, C.R. St. Joseph Parish 235 Brant Avenue Brantford, ON 6