Episode 145 - 4 Lessons I learned Climbing Kilimanjaro
My Transformative Experience on Africa's Highest Peak
When my husband Phil and I returned from climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, people always asked the same questions: "Did you make it to the top?" "Was it fun?" "Would you do it again?"
My answers are straightforward:
Yes, we summited, and it was one of the hardest things I've ever done
I wouldn't call it "fun," but it was absolutely life-changing
I wouldn't climb it again, but I'm incredibly grateful for the experience
While parts were challenging, other aspects were truly amazing
As I've reflected on our journey through a spiritual lens, I've discovered four powerful lessons I'd like to share with you.
About Mount Kilimanjaro
Before diving into those lessons, here's some quick background on this magnificent mountain:
Africa's highest peak
Located in northeastern Tanzania near the Kenyan border
Stands over 19,000 feet above sea level
The world's tallest free-standing mountain (not part of a range)
Features three volcanic cones: Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira
Despite its equatorial location, the summit has glaciers and snow
Contains five distinct ecological zones from base to summit
Home to numerous unique plant and animal species
One of the world's most accessible high peaks (no technical climbing required)
Typically takes 5-9 days to summit depending on the route
About 35,000 people attempt to climb annually with a 65-70% success rate
Lesson #1: The Mountain of Life
Before the climb, my husband and I worked to prepare. We even watched videos, read articles, and studied our guide company's website. But here's what struck me: no matter how much we learned beforehand, the actual experience was completely different. The physical challenge, mental strain, and altitude effects are things you simply can't understand until you live through them.
This realization prompted me to think about why Earth life is essential for our eternal progress. Our Heavenly Parents could have taught us everything in the pre-mortal realm. They could have shown what patience looks like, explained what compassion feels like, or described how to overcome challenges.
But They didn't just want us to know about these things—They wanted us to become. Just as I couldn't truly understand what climbing Kilimanjaro meant until I was on that mountain, we couldn't fully grasp faith, love, patience, or resilience without experiencing them firsthand.
Earth life isn't just a test—it's a workshop. A laboratory. A place where knowledge transforms into wisdom through lived experience. When we face challenges, feel joy, experience heartbreak, or celebrate victories, we're not just learning about these things; we're being shaped by them. Each experience changes us in ways that mere knowledge never could.
As Elder Patrick Kearon beautifully expressed:
"Our loving Father oversaw the Creation of this very earth for the express purpose of providing an opportunity for you and for me to have the stretching and refining experiences of mortality, the chance to use our God-given moral agency to choose Him, to learn and grow, to make mistakes, to repent, to love God and our neighbour, and to one day return home to Him."
Lesson #2: "Pole, Pole" Wisdom
One of the first phrases our guides taught us was the Swahili "pole, pole," meaning "slowly, slowly." Each day, our guides would lead us in a line, setting a deliberately slow and steady pace. There were several important reasons for this approach:
Your body needs time to adjust to decreasing oxygen at high altitudes
You conserve energy for the long journey
It's gentler on your body and joints
More climbers successfully reach the summit when they pace themselves
You can appreciate the views and diverse environments
You breathe better at high altitudes
You have time to mentally prepare for the challenging summit night
What if we applied this "pole, pole" wisdom to our everyday lives?
Life isn't a race. It's not about being the fastest, best, or most successful. It's about enjoying the journey. Slowing down helps us become more mindful of the process—taking one step at a time toward becoming the person we want to be.
When we slow down, we better appreciate our experiences. Life has its challenges, but we can more clearly see the beauty woven into the contrast of human experience.
Jesus exemplifies this "pole pole" principle perfectly:
He created balance—teaching crowds but also taking time alone to pray
He stayed focused on what mattered—not distracted by others' expectations
He took time to prepare—spending 30 years getting ready before his 3-year ministry
He made time for individuals—never rushing past people who needed him
He showed the way through example—walking with disciples rather than just instructing
He thought long-term—planting seeds of change that would grow gradually
He understood growth takes time—teaching that God's kingdom grows like seeds or yeast
Like a mountain guide saying "pole pole," Jesus set a pace that was sustainable and effective for the long journey.
In our fast-paced, efficiency-obsessed world, this Swahili wisdom reminds us that sometimes the surest way to reach our summit is to slow down, breathe deeply, and take each step with intention rather than haste.
Lesson #3: Porters + The Ultimate Porter
When hiking Kilimanjaro through a guide company, you're assigned porters—local people who carry gear for climbers. Each porter has specific responsibilities, carrying their personal equipment on their backs while balancing additional assigned gear on their heads. I estimate each porter carries between 60-80 pounds.
These amazing individuals carry tents, sleeping pads, kitchen equipment, food, water, portable toilets, oxygen, medical supplies, and climbers' personal bags. Meanwhile, hikers like us only carry day packs with layers, rain gear, snacks, and water for the day.
The porters move at a faster pace to prepare camp ahead of our arrival. The trail is filled with hikers and porters, and you often hear "porter" called from behind, signaling you to step aside so they can pass. Frequently on steep sections, porters take more difficult routes around hikers. I was constantly amazed by their strength, kindness, and positive attitudes.
I'll never forget what happened after our first day's hike of about five hours. As we approached camp, we noticed people walking toward us. They were our porters, whom we hadn't yet gotten to know. As they reached us, each porter approached one of us and asked for our day pack. We were confused—they had already carried so much, hiked ahead, and set up camp. Why would they walk back just to take our relatively light loads? But they insisted until we gave them our packs, and they walked alongside us into camp.
This ritual continued every day thereafter. Even when the approach to camp was steep, they would appear over the hill to lighten our loads and accompany us. It was a deeply humbling experience.
This experience reminded me that Jesus Christ is the ultimate porter—the one who carries our burdens. He takes on the weight of humanity's sins, pains, and struggles despite His own great suffering.
Just as the porters went ahead to prepare camp before our arrival, Jesus tells us, "I go to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2-3). He has prepared the way for each of us.
Just as the porters didn't wait for us to reach camp exhausted but actively sought us out on the path to help, our Savior doesn't just assist us when we finally reach Him—He actively seeks us out wherever we are.
As Elder Kearon has said, "On the road of mortal life, our Father's beautiful plan, even His 'fabulous' plan, is designed to bring [us] home, not to keep [us] out...God is in relentless pursuit of you. He 'wants all of His children to choose to return to Him,' and He employs every possible measure to bring you back."
Just as the porters willingly took on additional weight despite already carrying heavy loads, Jesus was and is willing to carry the weight of our burdens and walk alongside us on our journey home.
When I think of the porters and their service, I'm humbled. When I think of my Savior and what He has carried—and continues to carry—for me, I'm profoundly humbled by His endless grace.
Jesus said, "Hearken ye to these words. Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world" (D&C 43:34).
Lesson #4: Fellow Travelers + The "Jambo" Spirit
As we boarded the bus to the trailhead, I looked around at all the unfamiliar faces—fellow hikers, guides, and porters whose lives would soon intertwine with mine. I couldn't help wondering what lay ahead and how this experience might affect us all.
Each day unfolded in a simple rhythm. We walked single file, always with a guide leading the way. Phil and I often found ourselves at the back of the group, followed by other guides. Though the porters spoke limited English, our guides bridged the language gap. I loved listening to Phil talk with them, learning Swahili words and phrases, and developing friendships.
Over eight days, something beautiful happened. Our group—largely strangers at the start—formed a temporary family. We walked under the same sky, shared meals, supported each other through illness and exhaustion, sang silly songs, and exchanged life stories. When the path steepened, we offered encouragement; when someone faltered, we extended a hand. The traditional Swahili greeting of "Jambo" (hello) echoed continually along the trail.
This is the final lesson I want to share: we are all fellow travelers on this earthly journey. Like those days on Kilimanjaro, our lives intertwine with countless others as we make our way toward our heavenly home. We may begin as strangers with different languages, burdens, and paces—but we're meant to walk this path together, learning from one another, supporting each other through challenging terrain, and celebrating the beauty we discover along the way.
The mountain taught me that no one climbs alone. In life's greater journey, we find our strength, joy, and purpose in the connections we forge with our fellow travelers.
Conclusion: The Journey Matters More Than the Summit
Many people on our trek didn't reach the summit. Despite their best efforts, factors like altitude sickness prevented them from reaching the top. Was their experience less meaningful or important than those who summited? I don't believe so.
The view from Kilimanjaro was breathtaking, but it wasn't what changed me. It was the journey itself—the struggle, the companionship, the helping hands, and the slow, deliberate steps toward something greater than myself.
In our communities and families, on this greater journey toward our heavenly home, may we walk together with purpose. May we be willing porters for one another's burdens. May we set a sustainable pace that allows us to truly see and experience the beauty around us. And may we never forget that we climb not just for the summit but for the experience and for who we become along the way.
I know that our Heavenly Parents and our Savior are not waiting at some distant finish line but walk beside us every step of the way.
I'm grateful to be on this journey with each of you.
Have you ever had an experience that taught you unexpected spiritual lessons? I'd love to hear about it in the comments below!
Mentioned in the episode:
God's Intent Is to Bring You Home - Elder Patrick Kearon
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About the Author: With over three years of podcasting experience and specialized coaching for women of faith in the mid-season of life, I'm passionate about helping women create lives they love, regardless of circumstance.
