By Gary Fallesen, Climbing For Christ
Introduction
I’m not big on birthdays – aside from Climbing For Christ’s 20th, which we celebrated in April. But for some reason I decided more than one year ago that I wanted to do something special with my family for my 65th birthday. My original thought was Chamonix, France and climbing Mont Blanc. But when I realized the 2024 Summer Olympics were in Paris, I punted. Where else could we go that would be significant and memorable?
Mount Kilimanjaro.
Much of my life today has centered around Africa’s highest peak. Kilimanjaro was the mountain God used to birth Climbing For Christ when I first came to Tanzania back in 1998. It became a model of sorts for what we could do as a ministry when we conducted Mission: Kilimanjaro 2007 – only our eighth short-term mission trip and the first of 17 evangelic expeditions to Kilimanjaro. The concept was to work with guides and porters, an otherwise mostly overlooked group of people, and help them both physically and spiritually. We wanted to train up an army of evangelists to serve on the mountain among co-workers and tens of thousands of tourists who come here from around the world.
In 2008, the Kilimanjaro Chapter was formed. Teaching began.
In 2014, Damson Samson from neighboring Malawi answered the call to serve with C4C. He made the first of what is now 35 trips north to work with the guides and porters on Mission: Kilimanjaro 2014. Our daughter Hayley also came to Africa for the first time that year – climbing to the continent’s rooftop.
But the quantum leap for our training occurred in 2017 when we were introduced by Climbing For Christ Board member John Becker to The Timothy Initiative (TTI). Using TTI resources, we began to instruct guides and porters in how to be disciples who make disciples. This training was later exported to Malawi to our Mulanje Massif Chapter of guides and porters.
In January, this DMD training – which has included studies in “Discovering the Bible” and now “Communicating the Bible” – was taken to new, practical heights with evangelism training on Mount Kilimanjaro. During Mission: Kilimanjaro 2024, Part 1, we saw 157 people reached with the Gospel and 57 saved on the mountain.
The fruit of this first climb (on the Marangu Route) with 20 guides and porters led to Mission: Malawi 2024 (June 22-July 5) and prompted me to want to come back for another round of training on Kilimanjaro. This time, we would do the Machame Route. And so, earlier this year, it became clear where I was to celebrate my 65th birthday. I’d be GO-ing to Tanzania for the 17th time (more than most other countries other than Nepal) and climbing Kilimanjaro for an 11th time.
I proposed to our daughter and her husband of nearly six years, Mitch Harris, the idea of a family trip. It would include their 8-month-old son, Jones, who is our first grandchild. They agreed and the plan was in motion. Mitch, a firefighter in Aurora, CO, has wanted to climb Kilimanjaro with me for years. This would be his chance.
Unfortunately, our entire family could not be here. Our daughter-in-law, Aliana, is a social worker in a school for youth with chemical dependencies, mental or behavioral health problems, or recovering from trauma. Her school is not out for summer. So, she and our son Jesse, who was on the inaugural Mission: Kilimanjaro 2007 as a high school student, were unable to join us.
Flights were booked from Friday, July 19 to Sunday, July 21 with the five of us flying together from Denver, CO to Kilimanjaro airport in Tanzania. A few days “off” were planned to celebrate Elaine’s birthday and mine. Then, on Thursday, July 25, we will go back to work – teaching in the classroom and then on the mountain.
Damson, our African son, is joining us, too. It will be his fourth climb on Kilimanjaro. We have been praying into this and are eager to see God make more fruitful memories of our time in Tanzania.
Friday, July 19
Travels begin: For us from Denver, Colorado (three flights across three continents), and for Damson from southern Malawi (two flights across two countries).
We awoke to news of the global IT outage and its effect on air traffic. As Board member Michele Hoffman said, “The global IT outage grounding flights is just a reminder that, yup, it’s C4C missions time.”
But our flights were not affected. God also blessed the trip by providing our Tanzania visas overnight – just in time to fly.
“Praise the Lord,” said Board member John Becker, who I’d originally invited to join our family on Mont Blanc – before reality stepped in. “We know this is a momentous occasion. Wish we were all together.”
Upon seeing a photo of us at the Denver airport, Board member Kevin Kimble responded: “This is totally awesome by every measure! May God be with you all every step of the journey.”
Saturday, July 20
We landed in London shortly after Damson landed at Kilimanjaro airport. We have miles to GO before we sleep in the prone position.
Sunday, July 21
The family – (left to right) Gary, Elaine, Jones, Mitch, and Hayley – in front of the Doha teddy bear, which stands 23-feet high, during a brief layover in Qatar.
Arrived at Kilimanjaro airport without incident – until our duffels went through X-ray machines exiting the airport. Tents were identified. We purchased five clients’ tents, three porters’ tents, and a mess tent (gear worth about $5,500 USD) to help Kilimanjaro Chapter coordinator John Mollen’s start-up trekking company, C4C Maasai Brothers & Grand Tours. We were required to pay an “import” tax for bringing gear into the country that was staying in the country. The tax was nearly 50 percent of what we paid for the tents we were transporting (Damson brought four of the clients’ tents with him from Malawi). I enlisted old friend and long-time guide Yusuf to help with negotiations inside the airport.
When he asked if I knew how much they wanted to tax me, I knew we were in trouble. Yusuf spoke in Swahili and then I heard, “How much can he afford to pay?” The “tax” was lowered to $300 USD – of which less than one-third was “official.”
Still, we are happy to be back in Tanzania – swindled or not.
Travel was mostly uneventful. All of our gear arrived with us. And eight-month-old Jones traveled for more than 30 hours through airports and on airplanes like a pro. He was greeted at Kilimanjaro airport by two of his “uncles” – Damson and Yusuf. He smiled at them in the same way he smiled at everyone he saw along the way. The happy traveler.
Moshi leaders of the Kilimanjaro Chapter, including chapter coordinator and guide John Mollen, second from left. (Photo by Damson Samson)
After welcoming us (“karibu”), Damson was off to a meeting with six of the Moshi leaders of the Kilimanjaro Chapter. Tomorrow, he will meet with chapter leaders in Marangu.
Monday, July 22
Marangu leaders of the Kilimanjaro Chapter. (Photo by Damson Samson)
Damson met with nine leaders of the Kilimanjaro Chapter from the village of Marangu to discuss plans for this week and next. Yesterday, Damson taught the Moshi leaders about positioning yourself to be in the right place to meet Jesus. He used the example of Zacheus. Today, the lesson was on betrayal, and he pointed to Judas. Damson warned the chapter leaders that if they do not follow through with their responsibilities, they will be betraying him and C4C. “This is your lifestyle, which you need to be doing at all cost,” Damson said.
After the meeting, Damson and chapter coordinator John Mollen joined our family for a birthday dinner for Elaine. They came bearing gifts: a cake with Elaine’s breath prayer written on it (“With God all things are possible” from Matthew 19:26), a Kilimanjaro T-shirt, and a camp chair for grandson Jones. It was the second birthday cake of the day as we received photos and video from Climbing For Christ member Pastor Christopher in Manipur, where the children orphaned by Hindu violence against Christians celebrated Elaine at the C4C Grief Center.
Eating regressively: Elaine having coffee and cake at the Union Café in Moshi before dinner. (Photo by Gary Fallesen)
She was honored by all her “children” and “grandchildren” – biological and through the bloodline of Jesus.
Tuesday, July 23
Kilimanjaro Chapter team on Sango Mountain. (Photo by Damson Samson)
Two dozen members of the Kilimanjaro Chapter gathered on Sango Mountain, as is the norm before the start of training, to pray and fast together. “We had a big number,” Damson said. “After the morning prayers, I led the team in a personal sharing time where we allowed each member to share with the team what he feels will help the team grow.”
The team then broke up into smaller groups, Damson said, “where we prayed for our meeting (classroom training Wednesday and Thursday), our trip to the mountain (starting Friday), for good weather and health (on Kilimanjaro), and grace to reach anywhere possible. We lifted Climbing For Christ around the globe.”
Wednesday, July 24
Daniel Nasari, center, with two of the eight people he and Prosper Njau reached with the Gospel. Seven accepted Jesus. “They thanked God that the door was open to them,” Kingdom worker Damson said. “They never expected it.” Included among the conversions was a retired police officer who cried when they prayed together.
Preparing for a week on Mount Kilimanjaro began with an exercise in the streets of Himo. Damson prayed with our second class of DMD students before sending them out two by two to witness to any and all who they encountered.
“I knew some they don’t trust themselves,” Damson said. “They can go and do the work. I shared with them how wonderful God is and I told them God does beyond human comprehension."
With his prayers and encouragement, these 25 guides and porters from the Kilimanjaro Chapter shared the Gospel with 68 people. The Holy Spirit moved the hearts of 36 people to accept Jesus Christ. “Victoriously they came back with much joy to His glory,” Damson said.
Gary, right, prays a blessing over $7,500 USD worth of gear for the trekking company John Mollen, second from right, will lead. (Photo by Elaine Fallesen)
After this exciting day of training, Damson and chapter coordinator John Mollen arrived at our hotel to pick up the five tents we had brought with us from the States. “My heartbeats are high,” John messaged Sunday in anticipation of receiving this gift. “I can’t wait to see them. I have already received four tents from Damson (which staffer Andreas Moritz and I delivered to Malawi a few weeks ago).”
John also used funds we’d sent to purchase a kitchen tent, three toilet tents, radios, an office printer, and he ordered tables, chairs, and an oxygen cylinder and first-aid kit. All the makings for a start-up trekking company.
He unpacked this gear outside our hotel in Moshi and asked me to pray over it. John again expressed his thanks and how humbled he is to be chosen by God to lead C4C Maasai Brothers & Grand Tours. John also will be guiding our chapter members on the upcoming outreach expedition.
Thursday, July 25
Damson, with “my guys” (Kilimanjaro Chapter members), holding a plaque recognizing his 10 years of service with Climbing For Christ. (Photo by Mitch Harris)
Damson has been known to surprise us with gifts ranging from a wood carving of the Climbing For Christ logo to clothes to (yesterday for my birthday) a painting of Mulanje Massif in Malawi. But today he was the one surprised when I honored him with a plaque for his 10 years of service with C4C.
He accepted the call to serve as our Kingdom worker in Tanzania and Malawi in March 2014. He first came to Tanzania on Mission: Kilimanjaro 2014 in August of that year. It was also our daughter Hayley’s first trip to Tanzania, when she summited Kilimanjaro.
Ten years later, he is on his 35th trip to Tanzania and about to embark on his fourth trek on the mountain. He will be with 20 of our guides and porters on a seven-day outreach expedition. I taught this group today – introducing them to their next study, “Communicating the Bible,” and leading them through a lesson I’ve written on “Spirit Walking” based on late missionary Steve Smith’s superb book Spirit Walk.
My prayer for this group – and others who have been taught about Spirit Walking (so far in Tanzania and Malawi) – is that they left the classroom with God’s clear and majestic presence in their lives. That they would hunger to go Spirit Walking from this day forward.
This team exited the classroom and will enter the gateway to the mission field on the Machame Route of Mount Kilimanjaro fueled by prayers, years of training with Climbing For Christ, and hopefully with the encouragement of having Mitch and me by their sides. We are eager to see how and to whom the Spirit leads.
In January, we took our first Kilimanjaro Chapter team up the Marangu Route and rejoiced in the results. The fruit produced at that time led the Spirit to prompt me to return this month. We came to celebrate birthdays, family, and God’s ministry to the high places.
Yesterday, chapter coordinator John Mollen gave me a birthday cake inscribed with my breath prayer, “Apart from You, I can do nothing” (from John 15:5). I shared this cake with our team at the end of training today. We celebrate God and Who He is in our lives. Glory to HIM!
Friday, July 26
Yusuf, in yellow, addresses the two groups after John Mollen and Damson spoke of us becoming one team. Yusuf’s group is guiding Mitch, right, and Gary, but in step with the C4C group. Outreach began here. (Photo by Gary Fallesen)
John Mollen explained the expedition to the 30 guides and porters encircled at our hotel. Twenty from Climbing For Christ and 10 from our friend Yusuf’s trekking company. We are climbing Mount Kilimanjaro together. The C4C team is on the mountain to evangelize. Yusuf is guiding Mitch and me.
Damson told Yusuf’s men about the brochures they might see the C4C guys passing out. He invited them to read for themselves and to learn more about the One we represent - Jesus Christ.
The outreach has begun. Two groups from different backgrounds brought together by C4C. We are praying for divine interaction and unity between them. Ultimately, we are praying for the salvation of those who started this trek not walking with Jesus.
We did some walking today. Uphill. Or up “The Hill,” as guide Hemedi calls Kilimanjaro. Hemedi, who works for Yusuf and has been on the mountain with us the past 10 years, asked if he could have one of the C4C shirts we gave to our members (along with C4C Tanzania hats and brochures to distribute). That’s a first step.
We climbed from the Machame Gate at 5,975 feet to the first camp at 9,925 feet. It was 6 ½ miles and very pole pole (slowly slowly), taking almost six hours.
A late start – because of all the national park logistics that needed to be dealt with – had the porters from both groups scrambling to get to Machame Camp before dark. Not a lot of evangelism was done today. When a park ranger started asking us questions about possessing drones, drugs or guns, Damson handed him a brochure. We carry only the Sword of the Spirit. He said, “This gets you into the park.” He shook our hands and wished us well.
Saturday, July 27
Porters ascend from Machame Camp to the Shira Camp. (Photos by Gary Fallesen)
Jofrey Njau, one of nine guides and porters from the second class of disciple-making students in the Kilimanjaro Chapter who are on the mountain with us, met a fellow porter at Shira Camp. The porter was using chewing tobacco that gets you higher than this 11,500-foot camp.
Jofrey shared with him how he once smoked. How he got sick with tuberculosis. And how Jesus healed him.
The porter wanted this Jesus in his life.
It was one of nine conversions as the 18 chapter guides and porters on this second Kilimanjaro Chapter outreach expedition reached nearly 50 people with the Gospel. There were clients from Europe and Asia, and Muslim guides and porters among the lost we are praying will be found.
Dives Mamuya, another student from the second class, located two guides sitting below the Shira Camp trying to get cell phone reception. One said, “I have my own problems. Can you help me?” The man’s wife ran away leaving him with a disabled child. Davis encouraged him through prayer and then directed him through the C4C brochure Damson wrote to the prayer of confession. The man read this and accepted Jesus - one big problem solved!
Godlove Kowero, an original class member who went from porter to ordained pastor after receiving training from Climbing For Christ, convinced a man who was denying Jesus that he was loved by the Savior. This porter was guilty of spending everything he earned on the mountain at the bar as soon as a trek was done. He felt convicted that was wrong, and he realized forgiveness in Jesus.
Sunset from Shira Camp.
Whether on the trail during a 3 ½-mile hike that rose more than 2,000 feet or in the camp looking west toward Shira Mountain and Cathedral Peak, our chapter members were diligent about sharing the Gospel. It was only the second day of this week-long training and we are encouraged by where – and to whom – the Spirit is leading us.
Sunday, July 28
Hiking beneath the majestic face of Kibo. (Photos by Gary Fallesen)
We continued to move up the mountain, hiking another 10K (6.2 miles) and 2,275 vertical feet to Baranco Camp at 3,900 meters (13,700 feet). We maxed out at 14,800 feet today. Unfortunately the altitude got to Mitch and he had to retreat off the mountain with assistant guide Muhammad. Everyone was sad to see him go but altitude sickness is not to be taken lightly. He was much improved when he reached lower elevations.
Arriving at Baranco Camp on Day 3 on the Machame Route.
Our team will spend two nights at Baranco and I’ll be teaching our 18 guides and porters more about “Communicating the Bible” before another wave of trekkers arrive. Then we’ll send them out to share the Good News.
Monday, July 29
Early morning view of Kibo from Baranco Camp. Not a bad sight to wake up to. (Photos by Gary Fallesen)
Eighteen guides and porters joined Damson and me on a rock outcrop in Baranco Camp on Day 4 of our outreach expedition. The 1,000-foot Baranco Wall, which we’ll climb tomorrow, was the stunning backdrop for our class on “Communicating the Bible” in different-size small groups.
It was cold – barely above freezing but felt like 29 degrees F (minus-2 C) – but our Kilimanjaro Chapter members were attentive during the two-hour lesson. Unlike the Mulanje Massif Chapter in Malawi, these brothers have not been as successful in growing their small groups. They number from zero to 30 with most in single digits.
A classroom like no other: Students preparing to learn more about communicating God’s Word in small groups with the Baranco Wall in the background.
I taught about discipling and growing different-size groups: “smaller” being 3-15, “medium” 16-50, and “large” 50-plus. I challenged those with smaller groups to grow to medium by Mission: Kilimanjaro 2025, and the four with medium (chapter coordinator John Mollen and porter-turned-pastor Godlove Kowero from the original class, and Moses Kimaro and Johnson Kimaro from our second class) to be large by next year.
I finished by praying for these beloved members, for their groups, and for the evangelism they were about to do. Damson assigned one member from the original class with a member from the second class and we sent them out two-by-two to preach the Gospel to trekkers, guides and porters arriving at Baranco today.
The results were nothing short of Godtacular. Ninety-three people heard the Gospel and 29 accepted Jesus as Savior.
Moses and Lazaro Moshi approached a company setting up tents, asked to share about Jesus, and ended up leading nine porters to Christ.
Dives Mamuya and Denis Makule went into a tent with 11 others and five of them came out believers. But they also had a guide forbid them from sharing with two of his clients.
Others had people run away from them. One client from Mexico who is Born Again was “excited to see a Christian sharing on the mountain,” Fadhili Alli reported.
Jonas Minja asked God for direction and was led by the Spirit to a tent where he found a guide, cook, and porter. When he started sharing, the guide said: “Just wait.” He called all of his porters to come. He ended up leading six in a confession prayer, and then prayed for them for the rest of their time on the mountain.
We rejoice with all of heaven for those saved today by the Holy Spirit.
Tuesday, July 30
Nine men accept Jesus in the middle of Karanga Camp on Mount Kilimanjaro. (Photo by Gary Fallesen)
What started out as a group photo opportunity with Kibo, the rooftop of Mount Kilimanjaro and all of Africa in the background, turned into an evangelistic crusade. Right in the middle of Karanga Camp at 13,100 feet (3,995 meters).
Damson started a dozen of our Kilimanjaro Chapter guides and porters singing while we waited for the rest of the team. This drew a crowd. After our team photo, Jonas Minja was recruited to preach to the onlookers. He ran to his kitchen tent, grabbed his Bible, and shared about Jesus raising Lazarus from the grave. At the end he asked if anyone wanted to accept this Jesus as their Savior. Nine hands went up. Hands and prayers were laid on the men, and a party broke out in heaven.
There was plenty to celebrate on Day 5 of our outreach expedition. More than 100 people heard the Gospel and 47 surrendered their lives to Jesus.
Our C4C team. (Photo by Yusuf Ngaina)
Arthur Mawi drew the assignment of running ahead from Baranco Camp to Karanga to reserve space for all of our tents. He left st 6 a.m. He walked with a porter from another company. He helped him carry the load on his back. When the man started talking about the troubles in his life, Arthur told him about Jesus. The man was relieved to, literally, hear some Good News and he asked Christ into his life.
Living Akyo met three porters assigned to go down to the Karanga River to fetch water for their camp. They wanted to hear what he had to share so they asked if he could come with them. He grabbed the C4C water bucket and descended from camp to the river where the three men found Living Water.
Henry Kiwelu met two porters who were “amazed to see the Word of God reaching this high on the mountain.” But Henry took it even higher – he escorted them to Barafu Camp at 15,700 feet so he could tell them all about Jesus. They confessed faith in Christ at that High Camp on the Machame Route, and Henry returned to Karanga joyously.
Traffic jam on the Baranco Wall. Hundreds of climbers with their guides make their way up the wall with porters carrying heavy loads trying to get around them. It takes at least an hour to reach the top. (Photo by Gary Fallesen)
Aman Minja found three porters resting at the top of the Baranco Wall, the 1,000-foot scramble out of the Baranco Camp that tops out near 14,000 feet. “We saw you down in Baranco preaching (on Monday),” one of the porters said. “It’s a good purpose. God must have sent you to us.” Bingo. The three were led to the Lord.
These are just a few of the stories from a day blessed by God on Mount Kilimanjaro.
Wednesday, July 31
Chapter coordinator John Mollen – with Damson behind him – hiking the trail out of Karanga Camp. Climbing For Christ is helping John’s start-up trekking company. (Photos by Gary Fallesen)
The Rasta man sitting on the perch in Mweka Camp where cell signals are received looked over his shoulder at four of our Kilimanjaro Chapter members leading four people to Christ and offered this profundity: “There is no running away from the Word. If you run away, the Word will come up the mountain.”
It was also a prophetic thought. Because not long after Damson and I spent time with him, Hosea Ngomuo and Dives Mamuya were sent back. They shared Jesus and the Rasta man was convinced. “He agreed to turn and be a new man,” Dives reported.
There were 27 rebirths on Day 6 of our outreach expedition, bringing to 113 the number of people who have accepted Jesus on this mission.
Three Kilimanjaro Chapter members, right (Living Akyo, Moses Kimaro, and Johnson Kimaro) share Jesus with three members from Yusuf’s crew, including guide Hemedi, a Muslim, in the tree. Hemedi come down is our prayer. Tonight, he applauded the work he’s seen C4C doing through the years.
One man in that group of four being observed by the Rasta man was convinced immediately. “I have been on the mountain so long and I have never seen anything like this,” he told chapter coordinator John Mollen. Then he turned to the others and said, “Don’t take any time. Accept Jesus Christ.”
For another man it took three days. Jofrey Njau shared with him at Baranco Camp, but he said he needed to think about it. When Jofrey recognized him in Mweka Camp today and approached him, he declared, “There’s nowhere to run!” He invited Jesus into his heart.
The C4C team shared the Gospel with more than 75 people as we descended from the Karanga Camp to the Mweka Camp at 10,100 feet (3,100 meters) for our last night on the mountain. Among those accepting Jesus were the three park rangers manning the Mweka Camp station.
Others to hear the Good News were members of Yusuf’s crew who have been with me again for the past week. None accepted – yet. The Hound of heaven does not quit (2 Peter 3:9).
Thursday, Aug. 1
Hemedi, our guide, leads his crew in the Kilimanjaro song, much to the joy of Jones Fallesen-Harris, who is held by his dad Mitch. Below, Hayley with Jones. (Photos by Gary Fallesen)
I was sharing with the dozen men and their trekking company boss who is my old friend about my love for Jesus and His love for them. It was the same sentiment that was expressed the past seven days as we trekked on the mountain with 18 members of Climbing For Christ’s Kilimanjaro Chapter.
I quoted Psalm 90:12 about the brevity of life and told them it is why I am so passionate about telling people about Jesus.
I pointed to my daughter Hayley and said this was my baby as she stood there holding her baby, my nine-month-old grandson Jones. I said this happened in the snap of your fingers. The older men in the group nodded knowingly. I told them this is why I urgently travel the world sharing the Gospel. Life is a vapor; here today, gone tomorrow.
Yesterday on the mountain, Aman Minja met three men from another trekking company. He shared about Jesus, and each wanted to invite Him into their lives. When Aman started to do the confession prayer, one of the men was called away by their guide. My heart sank when I heard Aman tell this story. He … was … so … close.
I have been praying for days for the tipping ceremony that took place this afternoon at our hotel. We’d just descended more than 5,400 feet in 5.4 miles from Mweka Camp to the Mweka Gate. We signed out of the national park and headed for the hotel. Another incredible climb on Kilimanjaro was finished: 29 ¼ miles with 22,573 feet in elevation change.
But the vital stats were these: 316 people heard the Gospel and 113 accepted Jesus.
Jonas Minja, right, from the Kilimanjaro Chapter leads a man to Christ in the Karanga Camp on Tuesday. (Photo by John Mollen)
The tipping ceremony for the crew who “officially” guided me on the Machame-Mweka Route is a Kilimanjaro tradition. Another tradition is the joyful singing of the Kilimanjaro song, which my grandson loved as the men danced in front of him. Most trekking companies charge for the song, which you hear daily on the mountain. Not ours. They sang from their hearts, even improvising lyrics about Jones and about me drinking coffee.
Later, in the evening, we were the ones singing – happy birthday to Damson, who turned 42 today. Damson is the C4C Kingdom worker in these parts, and much more. He is our African son. We ate dinner as a family.
Our family is quite large as every member of the Kilimanjaro Chapter on the mountain with me the past seven days calls me “daddy.” There are some others I am hoping to adopt. The guys I shared with today whose singing and dancing made a baby boy and a 65-year-old man smile.
Friday, Aug. 2
Team Machame: Kilimanjaro Chapter members with Gary, Damson, and Mitch at the start of the Machame Route on Kilimanjaro on July 26.
Our last full day in Tanzania featured a planning meeting with Damson Samson and John Mollen during which new roles were discussed. Damson will become our C4C Africa coordinator while John takes on the role of Kingdom worker in Tanzania. The rest of 2024 was scheduled for the work in Tanzania and Malawi. The biggest goal is to disciple the new believers found on Kilimanjaro, plugging them into our Kilimanjaro Chapter members’ small groups, and preparing a third class of DMD students.
After that we visited a friend, Joyce, who has worked in the hotel where we stay in Moshi. She had a baby girl in June, so Elaine brought baby gifts and we went to see her, the baby, and her husband. There was a meeting of babies as Jones was introduced to Ariel.
Later, we had dinner at our beloved friend Yusuf’s house, eating delicious local foods and sharing gifts. The biggest gift is that of friendship.
Saturday, Aug. 3
Gary, Damson, and Yusuf on the steep, rocky climb out of the Machame Camp on Day 2 of our trek. (Photo by Mitch Harris)
Our friend Yusuf delivered us to the airport in the early morning hours so we could take the first of three flights back to the States. Damson had an evening flight to Dar es Salaam. All of us are scheduled to be in our home countries by Sunday night.
When asked how he will respond when people ask how the trip went, Damson said, “I will tell them that the trip was super fantastic and Godly directed.” He called “the great harvest to His glory” the highlight of the mission. “Seeing many coming to the Lord right in the mountain was the most interesting and wonderful thing.”
This was our goal when we started doing outreach expeditions on Mount Kilimanjaro (in January and July) and Mulanje Massif in Malawi (in early July). But we could not have imagined such amazing results. These expeditions will continue into 2025 as we train every member of the Kilimanjaro and Mulanje Massif chapters on their respective mountains.
We are learning and expanding this training because we believe the harvest will only grow – on and off these mountains. I challenged our members to turn their smaller small groups (3-to-15 people) into medium-sized groups (16-50) in the next year, and those with medium-sized groups already to have large groups (more than 50 people). This can be achieved by inviting the new believers made on the mountain to join their groups in the villages.
Meanwhile, we will focus even more on reaching trekkers from other countries. Language barriers and a sort of caste system (porters often cannot interact with clients) have posed a challenge. We are looking to overcome this by recruiting more guides who have direct access and can give their porters permission to share with clients.
It is an exciting time for our guides and porters in Tanzania and Malawi and we’ll continue to pray for and pour into them as we move forward. As Damson noted as we all started heading home, “The Lord can use anyone to bring glory to His name.” Anyone, that is, who is willing and obedient to His call.
Sunday, Aug. 4
Gary, center, with John Mollen to his left translating, teach at Baranco Camp on Mount Kilimanjaro on July 29. (Photos by Damson Samson)
“Most of the time, we were sent as a team of two or as individuals,” said John Mollen, the Kilimanjaro Chapter coordinator and guide for Climbing For Christ’s Machame outreach expedition. “I could hear the Holy Spirit direct me to go somewhere or to approach someone, so to me the trip was under the directions of the Holy Spirit and the result (was) many were reached and many received Jesus Christ.”
The Spirit led me to call John to be our Kingdom worker in Tanzania as he continues to grow as a leader in the role of chapter coordinator and the owner of the start-up trekking company, C4C Maasai Brothers & Grand Tours, that Climbing For Christ is helping with gear, prayer, and encouragement.
We left John to continue the day-to-day and returned home, arriving late this afternoon in Denver. Damson Samson, who moves from Kingdom worker in East Africa to C4C Africa coordinator (overseeing any and all ministry occurring on the continent) in our new staff orientation, returned to Malawi mid-day. He was greeted by his wife and three children in Blantyre and together they ate a celebratory pizza. Today was Damson and his wife Sellinah’s 12th anniversary!
Homecoming pizza: Damson’s children (left to right) Elaine, Hayley, and Koinonia.
The Fallesen-Harris family also enjoyed blurry eyed pizza nine time zones away in Denver after spending 40 hours on planes and in airports. Nine-month-old Jones traveled like a pro.
Jones, above with his dad Mitch, holding the stuffed twiga (giraffe in Swahili) that his Babu and Bibi bought him at the Kilimanjaro airport. Below, Hayley, Mitch and Jones walking to the plane at the Kilimanjaro airport to start the trip back to Colorado. (Photos by Gary Fallesen)
“Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.” – Ephesians 6:18 (NLT) 