I needed a minute
I’m back! I know many of you have been wondering where I went since my daily posts simply disappeared. Rob and I took a little vacation to Tanzania with a mission to hike to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro with two soldiers from the NC National Guard serving in Zambia and Botswana and two additional newfound friends. Warning, this one will be long. I needed a minute to literally catch my breath. Although we successfully made it to the top, the journey off the mountain took a turn I did not anticipate. My birthday became my alive day.
This journey started with a dinner conversation while on military duty in Botswana. “Chuck” (we each earned our special hiking names) shared that he planned on hiking but that his wife was hesitating. I told him we should make it a couples trip, we could get her to go. And so it began, the plan to hike the largest free standing mountain in the world and the tallest mountain in Africa standing at 19,341 feet.
Although our hiking members changed, our small group of six began our journey that would have us hiking to the top starting at midnight for 6-8 hours that would have us arriving at the peak around sunrise on my birthday. We hiked five days with some of the most amazing people I have had the honor to meet, our mountain warriors. As I went pole pole (Swahili-look it up), these warriors carried all our gear, food, tents, and their personal gear and hiked past me day after day as if I were standing still. We would begin hiking in the morning after a full breakfast only to be met with lunch and our site already setup at the end of our hike. Dinners were always amazing and the skill of our chefs would put most of my restaurant dining experiences to shame.
Chuck, Guten Tag, Garmin, Refresh, Rhino, and me-Mama to our team, and Dada to our mountain warriors bonded in this few days together that will last a lifetime-thankfully, my lifetime will continue due to the heroics and angels that I had with me on the mountain.
As we journeyed up to the peak on the last day, I was beyond exhausted. I could hear Rhino behind me encouraging me and reminding me I had more to give. All I kept chanting was the Lord’s Prayer and Philippians 4:13, “I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (NIV). Over and over I mumbled these words as I focused on setting my trekking pole and taking each step. Reaching the top brought a sense of relief, accomplishment, and overwhelming emotions recognizing the suffering and struggle it took to reach this moment. The celebration was brief due to risk at such high altitudes and we began our journey back down the mountain.
I quickly realized that I was more than tired, the fatigue I felt was not just joint pain but my entire body felt limp. Two of our mountain warriors surrounded me and helped guide me each excruciating step as I quickly became unable to even lift my foot and began the slow shuffle down the mountain across the glacier and rim of the volcano.
Time seemed to stand still as I began to struggle to catch my breath and the panic began to surge as breathing became nearly impossible. Our team quickly recognized the risk and worked to get me down the mountain as quickly as possible to an elevation where the impact of the altitude could be reduced. The team managed to get me on a small oxygen tank that did little to alleviate the inability to breathe. I became extremely lethargic and unable to move-I remember all I wanted to do was lay down and close my eyes. My life did not flash before my eyes, I just felt the reality that I was not going to make it off that mountain.
Those angels I mentioned surrounded me and lifted me on their backs carrying me the 4,000 feet down the mountain to a point where I could get evacuated by a helicopter. Our team at base camp hurried to meet us with a larger oxygen tank helping to relieve my inability to breathe. As I was carried on the back by one of our team, I felt the hand on my back by Garmin and heard his prayers every step of the way. I saw Guten Tag attempt to run back with the oxygen after he felt my pulse and tried to hide the worry on his face and the desperation to get me off that mountain. I remember hearing Rhino’s voice grounding me and reminding me to hold on, I was going to be ok. By this time I was no more than a rag doll barely holding on.
And then it happened, we made it to the evacuation point. I remained on oxygen but I had thankfully made it to a point where I could finally lay down, breathe, and patiently wait to hear the sound of the helicopter that would eventually take me to the hospital where I would be able to recover.
I remember ED, one of our warriors, telling me, “dada, I asked you to do me a favor, I told you we needed you to keep going so we can get you down, I know you were not happy.” I smiled and looked at one of my many angels and told him it was too soon for an I told you so.
When we started on the hike, Garmin said he was asking himself why he was there - we all started this journey for our own reasons. The day after, as we all sat in the hotel lobby, I looked at him and said I guess we know the answer to that question now. I am still processing what happened on that mountain. This is not the first time I have faced death being a combat veteran, but this was different. Today is the first day I have not checked my oxygen levels 10-15 times a day. I still have a lot to process and my recovery is just starting, but on that mountain, I was thankful for my angels on earth and that God gave me the strength to not only make it up the mountain, but back home.
I know it was long but today I pray that as you read this it doesn’t limit you from pursuing dreams or goals, but you find it encouraging. I pray that you not take any encounter or relationship for granted. I pray that you not try to always stand alone, but that you let God give you strength and that when you no longer have the power to pray or the strength to move, you look to your angels on earth. You are never alone.
9 responses to “I needed a minute”
vibrant6f0715d155
Sep 6, 2025 at 10:08 pm
God gave you angels because His purpose is for you to be here.
Thank you Holy Father for your gift Love and Strength and Friendship.
I love you Cristina.
Cristina Moore
Sep 6, 2025 at 10:10 pm
Amen- so thankful. These past few weeks have been one moment after another of God’s presence. Finally ready to write about it.
Idrisa
Sep 7, 2025 at 12:35 am
🙏🙏15 minutes
Cristina Moore
Sep 7, 2025 at 7:44 am
Yes- it will only be 15 minutes kept me going! Thankful for you!
Anita W
Sep 7, 2025 at 10:08 am
🙌🏽 God is forever faithful!
Dale
Sep 8, 2025 at 9:02 am
it is so amazing knowing that when we are in need God provides in so many incredible ways. You and your family are loved.
“In my distress I called upon the Lord, And cried to my God for help; He heard my voice from His temple, And my cry for help before Him came into His ears.”
Psalm 18:6 NASB2020
https://bible.com/bible/2692/psa.18.6.NASB2020I miss God down in Africa – Moore Godwinks
Sep 13, 2025 at 9:16 pm
[…] we got off the mountain, after my minor need for recovery (see I need a minute blog); Rob and I headed to the Northern Serengeti for our planned excursion to witness the wild […]
Tsizzle
Sep 24, 2025 at 8:30 pm
Wow, God’s favor, grace and mercy covered you and brought you home safely.
Cristina Moore
Sep 24, 2025 at 8:31 pm
Thankful for those earthly angels placed on my path!
