A friend closer than a brother

I received a note today from one of my dear friends in Tanzania. Our shared experience on Mt. Kilimanjaro will connect us for a lifetime. I shared the end of the story on that mountain, but it all started on day one when Shaphy was identified as my “mountain warrior” that would help set up the tent so it was ready by the time we got to camp. I might have been a bit resistant to the help when we started, we can blame that on a bit of pride and ego. One of the following days, Shaphy met me on the trail as we were coming into camp and offered to grab my pack, again, a bit of pride and ego-I had this. Then came another day, a harder day, and this time when Shaphy met me on the trail, our guide encouraged to hand him my pack, he is just here to help. This same young man was the one that ran over 2,000 feet up from base camp to bring me the life saving oxygen tank. He always had the most joyful spirit, always with a smile-on that day, I saw the fear in his eyes as well as everyone else’s eyes on the mountain. Days later, as we gathered at the hotel, all our smiles returned knowing the experience we shared would forever connect us. He became a friend closer than a brother and we have kept in touch. “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24, NIV). What a blessing that an event that could have been tragic led to lifelong friendships.