Klara's climb to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro

Kosovo | Lorraine Milton

Klara (Colombia), a member of OM Kosovo’s Peja team, completed a special mountain climb in January 2012, along with a group of impassioned women from across the globe. The Freedom Climb was an initiative of OM USA that brought these women together to climb nearly 6,000 metres to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Most had some involvement or ministry to women suffering violence or trafficking. The aim was “to raise awareness of the modern-day slave trade and to generate resources for prevention, rescue, rehabilitation and development programmes around the world”. Money raised from this climb went to the different projects.

Klara’s climb was not only a challenge physically, but it also deepened her relationship with God.  It strengthened in her the passion to see women set free. Looking back at the event, Klara sees how God is using it to shape her as she serves victims of domestic violence in Kosovo.

“Sharing our experiences of how God has helped us in the difficult times of life greatly revived and encouraged me spiritually,” says Klara. “I also had a most personal time with God, spending so many hours praying as I walked—praying for Kosovo and its spiritual atmosphere, the Albanian women I know there, my colleagues and family.

“Just a day or so before I had started the climb, God had spoken a particular verse to me from Nehemiah 8:10, which says the joy of the Lord is my strength,” Klara shares. “When I experienced breathing difficulties one day, it was amazing how God used this verse to literally strengthen me, as I sang it out in praise to Him!”

God spoke many things to Klara about her ministry in Kosovo. He told her that just like the physical mountain Kilimanjaro, she faces a huge spiritual mountain. The key to surmounting it is the same: walking step by step with the Lord who is her joy and strength. At the summit, Klara heard God say to her, “It’s done! Pray, and declare freedom in my Name!”

Klara continues, “Raising the profile of Kosovo and its need for this ministry has been planted in the hearts of many women I met, and I hope that some will visit Kosovo as a result. Here in Peja, we already work with women at the local domestic violence shelter, but our heart is to open a shelter ourselves for those women who cannot then return to their own homes. There, they would be part of a Christ-centred restoration and re-socialisation programme.

“Please pray for the lives of the women touched by this climb,” she finishes, “whether it’s the individual climbers themselves or the women they serve. Thanks so much OM for giving me the privilege to be part of this crazy idea from God!

Credit: Lorraine Milton
© 2012 Lorraine Milton