Marietjie VD Westhuizen - Climbing for Freedom

Hiking for Freedom: Trekking Machu Picchu to Change Lives

As we take on the breathtaking challenge of hiking Machu Picchu in Peru, we are not just climbing for adventure—we are climbing for impact. Every step we take is a step towards hope, restoration, and transformation for communities around the world.

Read more: https://www.ethnosmi.org/forfreedom/machu-picchu/

Hiker's Bio:

At 60 years of age, the Lord is showing me how much more He wants to transform my heart and teach me of His love.

My husband and I got married in our early 20s and will soon celebrate 40 years of marriage. We went through a deep valley together in 1995 when we lost our three day old son. God used our suffering to deepen our faith and draw us closer to Himself.

In 2002, we moved to Tennessee, where we raised our three girls and became part of a wonderful church community. Far from our native South Africa, we found family in our brothers and sisters in Christ.

When our youngest graduated from high school, bringing to an end 20 years of homeschooling, it was a big change! God always has more adventures for us, though, and He is inviting me to “come further up and further in”. He is taking me way out of my comfort zone, to a new part of His creation, to a new mountain top. He is enlarging my heart for his children in captivity. I know that He will knit together a new family among us on this trip. Please pray that we will receive all He has for us and give all He is asking of us.