Zipline Adventures

Two years ago I wanted to build a zipline, but I didn’t have the supplies for it. I sent a prayer request that I would be patient until God would give me one.

God answered that request. This past winter, when my poppa was at his construction job, the man he was working for gave him a long strong rope. Poppa brought it home and gave it to me. I was excited, because now I could build a zipline!

I started looking for a good tree to start it on. I found a maple that was good for climbing and strong. I climbed up the tree with the rope connected to me and I tied it on. I scrambled down from the tree and carried the other end to a small birch tree. Before I strapped it on, I needed to build a seat that was attached to the rope on a pulley. As soon I got it done, I took a strap and tied it on the rope and put a ratchet connected to the tree. Then Poppa helped me tighten the rope so the seat wouldn’t sag and hit the floor.

I was afraid to try it out because I didn’t know if it would break. I called Poppa over to catch me if it broke. Then I jumped on the seat from the maple tree and swung off. It made my heart drop, but it held me! I flew all the way to the bottom of line. I tried it out lots of times with my siblings. It was really fun!

I’ve switched the zipline to other trees since then. One time I made it too steep and high, so my sisters and I went down and smashed through the branches at the bottom and hit the ground like a rock. I learned how to be more safe after that. I’m thankful that God answers prayers.

Elijah, age 10