The mistake I made on a volcano

Sebastian Latorre
August 6, 2026

The mistake I made on a volcano

“And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?”

Romans 10:14

The summit of Quetrupillán Volcano in southern Chile was hidden behind a thick cloud.

After hours of hiking, I had finally reached the top. The wind was fierce, visibility was almost zero, and I could not even see the crater beneath my feet. Along the way, I had passed a few hikers coming down, but now the mountain seemed empty. I thought I was the last one up there.

Thankfully, I had been tracking my route with a GPS. In conditions like these, it can be a lifesaver. I pulled it out, selected “track back,” and prepared to follow my route down, since the trail had completely disappeared into the fog. Just as I was about to take my first step, two friends suddenly emerged from the cloud.

“Where’s the trail?” one of them shouted. “I can’t see anything.”

“Don’t worry,” I replied. “I have the GPS. Just follow me.”

We began descending. The wind cut through our layers, and the cold seemed to intensify with every passing minute. One of my friends was exhausted, so I often had to stop and wait for them to catch up.

Eventually, the trail became more visible. I turned around and saw them resting behind me. The wind was so loud that we could not communicate. I waved. I shouted. Nothing.

Then I made a decision. My friend is more experienced than I am. The trail is obvious now. They are probably fine.

And if I am honest, another thought crept in: I’m freezing. I just want to get down.

So I continued alone. Before long, the clouds cleared, and I reached the bottom, where the rest of our group was waiting.

“Are you the last one?” someone asked.

“No,” I answered. “Two more are behind me. Maybe thirty minutes.”

Thirty minutes passed.

Then an hour.

They never arrived.

The atmosphere changed. What if they were lost? What if they were injured? A search team began organizing to go back up the mountain.

As I stood there, exhausted and unable to join the search, a painful question echoed in my mind:

Is this my fault?

The truth is, I had made assumptions.

I assumed they could see the trail.

I assumed they knew where to go.

I assumed they did not need me anymore.

But I was wrong.

The reality was that I had the GPS. I knew the way. Going back to check on them would have cost me some comfort, some time, and some effort—but I chose myself instead.

How often do we do the same spiritually?

We know Jesus. We know His promises. We know where hope is found. Yet we often assume that the people around us already know enough. We assume someone else will help them. We become focused on our own comfort and stop guiding those who may be struggling behind us.

That day, my friends eventually made it safely to a cabin, where others helped them, warmed them, and pointed them in the right direction. But they had been lost. My assumptions had been wrong. Years later, that experience still hurts to remember.

Yet God used it to teach me something I will never forget: His call has not expired (Matthew 28:19-20). There are still people searching through the fog. And if God has shown us the way, perhaps someone is waiting for us to slow down, turn around, and help them find the path as well.

“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:4

“Many are sad and discouraged, weak in faith and trust. Let them do something to help some one more needy than themselves, and they will grow strong in God’s strength… As they plead with the Lord to help them, He will guide them to those who are seeking for the light. Christ will be close beside them, teaching them what to say and do. By comforting others, they themselves will be comforted.”

The Colporteur Evangelist, p. 40