Coup-a-David

Today was a really special day, leading 20 students to the mountain church of Coup-a-David.

There are a thousand reasons, but mostly because walking old paths where the Lord has met me before brings joy to my feet. 

Being in the mountains is so refreshing...what is better than being surrounded by mountains and rivers and  beauty and sunshine and people?? (says Stacey :)

It is worshipping on your way to worship.

Hiking to the chatter and singing of students  fills me with peace, and watching Lily billy-goat all over the hills brings back so many precious memories. 

Taking a group of men and women to encourage Pastor Enick (and encourage him, they did) was life-giving...I did what I could, but I took those who could do BETTER.  

Worshiping with our brothers and sisters in the mountains refocused me on the one we were worshiping together, and takes 10 seconds of closing your eyes to think about heaven.

Taking a picture with Enick, whom we have partnered with and been friends with and prayed for since 2008...for so many years, with a wife we prayed long and hard for (10 years!), holding his children we rejoiced over...it was like taking a picture of answered prayer.

Seeing the triplets that we met seven long years ago the day after they were born, right there in that little hut...giving them the pictures of themselves that I printed in the States and brought them...the day after the were born...and all the stages in between, was so sweet.  Hiking away with their father just glued to images he had long forgotten in his mind...oh man. 

And today!

Watching the Lord plant seeds in a few of the students hearts for the many people of the mountains...desperate for Jesus, needing help and discipleship and leadership...with so few educated and called people willing to live in such hard and thankless places.  Moun Deyo, we call it in Haiti. "The outside people." No one wants to work with moun deyo, for just surviving is such a challenge. I'm praying that the men and women of Emmaus the Lord is calling to the mountains will have the courage to be faithful.

I love sweating together and praying together and struggling together and laughing together (no tears today!)...I love seeing the Lord open our students eyes to things they've never experienced...and see Him inspiring their hearts.

It was special to have time to reconnect with so many students as we hiked.  To listen to Lily tell the stories of the day when we got home. To remember past trips with mobile medical teams...with visiting professors or teams...with students and staff members...with the girls (and most recently before today, pregnant with Ben.  

So thankful for a day of remembering how important, how precious, how sought after, the ability to worship together is, in all its' forms.