We have conquered the mountain. Let me first say that this weekend was one of the greatest moments in my life. I will never forget the way the Lord blessed me and my friends this weekend. His hand was clearly seen by His creation, His protection and His love. The Haus Ministry gathered together in a campground in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland this Memorial Day weekend. We met together, ate together, worshiped together, encouraged each other, conquered a mountain and shared life as one. I can honestly say I've never seen a group of this size (approx 20 people) serve each other and fit together in love the way we did this weekend. I think it's a testimony of grace the way we all shared in making this weekend an unforgetable life song to the Lord.
The first night we arrived in the Suisse and pitched tents... always a fun time for the guys. We also marvelled at the weather which was perfect considering the weather reports said rain each day. We also joined many others for a Bible Study on the book of Jonah. We talked about a truth that sometimes we dont want to do God's will. We sang songs and emptied our hands of all burden before God that night. We got real and honest about the Christian life, it's not easy; but its worth it.
Day two we conquered the mountain but it took about 8 hours to do it. We left the valley after pancakes and other breakfast yummies... and walked toward Isenfluh. It was a steady fast & short breath incline up to Sulwald. Up here, the cattle and sheep graze in the thin fresh air; the daffodils brighten the countryside and the waterfalls roar. There are 72 waterfalls in the area. Weclimbed and climbed for 3 hours over rock, snow and got plenty of pics. We decided to try for a glacier lake and a nearby restaurant on the top with a panoramic view. We all had to Press On and keep our eyes on the goal. All along the path there are little troughs with fresh cold water water seeping from the mountain. After a bite to eat we set on a path less travelled and got in some gnarley situations... STEEP declines, drifty snow covering the path and wet slippery stones every foot step, mud everywhere. We helped each other, prayed, and kept on keeping on.. focused and determined to make it home. At this altitude there was no turning back, like the Christian life we had to move forward one step at a time, together. We lost the trail at one point and the sky got dark and the rain fell in all its sweet splendor. We came across a haus high in the peaks with no driveway, only trails that lead to the doorstep. They gave us a tip that we had missed a turn and we moved back toward a new trail that would lead us closer to home. At one point the lightning came and we huttled near a small cave and let the heavy showers pass by. We continued to press and boulders were in the way, trees had fallen in our way... we helped each other. I hope you recognize a theme in this writing that we were there for each other, we wouldnt have made it without staying as one, with one goal, to conquer that mountain and make it home. That night we were all beat but enjoyed some tasty steaks and smores by the fire.
The next day a smaller group travelled up to Kleine Sheidegg and a group biked into Interlaken. I enjoyed resting a bit and taking the train up to Kleine Sheidegg up above the tree line near Jungfrau. I had a Bella Vista Rostizza for lunch. (hash browns covered with chicken, mushrooms, tomato and melted cheese.) The lunch was great and we enjoyed the view then headed down the mountain to go see Trummelbach Falls. TF is a set of 10 waterfalls that have cut right through a mountain with over 20000 gallons per second of water moving through there. One sad story that loomed over the weekend like a dark cloud was that Friday afternoon aboy went missing near the falls. He was a 12 years old British boy and somehow he fell into the falls. We prayed for him a few times but we just found out this morning that they found his body in the water but the current was too strong to get it out. Please pray for his family, I cant imagine losing someone I love to that water.
It was one of the best weekends of my life and a model of Christian unity I will never forget. Please pray for the Haus Ministry as we share life together and grow toward Christ. Pray that God will continue to bless this awesome ministry!
The first night we arrived in the Suisse and pitched tents... always a fun time for the guys. We also marvelled at the weather which was perfect considering the weather reports said rain each day. We also joined many others for a Bible Study on the book of Jonah. We talked about a truth that sometimes we dont want to do God's will. We sang songs and emptied our hands of all burden before God that night. We got real and honest about the Christian life, it's not easy; but its worth it.
Day two we conquered the mountain but it took about 8 hours to do it. We left the valley after pancakes and other breakfast yummies... and walked toward Isenfluh. It was a steady fast & short breath incline up to Sulwald. Up here, the cattle and sheep graze in the thin fresh air; the daffodils brighten the countryside and the waterfalls roar. There are 72 waterfalls in the area. Weclimbed and climbed for 3 hours over rock, snow and got plenty of pics. We decided to try for a glacier lake and a nearby restaurant on the top with a panoramic view. We all had to Press On and keep our eyes on the goal. All along the path there are little troughs with fresh cold water water seeping from the mountain. After a bite to eat we set on a path less travelled and got in some gnarley situations... STEEP declines, drifty snow covering the path and wet slippery stones every foot step, mud everywhere. We helped each other, prayed, and kept on keeping on.. focused and determined to make it home. At this altitude there was no turning back, like the Christian life we had to move forward one step at a time, together. We lost the trail at one point and the sky got dark and the rain fell in all its sweet splendor. We came across a haus high in the peaks with no driveway, only trails that lead to the doorstep. They gave us a tip that we had missed a turn and we moved back toward a new trail that would lead us closer to home. At one point the lightning came and we huttled near a small cave and let the heavy showers pass by. We continued to press and boulders were in the way, trees had fallen in our way... we helped each other. I hope you recognize a theme in this writing that we were there for each other, we wouldnt have made it without staying as one, with one goal, to conquer that mountain and make it home. That night we were all beat but enjoyed some tasty steaks and smores by the fire.
The next day a smaller group travelled up to Kleine Sheidegg and a group biked into Interlaken. I enjoyed resting a bit and taking the train up to Kleine Sheidegg up above the tree line near Jungfrau. I had a Bella Vista Rostizza for lunch. (hash browns covered with chicken, mushrooms, tomato and melted cheese.) The lunch was great and we enjoyed the view then headed down the mountain to go see Trummelbach Falls. TF is a set of 10 waterfalls that have cut right through a mountain with over 20000 gallons per second of water moving through there. One sad story that loomed over the weekend like a dark cloud was that Friday afternoon aboy went missing near the falls. He was a 12 years old British boy and somehow he fell into the falls. We prayed for him a few times but we just found out this morning that they found his body in the water but the current was too strong to get it out. Please pray for his family, I cant imagine losing someone I love to that water.It was one of the best weekends of my life and a model of Christian unity I will never forget. Please pray for the Haus Ministry as we share life together and grow toward Christ. Pray that God will continue to bless this awesome ministry!
