Hi Sky Emmaus Community Newsletter
April, 2009 - Page 4

Men’s Walk #185 - April 2-5, 2009

Men's Walk 185 was completed Sunday, April 5th as one of the Best Redneck Walk's Ever in the Hi-Sky Emmaus Community. I will say this, They will have to stay up and work 24/7 to outdo this one. I have never in my life seen men bond as fast as these Pilgrims did on Thursday night.

You would have thought they had been friends for years. I have also never seen so much crying, hugging, compassion and love on a Men's walk as was on Walk #185. I told the Team and the Pilgrims that we were all Lambs of God, but I have never seen so many redneck sheep cry at one time. Dying Moments was the most awesome that I have ever seen. Men from different tables were consoling and hugging and crying with each other after they give it all to God and lightened their burdens off of their shoulders. Each day we learned how to say something as a group. First Day was “De Colores”. Second Day was “DeColores-God is good, ALL THE TIME”. Third Day – “De Colores-God is good All The Time and EMMAUS IS EMAZING”. You should have heard this as a community. AWESOME. This was done after every talk.

Again, as I said in Closing, I want to thank the Community for giving me the opportunity to serve as Lay Director for Men's Walk #185. The experience is unexplainable until you have the opportunity to wear those shoes and feel and see the love of God working in EVERYONE – INSIDE, OUTSIDE, COMMUNITY. Candlelight was awesome too. I had prayed for many weeks and months that the Chapel at Circle 6 would be full for the Pilgrims at candlelight. God is Good All The Time ‘cause he did answer my prayers. Thank you, Community. I have never been hugged by so many Pilgrims and told “I love you” so often as what happened on Walk # 185. The fruit of the Spirit - Galatians 5:22 – was covered in every facet: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithful, Gentleness, and Self Control.
Thank You Again
In His Service,
Ron Hopkins, Walk Lay Director

Women’s Walk #186 – July 9-12, 2009

God is putting together an awesome team for WW#186. God has already begun to send pilgrims for the walk, and all of the Community members that I see and greet are so gracious to offer to help in any way and they state they are praying for the pilgrims, the walk and the team. The team members are excited and looking forward to “the best walk ever.” Asking Community to continue praying for WW# 186 and I am thanking God and Community for the honored, humbled opportunity to serve as LD for WW#186 and for entrusting the team of WW#186 with your pilgrims.
DeColores,
Iris Hall-Sanders, Walk Lay Director

Chrysalis Flight #42 – June 11-14, 2009

Greetings from the Flight Crew for 42! Excitement is building as we are making lots of agape and plans. We will start team meetings on May 1, so please be in prayer for the team. We need your sweet girls to share this trip with God, so get a form and send it in before time is out or we fill up. At the April and May Community meetings we desperately will need your help with food and drink agape and I hope you and your reunion groups will all try to send a little something. Imagine how exciting it will be for these 36 young ladies to have the Emmaus experience at a young age and grow in God's grace through it!
Fly with Christ,
Barbara Willis, Flight Lay Director

Chrysalis Boys Flight #43 - July 23-26, 2009

Dear Community, Here it is late April and there is only about one month of school left for most youth. I am Greg Birdsall, the lay director for the Boy's Chrysalis Flight No. 43. It is time to start preparing the community and the team for what is to come this summer. Last summer the boys' flight did not take place because of a lack of caterpillars. This year, the board and I are working harder to inform you, the community, about what is happening with the flight. The weekend for the flight has been moved to near the end of July – the 23rd through 26th. I ask that you start praying and planning now about the young man you want to sponsor on this flight. The age group is 15 through 19 years old. The registration form and medical release are located on the Hi Sky Emmaus website and at community meetings. As always, I ask that you do not wait until July to get the form into the registrar but complete and get it in as soon as you can. I know God has GREAT things planned for all who are at Circle Six Baptist Camp in Stanton during the weekend of the boys' flight.

Thank you. Your support is greatly appreciated.
Greg Birdsall
Flight #43 Lay Director

Committee Reports

Agape Committee – Remember when you went on your walk and how amazed you were to find so many gifts waiting for you every time you came to the conference room table, or the dinner table, or your pillow? Remember the special love you felt? Just think of all the gift (and food) agape we can shower on those pilgrims in 2009. We pray that each of you community members and reunion groups will continue to be generous with gift agape sent for the walks. We greatly appreciate all the efforts of those of you who have continued to contribute your gift agape to the walks and would ask that new members and reunion groups, and those that might have drifted away in their participation, consider new and different contributions to future walks. If you need agape ideas, there are many resources I can give you. Thanks in advance for your loving generosity, and may God continue to bless you.

A list of walks being conducted by other Emmaus communities in April and May 2009, for which we should be in prayer, can be found here (PDF document).
de colores, Carol Hopkins, Agape Chairperson

Administration Committee

• Book Table – The Hi-Sky Emmaus Community continues its ongoing effort to build our book collection for use on future walks and flights in connection with the Growth Through Study talks. We are asking members of the community to donate books which have had meaning to them in their personal Christian growth. These books can be educational, inspirational, humorous, serious, or whatever helped you as a Christian find a deeper, more meaningful relationship with God and Christ – books that you would recommend to a friend that might likewise inspire him or her.
  
  You may wish to donate a book in honor or in memory of a Christian friend and you may place a label on the inside front cover which conveys that blessing.
  
  At each community meeting, there will be a deposit box available in the foyer as you enter the sanctuary.

Gatherings Committee – The Community meetings for the year 2009 are being held on the fourth Tuesday of each month at Wilshire Park Baptist Church, 801 S. Bentwood (corner of Bentwood and Pleasant), with our next meeting being on Tuesday, April 28 beginning at 7:00 PM (Babe Chick meetings at 6:15). The beautiful walk crosses displayed at the March 2009 meeting were those of Heidi Anderson (WW#184 – Mar.‘09), and Jane Hancock (WW#154 – Jan.’05). Fellowship always follows each meeting, so REMEMBER TO BRING SOME REFRESHMENTS (thanks to those of you who have been faithful to bring food!) and join in good Christian fellowship with your Hi-Sky Community members.
De Colores, Carolyn Arnold, Gatherings Committee Chair

Music Committee – Is Music one of your talents? Have you ever wanted to be on a Music Team on a walk? Do you play Guitar, Piano, Bass, or any other type of musical instrument? The community needs your talent and encourages you to call or email Bill Thomas (thomasfh@suddenlinkmail.com) or 638-8772.

Chrysalis Committee – Both the Girls and Guys Flight Crews have been selected and plans are underway for an exciting building summer. We, as a Community, need to support our Youth through Emmaus activities so the future will be bright as it is built with these sweet souls. When Greg or Barbara ask for your help, please keep an open heart of service. A large Community at Candlelight Service and Closing will also go a long way in encouraging not only the kids, but the team members who have let God take charge of them and work these flights. Agape needs will be circulated at the April, May and June meetings...so please be generous with the requests and your time. It is not too late to be a financial supporter for these youth. Just email Barbara (bswillis1956@yahoo.com) and she will get you a butterfly!
Barbara Willis, Chairman Chrysalis Committee

2009 Hi-Sky Emmaus Walk Dates