Letters from Participants
To all our Brothers and Sisters of the 4th Day Community,
Last fall, a group of friends had an exciting and powerful experience that we would like to share with you. Our small group came together with a specific intention in mind, to sponsor our daughters on a Chrysalis weekend. Little did we know all the plans God had in store for us and the affect it would have on not only the girls, but all of us.
We wanted, as sponsors of our six daughters, to prepare ourselves spiritually as well as prepare for the responsibilities as sponsors. Our group was quite diverse, we are from various different churches, religions, and attended different weekends, including Emmaus, Trais Dias and Cursillo. This complemented our experience together, it was totally awesome and it re-light that fire in our hearts which we felt on our weekend walk. During our small group meetings, we prayed for the Girls, for the other Caterpillars, and for the Team. We had a devotion time and planned for the "big weekend". We prepared Agape for our daughters, planed to serve a meal during the weekend and planed to attend all of the 4th day events including: clap-out, sponsors hour, candle-light and closing. Best of all, we bonded together as followers of Christ to form a support group for our daughters and for each other.
One unique aspect of our group was that one of our couples was hosting a foreign exchange student from Germany. She decided that she would like to attend Chrysalis with her new American friends. Since we wanted to ask her parents for Agape, we decided to find out if Germany had anything equivalent to Chrysalis. We checked it out on the Emmaus national web site and within a day was able to have an Email dialog with them. The answer was, "Yes. Chrysalis does exist in Germany. Why do you ask"? We told them our story and immediately they responded how excited they were. They told us they would be praying for these girls. As you can imagine, this got us pretty fired up as well. Just knowing that she will be taking the fire and passion of Christ back home with her is so powerful for us.
How terrific this whole experience was for us. We were able to share together and with our daughters in a very powerful way. This experience will bond them as classmates and could potentially have a significant impact on the entire high school student body. This dynamic weekend likely will spread seeds of Christ's love throughout our communities, the US and in Europe. It rekindled the fire for 10 adult sponsors once again and created a special bond between parents and daughter and also between friends.
We highly encourage anyone reading this article to consider sponsoring a teenager on a Chrysalis or Journey Weekend. You will be Blessed, as were we. If you have ever attended an adult closing and were touched by the responses of those two questions, "What has this weekend meant to you?" and "What do you intend to do with it?" hearing the teenagers give their witness will absolutely touch your heart.
God Bless you, your 4th day brothers and sisters in Christ.
Shannon Gehlhausen
(Evansville District Walk to Emmaus, Evansville Area Cursillo, Southwest Indiana Walk to Emmaus)
I'm Here Lord
My Emmaus Journey
I'm here Lord.
Is this where you want me to be? You have cleared the way
And led me to the beginning of my journey that starts today.
I'm here Lord.
Can you hear me in the silence? Are you aware of my longing for you?
In the quiet darkness around me, Is it truly me you pursue?
I'm here Lord.
Are you speaking to my heart? I'm listening for your whisper to me.
Are you wooing me Lord? Is it your face I am beginning to see?
I'm here Lord.
With all my fear and pain in hand; All my doubt that separated us.
This wall I have built around myself beginning to crumble to dust.
I'm here Lord.
Oh, the grace raining down; Circling me, healing my soul.
Take this burden from me Lord. Take me over; take control
I'm here Lord.
My hands raised to you; in praise of you; Peace and Joy flowing like a river.
I feel your hand touching mine. Sweet release; full surrender.
I'm here Lord.
Overflowing with this gift of salvation, here is where my fourth day begins
Taking You with me in my journey; Divine Grace; Holy Spirit;
Love that never ends!
Poem by Gail Harris
