Arrived & Known

Well, we're sweaty and tired, but we're intact and we're HERE! We had a safe drive through the mountains after our flight arrived early in Montego Bay. The countryside is stunning. It's as if the turbulent waves of the Atlantic were transported and frozen in place, turned into earth, covered by greenery as far as you can see. At times, the land drops violently at the side of the road to reveal this, mountains rippling into a distance so far they turned hazy and blue. The houses are painted vibrantly and built into the mountainside.

The beauty of that sight is sharply contrasted with the noise of the bus; not only does it shudder and squeak, but it can only meet potholes on loud and jarring terms. The students spoke alternatively in shouts and softness. At one point they belted out Disney songs with gusto; at another point they worshipped earnestly and reverently.

We arrived at Knockpatrick shortly after 7pm, bringing a solid twelve hours of travel to a close. We gathered our suitcases, found our dormitories, and met for a delicious and well-balanced meal. It's perhaps the mark of how hungry we were that no one thought to take a picture of it before eating, but we'll be sure to rectify that for the rest of the week!

After dinner, we held evening devotions. Josh led us in worship before Jeremy spoke on the reason we're here this week. Despite our best-laid plans, we're not here because we purposed that for ourselves. Instead, this team is here to glorify the risen King. "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you," God says in Jeremiah 1:5, and in Matthew 10:30, Jesus reinforces that by saying, "And even the very hairs of your head are numbered."

Our Father, who art in heaven, knows His children on earth with a degree of precision and intimacy the likes of which we will never fully comprehend. And He has brought us together this week to serve joyfully for the glory of His name, the majesty of His throne, and the building of His kingdom.

Tomorrow we plan to wake before dawn to celebrate the resurrection of God made flesh, come down from heaven not because He had to, but because He chose to, because of His great love toward us. There is no power that can hold our God to death, for He emerged from hell with His victory grasped firmly. We ask that you would pray with us that as we celebrate His triumph over all that would destroy us, that we would remember we are marked as His own, sent forth into the world to do the good works He has created us to do.

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Unfortunately, not only did we fail to capture a photo of the long-craved dinner, but we didn't take photos of the mountain scenery as we drove through. Instead, we offer you a glimpse of the road through our eyes - and, well, the noise through our ears - at the Crash's Instagram account (http://instagram.com/the_crash). We'll be back tomorrow with more words and definitely more pictures!