Here we are coming to an end of a great Irish journey.  Things have gone so well over the course of the last month and what a wonderful life that God so graciously gives.  From the beauty of the land to the goodness of the people, Ireland is such a wonderful place.  Lanny and I have really experienced a wonderful memory and we are thankful for it.

Yesterday we wrapped up around 9 days and 160 miles of riding.  We experienced all different kinds of weather and met even more kinds of people.  We left Galway with a wonderful send-off from the Abundant Life Fellowship here and started on our way.  We were welcomed into homes and into lives all across Ireland.  There was only one night when we had to get out the bedrolls and pitch a tent. The rest of the nights were spent in different peoples homes.  I averaged between 15 and 20 miles a day and the pony I was riding held up grand.  Halfway through the trip he was named by a young schoolgirl.  When the kids asked if he had a name I replied that he didn't, so one of the young girls happily suggested "Brownie".  Well the name stuck and though it isn't much of a cowboy name the kids liked it all the same.

We finished off by riding right into the heart of Dublin.  We took the Christian flag and lifted up the name of Jesus Christ right in the heart of the city.  God gave us so much grace from the horse to the authorities it all went so well.  I finished off the trip on 2fm radio on Tuesday.  Rick O'Shea had me on his program and it was sure a lot of fun.

It is really amazing at times how much exposure this ministry has received.  It is so amazing how God can use something as simple as a guy riding a horse carrying a flag to cause such a stir.  I had people all across Ireland coming up to me and knowing everything about what I was doing.  From where I was from in the States to my horse’s name.  People knew all the details.  It was pretty touching at times when different people would share their heart and tell me they were really encouraged by what I was doing.  Praise God!!

What makes me stop to think at times when I'm experiencing the blessing of being here is that it never would have happened if I'd of listened to my flesh.  It took me a long time to build the faith to buy the ticket on the airplane that brought me over here.  There were days when I would fill the form out on the computer to buy the ticket - from the dates of the flight to the credit card info.  I'd have everything filled out with only one thing left to do.  Hit the submit button.  I knew that if I hit that submit button that I was committed.  I knew this is what God wanted me to do but how hard it was to take the step of faith and come all the way over here to Europe to pursue something as crazy as riding a horse across Europe.  There is great commitment in that single word.  Submit.  This is what God desires each of us to do.  Even if it sounds crazy and completely insane.  If God calls you into something don't question His calling and don't listen to the devil tell you a slew of lies about why you shouldn't submit.  In order for a person to be "born again" you must hit that submit button.  You must surrender.  "Not my will Lord, but Thine will be done".  Total Surrender.  This is God's desire and this is where life begins.

It has also been amusing as well that most of the people that were moved the most were not necessarily the religious people.  I had different folks come up to me and tell me they weren't religious at all but that they were moved by what I was doing.  The only "religious" person I had come up to me on the whole trip across Ireland was a priest outside of Kinnegad.  As he pulled up he was interested in what I was doing.  He told me that he heard about the ministry and just wanted to know a little more.  He then quickly informed me about how the Israeli government wouldn't allow some priests inside the western wall in Jerusalem.  After filling me in on all the gossip through a half cracked window of his car trying to avoid the pouring rain he kindly said goodbye and drove away.  As he was pulling away I was in prayer for a place to lay up and get out of the rain.  Sure would've been nice if he could have helped out.

What a blessing it was to Lanny and I just after visiting with this priest that we met the Beglin family just outside of Kinnegad.  They so graciously invited us into their home and put our horse up and gave us warm beds to sleep in.  When Mrs. Beglin saw us coming down the road she prayed and asked God in prayer how she could help us.  She found herself going to the Word and reading in scripture the parable of the good Samaritan.(Luke 10:29-37)  Through prayer and through God's Word Mrs. Beglin graciously invited us into her home.  She is a wife and mother of a very devout and religious Irish Catholic family.  They are very proud of their heritage and they live out their faith by their lives and by their works.  May God bless them for the blessing they were to us.

As I was making my way across Ireland the d.j. from the 2fm radio station told his listeners that if they saw the cowboy on the horse to honk their horns and flash their lights.  This was sure amusing all across Ireland I had people flashing their lights and honking their horns.  It was an encouragement to me whenever I'd see guys driving by giving me the thumbs up and smiling and waving.  Good Stuff.

We got back in here to Galway late last night.  Brownie got dropped off out at Mr. Leahy's place pretty late and I know he was happy to get out of the trailer.  We have kinda been lounging for most of the day today and I'm thinking we'll be heading out late tonight back to Dublin.  The ferry leaves at 8:45 a.m. from Dublin to Holyhead, North Whales.  I reckon we'll drive in tonight to beat the traffic, camp out there and catch the ferry in the morning. 

I'm not sure what is going to happen with our horse situation.  The horse we used was on a lease agreement so depending on how the meeting goes this afternoon we may be horseless once again.  Lanny has been on the computer most of the day and it looks like horses in England are at least a little cheaper than they are here in Ireland.  It sure would be nice to find some type of sponsorship with our horses on this trip. 

I don't know if it will be at all possible but I'd sure like to make Paris by the end of the month.  There is a revival going on in Paris at this time and Lord knows I'd sure like to be there.  Things are sure going to have to come together quick though and I'm gonna need to have some good horses under me pronto.

Well I'll write again when there is new news and until then may God Bless you and keep you close.

Love in Christ,
Couy
James 4:7-10