Daniel and Faith

Today was the youth choir's Sunday to sing so Sheila and I had the luxury to take a turn sitting out front. We were running a little late and took our seats in the center section on the second row from the front as Pastor Nanci was welcoming folks and making announcements. We'd barely taken our seats when Daniel Huey came in holding little Faith and sat with us! What a joy to see these two looking healthy and to have Daniel visiting Trinity after a six year absence. 

Daniel and his wife Beth were members of our choir when they lived in Rome. Both were, unlike almost all of our choir, professional musicians. Daniel taught music at Shorter University at the time. On some of our choir numbers Beth accompanied us on her flute. Daniel occasionally sat in for our pianist.

During those years Daniel sang with me in the tenor section. Lynn Popham and I and other tenors enjoyed having such a pro to help us find our parts! And we enjoyed learning about Daniel and Beth's frequent and sometimes long-distance bicycling adventures. 

On their last Sunday in Rome in 2016 Sheila and I were delighted that the young couple (Beth was our daughter Brannon's age) allowed us to treat them to lunch after church at Pick-O-Deli, a southern-cooking cafeteria then located on Dean Avenue.

We and all who knew Beth and Daniel rejoiced to read of the births of their two children in the years that followed -- a son Paul in August of 2020 and little Faith just a year ago in November 2021.

Then last July 4 came horrifying news. While on a family bicycling excursion their bikes and child carriers had been struck by a car. Beth and little Paul were killed and Daniel and Faith severely injured. Here's the first entry on the "Huey Healing" Facebook page that was set up a few days later:

On the morning of July 4th, the Huey family was in a tragic bicycling accident. They were on vacation, bicycling across the Nevada/Idaho state line, when they were struck by a car. Beth and Paul went home to be with our Lord. Daniel and Faith survived and are being treated in separate hospitals in Boise. Although Daniel and Faith have a good prognosis, they have a tough road to recovery. Daniel suffered multiple broken bones along with other complications. Faith also suffered broken bones, lost two toes and will receive a skin graft on her foot. Please keep the Hueys and their family and close friends in your prayers! 

Since then all their Rome friends and even folks they didn't know all around the world have been praying for them. 

So, again, what a joy to see Daniel and Faith in person today and looking quite healthy -- though both still have important health issues. And how nice to hear Daniel's strong and confident tenor part on the first hymn.

After the service we stood at our pew while many in the congregation came by to visit with Daniel and to meet little Faith. 

Sheila and I got to tend Faith for a while when her Dad needed to step away for a little.

Daniel even agreed to play for a few of us who stuck around a while. I videoed his beautiful playing of this setting of "It is Well With My Soul" --  sideways as it turned out!  (Does anyone know how to turn this video right side up?) 

If you know the story of this beautiful hymn you know how appropriate to Daniel's situation it is. If not you can hear about it here from Hugh Bonneville:

Sheila and I invited Daniel to eat with us at Pick-A-Deli again -- this time at their new location in Riverside. It was great to talk with him more and play with Faith a little.

Daniel is on a long driving Christmas trip to see relatives in Tennessee, Pennsylvania and Indiana. He and Faith will continue in our prayers as recover from the physical and emotional trauma they have endured. I'm sure they would appreciate your prayers as well. You can follow their journey on "Huey Healing" on Facebook.