Day 4- Pastor Rob

Wow, what a day!  What a week!  Just when we thought that we had been everywhere and experienced everything we could in Asheville; ....God happened.  It started out like every other day with a group of kids setting the breakfast table and aside from some residual tiredness from mulching, bingoing, walking labyrinths, staffing farmers markets and thrift stores and serving the most elderly and young everything pointed to an expected day of rafting and a trip to Montreat.  but what happened was nothing short of a real life God sighting.  The weather was perfect, the water inviting and with rafting guides to lead us, we learned even more about teamwork and God's work in nature.  We were introduced to rocks with names, encouraged to take leaps of faith from intimidating heights, baptized in the French Broad river, and taken to mountaintop experiences.  And I am talking about more than just rafting.  while the rafting provided a different view of Asheville, our trip to Montreat provided an equally different view of who we are as the beloved children of God.  Everything that happened on our river trip and every leesson we learned from from our mission site experiences came together in the worship service.  The preacher (who was engaging, compelling, and long) reminded us that "stuff happens" and that we spend far too much time on why things happen instead of concentrating on how we should deal with all that "stuff."  It really brought the week together and the Holy Spirit broke our hearts and then mended them through hugs, tears, and stories.  Powerful stuff!  I am so unbelievably impressed with the depth of faith and genuine compassion of every member of the team.  Pastor Emma was super organized, the youth were motivated and energetic, and the adult volunteers were significant players in lifting up the kids with both encouragement and loving discipline.  i am unsure if there is any way that the trip to this point could have been better.  In the absence of phones, tv's, computers and the like, relationships took center stage and we could see and hear God in action.  Thanks so much to the parents, sponsors, everyone who donated/purchased, and prayed to make this trip a reality.  We will rejoin you shortly as we leave for home tomorrow morning. 

Pastor Rob