It’s easy to be energized when you are getting ready for a vacation or service trip. Days filled with new destinations and experiences can pump you up with excitement. It’s quite a different thing to maintain momentum as you collapse onto an air mattress following an 8 hour day of roofing or hanging siding in 90-degree heat. This week has been both for seventeen of us serving in Leslie County, KY.
Sure we might be sweaty and tired from working in the hot sun all day and wish we could connect with family and friends (there’s no reception here), but these are minor details when we confront the startling realities of Appalachia.
Before reading on, I invite you to read Pastor Alec’s blog from last week, if you haven’t done so already.
There is much that is beautiful and holy to be celebrated in this place. But that doesn’t undo the decades of job loss, grinding poverty, and ecological disaster that impact so many communities. It doesn’t begin to address the food insecurity that is the daily reality for over 26% of the households in some counties that ASP serves. The beauty of these mountains and riverways don’t begin to solve the issue of food deserts that find many an hour drive from a local grocery store. These numbers - and hearing the heartbreaking stories of people - can draw you into their weariness.
But don’t mistake these hurdles as despair. Don’t declare these situations as hopeless.
Our theme verse, “let us not grow weary of doing good,” is visible in every act of kindness that we witness here.
This week, our three work crews encountered families who have dwelled on family property for one hundred years and take immense pride in their property, their heritage, and in the presence of God in this place.
This week we heard about children tapped as leaders in their classes, stories of foster children being adopted and experiencing unconditional love in their forever family.
This week we sipped coffee and smoothies at a ministry-driven restaurant that uses profits to operate the food pantry next door.
This week we were led by a skilled, hard-working staff that not only led us in serving and on-site problem solving, but tirelessly nurtures relationships with homeowners in Jesus’ name.
This week we experienced overwhelming hospitality from our cooks and from locals who thanked us and wished us well. We filled our spirits with a local bluegrass band concert singing mountain songs and gospel tunes. We were enveloped by the loving embrace of our host families who treat us like kin.
We might be exhausted and tired, but we are not weary. God has energized us by the presence of these saints and the beauty of this place. God is here!
Wishing you joy!
Lowell