I love a foggy mountain morning.
We worked with Appalachia Service Project - a mission that is near and dear to my heart. I worked with them on week-long trips in high school, and spent two summers in college working for them. I also helped lead a couple of high school trips after I graduated. Then I got married, had kids, and found myself a little too stuck in suburbia!!! Time to change all that. My heart was calling me back to the mountains.
ASP's goal is to make homes in Appalachia warmer, safer, and drier. That took on a whole new meaning after it rained ALL DAY on Thursday. We were pouring a foundation for an addition onto his house - for a bathroom. And we had the luxury of going back to the center for a warm shower. {gulp}
I won't go into depth about all the things that concern me about life in Appalachia - substandard housing, Wal-Mart's effect on small towns, mountaintop removal, prescription drug abuse, and lack of quality health care. I will tell you about the amazing beauty of nature, resourcefulness in times of need, strength of families, the good that can be done when people care about each other, the honesty and openness that can be experienced when you choose to share a little bit of yourself.
At the beginning of the year I hinted at my new phrase... Love-Believe-Give-Live. This was part of my plan to put that into action. I don't know how the rest of the year will play out and where I will be led to give next. I am constantly trying to find ways that I can share what I believe and give what I can. What are some ways that you give?
I find giving time a little challenging with three little kids (and a husband with crazy work hours). We set aside a percentage of our income to give to various causes, and donate clothing and toys, etc. But I know there is more we can do.
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