Appalachia Send Off

Pack nothing.
Bring only your determination to serve and willingness to be free.
Do not hesitate to leave the rest of your world behind. Be concerned only with the needs I place before you – to love tenderly, act justly, and walk humbly with me, your God.
Begin now, quickly, before you have time to second-guess yourself and create doubts in your mind. I will be with you. I will send the fire of the Holy Spirit to warm and encourage you.
You will face both simple and great challenges during your journey. But I will guide you safely through them all. And the stories and experiences you share with one another will make you strong and wise.
Some people may judge you, but others will see what you do and follow in your steps. At times you will grow tired, consider giving in, and want to step away from the people who surround you. And it will be difficult to know how to love one another.
Some of you will feel completely changed, while others will feel as though nothing is different. Some of you will think even your closest friends could never understand your experiences. But some of you will find new friendships in unlikely faces and old friends as understanding, faithful, and true.
Hold close together. You may at times feel lost or confused, but continue to speak to each other about my love for you. Remind each other of who you are. Share my love and keep sharing all that you have become with one another.
It is one of many beginnings.
Do not go back.
I am with you.
CAM 2006

Modified from Passover Remembered

Let the journey begin.
Today 8 Shepards left the CYFM parking lot around 12:30 with 80 people on a trip to Harlan Co. Kentucky. What this prayer is saying is wonderful. It is telling us to not worry about having all the right tools for the trip and knowing what to expect but rather to just experience the trip and let God take care of the details.
About 7 hours after this adventure began we landed for the night in Harrisonburg, VA, to spend the night. A couple of quick sidenotes.

* Joey after you threatening that you would go to Kentucky to do kitchen Palanca and that I could not find room for you to stow away in the cargo van despite that there was room I hope that next year you get your application in so that you can go to Kentucky in one of the Shepards.

* Pokey haven't you gotten past sucking your thumb?

* Our ducklings have been duck-napped and I think this is something that might carry on all week.