We were planning on finishing some last projects for the Center this morning, but it was raining pretty hard, so it never got done. Instead, we had a closing devotional session with communion. We were talking about where we found Jesus this week. Someone said, "where didn't we find Jesus?"
Matthew has one of my favorite passages, where Jesus comes to separate the sheep from the goats. He lets the sheep into their reward, saying, "I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink...." And the sheep ask, "when did we feed you when you were hungry?" Jesus says, "what you have done to the least of my brothers and sisters, you have done to me."
Since we are still in the Easter season, I've also been thinking of the Road to Emmaus story, where Jesus is made know to the disciples in the breaking of the bread.
Truly, during this mission trip, our eyes have been opened to Jesus, in the poorest, most vulnerable people as well as the folks who serve these people. They often serve them on a shoestring budget, with little to no resources. They have no idea how they will continue their vision and the future often looks shaky to them. Yet in the midst of all of this, they do amazing ministry. Saint Francis once said, "first do what is necessary, then do what is possible and suddenly you are doing the impossible." This seems to be what is happening in West Virginia.
We found time today to visit a coal mining museum in Beckley and learned about the hard conditions miners had to deal with. The tour included a trip down a mine shaft to see how mining was done and the conditions they found themselves in. It is amazing how low the owners of the mines stooped to put miners in debt, turning them into virtual slave labor. This is the history of West Virginia in a nutshell. We had the pleasure of finding a docent working there who lived in Bedford for 12 years - talk about a small world.
We are now on the road, coming home in various ways. Rick took off this evening so he could be with his son, Jacob for an Eagle Scout project this weekend. Terry is spending time with her sister in Charlotte, NC to find some family history sites. Allyson, Chris and I have made it to Chambersburg, PA, through a couple of torrential downpours on our way. Keep praying for travel mercies!
We are leaving tomorrow morning, with hopes of being back mid to late afternoon. We miss you all and can't wait to see you with stories and more.
Peace to you all.
Pastor John
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