Volunteering at Montreat, Sept 2007

Thanks for staying in touch with us!  We send warm greetings and hope you and yours are doing well.  Hearing from you really helps us stay connected, and encouraged, as we continue this adventure of full time volunteer service.  

After our first month at this 5^th placement, we find ourselves busy

and involved at Montreat (www.montreat.org)

and realize that 1/3 of this assignment time has already come and gone. The mountains of NC are beautiful this time of the year and we’re finding the turning of the leaves bringing back fond memories of many fall seasons spent in New England. 

Our volunteer positions are interesting; what talents and skills we have to offer are being utilized. In the development office Mary is learning lots about the Memorial Garden which is an interesting ministry! Bill enjoys doing independent special projects for the President’s office. The conference center is a Presbyterian facility but we were interested to learn that Rev. John Collins, a Congregational minister from New Haven CT, was the ‘discoverer’ and first owner of this property in 1897.  Our housing is a rather large apartment in a 100 year old cottage and the dining hall food is very good and we have many interesting staff and conferees and guests to meet, visit with and learn from.  Another nice part about this placement is that we are 2 hours from Charlotte NC and can help out as needed with Ashley’s care and recovery. (She is doing much better; thanks for your prayers and support!) 

As always, we like to see as much of a ‘new to us’ area as possible.  At each assignment we are intentional in learning the history, absorbing the culture, finding a church, and understanding the traditions.  A scenic train ride on the Smokey Mountain Railroad was a special treat last weekend. Asheville (15 miles from us) is a very interesting city. It is one of the true art centers of the East. Artists are everywhere along with shops and restaurants that make it feel a little like Europe (or Sante Fe). It’s still small enough to walk around with ease.  Asheville tourism is a major industry and you can tell they’re getting ready for the foliage people arriving daily to ‘leaf peep’ this part of the state. Thomas Wolfe (Look Homeward Angel) was a native son and a great tour of his childhood home was had by us this past weekend. The Blue Ridge Parkway is nearby and we enjoy rides on it whenever possible. Thanks to a suggestion by a fellow Montreat staffer, after church one Sunday, we had a great lunch at the Mt. Pisgah Inn with a fantastic view overlooking the Pisgah National Forest. 

The town of Montreat (a word invented from Mountain Retreat) is also the location of Billy Graham’s home (his late wife, Ruth, was the daughter of Presbyterian missionaries; her funeral was held at the conference center auditorium).  Montreat College, the town of Montreat, and Montreat Conference Center share a unique intertwined history and current existence.   

Believe it or not, we are in negotiations about a 2008 assignment and are being recruited already for 2009.

Write soon!