Devastation is different when you see it first hand.
National headlines have been dominated by images of southern Appalachia – Asheville, Lake Lure, Gatlineburg, Pigeon Forge, Boone – all absolutely demolished by the power of Hurricane Helene. Millions without power, millions without resources, millions stuck where they are, watching, wondering, waiting, wishing for a way out.
The Board of the Eswatini Partnership is on Beech Mountain, 10 more folks watching, wondering, waiting, wishing for a way out.
We often host our annual retreat in Western NC to split the difference between our eastern NC friends and our Kentucky folks, and this year just happened to be one of those years. We made a decision to “come on,” and the Lord has us here. We’re on day 4 of what should have been a 2.5 day adventure. What a ride.
On Friday as Helene barreled down on the top of these mountains, the sound was enormous. You could hear the wind whipping and the rain wrapping around the house. The power went out early Friday morning – around 6am. We went on and met in the dark – Swazi style. It was a productive and generative meeting for our team; we made progress on our goals. The Spirit of the Lord was upon us, His hand of safety cradling us, holding us close. We didn’t know it yet.
We shared lasagna boiled on a gas stove around a decorative candlelight dinner. We traded stories of Africa, laughed at the years of joy we’ve all shared in the Kingdom of Eswatini. It was sweet, all joy, all Jesus.
Saturday morning with hope in our eyes, we packed our things, said goodbye to one another. We headed out.
Devastation is different when you see it first hand.
The house two doors down from us is totally demolished – blown in, insulation all over the road. Shards of wood and glass litter the yard. They’re stuck on the mountain.
We heard a story of a woman worried for her father whose meals for his feeding tube had run out. They’re stuck on the mountain.
We heard a story of a wedding party – part of the group stranded on the mountain, part of the group at the bottom. They were hiking food and supplies back in and out to each other. They’re stuck on the mountain.
We’re stuck on the mountain.
Power lines lay across roads; Crevices have made roads not only impassable, but literally split open wide and deep; as of Saturday night, there is no path up or down Beech mountain (with real roads). We’re getting reports of a muddy 4×4 trail. We may spend time in Eswatini on some crazy muddy, wet roads, bu that sounds wild even to our ears. You don’t know what you don’t know until you go and see yourself.
We still have so much abundance – hot coffee. A roof over our heads. Necessary supplie like medications, food, water. Gas in our cars. The ability to charge our electronics (upon which we are so reliant for communication with friends, family, and our community.)
Perspective is everything. We sat in this house and did our board meeting, which was important and beautiful, but we had no idea the devastation going on just outside the four walls of this home. We were safe, inside, cozy, cradled in the hand of our Father; but outside, the fury of a hurricane barreled down upon this community and so, so many people we love. We were stuck still on the mountain in the middle of the storm.
I can’t help but wonder if that’s what the Lord is calling us into here in this place. To be still. To listen. To lean in. To draw near to the throne of grace. What is it the Lord wants us to hear in this moment? In this home? In this devastation?
Isaiah 43.
“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” (Vs. 19)
The Lord is doing a new thing in our hearts. In this Partnership. As we round the corner on nearly 30 years of ministry, He is birthing a new generation of leaders for this ministry. He is raising up the Joshuas. He is calling us into renewal, revival, restoration.
Just as we need a way in the wilderness to get off this mountain, the Lord is going to make a path for a new generations of believers helping to reach the Kingdom of Eswatini with the Gospel. Just as we need a river in the desert of a path home, the Lord is going to draw a river in the desert to reveal the direction of Eswatini Partnership. He is planting renewal, revival, restoration right here, right now, in the middle of the storm as we’re stuck still.
Akekho lofana naJesu – there’s no one, there’s no one like Jesus.
“The Spirt of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor, he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn to grant to those who are in Zion – to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called righteousness, the plating of the Lord, they he may be glorified. They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastation of many generations.
Strangers shall stand and tend your flocks; foreigners shall be your plowmen and vinedressers; but you shall be called priests of the Lord; they shall speak of you as the ministers of our God; you shall eat the wealth of the nations, and in their glory you shall boast. Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion; instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot; therefor in their land they shall possess a double portion; they shall everlasting joy.
For I the Lord love justice; I hate robbery and wrong; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. Their offspring shall be known among the nations, and their descendants in the midst of the peoples, all who see them shall acknowledge them, that they are an offspring the Lord has blessed.
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to sprout up before all the nations.” (Isaiah 61).
Lord, send renewal. Revival. Restoration. Repair the ruined cities. Raise up the former devastations, the devastations of many generations. As the earth brings forth its new sprouts, as the garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up, Lord God cause righteousness and praise to sprout up in the Kingdom of Eswatini. Cause it to sprout up in this Partnership. Renew us. Revive us. Refresh us we pray. Plant here.
Amen.
Some key prayer requests:
- Greg and Hannah Poe (who are with us): their whole lives are in Forest City; their people are okay but they are receiving reports of devastation in their community
- Steve and Monica Allen (in Ashe County, next to us): we got a report late last night they are okay, just stuck in their home. They daughter Lacie is in school at ECU, while her parents and brother, Nathan, are dealing with this utter devastation at home. Prayers for their safety and for Lacie’s strength.
- There is truly utter devastation in these communities in Appalachia which are so reliant upon tourism (and were just entering their high season with leaves/snow.) Pray for everyone affected by these storms. These damages (both physical and emotional( will take years to heal.
Coda: This morning, at 6:15am, just like a Swazi caravan, we loaded up our cars and headed down the mountain. We were able to get to Boone and get gas. The catastrophe is unimaginable. We thank God for a way out of Beech mountain. We thank God for our health. We thank God for water (we ran out of water pressure this morning.) We thank God for one another and that we are all safe. The sun still rises on this community. Pray with us.
