Old Union Mission Trip 2026 -- Hendersonville, NC

SUNDAY, AUG. 2

We left Old Union Church around 11:30 AM after indoor worship due to threatening weather. However, on our trip, we only encountered occasional rain in TN, VA and upon entering NC. Traffic was better than last year with fewer construction zones in WV. For the third year in a row, we saw a rainbow, after the rain heavy rain in TN, between our stop at the truck stop and Bristol.  God was with us!

When we arrived at Lutheridge around 9 PM, it was dark and we had to search for our cabins. Luckily, Mary Rae was already there to guide us. That was because she was on another mini mission trip to revisit our friends in Buckhorn, KY. Once we settled into our cabins, we fell asleep anticipating what adventures lay ahead for the rest of the week.

MONDAY, AUG. 3

It was just starting to get light outside when everyone began their day. We gathered for breakfast as Mary Rae, our designated kitchen Queen, prepared scrambled eggs for us. Then, all three teams separated at 8 AM to go to their respective worksites. Team Jeff B consisted of Dave, Bob Y, Aaron, Joe, Cassie, and Judy. They worked on painting walls and putting up siding on a house. This house is located on property that Habitat for Humanity purchased to build themselves. The new homeowner is required to put in 300 hours to help build their own house. Team Peter consisted of Geoff A and Lorene. With Habitat worker Alex, again from last year, they built the foundation and floor of a porch deck to a trailer home. 

  Team Bob G consisted of me, Tim and Carl. We returned to the house with the banister separator that we worked at last year. It was so nice to come back to familiar territory. Habitat had hired a sub-contractor to install a handicap ramp in the front of the house. Because the finished ramp did not pass code inspection, we had to dismantle the entire ramp because the violations could not be easily remedied. It took most of the morning to do this. In the afternoon, we measured and dug holes for the foundation posts for the new ramp. These have to be inspected before we can continue. We went to a second nearby house to tear down steps in order to put in a new ramp, digging more holes for the posts. I got tired and sweaty watching both Carl, Bob, Buck, and Tim tackling rocks and tree roots while I was busy little tasks such as being the water boy. For the day, we had a Habitat employee, nicknamed Buck, who helped us. She told me her full name was Buckaroo! Nothing slowed her down--she was a great help and even touched a slimey slug! Campbell, whom we met last year as a volunteer for Habitat, delivered our Chik-fil-a lunches today. While helping her to unload the food from her vehicle, we spotted a cat that resembled our old friend, "Chester," in the distance. Maybe next time he will come over to say "Hi."  As for today's weather, it was foggy and cloudy in the morning. Then the sun came out for the rest of the afternoon with a pleasant breeze.

While we were all working hard, Mary Rae went shopping at the local Walmart. She met some sheriff deputies upon entering who were collecting school supplies for local children. As a former elementary teacher, she felt impelled to contribute by buying some school supplies herself to donate. Upon leaving the store, she met the sheriff. He was surprised that someone from PA would donate to NC children!  But of course those who know Mary Rae would expect nothing less.

While I am dictating this to Lorene, my assistant editor, it is cloudy again and raining. Mary Rae served us a delicious dinner of chicken with stuffing and gravy, Hawaiian rolls, cooked fresh green beans, coleslaw, and a veggie tray. For dessert, Joe made all of us graham cracker sandwiches with white icing. And as if Mary Rae hadn't already done enough for today, she led tonight's devotions from Acts 2:42-47. Having just attended the New Wilmington conference, Mary Rae added another devotion from Acts 13. I was more impressed by this addition as she spoke about what would Christianity be like today if Paul and Barnabas had stayed in Antioch instead going out to cities near and far. I liken this to us being commissioned to help others on mission trips not close to home.

After devotions, some of us played "I Doubt It", a game of bluffing. This is Clark your blogger.  Thank you, Lorene, for transcribing for me!  And thanks for the thoughts and prayers from all of you, our loyal readers.  Thank you and God Bless to all of you, including my friends Laurie and Eagle.  See ya tomorrow!

The Kitchen area.

Building the ramp at Marilyn's house.

The Dining Hall adjacent to the Kitchen and Great Hall.

Us in the van the way down.

This handicap ramp that somebody else built did not pass inspection.

So we unfortunately had to tear most of it down

At least we hope to salvage most of the used lumber.

It was a slow and tedious process

Tim and "Buck" digging holes for the new ramp.

We had to show some extreme predjudice against some tree roots to did those holes.

And Tim had to use a mini jackhammer to break up some concrete.

Geoff and Peter.

Building the deck at Marilyn's House.