We also met Lisa Russell, as well as their daughter and son. We spent most of the day working in the food pantry (Lisa put our guys to work sorting all of the bulk foods into portion bags) and the clothing closet. We were able to sort the bags and boxes of your donated clothing into categories for the upcoming distribution on June 27. Lisa runs a truly remarkable ministry to the Cherokee community from their small church -- clothing is donated to anyone in need who comes to the church on distribution days, but she also works with the local Drug Court to give clothing to young people who are coming out of a rehab program as well as mothers and children living in the local emergency shelter for victims of domestic abuse. Some of your donations will also go to a local group that works with men and women trying to find employment who need a set of good clothes for their job interviews.
On Saturday, at Pastor Jack's urging that we learn more about the Cherokee history and culture, we went to the wonderful Museum of the Cherokee Indian in town, as well as the Oconaluftee Indian Village, which recreates the life of the eastern Cherokee people in the 1700s. On Sunday morning, we were warmly welcomed at worship service, which begins with the traditional Cherokee practice of smudging -- sage incense is burned in a large sea shell and the shell is passed to each member of the community, who prays and cleanses themselves four times with the smoke from the incense. The congregation also sings the Cherokee Morning Song and prays a traditional seven-direction prayer (East-South-West-North-the Sky-Mother Earth-and the inner human spirit). All these take place before the official Lutheran liturgy begins. After worship, we joined the congregation for a Father's Day dinner, with Lisa Russell's delicious Indian fry bread made into tacos, as well as lots of great desserts. We met and spoke with many members of the congregation and received a wonderful and warm welcome. Monday morning, we regretfully left behind our view of the mountains and the cool weather (in the 70s every day we were there) and headed for home.
We are all grateful for the opportunity to have represented our congregation to another loving and giving group of Christians at Living Waters. We hope that this will be the first of many visits between our congregations.
On behalf of our delegation (Ruth Rives, Liz Gaskins, Alonso Saldivar, Darrell Bakken, and Dawn Bakken), thank you.
