More than we
imagined
What was
anticipated to be merely a replacement of kitchen counters surprisingly turned
into a kitchen remodel. A mission team
from Mobberly Baptist Church of Longview, Texas, prepared to WOW! Smoky
Mountain Resort Ministries with a more efficient and sanitary kitchen work
space. They had planned not just to
install counter tops and shelving, but had also planned details such as color
schemes, gifting us with custom art work for decorating the dorm, a new patio
on the back lawn of the staff dorm, and 600 pounds (30 cases) of resources to
supply the Welcome Bags for the International students.
More
challenging than we imagined
Like most construction
projects, the deeper they went into the walls of this 100 year old dorm, the
more challenges they encountered.
Quickly, the stress of completing the project on time began to intensify! They couldn’t even use the kitchen to prepare
meals for our work team- another challenge.
Problems, hurdles, dilemmas, issues, uncertainties… challenges! In the darkest moments of exhaustion, God is
near; a creative God who gives wisdom and strength beyond measure.
More
wonderful than we imagined
Smoky Mountain
Resort Ministries is blessed with a newly renovated kitchen that will allow for
safer, cleaner, and more efficient meal preparation for our summer staff. The art decorations provide beauty of color
with scripture as a daily reminder of God’s promises. The patio in the back lawn is envisioned to
provide space for our staff to find solitude in the early hours or maybe
Christian fellowship in a gathered circle of singing and worship.
More to be
imagined
Even upon
completion of such a daunting project, the team continued to share ideas for
next year. This team demonstrated the
reality of ministry work. The work is
never done, and by God’s grace alone are we able to be successful in any task
He places before us. There is always
more to do, and this team moved in rhythm with our creative God who reveals our
needs and the means to meet them. Mobberly
has given us more hope and more encouragement as we enter into
this season of summer ministry. As we
begin with more than we imagined, we look towards the end knowing that greater
things have yet to come and greater things are still to be done! ...And all things more than we can imagine.
Ephesians 3:20
Now
all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to
accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
