"So the whole world will know that we're not alone"

     Well, Salkehatchie Huntersville is finished, and I feel much like I do about Christ on the cross.  It hurts my heart to see it die, but I know that the best is yet to come.  Now, I don't presume a Christ-like status, but follow me with the metaphor for a moment.      Salkehatchie, like Christ, brought together a rag-tag bunch of misfits who feared appearing foolish, sometimes failed to live up to the example of Christ and doubted everything. It was often hard, hot and sometimes thankless work.  But through it all, the Salkehatchie family, like the early Christians, persevered, grew in faith and love, and formed the foundation of something new and radical in the world. Christ's work, while in his earthly body; was wondrous, miraculous and defied explanation, but it is his death and resurrection that changed mankind.  I pray that the Salkehatchie Huntersville story is just beginning a new chapter.  I believe it is and I believe that Ms. Betty's house plays an important role in that chapter.

     As a part of the closing of camp, an announcement was made that a collection of funds had been donated to the fund for Betty's home in honor of the work Jerry and I have done for Salkehatchie.  That still brings tears to my eyes.  There is no greater gift than to know that you made a difference, you mattered in someone's life and to know that has manifested into a tangible gift to improve someone else's life is...well, AWESOME!  Thank you, all of you, for reminding us that we're not alone.

     The Matt Maher song, "Hold Us Together" is not new, but it was new to me.  It sounds so "Salkehatchie" to me and I found myself ruminating on it and waking up humming it.  When we were talking to Perry Brittian about helping us with the music for camp, I asked him if it was a song he knew.  His response?  "No, but I have been thinking about it a lot lately and I want to learn it."  To me, this was a God thing.  The song touches me so deeply and reminded me again and again that,

     "This is the first day of the rest of your life

     'Cause even in the dark, you can still see the light It's gonna be alright, it's gonna be alright"

Hold Us Together

Matt Maher 
(Hit Play Button to Hear Song)

It don't have a job,

don't pay your bills

Won't buy you a home in Beverly Hills

Won't fix your life

in five easy steps

Ain't the law of the land or the government
But it's all you need

And love will hold us together

Make us a shelter to weather the storm

And I'll be my brother's keeper

So the whole world will know that we're not alone

It's waiting for you knocking at your door

In the moment of truth when your heart hits the floor
And you're on your knees

And love will hold us together

Make us a shelter to weather the storm

And I'll be my brother's keeper

So the whole world will know that we're not alone

This is the first day of the rest of your life

This is the first day of the rest of your life

'Cause even in the dark, you can still see the light It's gonna be alright, it's gonna be alright
This is the first day of the rest of your life

This is the first day of the rest of your life

'Cause even in the dark, you can still see the light It's gonna be alright, it's gonna be alright

Love will hold us together

Make us a shelter to weather the storm

And I'll be my brother's keeper

So the whole world will know that we're not alone

     On Tuesday the steering committee for Betty's house meets again and I am so excited to see the house that Love will build.  God Bless you all!