by Joe Gatlin from Hope Fellowship and NCN leadership team
Y’all Come! This was the event that exceeded everyone’s expectations in essentially every way. In spirit and inspiration, in numbers, in diversity, in friendships renewed and newly formed, in frigid temperatures for a largely outdoor event, in creative gifts of music, drama, and hilarity, in vulnerable confessions and provocative insights, and in the beauty of our physical setting.
Here is a top ten that will become lasting memories (and I could easily come up with a top 50).
10. The cloud of dust hanging over that west Texas feed lot.
Hold it, that’s not the bellowing of a herd of cattle; it’s the shrieking and screaming of a gaggle of children playing gaga ball just a short toss away from the picnic shelter where we took our meals.
9. The delicious Sunday evening Mexican meal
prepared and served by the brothers and sisters from Casa de Esperanza (Oaxaca, Mexico) and Iglesia de Cristo (Saltillo, Mexico). And it was not Tex-Mex!
8. Twenty-seven.
That’s how many hours the Saltillo delegation drove to get to Kentucky. Yes, 27!
7. Tears of Sunday morning.
Stories of failure, resentment, humility, forgiveness, repentance, and in the end hope. The journey to peace and reconciliation in our communities is long and always redemptive.
6. The perfect imperfection of our venue.
Those organizing the event worried and scurried about in the weeks and days leading up to the gathering.
“Wow! It’s challenging when we don’t have a community acting as host. Registration is double what we expected; we’re going to have to eat outside. And it’s going to be very cold in the mornings, unseasonably so. We need another loop of bunkhouses. Will people remember to bring bedding? We need another meeting hall. Fifty plus children! The camp is so spread out!”
But it all worked. Maybe not to perfection, but we enjoyed the beauty of the place and it’s affordability and the spirit was sweet and community veterans are adaptable and newcomers are eager. Praise God!
5. The potential of a true North American network.
More than 10% of our 220 attendees were from Mexico. Translation happened consistently throughout. Several sessions were bilingual, and sometimes Spanish was spoken first. The gringos loved it, and there was some talk of the next southwest regional meeting, usually held in Texas, being hosted in Saltillo.
4. The Amish lemon pie that got away.
I was one of the few that did not get to make the 25-minute drive to the Caneyville Amish community for Saturday lunch. A number of the participants mentioned this visit as the highlight of the weekend, and several bragged (again and again) about how many pieces of pie they ate. And I just love lemon pie.
3. The children and those who led them.
Our adult daughters have often talked about the positive formation and memories of their time at inter-community gatherings as children and teens. The Y’all Come children’s sessions were built around age appropriate peace-making curriculum. Three leaders worked through the weekend and parents and volunteers helped fill the 72 volunteer slots!
2. We just want more time to visit with each other!
There is never enough time to connect! That’s always part of the feedback.
1. The presence of the Holy Spirit.
The differences and diversity were obvious, while the sense of unity and kinship was palpable. We worshipped throughout. For a short video of rousing Sunday worship, click here.