I just returned from Hendersonville, North Carolina where several events were held to support the construction of the Believe In Tomorrow House at Pinnacle Falls. When completed next May, this new Believe In Tomorrow retreat facility will be the first in the United States to prioritize military pediatrics.
Many volunteers working on this project attended a reception last Thursday. During the event, I mentioned to everyone that one of the things that I have been the proudest of since I started Believe In Tomorrow 25 years ago is the opportunity to meet and work with so many extraordinary people. I believe in the power of good.......and I believe that good people joining together can accomplish amazing things. David Amick, the Believe In Tomorrow 2007 Unsung Hero of the Year Award recipient is a living symbol of all that is good in our world. His story is profiled in our Fall Newsletter. His work in North Carolina to build a retreat for military pediatrics is attracting many other good people to join our efforts there. Jennifer Taylor and everyone at Renaissance Communities are one great example. Their positive energy and enthusiasm to build the Believe In Tomorrow House at Pinnacle Falls is contagious within their community. Positive enthusiasm by the way is one of the telltale signs of good people. Attending the reception were also a number of people from Combs Construction, another great group of talented people with big hearts.
And speaking of big hearts, Joe Wise is a man with a great big heart. Joe’s company, J-4 Electric, is coordinating all of the electrical work for the Believe In Tomorrow House at Pinnacle Falls. In addition, Joe launched an event called Bikers Believe in North Carolina to expand awareness and raise funds for the construction of the project. The event was held several weeks ago and was a great success that Joe plans on repeating next year.
On Saturday I spent the day at Pinnacle Falls where Renaissance Communities hosted a reception. It was a beautiful clear day and a wonderful opportunity to see for myself the natural beauty that surrounds the future site of our retreat facility. I hiked to the waterfalls and sat for a while, enjoying the sounds of nature and the cascading water. By every measure it exceeds our goal of providing families with an environment that will help them to renew themselves mentally, physically and spiritually. It reminded me of a letter written long ago by a mother of a child in our programs who stayed at another Believe In Tomorrow retreat.
She wrote, "I do not know what God has in store for my son, but somehow being in a place like this restores our faith. How can you not be restored when surrounded by God’s beauty?”
