It’s safe to say that the Asheville crew learned an awful lot about one another on our first day of service. We learned who’s alarm clock rings the loudest and the earliest, who needs to be dragged out of bed and doused with water before finally waking up, and who drinks coffee and what amount of creamer they require for their morning joe.
After we rubbed the sleep out of our eyes we were off to RiverLink where we learned even more about each other… Like who is most accident prone (record for falling in the water: 3 times) and who looks the best in waders (picture the getup worn by the gents in Ocean Spray Cranberry juice commercials).
After a delicious (and nutritious) picnic lunch the Asheville crew spent the afternoon learning about people besides just one another. We learned about the 35,000 individuals in North Carolina who live with HIV and AIDS. This was an incredibly eye-opening experience for everyone. Each of us left with a sense of responsibility for the knowledge we gained and we spent the evening discussing ways we can put it to use once we get home.
However, before we sat down for #familydinner and reflection time we got to explore beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway. FYI: mountains are steep, bears are active, and five miles feels longer than it sounds when you spend the morning fighting the powerful current of an Asheville creek. But making it to the lookout was a highlight for all. Seeing the vastness of North Carolina reminded us that it takes a team. We all need to work together to take on such a big challenge.
It’s safe to say us Mo State Bears felt right at home in North BEARolina. We cant wait to see what happens next!