#welcomeletter

Just before the new Education Volunteers arrived in July this year, I was asked by Peace Corps to write a WELCOME LETTER that they would receive a few weeks before their departure. This is what they read before getting on the plane:

Selam nachu! Indet nachu!?

Ethiopia. There is no other place in the world like it. While it is smaller than the state of Texas, its diverse, wide range of languages, religions, and customs is astounding. You will soon have a passport in hand with your suitcases in stow, granted passage to where it is believed civilization started. And in the thousands of years where hominids have roamed the horn of Africa, Ethiopia's gorgeous, ancient culture has become timeless. How lucky you are to be able to say that you lived in the oldest place on Earth; other Volunteers would only wish to be so fortunate.

As a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ethiopia, you will have to learn that time is told as the sun rises and sets, and thirteen months mark the calendar. That even though Ethiopia lies north of the equator, her winter is our summer. That her people are overcome with sheer joy whenever you attempt a few words in their native tongue. That injera = life. And that every holiday (and there are more than I can count) will have you bursting at the seams with the most delicious, spicy food that Ethiopia has to offer. And whether you are teaching in the classroom, at the clinic, or out in the field, you have the opportunity to impact your future community in ways that no one else ever has; Peace Corps is beautiful that way.

I know you must be anxious about the journey that is ahead of you, but I am envious that you are about to experience Ethiopia for the first time with fresh eyes and eager hearts; embrace that vulnerability, because only good can come from it. After all, “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”

Ready, set, go!

Welcome to Reclaiming Our Health, a comprehensive program designed to help you achieve a healthy lifestyle by implementing God's Prescription for your Health. On behalf of all of us at Destiny Metropolitan Worship Church, we look forward to being a part of your success!

Each week you will receive an email with inspiration and health news that will support you in your journey to better health. We will introduce you to The Five Essentials; Faith, Food, Fitness, Friends and Focus and teach you how to weave life-giving principles into your daily life.

Now that you have completed your registration, we encourage you to take a closer look at some of the tools we will be leveraging during this journey.

- Daniel Plan 40 Days to a Healthier you book

- Daniel plan Small group study guide and DVD

Pre order your copy today in the bookstore or order it online from Amazon or Saddleback Resources.com!!

Most importantly, remember you are not alone. We invite you to join us on your favorite social media sites to receive daily encouragement and connect with Reclaiming Our Health community. Let us know when you experience a breakthrough physically, mentally or spiritually. We want to celebrate your victories with you! Please e-mail your stories to [email protected]

We cannot say enough how thankful we are that you are here to celebrate with us. Thank you, thank you, thank you, a million times over and then, thank you again.

We wanted to make sure you had a run down of when you needed to be where and where you needed to be! LOCATION! Lake Eden Events 377 Lake Eden Rd. Black Mountain, NC 28711

Everything is happening at Lake Eden.

REHEARSAL DINNER! Friday, September 20th, 5:30PM - 10PM

Everyone is invited to dinner and we hope to see you there. You can stay as long as you want!  Our friends Simple Syrup are going to play some tunes and we'll have some lawn games out.  You will be responsible for getting yourself to and from Lake Eden tonight!

WEDDING!

Saturday, September 21st. Ceremony starts at 4PM, Cocktail hour at 4:45PM and then Dinner & Dancing will begin around 6PM.

SHUTTLE!

There will be a shuttle to Lake Eden and back to the Holiday Inn Biltmore East.  Shuttle will arrive at 3PM and leave the hotel at 3:15PM - no late comers!

The first shuttle back to the hotel will be at 9:30PM and then the last shuttle will leave at 11PM.

INSTAGRAM!

We'd love for you to take pictures and post them later.  We want to see our wedding through your eyes; it will all go by so fast that it will be amazing to see your photos.  Our instagram hastag is #roryjordanwedding

As a reminder, there is limited cell phone reception and no 4G or wireless.  We've been told if you have Verizon, you might have more luck than us At&t-ers.

ATTIRE! Rehearsal Dinner is a casual BBQ so dress comfortably and casual, Rory will probably wear a jacket and jeans and I am wearing a dress.  Saturday is semi-formal.  There is a possibility of rain on Friday and/or Saturday so bring something you can put on if it's cold. Stuff to do in Asheville!

We love Asheville and if you have time to explore, we suggest you do. If you need a place to eat breakfast can we suggest Early Girl Eatery (8 Wall St., Asheville, NC 28801). There's some great breweries in Asheville, we like Lexington Avenue Brewing (39 N Lexington Ave, Asheville, NC 28801) and Wedge (125B Roberts St., Asheville, NC 28801) to name a few.  Amazing BBQ - 12 Bones - so, so good. (5 Riverside Dr., Asheville, NC 28801) However, this will be the BBQ we have on Friday night. Go see the Biltmore (1 Lodge St. Asheville, NC 28803) if you have time (tickets: 7 days in advance $44, day of $59)!

Stuff to do in Black Mountain!

Black Mountain is small and you can probably cover the whole town in a morning or afternoon. 

We enjoy the coffee at The Dripolator (221 W State St., Black Mountain, NC 28711).

Really good BBQ - Okie Dokie's Smokehouse (2375 US Hwy 70, Swannanoa, NC 28778).

We haven't eaten enough places to suggest more places to go.  If you want to do some yoga, there is Black Mountain Yoga (116 Montreat Road, Black Mountain, NC 28711).  Classes are $12 or $14, and you can rent mats. There aren't a ton of classes but check out their site: www.blackmountainyoga.com

This is all we can think of...we hope it gives you stuff to do!  We will be at Lake Eden the whole time so feel free to pop over whenever...I'm sure there's something we could use your help with.

... though we're not sure how long it will take us to get back to you!