Sonshine and Bama made it to Hot Springs, NC. The AT passes right through the middle of town on Bridge Street. Hot Springs is the first town that the AT goes directly through, (see pictures for the AT blazes down the street.) They stayed at the Sunnybank Hostel aka Elmer's. This is a 180 year old house that has been a hostel for over 30 years. Hikers can buy dinner and breakfast, which is 100% organic gourmet vegetarian food. After running errands in town, Sonshine and Bama joined Elmer and the other hikers for a delicious dinner of creamed broccoli soup, greek salad, beans and rice and cheese cake.
Bama and Sonshine were packed and out of the hostel by 7:30 am. They had breakfast at the Smokey Mountain Diner, a favorite place on the trail for Bama.
They were on the AT by 8:30 am, hiking up Lover's Leap. About a mile into the hike, Sonshine suddenly had diarrhea without warning and had to go back into town to clean up. Sonshine came upon a bath house used by rafters on the French Broad River. The bath house was unlocked, so Sonshine went inside to clean up. While inside a man yelled in and asked if anyone was inside. Sonshine replied "yes," but the man must not have heard her because when she was finished cleaning up she tried to leave but found that she was pad locked inside. After over an hour of banging on the door and shouting a girl came and was able to free her from the bath house. Sonshine then went back to town and Captain Clewis from the Salvation Army (www.salvationarmyusa.org) was able to help her get a cabin for two nights. After the days events, Sonshine was left feeling discouraged and wanting to give up and go home. Sonshine asks for pray for mental strength as many people leave the trail because they allow their mind to think negatively about whether they will be able to physically make it to Maine.
A blessing for Sonshine was to be able to attend bible study at the First Baptist Church in Hot Springs after such a long and daunting day. The study was on Hebrews 8:1-5. They bible study was been studying about Christ as our High Priest. In Hebrews 8:3 it shows the purpose of our High Priest, the purpose seen in His ordination and in His offerings. To understand that Christ could not be our High Priest without His offering= Christ Jesus sacrificing His life at Calvary. Sonshine was reminded of how thankful she is of Christ's sacrifice that she might have life. She is also thankful for the opportunity to share Christ with others!
The next day Sonshine was able to take advantage of a free hour long soak in a hot tub with mineral water, (see pictures for the view from the hot tub.) Hot Springs gets it's name from the natural mineral springs that naturally stay at 105 degrees, year round. The hot tubs are surrounded by a fence on 3 sides and open to the French Broad River. It was nice for her to relax and watch the river.
Sonshine met two brothers hiking the AT: CHAINSAW and STEVE. Chainsaw broke his leg while night hiking 2 weeks into his thru-hike. He had to hike about 5 miles to make it into town and then waited for 4 days before going to the Emergency Room to find that he had broken his leg! He rested for 3 weeks and was going to attempt to hike the trail again the next day. He has his leg in a stabilization brace, (see pictures) and will have to wear the brace for the remainder of his hike. Please pray for Chainsaw and Steve as they hike. Pray that Chainsaw will listen to his body and if he needs to rest or take more time off that he will listen.
Sonshine saw LOBO in town, a man she has seen many times along the trail. He had an appointment to see the doctor in town about his ankle which had been seriously hurting him for 17 straight days. He was afraid that he may have broken something and may need to go home for a few weeks to rest and let his ankle heal. Please pray for Lobo as he decides what to do about his ankle.
Sonshine was able to talk with WRATH and BAM BAM about God again around the camp fire. Wrath continues to be rejecting of the idea of God. Some other hikers have said that they think that Wrath may be schizophrenic due to his believing that he is from another universe and thinks that he lives in an alternate reality. Please pray for Wrath, for both his mental stability and his salvation.
No comments:
Post a Comment