Month: February 2018

I have been asked several times where in the world is Redding Mountain? People looking on maps have asked for assistance locating it. Many people have had trouble locating it because it is a place in the heart. It is actually in Scott Depot, WV down a narrow road just off of Scary Creek.

So here is the story as I remember it. Back in the late 80’s or early 90’s I started calling the mountain where Mawmaw and Pawpaw Redding lived, Redding Mountain. We also lived on that mountain. At one time at least 9 of the grandchildren lived there. Several of our children were born on Redding Mountain and a couple buried there.

We have had many many Redding Mountain adventures. Somehow that red West Virginia dirt and the home we call Redding Mountain produces a lot of activity and a lot of creativity. Maybe it is the calmness and time taken to sit under the trees, on the porch, birdwatching, or walking in the woods. Or the busyness of mowing and chopping down trees and working on projects. Anyway, many wonderful ideas and creations had their birth on Redding Mountain. Sawmilling, making tomato stakes, raising chickens, selling eggs, producing a magazine, soap and bread making, running a mini baking business, primitive camping, riding off of the “cliff” on the pulley and cable, learning to drive tractors and fix them or riding around with Pawpaw in his truck and watching the stars from the rooftop! And the snowy winter days! Nothing like them. I loved being “snowed in” on Redding Mountain. Wonderful memories are carried with us from Redding Mountain. Thirteen years ago I started a blog called Redding Mountain. I shared recipes and stories from happenings on Redding Mountain. You can still access it at reddingmountain.com

Now you know how my precious Redding Mountain got its name.

 

 

In 1979 our group traveled to Oregon City, Oregon for our first stop. We stayed in the homes of members of the Oregon City Church of Christ. I stayed with Sam and Mary Lovelace. We spent 3 weeks sharing our faith door to door. We studied the Bible with young and old. We had some amazing times praising God, studying the scriptures, sharing life with those we were staying with and those we met on the streets. We even washed a foot or two. We were impressed with the outpouring of love from this congregation. One thing I remember hearing from some of these wonderful folks was that they were not going to let their campaign stop. They were so full of love and they wanted to continue sharing. I remember our circles of songs and praise and prayer. Several memories stand out in my memory.

• Sweet wild pink roses blooming beside the building.
• Brothers and Sisters praying and waiting for us to return late one night when we were engaged in outreach and hadn’t returned. (This was way before cell phones ).
• Christians stretching themselves to learn to do things they had not done before.
• A special gift of my first NIV Bible which I was able to sit and read for hours. Shreds of this remain tucked away. This summer was when I really poured over the scriptures for the first time.
• The incredible bond Christians share. Whether we have just met or have known each other for years. We share something special indeed because of Christ.  Still true today!
• Meeting those who were truly looking for God and realizing there are people who want to know Christ.

All of these things impressed me. Some of the people I met at Oregon City I never saw again and others I bumped into from time to time and some not until 30 years later.

And the story continues.

If you missed part one :

Campaigns Northwest – Part 1