Mount Eagle Retreat CenterStories
To submit a story about your experience at Mount Eagle, e-mail us at: lu@mounteagle.orgFrom Linda, Springfield, Missouri, March 2012:
...Thank you for making it possible to spend these past three days at Mount Eagle. It has been a peaceful, restful time of waiting on the Lord, and I feel like I have done as your name says, "mounted up as wings of eagles"...I feel reconnected to Jesus stronger than ever! I pray God's Richest blessing on all who are connected with this ministry...
From Billy Fly, Paragould FUMC, March 2012:
Just wanted to say thanks for your care & hospitality at Mount Eagle. We loved the new Lodge (new since I have been there)! It was a great setting for our youth to grow closer to God and each other together. I just loved the setting and layout of the lodge, and the views from the bluffs never disappoint! I wish you were closer to us! Thanks for the ministry that you provide!
From Mallory Lundy, Sigma Phi Lambda, UCA, March 2012:
...Thanks again for hosting Sigma Phi Lambda at your retreat center. We all thoroughly enjoyed the cozy cabin and beautiful view. It was a delight to feel God's peace wash over in our cabin and basking in His beautiful work...
From Martha Smith, Plano, Texas, July 2011:
...Thank you for permitting Brandon, Jeremy, and I to attend the Family Folklore Camp at Mount Eagle.
It was a wonderful experience in fun, new friendships, learning, and spiritual growth. The scenery was the "icing on the cake"...
From Rev. Kenny & Penny Lee, May 2011:
...Ministry makes us to be sojourners in this world. Mount Eagle is like coming home to where you belong. Thanks for the love, peace, and rest...
From Rev. Will Choate, pastor Argenta UMC, NLR, May 2011:
In the summer of 2007 I was appointed to start a United Methodist church for emerging generations. In planting this church, we were able to take advantage of the highly connected and active lifestyles of young adults. However, I quickly realized that as helpful as these lifestyles were in growing a church, they were exhausting my congregation.
Church planting requires a significant amount of work from everyone involved. After three years of sowing, tilling, fertilizing, and watering the soil God had entrusted us with, it became clear that we needed to spend some time away.
In the summer of 2010 we accepted Rev. Lu Harding's offer, as a new church, to retreat at Mount Eagle without cost. We left our computer screens for nature walks, restaurants for self-prepared meals, and exhaustion for porch swings. We worshiped, and served, and played. Relationships were created and strengthened, future plans were laid, and a calling was rediscovered.
As we continue to discern God's calling on our church, it is invaluable to know we are not alone. Mount Eagle's hospitality reminded us of such and ignited what we hope to be a lifetime partnership.
Reprinted with permission from The Morrilton Miracle, November 11, 2010:
Morrilton Women's Mount Eagle Retreat
How fortunate I am that in this day and time I am able to travel with my friends to a place called Mount Eagle. Somehow it helps to replenish my soul, and I come away nourished.
This year we were able to have Rev. Beth Turner return and be our teacher in three different sessions. We sang some of our favorite hymns, exchanged ideas, and then settled down to worship, seek answers for debate, and comtemplate her message. Her topic this year was "Peace is like a river"...You can't stop it, you can't dam it, you can try to bury it, but it will eventually seek its own way. You finally realize its power!... Before you go to bed tonight, ask yourself—Did I offer love today—Did I thank God for the breath of Life—Did I love the sinner before I JUDGED the sin—Did I try to love God with all my heart, soul, and mind and to love my neighbor as myself? We are all made in the image of God, and our mission is to love God and one another. All else including our fears are just "a point in conversation."
We left the retreat after giving each other a most moving and wonderful communion. Thank you God for that wonderful day.
Valerie Temple
From Reverend Pamela S. Cicioni, November 2010:
Being a Chaplain Can Be Daunting So I Retreated to Mount Eagle
Four Days of Retreat—all on my own. Silence, nature, beauty...so I planned to hike.
1st day - diligently traversed towards Boat Chapel, and I thought it's just around the bend. Then no, a little further down this way, and I kept going; when will I reach my destination? Hike back—long!
2nd day - enthusiastic to hike to Sunrise Point to see sunrise. Oh my, I came upon Boat Chapel so quickly; imagine that! I was told "the trail disappears; you have to just see where the leaves look kicked, and there's just a marking or two; be careful." I slowed down, studied the lay of the trails longer, intentional in my watch, and then—oh my, I arrived—the granduer, majesty, God!
3rd day - adventure to Bear Cave. Hello wave at Boat Chapel, stopping along path toward Sunrise Point. I see deep in the woods—a bird; I hear her song. I move on to trail unknown and start down the descent. Thank God for the ropes that kept me from slipping. Then down around the rock—it's Bear Cave; I bend over, lean in, and call out "hello" just in case, then I quickly move out. I sit and gaze at the wonder of the valley below, contemplating life and courage—courage to go back into the cave! I get up and walk, and I go all the way in, to the pool—drip, drip, drip. Yea! I did it...
As I journeyed out of the woods I thought if I could only see a deer or some wildlife, I would have arrived—I'd fit in—oh well. Happy, slow, pausing in awe—beautiful two hours—moving on...and then in my walk there appeared not one, but two beautiful big deer, just in front of me on the path. We all froze, and just stared...'til I said "hello", then off they bounded. "Thanks God!" was all I could say.
Thanks God for slowing me down, helping me to see deep into my soul & realizing beyond me, oh Lord, how majestic you are!
Taken from Seeking God In All Things by William Reiser
If we want to find God. God is not the disruption. God does not cause historical trauma. God was not to be found in the rock splitting wind or in the shaking of the earth or in the fire, but in "a sound of sheer silence" (1 Kings 19:12)
We yearn for "Be still & know that I am God".
I retreated—hiked—read—worshiped— created. I was still...
Rev. Pamela S. Cicioni, Chaplain
Reprinted with permission from Springdale Wesley UMC church newsletter, spring, 2009:
Mark 6:31 He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.”
Jesus recognized the importance and, yes, the necessity of rest. Sometimes we get so caught in the pace and demand of modern life that we fail to allow ourselves the time we need to rest. Penny and I were very fortunate to get to spend a few days away this month.
Mount Eagle is a place we both love to go and just soak up the peace and quiet. A good book, some inspirational CD's, and some excellent food helped to enhance the experience for us. As we take the time to "be still", God begins to speak to the heart. Seeing the place again in the green of spring was like coming home. Lu and John Harding are our special friends and always manage to make our stay all the more enjoyable. The staff at Mount Eagle are special people who consider it a special calling to be there. Thanks Lu, John, Wanda, and Tony for doing such a great job and making this special place available to us. Thanks Wesley for allowing us to take the time we so desperately needed to be refreshed. Now we're back and ready to "get at it" again. See ya in church.
Pastor Kenny (Lee)
From Joy Cameron, Gardner Memorial UMC, North Little Rock, July 2009:
As always our group enjoyed their time at Mount Eagle. It’s amazing how much fun and enjoyment we have even while working there. You can’t get most of these youth to even clean up their rooms at home, but give them a thousand acre forest to clean and they can’t wait to start. Mount Eagle has been a blessing to our group for so many reasons. Many close bonds have been built while there. We love all of you and have always been blessed by each of you and your willingness to teach and work with individuals of all skill levels….Thank you so much…