“In and through community lies the salvation of the world.” ~M. Scott Peck, The Different Drum
Kitty and I spent last weekend among the waterfalls and woods of Living Waters in Balsam Grove, NC. The property sits along the North Fork of the French Broad River just off what Badger calls Waterfall Highway 215, eight miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway. It consists of 74 acres featuring hiking trails, a restored 150-year-old grist mill, and cascading falls that have drawn visitors for generations. We walked a short path to a view of the twin drops of Mill Shoals and French Broad Falls, the bright red building named Chalet des Cascades standing serenely above the water. The sound of the river seemingly never left us.
Our host was Ursula Carpenter, the ministry’s Outreach Coordinator. She showed us around the grounds and shared how they’ve opened their doors for decades: those who can pay do pay; those who cannot are welcome too. A big change which she calls “repositioning” has occurred as the historic cabins and dormitories damaged by Hurricane Helene have been reconstructed and renovated, primarily by volunteers in an ongoing effort. The same place that has offered refuge for decades continues to do so, but the form of that refuge has shifted to meet what the community now needs.
Thomas, Kitty and Ursula Caroenter at the Lodge (photo by Thomas Mabry)
Ursula says: “The outer fencing that previously kept our refuge within has been removed to encourage those in need to seek refuge here from without.”
A community named for the trees
Balsam Grove is an unincorporated town in Transylvania County. Early settlers arrived along the North Fork of the French Broad River in the early 1800s, families such as
The first post office still exists inside the Living Waters Lodge (photo by Thomas Mabry)
the Brackens, Dunns, Galloways, Kitchens, and McCalls. The name itself came through the local post office. The original post office was located in what is now the Lodge. By 1875 the post office had moved to Galloway land and was named for the balsam fir grove that stood there. William Galloway served as the first postmaster, and the name Balsam Grove took hold as a descriptive name for the area.
The sense of community here runs deeper than any single property. At the Balsam Grove Community Center, neighbors organized a BBQ dinner on Saturday evening, which we attended, complete with raffles, recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, and singing of the Star-Spangled Banner. There was a locals-only bluegrass band to boot.
Singing at the Balsan Grove Community Center (photo by Thomas Mabry)
Children from the area also took the stage and performed as well. Badger surprisingly won the 50/50 raffle and donated the winnings to the Balsam Grove Volunteer Fire Department. The evening was a reminder of the close knit events that have made my hometown of Fountain City in Tennessee so special.
Lifelong residents spoke of how the place pulled together after Helene decimated the Grove and the Living Waters property. People donated what they could, served meals, and monitored the health and welfare of one another. That same spirit was also exhibited at Living Waters, a hub of practical assistance working alongside the ministry’s long-standing retreats. As Balsam Grove is isolated geographically from the rest of Transylvania County, the scene and stories of faith and resilience reminded Badger of a similar outreach at Heart of North Cove, within which he and Kitty continue to participate in the Helene recovery efforts in a similarly isolated area of McDowell County.
A place set apart
There Is More Ministries began with Sue Wiatt. While at Lake Junaluska In the summer of 1979, she received what she understood as a calling to prepare a place of refuge and safety. The land was consecrated in 1980 and families began settling there in 1983. Since then the ministry has offered retreats and free summer youth camps which are grounded in the conviction that love is the basis of the outreach, a love that creates space for healing, restoration, and simply being present with one another. The vision remains “stewarding God’s presence for transformational encounter.” The mission continues as a sanctuary for generations to experience God and embrace fellowship.
After the storm
Hurricane Helene brought more than twenty inches of rain to the North Fork valley with catastrophic consequences. Living Waters responded by turning the NOC recreation room into a distribution center for Balsam Grove and the surrounding area. Donations arrived by truck and trailer load and were sorted by size, item, and need. Ursula coordinated that effort on the ground. The ministry also housed a displaced family for five months. Groups from multiple states came to help
Thomas Mabry is a KnoxTNToday contributor who shares his love of nature through stories, photography, and hiking adventures. Follow Honey Badger Hiking on Facebook for trail discoveries and outdoor adventures, and explore more of his photography on Honey Badger Images on Instagram.
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