Aloha – The Breath of Life

Because I am a native North Carolinian, I am tempted to introduce myself with the standard “Hey, y’all.” But, a warmer, sun-soaked word for these cold, winter months seems more inviting. That word is Aloha. Aloha can mean good-bye and Aloha can mean hello. Dr. Google is quick to point out that Aloha also means love and affection. So, it’s both a word of salutation and a way of life – the Aloha State could mean the state of Hawaii or the state of your heart. And, best of all, the literal meaning for Aloha is…wait for it…the breath of life.

As we enter into a new season at Well, I feel an Aloha vibe - similar to how I felt as a guest at Well. As a guest, I sometimes arrived needing to say good-bye to something such as grief, anxiety, or stress. But, at other times, I arrived needing to say hello to things such as comfort, rest, and renewal. At all times, I arrived with the need to remember that we are all so beloved. And, I longed for a reconnection with the Holy Spirit – the breath of life.  

Those needs have not changed as I step into a new role here. I arrive needing to say good-bye to some things such as my vocation as a church pastor, the congregation I have served for the last 20 years, and the community that has been our home. I also arrive ready to say hello to the ministry that is Well of Mercy, to a seasoned and gracious staff, and to guests and friends that I have yet to meet. I arrive with the assurance that we are all beloved…especially in seasons of change and uncertainty. And, I arrive with full trust that the Holy Spirit is more than ready and able to lead us into a new season.  

Even so, new seasons can feel daunting, and I am enormously grateful to Sandra and this fabulous staff for their warm welcome. Sometimes in life, we bump into those sacred moments when we know that we are in the right place at the right time with the right people doing the right thing. I’ve often felt that sense of belonging on visits to the Well. If my first weeks here as Executive Director are any indication, those sacred moments will continue to emerge.  

As the new Executive Director, I would like to say to our guests, Aloha! Welcome to 2025 at the Well. We are so glad you’re here, and I cannot wait to meet you. Aloha! Welcome to a love that surrounds you, a love that is not dependent upon your gifts or achievements – a love that flows from God’s spirit as easily as the creeks flow by the prayer path. Aloha! Welcome to a love that bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things – welcome to this sacred place where every person is precious and beloved. 

Aloha! Hawaiian shirts optional.

Lea Slaton

Executive Director

~ JANUARY ~

~ FEBRUARY ~

~ MARCH ~

~ APRIL ~

~ Further Offerings ~

~ Sold Out Retreat? Wait List Available ~

Come to the Quiet:

A Guided Silent Retreat with Spiritual Direction

March 6-8, 2025

WAIT LIST

Relax & Ease into Sacred Time for Rest & Healing

April 2-4, 2025

WAIT LIST

Giving Back Through the Gift Shop

This year, the gift shop at Well of Mercy became more than a place for finding special treasures – it became a way to transform lives. By donating 30% of sales, we’ve supported vital initiatives in Western North Carolina, making a tangible difference for those in need.

In October, your purchases helped raise $1,860 for Beloved Asheville, an organization that stepped up to meet immediate needs in the wake of the hurricane, providing critical relief to those affected.

In November, $1,050 was donated to Together in Christ, a non-denominational building team coordinated by the Windsor Crossroads Ruritan Club. Our very own Facilities Director, Randy Simmerson, joined this dedicated team, working on building projects that provided hope and stability to local families.

And in December, $437 – matched by a generous donor to total $874—was raised for Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church in Asheville. This incredible organization is a lifeline for individuals facing housing crises, offering advocacy, landlord negotiations, and financial support for rent and deposits. Their mission goes beyond relief, empowering people to rebuild their lives with dignity and stability.

To everyone who shopped with us, thank you. Together, we’ve shown the power of compassion in action, and we couldn’t be more grateful.

Living With Hope

Catherine McCauley was a woman of outrageous hope. Without knowing or seeing what was ahead she listened to the guidance of God with love and hope in her heart. Catherine often declared her trust in the “steady and steadying love of God.” We all need hope. 

Let us ask ourselves and one another, how we can have hope and reflect that to a hurting world? How do we serve in the world and honor the critical concerns of the Sisters of Mercy? We do it with steadfast prayer and one person at a time. We recognize that as Henri Nouwen said, “The person of hope lives in the moment with the knowledge and trust that all of life is in good hands.” We live in the hope that “God will fulfill God’s promises to us in a way that leads to true freedom.” Let’s live with hope.

Living with Hope 

by Henri Nouwen 

Optimism and hope are radically different attitudes. 

Optimism is the expectation that things: the weather, human relationships, the economy, the political situation, and so on—will get better. 

Hope is the trust that God will fulfill God’s promises to us in a way that leads us to true freedom. 

The optimist speaks about concrete changes in the future. 

The person of hope lives in the moment with the knowledge and trust that all of life is in good hands.

All the great spiritual leaders in history were people of hope. Abraham, Moses, Ruth, Mary, Jesus, Rumi, Gandhi and Dorothy Day all lived with a promise in their hearts that guided them toward the future without the need to know exactly what it would look like. 

Let’s live with hope.

Why Your Generosity Matters

At Well of Mercy, we’re often asked, “Does the suggested donation of $110 per night cover the actual cost?”  The short answer is no—and that’s intentional.

We chose this figure to ensure that Well of Mercy remains accessible to everyone. We believe deeply that everyone deserves the chance to rest, renew, and reconnect, regardless of financial circumstances.

This is where you come in.

Your generosity bridges the gap, making it possible for those who are weary to find rest, those who are grieving to begin healing, and those who feel lost to rediscover hope. Every donation—large or small—helps us welcome all who need this sacred space.



To those who have supported and continue to support this ministry, thank you. If Well of Mercy has changed your life and you would like others to experience this, we invite you to join us in ensuring this sacred place remains a sanctuary for all. Together, we are Well of Mercy.



Well of Mercy's Core Values



Well of Mercy, a retreat ministry sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, grounded in the spirit of hospitality, provides quiet sanctuary and time in nature for reflection, rest and renewal for those choosing sacred time apart, enriching their spiritual and emotional wellbeing.