Some random thoughts from this am at the Hampton:
Wonderful time last night at the Edwards. Good food, music and fellowship. Dave
The fireworks were so much fun last night. Breakfast was yummy! :) I miss y'all. Catherine
The car ride was so much fun! We love the games Mr. Edwards!!! Bailey
The BBQ was good! Connor
You know you are too old for candy necklaces when they no longer fit over your head. Katy
This has been an absolutely wonderful trip so far! I miss you Mom and Dad Ben and Daniel! Hope ya'll are doing fine! Remember nine is a letter! (fun times in the car!) Mary Ann
Hey Baba!! Just a quick note to say today is the beginning of our great adventure! We arrive in Fairmont this afternoon-more later...take care of those sweet babes for me...give them a smooch! Katie-Loo
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Friday, July 4, 2008
And We're Off
(Note: We had to forget one thing—the cable needed to upload photos. We will find one tomorrow so we can add photos.)
6:30 a.m. and it was finally time to set this mission project into motion! We met at church, loaded a few extra things, prayed to ask God to protect our travel, and hit the road by 7.
For those who thought they would get a nap along the way—FORGET IT! Dan Edwards, who was supposed to be with us on this trip but had to stay behind with a hurting back (and who we miss!), had planned a road trip for the group. (Dan created this “find and identify” observation game on his drive up to Fairmont in May.) Each person received a copy and was told that a grand prize awaits the person answering the most questions correctly.
There was no rest. Our eyes had to be on alert every mile. It seemed that about every five minutes there was some landmark or mile marker to identify and note or dashed lines in the middle of the road to count. We did this all the way to Knoxville! That trip has never gone so fast. Dan had us looking for silos, rivers, and rest areas. Question number one directed us to identify each Cracker Barrel and its exit number. Did you know that between Birmingham and Abingdon, Virginia, there are 16? We do! And we know where to find them all!
Question two had us find the word “pinnacle” on a sign. Question three had us make every word possible from that word. Here at bedtime the highest number formed by any one person is in the low 60s. We hope a fresh new day tomorrow will bring more words to mind!
While the rest of the world celebrated the fourth with cookouts at lunch, we enjoyed Mexican in Knoxville before driving north. We finally arrived in Abingdon around 4 and checked into our rooms for the night, but we didn’t slow down here! Dan’s parents live in Abingdon. They had graciously agreed to host us for dinner—all 32 of us. What a sweet couple. Dan’s resemblance, or should I say, Dan’s identical look to his retired pastor father is amazing. They have the same mannerisms, laugh, and mischievous sparkle to their eyes. Even though we all missed Dan, we felt like he was here every time we looked at his dad! Mr. and Mrs. Edwards welcomed us with open arms and treated us to a feast. Dan’s dad cooks a mean BBQ pork and makes a sauce that would rival any in Birmingham.
Even though Leslie Edwards was to join us on this entire trip, her gift to the group came in taking a roundabout drive to Virginia by way of Georgia to pick up things we need for nature camp from her mother. Leslie then came to Abingdon to help her in-laws prepare for our arrival. The time with Leslie was fun, and we hate that she will return to Birmingham from here, but know that Dan needs her more than we do.
Some friends of Dan’s sister joined us for dinner and presented a great concert—some bluegrass, some praise songs, some old hymns. They began by singing and playing John Denver’s “Country Roads.” It put a new perspective on Wesr Virginia. Music under the aluminum-roofed carport during a rainstorm was a serendipity.
We’re ending the day sitting in a parking lot here in Abingdon waiting for their version of the “Thunder on the Mountain” fireworks show. We don’t have Lee Greenwood to serenade us with “I’m Proud to Be an American,” but we do have Greg Hartley on mandolin and Sean Doyle on guitar.
At some point soon we will all crash. It’s been a long day, but God has protected us and given us so many fun experiences. We look forward to driving on to Fairmont tomorrow. We’re especially grateful to know that there are friends and family back home praying a hedge of protection around us and this project.
Prayer requests for Saturday:
* safe travel
* no travel delays due to highway construction in West Virginia
* continued team bonding
* smooth preparations by MTW staff for our arrival at Camp Dayspring
* that we see and experience God in all we do tomorrow
* for Mr. and Mrs. Edwards’ recovery from hosting our group
* Dan Edwards’ continued healing and relief from back pain
Funnies from the Day
* We hadn’t made it out of town before Cindy Traylor threw out the van window her booklet containing the schedule, the road game, and the week’s devotionals. She said it was an accident. The rest of us wonder. Later she pushed the wrong button and opened the back door of the van. Things began falling out as they drove through the McDonald’s parking lot. Moral: Be careful. Cindy could easily eject you.
* Each person under the age of 18 got a bag of goodies to enjoy on the road. Among other things, the bags contained candy jewelry. The Becketts have decided that you know you’re too old for jewelry candy when it won’t pull over your head.
Favorite Memories from the Day
Lynn Beckett
* Reading the biography of each team member (assembled in our team booklet), specifically reading each team member’s favorite Bible verse.
* “Dinner at the Edwards was a very sweet time, very neat.”
Sarah Traylor
“The singing and worship time at the Edwards’ will probably be one of the highlights of the entire trip, not just for today. I really enjoyed it. And you couldn’t ever not enjoy fireworks!”
6:30 a.m. and it was finally time to set this mission project into motion! We met at church, loaded a few extra things, prayed to ask God to protect our travel, and hit the road by 7.
For those who thought they would get a nap along the way—FORGET IT! Dan Edwards, who was supposed to be with us on this trip but had to stay behind with a hurting back (and who we miss!), had planned a road trip for the group. (Dan created this “find and identify” observation game on his drive up to Fairmont in May.) Each person received a copy and was told that a grand prize awaits the person answering the most questions correctly.
There was no rest. Our eyes had to be on alert every mile. It seemed that about every five minutes there was some landmark or mile marker to identify and note or dashed lines in the middle of the road to count. We did this all the way to Knoxville! That trip has never gone so fast. Dan had us looking for silos, rivers, and rest areas. Question number one directed us to identify each Cracker Barrel and its exit number. Did you know that between Birmingham and Abingdon, Virginia, there are 16? We do! And we know where to find them all!
Question two had us find the word “pinnacle” on a sign. Question three had us make every word possible from that word. Here at bedtime the highest number formed by any one person is in the low 60s. We hope a fresh new day tomorrow will bring more words to mind!
While the rest of the world celebrated the fourth with cookouts at lunch, we enjoyed Mexican in Knoxville before driving north. We finally arrived in Abingdon around 4 and checked into our rooms for the night, but we didn’t slow down here! Dan’s parents live in Abingdon. They had graciously agreed to host us for dinner—all 32 of us. What a sweet couple. Dan’s resemblance, or should I say, Dan’s identical look to his retired pastor father is amazing. They have the same mannerisms, laugh, and mischievous sparkle to their eyes. Even though we all missed Dan, we felt like he was here every time we looked at his dad! Mr. and Mrs. Edwards welcomed us with open arms and treated us to a feast. Dan’s dad cooks a mean BBQ pork and makes a sauce that would rival any in Birmingham.
Even though Leslie Edwards was to join us on this entire trip, her gift to the group came in taking a roundabout drive to Virginia by way of Georgia to pick up things we need for nature camp from her mother. Leslie then came to Abingdon to help her in-laws prepare for our arrival. The time with Leslie was fun, and we hate that she will return to Birmingham from here, but know that Dan needs her more than we do.
Some friends of Dan’s sister joined us for dinner and presented a great concert—some bluegrass, some praise songs, some old hymns. They began by singing and playing John Denver’s “Country Roads.” It put a new perspective on Wesr Virginia. Music under the aluminum-roofed carport during a rainstorm was a serendipity.
We’re ending the day sitting in a parking lot here in Abingdon waiting for their version of the “Thunder on the Mountain” fireworks show. We don’t have Lee Greenwood to serenade us with “I’m Proud to Be an American,” but we do have Greg Hartley on mandolin and Sean Doyle on guitar.
At some point soon we will all crash. It’s been a long day, but God has protected us and given us so many fun experiences. We look forward to driving on to Fairmont tomorrow. We’re especially grateful to know that there are friends and family back home praying a hedge of protection around us and this project.
Prayer requests for Saturday:
* safe travel
* no travel delays due to highway construction in West Virginia
* continued team bonding
* smooth preparations by MTW staff for our arrival at Camp Dayspring
* that we see and experience God in all we do tomorrow
* for Mr. and Mrs. Edwards’ recovery from hosting our group
* Dan Edwards’ continued healing and relief from back pain
Funnies from the Day
* We hadn’t made it out of town before Cindy Traylor threw out the van window her booklet containing the schedule, the road game, and the week’s devotionals. She said it was an accident. The rest of us wonder. Later she pushed the wrong button and opened the back door of the van. Things began falling out as they drove through the McDonald’s parking lot. Moral: Be careful. Cindy could easily eject you.
* Each person under the age of 18 got a bag of goodies to enjoy on the road. Among other things, the bags contained candy jewelry. The Becketts have decided that you know you’re too old for jewelry candy when it won’t pull over your head.
Favorite Memories from the Day
Lynn Beckett
* Reading the biography of each team member (assembled in our team booklet), specifically reading each team member’s favorite Bible verse.
* “Dinner at the Edwards was a very sweet time, very neat.”
Sarah Traylor
“The singing and worship time at the Edwards’ will probably be one of the highlights of the entire trip, not just for today. I really enjoyed it. And you couldn’t ever not enjoy fireworks!”
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Praying for Fairmont
We prayed for a pray-er and God answered that request! Barbara Cartledge felt God's tug on her heart to coordinate prayer efforts for the Fairmont project and she said yes. We are so grateful. Barbara has begun recruiting folks to join her in praying for trip preparations and for the activities that will happen during the project week. It has been fun to have folks at church come up and say I will be praying for you and would like to be a part of that team. Barbara is getting them all organized and praying specifically. Wow! What power.
Last day in the hall!
Sherry, pictured to the left, has led the fund-raising effort for the team, and I think she would tell you it has been an experience that has been spiritual and relational. For her, the organizational part probably has been a layup. She did it all with grace and the help of many others.The artwork is amazing: hammers, saws, paintings. The talent our church has is amazing. It has been very neat to see people react to the creativity. Even if they did not desire the art, the art allowed us to make new connections and tell the story about the mission trip.
It was also a lot of fun to watch team members introduce Mrs. Ann, whose house we will work on in Fairmont, to the church. The Becketts will know Mrs. Ann the moment they meet face to face after all of the time they have spent introducing her photo to others!This is the last week we are camped out. I hope the church has not seen the tables as an intrusion but as a welcome mat to participate, pray, and yes, support the trip. My personal prayer is that next year, many of those introduced to Fairmont through these tables will be called to go!
Monday, June 9, 2008
Team Meeting...and hot dogs
If swimming and hot dogs can be called a meeting, then we had one! (Denny, what's with the cool desert hat?)
The gang gathered poolside for a few hours of swimming and then the team leaders had conversations with their folks. It is getting very, very close and feels very real.
The fund-raising report was good. Nearly 18 of the 24 thousand has been raised. The stories are many and varied but the consistent thread has been God's faithfulness and creativity! See the Emily and Thomas post for a REALLY cool story (coming soon).
Construction team: Greg Hartley, fearless leader AND a bunch of workers...or are they backup singers?
Bug Camp man Dan. (No, it's officially NOT Bug Camp)
24 days until we pull out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Monday, June 2, 2008
Yardsale...part 2
I think the yard sale was, for me, more of an experience of team building (fancy term for making new friends, and having fun with old ones, while working toward a common purpose) and observing humanity. It is true, one man's junk is another's treasure. It was wonderful to see the donations become cash that will allow our team to go to Fairmont!
Sunday, June 1, 2008
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