Monday, April 1, 2013

Annnnnd We're Off!


Thanks to modern technology, I am writing this as we cruise down the freeway.  It’s a little difficult to keep one hand on the wheel, one on the keyboard, one on the smoothie, and one on the lucky rabbit’s foot that I am using as a good luck charm.  Just kidding, of course…I don’t believe in lucky charms. 

Actually, Sylvia has taken the initial leg of driving for this trip and is currently climbing the Altamont pass.  Our silver colored van is, appropriately in the second position in our three-deep caravan.  Matt and Seth have rightly taken the gold colored van to the lead.  And Rich and Mark are bringing of the rear in the white van.  I’ll have to research exactly which position the white medal is supposed to be.  I suspect that it has something to do with ‘participation’ but I could be mistaken.  (I have a feeling I will pay for that comment sometime during the trip.)

We all met at the church and were commissioned in front of the congregation at first service.  Then we were treated to breakfast before we began the annual “wait for pillows, passports, and purses” as one member of the team fulfilled her obligation to sing in the choir during the second service.  As we headed through the parking lot, and could still hear sermon from the second service…we had our first request to stop for a bathroom break on the walkie-talkie.  Turns out that was a joke from what will soon be the notorious white van.  Of course that joke was immediately followed by someone else asking if we were there yet…in the parking lot!  Can you imagine!?  OK, it was me…but a wise person once told me that if you don’t ask, the answer is always “no.”  Matt’s answer to my question was, of course, “Five more minutes!”

We are approximately an hour into our trip now and spirits are still good.  We have experienced rain, wind, impromptu iPod sing-a-long’s, and little boys waving their brand new stuffed Easter rabbits at us.  There has been no mention of mutiny and nobody in our van has complained about cramped soreness…but they could.  I expect that this outsanding group of individuals will do an amazing job and be cheerfull while doing it.  I am happy to a part of this wonderful team.  

Pastor Greg’s sermon was about not being a bystander who merely touches the rope in a giant tug-of-war and then claim victory for merely being in the vicinity of the people who actually did the work…grab on and participate with all of your strength knowing that Jesus is the ‘anchor’.  Anyone who has been involved with these youth knows that they are all grabbing the rope…even if while they are holding onto it, they are yanked into a van that is headed to Mexico.

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