First Leg Complete...And We've Had a Cramp

After several long cramped hours of driving we have arrived at our host church in Oceanside…and we set off the alarm.  It seems that there was a slight miscommunication and the people/person who was to let us in to the youth room was unavailable on this fine Easter evening.  It’s understandable since we didn’t arrive until eleven…and I’m sure it has been a long day for everyone. 

When the scout team walked around the building they tested a door to see if there was someone inside.  There wasn’t anyone inside…and now there was a noise that law-abiding people rarely get to hear.  In the midst of trying to find out whom to contact, trying to not look like we were the world’s lousiest team of cat burglars, calling the local Holiday Inn to look for space for 25 people, calling them back because if you call the Holiday Inn near midnight and tell them that you need rooms for 25 people they will think it’s a joke and hang up on you (click)…the choir director drove up.  We were saved!

And then we heard those words that might make lesser men falter…”I don’t know anything about people staying here.”  While he went inside to turn off the alarm and check the calendar, someone else drove up and we were cleared to come on in and stay the night.  Good thing…there wasn’t a line item that involved rooms for 25 people at the Holiday Inn in our budget!

We have all made the trip.  No one was left behind at a gas station.  Not one person suffered an allergic reaction.  And, thanks to generous donations, we have not starved during our eleven hour trip.  In fact we were even treated to a wonderful lasagna dinner at the house of Matt’s Aunt.  Hospitality poured over us as soon as the door was opened (and a few of the youth soaked in the hospitality that filled their hot tub).  Once we were fed and relaxed we piled into the vans and made the last little jaunt to where I am writing this now…in the comfortable church and not in the expensive hotel that thought we were joking…click!  It actually turned into a jaunt and a quarter since we Nor Cal people are not terribly accustomed to the ever-present LA traffic.  That was one reason why we showed up to the church as late as we did. 

So there it is…I am officially calling this our mission trip snag.  Every trip seems to have one and we are extremely lucky that it happened (and was resolved) as early in the trip as it was.  I am now finishing up this post while I, the one whose snoring is moving toward legendary status, give all the guys a head start on getting to sleep.  Who knows?  Maybe they will all chip in and get me my own room at the Holiday Inn!...CLICK!