Wahoo!

Tonight was the first night of Vacation Bible School. I am working with the PM off site, and tonight we went to LICS to help with clean up and sorting clothes. I have a crew of 8 so far, and we will likely grow as the week goes on.

Now that is getting in the spirit!

Everyone getting into the music

PM crews getting the motions to the songs

The chain gang at LICS

Unloading the Van and handing off to the "chain gang"

Tyler taking the hand off . . .

We aren't supposed to model the clothes!!

Back to Real Life

We are home from tour. Wednesday was a travel day. We left the hotel at about 7:15 and went out for breakfast since the guys didn't stay at a hotel. We had movies, bathroom breaks, Burger King for lunch, and then we got home at about 7:30 p.m. When we stopped for lunch, I ran in CVS to get a frame for the picture that we made for Mr. Levi. Jamie picked it up from Walgreen's at lunch on Wednesday. At Burger King, I got all of the kids to sign the mat for the frame. Unfortunately, I accidentally stepped on the frame on the bus and broke the glass. I called Jamie and told him to bring another frame from home. When we got into the parking lot at church, I ran off of the bus and put the picture together. When I brought it back on, Robin presented the picture to him along with a collection that we took up for him. When he saw the picture, he got tears in his eyes. He thanked the kids and closed the tour with a prayer for us. We are so blessed that he was able to drive for us again this year!

Thursday was quite a packed day for me. Tommy woke me up in the middle of the night with an earache. I took him to the doctor and he had an ear infection. After I got his medicine, dropped Tyler off at daycare, and dropped Tommy off at Robin's for lunch she hosted for Priority, I went into work for 1/2 day. After work, I picked Tyler up, picked up a quick supper for us, and went to get our hair cut. After we left daycare, Tyler informed me that he wanted a buzz cut. I was in shock. He has barely allowed his hair to be trimmed lately and it was down to his shoulders. Sure enough, he insisted, and it is now about 1 inch long.

After haircuts, we were off to church for the homecoming concert. Everyone was so shocked to see Tyler's hair, but they all thought that it looked good. I barely got the camera set up before it was time for the concert to start. They did a great job. The kids gave some moving testimonies and the video from tour was really good. It is always bittersweet when it is over, but the memories will last a lifetime!

I was slow to get up the past two days, but feel surprisingly good. I really need to rest up since Bible school is starting Sunday night and I will be doing that until Thursday night. I am looking forward to it, though. It is hard to believe that next week is already the middle of June!

This is why we came . . .

Our last performance day was quite a powerful one. I have to say that it did get off to a rocky start . . . Katie left her Ipod, and we had to turn around and go back to the hotel to get it. We were all thankful that it was still there for her, though! We had a brief stop at the Prime Outlets where we ate lunch and did a whirlwind shopping spree for 30 minutes. After that, we were off to Passavant Retirement Community in Zelienople, PA for the first performance. We had a really great turnout there, and the kids helped escort the elderly residents into the room. The next performance was right across the street at Glade Run Children's Home. A young lady came up and introduced herself and was thrilled to meet someone with the same last name that I have. She was such a sweet girl, and really enjoyed meeting Tommy as well. During Jack's message, a young man raised his hand and started asking him some really tough questions. His father had committed suicide, and you could tell that he was having a hard time trusting after being hurt so deeply. The Lord was really able to work through Jack since he had also lost his father as a boy, and it was a very powerful moment. All of the chaperones were in tears. The kids closed the performance with the most powerful rendition of "God, Great God" that they have done, yet. After the concert, many of them surrounded the young boy and some of the chaperones were able to minister to him further. I think that all of the kids will continue to pray for him for quite some time. It was wonderful for the kids to actually see the impact that their performance had on a life - I know that they will always remember it.

Katie reunited with her Ipod

Aaron and Melvin

The kids escorting the residents in for the performance

Jack speaking to the audience

Priority sings . . .

. . . and sings . . .

Hannah and Matthew perform "Who Am I"

Enjoying "bus time"

Horses at Glade Run

The guys leaving us to stay with family of the Warrens

God is Awesome!!!

We experienced the Majesty of God first hand on day 5 of the tour in Niagra Falls! We had a little scare going into Canada since we didn't bring our birth certificates and one of the kids forgot their id - I never heard the kids so silent as they were when the border guard was on the bus! Thankfully (after much prayer) the guard let us through and we had a guided tour of the falls and then a ride on the Maid of the Mist to see the falls close up. It was truly awesome, and gave the kids a small inkling of just how big our God is!!!

Priority arrives at Niagra Falls

The Maid of the Mist

Tommy strikes a pose

Tommy and Matthew in awe of the Canadian Falls

Noel, Kourtney, Andrew, and Laura on the Maid of the Mist

The American falls

A soaked Priority after our voyage on the Maid of the Mist

Bergen UMC and Rochester Retirement Home

On Day 4 of the tour, we visted the Eastman School of Music where Jack and Sarah Warren went to graduate school, sang at Bergen United Methodist Church, and also sang at Rochester Presbyterian Retirement Home. Bergen was a really neat church to perform in - they are about where Mt. Horeb was about 10 years ago and are now trying to start a youth program. I think that it really inspired them to see our kids.

Chaperones are desparate for coffee - and there wasn't any at the mission house!!!

Hooray!!!

Aaron, Jack and Matthew at Eastman

Aaron and Melvin learning a new sound system at Bergen UMC

Mr. Levi taking a much needed break!

Priority being silly at Rochester Retirement Home

Katie, Railey, Kourtney, and Noel back at the mission house

On the Road Again . . .

Day 3 on the tour was a travel day with a stop at the Hershey Chocolate Factory. After we arrived in Rochester and unloaded our luggage at the mission house we will be staying in for the next two days, we drove out to Lake Ontario to enjoy the sunset. We got some really great pictures - hope you enjoy!

The group at Hershey Chocolate World

Jack and Matthew at Lake Ontario

Robin and Brittany

Railey, June, and Andrew

Anne and Warner

Tommy and Me

Priority

A Day with our Elders

These are pictures from day 2 of the tour. Our first stop was the National Elk's Retirement Home. Anne and I met a wonderful lady named Flo who gave us a personal tour of the home and introduced us to everyone we met. The second stop was Roanoke UMC Retirement Home. We especially bonded with "Mr. Mike" who sent us off with a wonderful prayer on the bus.


Tommy and Travis at the National Elk's Home

Anne and Ms. Flo at the Elk's Home


Priority is sleeping on the job!

Tommy and Mom

Cooper, Noel, Mirhanda, and Kourtney

Matthew and Railey

Mom the videographer

Carol, Noel, and Kourtney with Mr. Mike

Matthew and Allison

Brittany and Matthew with Travis and Christian