More in the Carolinas

Hello Everyone,

On election day, we traveled to Salisbury, North Carolina to Christ United Methodist Church. We had wonderful hosts there. I really enjoyed talking to my hosts about where we had traveled. I stayed up to late Tuesday waiting for election results. Thankfully, we didn't start until 9:30 Wednesday morning. Wednesday morning, we went to a nursing home to perform before doing some team stuff. The nursing home was great; we especially enjoyed the man who made Adrienne some balloon love birds and a balloon dog. After some relaxing time,we did a family night program, which was different from our normal program because it was 45 minutes instead of 1 hour and 15 minutes. As the Program Coordinator, I was responsible for cutting our program down to 45 minutes like the church wanted; it was difficult, but I did it. The congregation was great and was really interested in what we were doing, so we stayed and talk to people for quite awhile there. We didn't find out where we were going Thursday until Wednesday night. Unfortunately, we weren't booked at a church; but instead, we got to go back to stay with Lindsay's aunt in Raleigh, NC.

After finally learning that where we would going, on Thursday, we traveled to Raleigh. Thursday, we just drove and then relaxed. We enjoyed watching movies, having 1x1s (meeting with teammates individually), learning French, being outside, sleeping in, and cooking. It was strange to not have any programming. Relaxing at Lindsay's aunt's house was a nice change of pace.

Saturday, we drove south again to South Carolina to Messiah Lutheran Church in Mauldin. We didn't having any programming Saturday night, but we enjoyed relational ministry with our host homes. Our host family was having a football party, so we were surprised with many people when we came. We enjoyed interacting with people, but it was a bit overwhelming because we were exhausted from the drive. Sunday morning, we did a few songs for worship. For the most part, we got to worship with their praise band leading.

Sunday afternoon, we ate lunch a nice park in Mauldin before going to Simpsonville, South Carolina, which is not far from Mauldin. We slept at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Simpsonville. We all had our own air mattresses. It was a change from being in host homes, but wasn't too bad. Monday morning, we woke up to the church alarm going off. Prosper had opened up the door because he heard somebody knocking, but unfortunately, the alarm mysteriously was turned on. Thankfully, the guys eventually got the alarm off (after shooing the girls away). Monday, wasn't as much of a day off as I might have hoped...the alarm was only the beginning. I got the bad news from my mom that my brother was in the hospital. Now, he is home again.

Tuesday, we did a preschool program at Immanuel before heading back north to St. Stephen Lutheran Church in Hickory, North Carolina. Once we got to Hickory, we did a sound check and then went to our host homes. It was a nice change to be able to spend an evening with our host homes. Usually, we have evening programs, so we don't get to spend much time with host homes. At my host home in Hickory, the kids were full of energy and fun to play with, but they were also very draining.

Wednesday, we did a chapel for a large (over 200) group of students from preschool to 8th grade at the school. They were a fun group of kids. They sang "Happy Birthday" to me and few kids. We hung out in their youth house for awhile and rehearsed in the afternoon. Wednesday, I came home to a wonderful meal! My host home decided to make me steak and baked potatoes for my birthday. We also had an amazing cookie cake with frosting to celebrate. It was really nice to have so many birthday thoughts about me before it was even my birthday!

Thursday, my birthday, we head to Hurricane, West Virginia.


Peace,

Tiffany