Monday, June 21, 2010

Day 2 - Monday, June 21

What an awesome first full day of tour! We began our morning at the Boaz and Ruth mission project. Different groups worked on different projects. We painted, dug holes, fixed holes others had dug, moved posts, worked in the clothing store, and organized items for an estate sale. Before we began work, one of the volunteers spoke to the group. He had just finished a 10-year prison sentence. He didn't have anywhere to go, and Boaz and Ruth took him in. They have provided classes and support. He's putting his life back together. He said this has been the first time in his life he has experienced people caring, just because.

For lunch, we ate at Firehouse, which is Boaz and Ruth's cafe and followed that with a concert for the volunteers. We were outside. It was HOT. There was noisy traffic passing by. There was construction going on. Our singing wasn't the best because it was so hard to hear. But during devotions, we talked about how God works through all of that. Our audience was small, but our message was big. And, the man who spoke to us earlier attended and walked away with tears.

Our second concert was at Spring Arbor of Salisbury... a retirement center. We had two residents tell us they had lived there a year and a half and had not had a better group come in to sing. The kids sang beautifully. The concert is really starting to "click". They interacted with the residents so loving, too.

Dinner was at Bottoms Up Pizza. WOW! It was good! I think any type of pizza we wanted was out for us. We had a private balcony to eat on, so the atmosphere was wonderful. We ended the evening with a movie. Mixed reviews on the movie, but we all agreed the theater was FABULOUS! It looks like a theater from the 20s. There were elaborate chandeliers, paintings, an orchestra pit and a pipe organ. Of course, back in that era, movies were silent, so an orchestra was needed.

Cameron lead our devotions tonight on Proverbs 9. She talked about choices we make in our lives, especially when it comes to helping others. After devotions, we celebrated Ashley and Ally's birthdays! We are so thrilled we get to share their special day with us.

I'm posting a few pictures tonight. Mr. G took most of the pictures today, but his camera battery needs charging. I'll be posting them asap tomorrow. So here's the link for now. Check back for more pictures. Good night!!!

UPDATE: All the pictures are now up!