FBCA Senior High Mission Trip Atlanta 2010

[:Posts over the next few days will be about the First Baptist Church of Arlington 2010 Senior High Mission Trip to Atlanta. It will include many full names, and possibly odd explanations, so that any parents or concerned friends and family members can know who and what we are talking about.:]
The internet is acting a bit wonky here in the…well, it rhymes with Sandlewood Sweeps. We’ll leave it at that. In light of that, I’m writing this last night. Not sure what verb tense that would be.
We began our day in the lovely parking lot of the Lighthouse at FBCA. After a prayer by Kurt Krodle, the Youth Minister, we shoved twenty some-odd kids and five of us adults in to three vans, and headed east.
But these aren’t just any vans. These are vans where relationships are built. Cheesy, right? I know. But it’s true. Road trips bring people together. Close quarters create an environment where your choices are enjoy each other and enjoy the trip, or hate each other and hate the trip. Luckily our van, VAN 2!, is choosing the former.
Sarah Pardue, FBCA Associate Youth Minister, took the wheel today with Taylor as her “co-pilot”(quite the important role). Addie, Anna B, Halie, Meagan, Joe, Connor and myself rounded out the rest of the van. I knew this would be good before we pulled out. Great group.
There was your typical song blasting to kick off the trip, but that led in to an interesting trend the rest of the ride. We had a sort of undulating pattern between blaring crazy songs, and having deep, quiet moments. One minute we would be jamming to Journey, the next everyone would have out there Backyard Bible Club books, getting ready for the kids. Then we’d have some more music, and before you know it we’re having serious relationship talks with some very mature young’ns. Then, almost out of nowhere, five ladies would start screaming Wicked songs…beautifully, of course.
Somewhere in the we played a “Top 3” game in which we all listed our top three in areas like, “animals, vacation spots and role models.” Common animals were monkeys and panda bears. Common places were Brazil, Africa, Australia/New Zealand and Italy. But the common answer for “role models” should excite, and possibly scare, some of you parents. You are their “role models.” Against a society that says they can be their own person, and a rule we had that you can’t say “my parents,” that was the most common answer. You are their role models.

Around 5:30 we pulled in to Shreveport and grabbed some dinner at Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers where we learned from Kurt that “the sauce is the key.” It was as good as you would expect a fast food restaurant with the phrase “chicken fingers” in the name to be. Then a few bathroom breaks, and undulations between serious time and crazy time, later we pulled in to Vicksburg.
After some slight room mix up, we are now settling in to some much needed sleep. We’ve lost an hour due to the devil known as “Daylight Savings Time,” and will be losing another as we cross in to the Eastern Time Zone. Time travel takes it’s toll. I’m going to go to bed now. I will update as often as I can. I hope you enjoy.
[Update since waiting for proper internet:]
We have made it to Birmingham and are eating in the food court at Riverchase Mall. Nice place. Scary bathrooms. Not dirty, just…scary. It was like walking through a slaughterhouse or something. Anyway. We’re safe, and are on our way out. Atlanta here we come!