Go and Serve 2008

Satuday, June 7th 9:28pm: I cannot believe that tomorrow morning we start out on our journey to Memphis, Tennessee. I am so many emotions, it is hard to name them all: excited, nervous, spiritually hungry, scared, eager for new opportunities, and the list goes on. I am nearly exhausted from the whirlwind of the last three months and especially the last 2 weeks (with the end of snyc sundays, planning for next year, High School Sunday, and Go&Serve preperations), but somehow my energy level perks up everytime I see the students. Their excitement and energy keep me going and make all the snyc activities tremendously FUN. You-parents, friends, grandparents, and anyone else interested in the activities of the High Schoolers going on this Go&Serve-can follow our weeks goings-ons through this blog. I will try to upload pics somedays and let you know, to the best of my abilities, how the trip is going. Well, I am going to spend some time with my husband and new kitten before departing tomorrow. I think I am also going to pray a little longer than usual tonight for the trip. Peace Out. -Lauren Bridges-

Sunday, June 8th 10:19pm Walkin' in Memphis...walkin' with my feet 10 feet off of Beale. We departed this morning to that song, on our awesome mixed cd, and arrived about 6-7 hours later in Memphis to that song. Our drive went smoothly, with few stops. As we crossed the bridge some of the students said, "are we crossing the Nile and in Egypt looking at the pyramids?" They were referring to the Memphis pyramid (basketball arena). All the cars got lost for about 20-45 minutes looking for the correct mapquest directions...we all eventually made it to the Pilgrim house. The time that we were "lost" (becuase I knew where I was going to entire time) we got to see more of Memphis. I think Chuck best describes it by his statement, "I had no idea that Memphis was this bad." We passed many people walking on the sidewalks with little dogs and children trailing closely behind. We passed houses with boards and bars on all windows, a self-made park where young black men had parked their cars and were hanging out. We passed too many buisnesses that were closed, as well as some that were open like "Mo Money Taxes." All the girls are in one dorm in three story bunk beds,and the same goes for the guys. Everyone, grateful to be out of the car, flung their stuff onto their beds and streched their legs. A representative of MIFA came and we drove around to the work sites to see the neighborhoods and repairs needed, firsthand. Then we returned, sweaty from just being outside for a total of 30 minutes at most, to Pilgrim House (our home base) for cook team A (Lauren, Allie, Emily, Jen) to grill some hot dogs, hamburgers, etc. Dinner was delicious and filling. We hung out, meaning everyone sat in the halls singing a capella songs by disney and miley cyrus. Allen and Scott returned from the store and we all gathered for devotional time. The bible verse we talked about was Luke 7:36-50. What do we want to reveal to others? We talked about perceptions of others and ourselves, and of this community. What is the truth behind these perceptions and how can we see past physical and know the spiritual Truth in God, ourselves, and others...I am grateful to FINALLY lie down in bed to prepare for the hard work ahead of us this week.-Lauren-