And we're off!

And we’re off….like a herd of turtles…

You’ve heard of turtles right?

Anyway...

We assembled and loaded our three vehicles just in time to lock up and go to first service where Pastor Greg prayed for us and our mission. Following the message and several rounds of rock-paper-scissors and one potato-two potato (not really) seat arrangements were made and nearly everyone had a seat! And almost half of them had a seat belt! (just kidding...again) It worked out where all the high school students piled into the 15 passenger van and the remaining leaders climbed into the other two, much, MUCH quieter cars for an 8 hour trek toward the border.

After 4 potty breaks, a meal stop, several very loud renditions of songs whose artists never could have imagined the treatment their work received today. We had a relatively incident free trip but were slowed down a few times for "traffic events" on a couple of the freeways. There were two in particular that looked very serious. I tend to tease and joke a lot...there was nothing funny about these crashes. I only hope there were survivors. 

Our vehicles came through with flying colors. No problems to speak of...but the weather molding on the rented van's door came loose and started flapping against the door at 65 mph. Let's let that be the problem we encounter on the trip.

There's not too much more to write. We get up, reluctantly leave our accommodations here Carlsbad (this church is huge and nice and friendly and generous) and we head the final hour to meet our border crossing chaperone from Agua Viva. We will do the extra step of getting visas for our visit and then head on toward the camp. It's about a 3 hour drive from the border crossing to the campus where we'll be given an orientation and a schedule of what we'll be doing. (I'm just high enough on the hierarchy to have a sneak peek at the assignment) It looks like we'll be able to build a room. We probably won't finish but it will be nice to help advance the kingdom with whatever help we can offer.

That's all for now. I was nice and gave them a head start on falling asleep. People who are still awake when I fall asleep tend to have a difficult time falling asleep at all. Apparently I snore like a rusty chainsaw. I'm not 100% certain that this is accurate. I've never heard myself snore before!

 More tomorrow!