Breaking Bread with Friends (Day 7)

The end of the week was fastly approaching as Friday morning began with a 6:30 A.M. wake-up call. Breakfast was cereal, granola bars, and fruit as usual, prepared by our food crew. Everyone put on their comfiest travel clothes and loaded the busses by 7:30 A.M. to travel to Montgomerey, Alabama. A lunch stop was made at approximately 11 A.M. in White Springs, Florida. The group toured the home of Stephen Foster--the writer of the popular songs "Oh Susana" and "Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair." Everyone toured the museum and checked out the gift shop featuring homemade crafts before meeting for lunch. Lunch was once again prepared by the fabulous food crew as the group ambled in to eat in the rented cottage-style room. The menu for the day was turkey or ham wraps, chicken salad sandwiches, PB&J sandwiches, animal crackers, chips, carrots, and celery. The food was graciously devoured before climbing back onto the bus for another long bus ride.

By the afternoon, everyone was getting antsy to get off the bus. However, we did finally arrive at First United Methodist Church in Montgomerey, Alabama. Pizza was delivered for dinner, and then everyone gathered back on the bus for the short trip down the road to Huntingdon College. The group met in the college's chapel and sat through a short information session about the college's admission and features. It was interesting to know that this Methodist-affiliated college offers half of tuition scholarship for Methodists and a free laptop for students to use all four years. What a deal! Many youth actually began considering the college in their list of options. On the tour of the campus, we also discovered that the college was used as the setting for Tim Burton's film Big Fish.

After touring, the group returned to FUMC for the final Bible study of the week--the communion service. Everyone walked to the sanctuary and immediately took in the beauty of the stained glass windows in the ceiling. It was truly a site to see. Each person filed in the pews to hear Jim's last words for the week. The seniors took their place in the first two pews for their special message from Lynn and Jim. Jim spoke to everyone about finding something that you are passionate about and giving your everything to it. He also advised everyone to find something to make him or herself stand out among the crowd. And he especially told the seniors to hold on to their faith and to never forget their home and foundation at Bartlett UMC. It was a teary-eyed service as the choir began communion service by singing "I am the Resurrection." Lynn and Jim served the seniors communion, and each family afterwords was served communion. They then lined up to hug each senior and give them words of encouragement for the next step ahead. The tears just kept coming as each senior reflected on their years in Crossroads choir.

After communion, everyone headed back to the youth room for the last awards session with Ron and Chicken John, who arrived as Sonny and Cher.And I must say, Chicken John made a fantastic Cher! There were many Sandcastle awards and Airheads given away, and it was also a night for "jumping" as most award recipients jumped into Chicken John's arms. Following the awards ceremony was a youth-produced and conducted talent show. Senior Emily Prior organized the talent show with the help of many others. The show mimicked "American Idol" with four of our very own judges: Captain Morgan (Randy), Mary Patterson (Paula), JPro (Kara), and Jim Knight (Simon). The night was full of laughter and entertainment as youth enthusiastically jumped in to show off their talents. A few of the talents included singing, poetry reading, dancing, and even lip synching. The fun never ended and the laughter never stopped as each act stepped up to show off its talent. The counselors performed their own rendition of "My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music and the seniors sang a farewell "Graduation" song.
In the end, several talents were awarded titles, from "Most Potential" to "Best Lip Synching" to "Most Touching." The night had just begun for most of the youth as many vowed to stay up all night. Many played games, some talked, and others ate snacks. As for me, I have chosen to get what little amount of sleep that I can, so for now, this is Hillary Puckett signing out. Goodnight!