Day 1: Good Friday Road Trip

We started the morning off bright and early, 4 o'clock early. Mike offered to drive first and then we were off! Gloversville bound. Every few hours we stopped, mainly to let Beth use the restroom. As we drove Beth told stories, we joked about Mike's "hair", and enjoyed each others presence. Kayce and I, asleep for 9 out of the 13 hours of the ride, sat in the back with Mike and Beth upfront. The other group left a day earlier than we did. That group included Julia, Lauren, Will, Claudia, Briana, Dan, and Carlos. The first group, Beth, Kayce, Mike, and I, arrived early enough to attend the Friday church service at Donn and Cyndie's church. The service gave me a new perspective on the story I have heard before. During Passover, it is a tradition to release a criminal from prison. Both Jesus and Barabbas, a known criminal, were imprisoned Jews. The crowd called for Barabbas to be released and Jesus crucified. It came to my attention by the Pastor that we, God's children, resemble Barabbas. God loved Barabbas, even with his heaping pile of sins; God loves each of us, even with our faults and sins. Before I heard this explanation of this story, I just assumed that Barabbas was released because of the hatred many of the people had for Jesus at that time. My eyes were opened with the new perspective Pastor Will had given me. After the service, the first group along with Donn, Cyndie, Elle, Breckyn, Asher, and Serena went to Burger King for dinner. The second group arrived shortly after we finished eating and then we headed back to the house. We went over the plan for the following day which included going to Dubois Park for an "Easter egg hunt". I'm looking forward for the week to come and what God has in store for this lovely group of people.