Day 1 Travel Day

So just like every other trip to Gloversville, our team met at our Church, Matthews United Methodist Church (MUMC), at 4:45 a.m.  We had the vans loaded, team picture taken, group prayer completed and our Day 1 letter read, all in time to be on the road a few minutes after 5 a.m.  The "Day 1" letter is a gift from God everyone of our Gloversville team receives from Earl Coggins.  Earl faithfully writes a card for the team, for each day, of every trip we've ever taken.  His dedication is something that has always encouraged me to try to be a faithful and dedicated servant of God.  The message reminds our team that Earl is praying, each day, by name, for everyone on our team.

Front Row from left: Ayden Truax, Jon Godsey
Middle Row: Jim Turner, Briana McClendon, Kaylyn McClendon, Brenda Messera, Elisa Hicks
Back Row: Mike Godsey, Lottie Godsey, Tricia McClendon, Nick Hutchinson, Sean Cooley
Not pictured (as he is driving from Missouri to Charlotte to Gloversville on his own: Will Martin

The 802 mile trip up was mostly uneventful, a quick 10 mile detour for some road construction in Pennsylvania, a rain storm or two and a 6:45 p.m. arrival at Moe's Southwestern Grill to meet up with Team Truax (Donn & Cyndie and Asher, Brekyn and Elle (Ayden had spent the previous week in Charlotte working as a youth servant for the 20th annual Rainbow Express (Special Needs VBS) and was part of our traveling team.

Our arrival at the Truax's new residence, which is the former YWCA building in downtown Gloversville, was a rewarding experience. You see, on our Easter trip here this spring, the closing of YWCA property was delayed and delayed and delayed, so to see the Truax's in this place was so encouraging.  The potential here for future teams, the Truax family, C1's 1Gen and college ministries and First Free Methodist's presence in downtown is thru the ROOF.  We already have more than double the bathrooms, and potential lodging space we've had on previous trips.

As a group we unloaded all the VBS supplies, props, set and gear donated by MUMC and relocated these items to the various floors in the YW.  A quick team meeting to review our plan for the morning (Church at First Free Methodist Church, then on to Lake Pleasant in Speculator, NY for an afternoon of fun and Baptisms.

Now it's time for a shower and some sleep