Thursday, 6/2. "The End of the Road...Almost" or "Pivot"

 I've been missing something for the whole trip. Waiting. Watching. Hoping. On Thursday morning, it finally happened.

That's a waffle. Sure, the picture is turned on its side, but I don't care. It's a waffle and it's yummy. And do you know what makes it taste even better? Several singers and a couple of chaperones actually forced me to the front of the line to get it. They're the best. The people, not the waffle. Well, also the waffle.

There usually isn't a lot to say about the last day of tour, and this really wasn't an exception, but there were a few things worth mentioning.

Covid struck again. Our final concert, set for Thursday morning in Memphis, was cancelled due to Covid. That left us with a little time, so Lori found a place that would be super fun for us.

You guys, that is an old-school putt putt place. Like, legit putt-putt. 3 courses of solid sides with geometric obstacles and an 18th hole that swallows your ball forever. It's the putt putt of the 80's, and they very fittingly played 80's music over the speakers. It's like I walked back in time to Super Saturdays of my youth when we'd go to putt putt for unlimited video games and mini golf.

After putt putt, we headed toward Atlanta. We stopped for lunch at Olive Branch, which is one of the places I typically stop with my family on our pilgrimages to the mother land (Arkansas).

The schedule change put us behind schedule but a bit. I had originally planned to drive straight from lunch to Atlanta without a stop, but it became clear we would need one stop to gather some snacks (since we would be around 10:00pm arriving) and also to use the bathroom. So we had to stop at...we had to stop at...

...so we had to stop at Buc-ee's. I hate Buc-ee's. I was traumatized by it on the children's music mission trip. And honestly I don't see the appeal, as you can see from my face here:

I didn't mention it before, but we picked up a hitchhiker in Memphis. It was Lisa (my wife)! She was returning from the mother land, so she got on the bus. She's such a loving person that she helped me take a picture with the Buc-ee statue. And so loving that she didn't warn me Nick had snuck up behind me. The picture below is not a dramatization. She hit the button at just the right moment to capture my terror. More trauma associated with Buc-ee's. More reason never to return. Except for the bathrooms, which really are the best I've ever seen on the road. Without exception and by a large margin.

Leading us to our final group photo...

I don't know if you've come into Atlanta on I-20 heading East, but there's a moment I really enjoy every time I do it. It's a lousy picture here because of glare and such, but...

...over the hill and around the bend, and you see the city in the distance. You're almost home.

We arrived shortly after 10pm, cleared the bus, and sent everyone home. A few families lingered for conversation for a bit, but then they left, and tour was over...almost. We still have our homecoming on Sunday morning...8am and 11am services with a brief appearance at the 10:45 service as well!

This music mission required almost Stretch Armstrong flexibility. We would pivot, and then we would pivot again, and then we would pivot again. Covid kept us on our toes throughout. But it did not prevent us from doing what we set out to do a week ago. We spread the love of God to many, both in song and in conversation. We got to know each other better and grew closer as a group, or really as a family.

We created memories, and the memories will weave the fabric of our history. And our shared history will hold us together. Thanks for a great Music Mission, guys.

Love in Christ,

John