Dear God, it's me, Margaret!
Ha! Just kidding...no one here named Margaret. Anyway, Rachel and Virginia are in charge of doing the blogs this week.
So, we're all here in Helena-West Helena. Twenty some people were on the first flight to Memphis, TN who got up before the crack of dawn to come to this lovely town. The Tuttles and Rachel came later, which they loved sleeping in a little longer, and then we all met up for John Crow's service.
The group who arrived before the Tuttles/Rachel split into 2 groups. One went to Graceland (I, Virginia, did not go there) and the other group went to visit Pastor Williams at one of the hospitals in Memphis. It was truly a blessing to see him as he is recovering so well from his stroke! He started crying as soon as he entered the room and said that seeing us made his day! So then that group went on errands for Leonora and went to lunch and then met up with the group from Graceland before the Tuttles and Rachel joined us.
While everyone was doing that, Cindy, Ralph, and Rachel (me of course) went to Graceland, but never went in. We looked around some of the shops and saw the Heartbreak Hotel. My mom and I also went into all of these stores and saw a bunch of cardboard Elvis cut outs. We knew we would see Elvis somewhere, so we had to take a picture with him in his gold suit, and the one with him holding his guitar, and the one with him in his Jail House Rock outfit, and so on. Then we drove to Helena-West Helena and met everyone at the church.
The service was very nice...different from any baptist ceremony, though. We took communion (sorry, I just so happened to drink from the chalice of wine and passed all my lovely germs to everyone behind me!!!!!!!hahahhh!...just kidding mom and dad, i'm getting better!). After the service we tried to go see the gravesight but the cemetary was closed.
I was somehow tricked into calling a "mexican" restaurant in town to reserve seats for the whole group because I just so happen to speak Spanish. However, after having a conversation (in English) with 2 people at this restaurant, it turns out that it was actually the Burger Shack (aka Best Coke in Town) and they did not actually take reservations for lunch for 32 people considering they can't even fit that many people in there! So that was HILARIOUS (thanks Emily for giving me the WRONG NUMBER!)! HA HA....ha?
During all of this "hilarious story," Bob was giving the new comers of Helena - West Helena to tour of places we would be going during the week: the Mississippi River, Olivers (the resturant we always go to for dinner the first night get to AR that closed down), the community center, the Ernest Womack and Kate Hall Pavilion, and the site that kids camp will be held at (which is basically a large field).
After that, we went to New Light Baptist Church where we were served dinner by locals who want to start a catering business. They can do pretty well because the food was delicious! The chicken was fabulous as well as the mashed potatoes, homemade green beans, and the yeast rolls!! This church congregation has gladly been relocated to this newly built church that looks amazing compared to what they had before. It's just crazy to see how much Helena-West Helena has grown throughout the years of being here.
Of course, after our meeting, all of us head over to Walmart, except Kristen. She always has to make up some excuse, like having a meeting, to not go to Walmart. Gosh KK! Anywho. The young crowd (the college girls) and Cindy Douglass decided they would each buy a Little Debbie snack and we would split it throughout the week. So far, we are one pack down. Great way to start off the week! :D
After that, everyone has been chilling wherever they are. We have half of the group at the Foxglove and half of the group at Magnolia Hill (which is the party house...Ralph!)
To everyone that couldn't go to Arkansas this year who has been in the past, you will be truly missed by us as well as the people you influenced while you were here in Helena-West Helena.
WE'RE SO EXCITED!!! :D