Today was the first full day of being in Helena-West Helena.

We woke up bright and early this morning and had a homemade breakfast at the Magnolia Hill (I guess the same can be said for Foxglove).  It was yummy.  The youngins somehow managed to get the later shift of breakfast and STILL made it in their pajamas and all the older ones were dressed and ready to go.  After breakfast we all met at the Magnolia Hill for a meeting and then split into groups to go to a couple of local churches.

One group went to New Light Baptist Church in their new facility!  It was a very nice service and at the end we got to hear a couple of testimonies given by local members.  Reverend Wade's wife spoke in front of the congregation for the first time (a surprise to Reverend Wade especially!) to share her story of starting to swim at the adult swim lessons.  Another member, who was very sick last year and was not able to leave his home, was back at church and shared his testimony of his miraculous recovery. Vivian and Carol had visited last year and while he was sharing his testimony, his eyes were only on them because of their blessings.  A young man from Little Rock was at the church today and he shared his story of growing up in the church and being tempted by bad things around him but he resisted such temptations because of what the church had taught him.  Now he is a newly ordained deacon in the church!

Kate, Cindy, and Ralph went to Saint Johns while the other church that was visited was New Hope. It was a great service, except Pastor Williams was not able to be there because of his stroke. Pastor Henry is taking his place until Pastor Williams recovers. His sermon today was talking about how there is no greater love than God's love. Also, the music was very inspiring. I found myself swaying to the music everytime something was playing; wheather it be during a prayer or just when the choir was singing. While the announcements were being said, the girl talked about a man named Daniel Sims who was starting a Blues Festival in Helena. It made me smile because a few years ago, this guy named Daniel helped Ginny and I (Rachel) out with out group at kids camp. He is a great guy and I'm so glad he is doing this for the community. Kristen commented on how the deacon said that Pastor Williams was not allowed to have any visitors visiting, except a few of our members visited him yesterday in the hospital in Memphis. God works in mysterious ways.

We made our daily trip to Walmart today after lunch at the mexican restaurant (yes, we got in without reservations!).  While there Emily, Mary Alice and I (Virginia) ran into Robert who is a teenager who helped us out last year with our kids camp group.  He had been a troublemaker previously in kids camp but after much discipline he has turned out to be a great kid!  When we saw him in Walmart, he was wearing a suit, just coming from church himself and was headed out on a retreat with the other youths in Helena for the night.  So it was great to see him still doing well and heading in the right direction! It was definitely a proud parent moment!

It was an epic day in my life, too.  This afternoon we were assigned our new groups colors for kids camp and I am now yellow. Last year I was in the pink group and all of the girls have a competition every year to see who can keep their band on the longest.  Of course I won (second year in a row baby!) but I decided to keep it on until it fell off.  Well it didn't, so I decided that it was time to cut it off instead of wearing 2 bracelets.  So tonight at the meeting we had a ceremony and the wristband was cut off!  My wrist is now naked and it feels very different.  But not to worry, I'll be putting my new one on soon enough (and I will win this next competition as well..hahah!)

Cindy Douglass said during our meeting tonight that she heard that her friend was looking for her. She is a young girl who had some troubled times who now has a son. She was told that her friend stopped by the pool twice already to see if Cindy was there. She is hoping to see her tomorrow.

Tonight, Kristen told us that breakfast is at 7am in the morning and we're having french toast. It apparently will have nuts in it, so Karen (our innkeeper) said she would make one without nuts in it for Brenda because she is allergic to nuts. Elsie said "We want to see you choke!" Of course, sarcastically! I guess it's hard to type out sarcastic remarks. Oh well. Alden wanted to add that story in there. She thought it was funny. :)

So, it's bed time because we have a LOOOOOOOOOOOONG day ahead tomorrow.

Good Night!