Wednesday, June 11, 2003

Please scroll down to view photos from today!

Takin' a Break Today, and Dancin' the Night Away!!! 

Last night most of us were awakened in the middle of the night by a VERY loud thunderstorm that shook the windows of our hotel rooms.  Three times it even set off someone's car alarm in the parking lot, so we listened to the shrill whistles and sirens and horn blasts that their siren made for a couple of minutes after the loudest thunder claps!  Otherwise, we let youth "sleep in" until devotions at 9:45 a.m. before heading out to the beach.  However it rained hard all morning, and so after morning devotions (on Psalm 104), we left around 11:00 a.m.

We saw a 15 foot alligator in captivity, and others in the wild on our way to the gulf coast.  The coast was not like Florida's, in that the bottom was deep mud and the water was muddy, like the Mississippi.  The beach was also littered with some trash and lots of seaweed.  But it also had plenty of shells and other surprises, and we were fortunate that it did not rain on us there.  Otherwise we took our time driving and looking around the countryside.  Some scenes from our drive are below!

One of the youth said that his goal for the day was to see an alligator, and eat some alligator.  He achieved both goals, as most of us had a chance to taste deep fried alligator at Randall's tonight, an upscale Cajun restaurant with a live Cajun band and dancing.  The dancing was special and memorable because the locals, some of whom were with a Cajun dance club or who frequent that place, take pride in teaching visitors how to dance Cajun-style.  So some of our high school youth were dancing with people their grandparent's age, and soon everyone was dancing and having a great time together.   

Please be sure to attend church on Sunday, June 22nd to hear the youth tell about our trip in their own words (and with more pictures).  See you then! 

Some scenes from the Louisiana countryside...

At The Beach

Come to church on June 22nd to see other pictures, but finally here are a few from Randall's dance floor...