The Nation's Capital

We woke today in the IL church that was just becoming familiar

enough to be a temporary home....rode the vans to the airport

(the young adult pastor and youth pastor of St Matthew UMC -

old friends of Hal and Annamarie drove us and dropped us off)

...made our way through TSA and onto the plane....Chris and

Enrique got a cockpit tour....Justin hooked them up since it was

their first flight...landed at Reagan Intl after flying in past the

Washington Monuement and over the Potomac....mastered the

Metrolink learning curve (we are all old pros by now).....dropped

our luggage at Catholic University and headed for Union Station

for dinner (it had been a long time since breakfast)...a walk on the

Mall...a visit to the Lincoln Memorial at sunset....a devotion time as

our minds and bodies were fading...or at least trying to cope with

all the day's changes....and now airconditioned beds! It's been

a good day. Tomorrow our touring focuses on government - a

Capitol Bldg VIP tour (thank-you Michael Junk), listening in the

Senate gallery, the Supreme Court etc.

BTW, mom and dad, these are some awesome students

you've got! There was zero complaining during a long day

of toting luggage, a very long wait at the Metrolink and

a resulting missed lunch. Moreover, at the YMCA

ropes course, our facilitators were very complimentary of

their ability to stay engaged, to communicate well,

and to problem-solve. They said that they work with

every high school in the greater St. Louis area and

our students impressed them with their respect

for one another, their sense of community, and their

ability to stay engaged. They said these students were

the best they had seen at "spotting" (which requires

selfless focus on others). Thanks for giving all of us

leaders the privilege of spending this time with your sons

and daughters!