FINALLY IN LOUISVILLE! 

This morning we finally made our journey down to Louisville, bright and early in the morning. The 7-some-odd hour trip was eventful, lots of music and talking, or naps for some. Finally down at the retreat center, all moved in, we're ready to start this journey doing God's work! 

One of the things that struck me the most on the way down was how much closer we've grown as a group. From the first meeting, trying to remember people's names and awkwardly trying at conversation, to constant laughter and banter wherever we go. Slowly over the course of the last few months, we've learned so much about each other, and it's truly made us stronger as a team. With everyone so comfortable with one another, I feel like it will make any uncertainty or fears seem easily conquerable. 

I for one am so looking forward to Monday, when the adventure will really begin! :) 

-Sandy 

Louisville thoughts by David

On any given day I walk past hundreds of students on Virginia Tech's campus, and apart from a smile or a wave our potentials for interaction are generally not reached. After this trip, 11 people will be taken out of the pool of unknown students and welcomed into the category of "I don't have class until 5, wanna go eat at West End?"

Like a science class structure of marshmallows and toothpicks our group was initially pieced together with relative haste out of the available building materials. But already the marshmallows have grown stale and hard like cement, and if even one was removed the structure's integrity would be compromised. 

I would have thought that enough development time has passed since the invention of the walkie talkie for the sound quality to at least surpass the garbled mess of english that is the drive thru speaker. I was mistaken.

What if Dennys' Pancake Puppies are really just donut holes, and we only ordered them because the name has the word puppies in it?

Today we were welcomed into the home of an extremely generous man whom none of us had ever met. He is a VT alumni, but even more importantly he has a dog. To connect with a man based on a loyalty to a university is fortunate, but to share with him an evening in the presence of his innocent, loyal and unconditionally affectionate animal, at least for me, is truly memorable.

Requesting a stop for bathroom breaks; there must be an easier and more anonymous way.

I never really thought about spending the night in a high school, but now that it's happening I can definitely see the appeal.