Week 2- First Baptist Grand Junction, TN

Okay so I know what you're thinking...where on earth is Grand Junction, TN. Well if you go about an hour southeast of Memphis down Hwy 57, you will run into Grand Junction. It sits about 6 miles from the Mississippi State Line and only has a population of 320 or so. The team did Saddle Ridge Ranch VBS there last week and we absolutely loved it! In the morning times, we would do a Teen Oasis for the Youth and that was just something that the teens could come to to play games, have a devotion, worship and just have good, safe fun. I absolutely fell in love with those Youth and their town. The church and its members showed so much hospitality and love that it was so abundant. We stayed on a 19,000 acre plantation called the Ames Plantation. It was owned by Hobart Ames and his family a long time ago until it was left to the University of Tennessee to do forestry, agriculture and animal studies. The professors and staff all live on the plantation and we were given the opportunity to stay with some of those families. You know you are in a very hospitable small town when your host family lets you call them "mom" and "dad." When Friday came, we were not ready to leave...some of the Youth cried when we were leaving that last night of VBS because they knew that it would be the last time they saw us...God is really moving in the town of Grand Junction and if you ever have a chance to visit, you need to eat at the Grand Junction Cafe, visit the National Bird Dog Museum & attend services at First Baptist Church at 11am on Sunday. Pastor Danny Rachel would love to have you and tell him that Chase with the "Exalt" Team sent you!

Love in Christ,

Chase

Week 1 (really week 2 but orientation didn't count ha ha)

Week 1 of Tennessee Travel Teams will be over soon and so far I have had a blast! We are at Opportunity Camp in Memphis, TN and have been camp counselors. The boys camp took place at the beginning of the week and then girls camp began yesterday. J.T. and I are having some much needed rest time, while serving a few snacks to the girls here and there. I absolutely fell in love with the guys that I had in my cabin. Jake (my co-counselor) and I really enjoyed getting to know each of the kids and show then the love of Christ. I really enjoyed getting to know some of the other counselors this week and hope to maybe see them again next year. The week was full of swimming, soccer, photography, fishing & all that stuff that boys like to do. These kids just needed to be loved on and there is no telling how many of them do not get that. Of course I was tired at the end of the boys camp but deep down in my heart, I was really not ready for them to go home. The Opportunity Camp staff is pretty cool and I have really liked getting to know them as well. We will be moving on to Grand Junction, TN this Saturday for Vacation Bible School and working with the youth of First Baptist Church of Grand Junction. It will most definitely be a blast!