Oh Atlanta ~ I hear you calling

Traveling to Atlanta to take Chelsea for Mission Year - I kept hearing the song "Atlanta" by Alison Krauss in my head, BUT was it in anyone's iPod? No! I have no idea how that happened, but it WILL be corrected!



ANYWAY... Chelsea is in Atlanta.


We left Delaware around 6:00 Wednesday night, stopped in Henderson, NC around midnight and then got up the next morning and arrived in Atlanta in time for a quick tour before we took Chelsea to meet her Mission Year group at 4:30.

While Chelsea and her group had a meeting, Michael and I found a terrific pizza place about 10 minutes away.

At 7:00 it was time to take the kids to their house. We were anxious to see where she lived - who she would be living with - what kind of neighbors she would have.

They're in a neighborhood called East Point, outside of Atlanta, in a house that's in a trailer park. The trailer park is mostly hispanic, so I'm sure Chelsea's Spanish will greatly improve this year! :)

The house was originally a disaster - floors caving in, etc. Chelsea's Mission Year group is affiliated with another group, sponsored by 88 Baptist churches. That group came in to prepare the house before the kids arrived.

They scrubbed and cleaned, replaced and repaired and with the help of the East Point community, the house was finally ready!

The kids arrived and filled the tiny living room with their luggage, and musical instruments - 3 guitars, a ukulele, and a keyboard (I think that's it). Oh and a harmonica (or 2) and a rhythm egg (can't forget the rhythm egg).


There are 2 bedrooms in the house. The 4 girls will sleep on bunkbeads (which they all had to build upon arrival) in one bedroom and the boys will sleep in the other bedroom.


Then off to find the kitchen. I'm sure they will all be able to make a meal out of almost nothing by the time their year is over.


And finally out on the porch to take a picture of the whole group before we left.

God bless Chelsea!Chelsea, Kim, Rachel, Joseph, Kelly and Andrew

I'm sure this will be a life-changing experience for Chelsea (and her new friends). We're so impressed with her courage - her heart - her faith. I know I've said that before, but being in East Point, looking at the challenge in front of them, the sacrifices they'll be making - knowing how busy they will be - how little time they'll have for themselves - we are in awe of their willingness and enthusiasm to live a year of service. Our thoughts and prayers will be with them daily.

After, saying good-by to Chelsea, we were on the road again - leaving a little after 8:00 pm - back to Delaware.