CBC meets FOA and RBC

After settling in and meeting the MS critters, we all (I think) got a pretty good night's rest in preparation for all that day 2 had in store...and boy was it a lot.

After morning devotions we headed over to the FOA chapel (Berean Bible Church) for an orientation to the ministry of FOA. We heard about the focus of the ministry and its beginnings. We heard about God's faithfulness overy many years to this ministry in many ways. This year FOA celebrates its 49th anniversary. The focus of this ministry is helping men with drug and alcohol addictions. In contrast to the way the world views drug and alcohol addiction (as a disease), FOA views it as sin. Because of this, they teach these men the Word of God and new life in Jesus Christ as the answer they need to deal with their problem with sin.

The ministry of FOA is supported by church and individual donations. This doesn't just include financial donations, but anything that the ministry could use. Some people just give old stuff or junk to FOA. FOA then in turn cleans it up and sells it at a monthly garage sale at the ministry. As we were going through the metal building with all the garage sale stuff, I found a priceless possession that seems to have just been waiting there for me. So priceless that my dad told me to just take it.

Although it is hard to read, this jar says, "Ashes of Obnoxious Teenagers". I haven't decided yet who will be the first to enter the jar, but there were many people who obviously wanted to try and be the first. I won't name any names.

We continued our tour of the facilities and got acquainted with the grounds the best we could before the rain came in. By the way, the rain was a constant the first part of our trip.

For lunch we decided to head just a mile away from FOA to a place called Catfish Haven. Mississippi is known for farm raised catfish. While not everyone ventured to order the catfish, most everyone gave it a try. Fried catfish, hushpuppies, fried pickles, and sweet tea. Oh yeah, good eatin'.

Everyone's excited about catfish!

Fried Pickles!

3 catfish, small stomach

No catfish, big stomach

After lunch we headed out on the town of Jackson. Jackson is not a huge town, but I thought I would take our group to a few special places to Brit and I. Our first stop was the Sanders land where we used live and I used to work. Both these places are literally in the middle of cow pastures, but we loved it out there. Our friends (and my former boss) Greg and Karen Sanders and their children weren't there, but we did get to see Greg's parents, B.J. and Maxine Sanders. They showed the kids some of the land and then had us over to their house for some wonderful mint tea (one of my favorites) and tea cakes (cookies). It was great. I told everyone that Mrs. Maxine is one of the nicest people on the face of the earth. After meeting her, I think most everyone agreed.

This is Mrs. Maxine and Mr. B.J. (red shirt) on their front porch.
That's me drinking some mint tea!

Brad taming a goat.

At the Sander's house.
Ryan didn't venture to try mint tea,
he stuck with his water.

I parked in the best spot in the pasture.
As soon as I got out, I stepped in the cow pie.
But we got a good picture of man's righteousness - right Warren?

After the good mint tea and the great Southern hospitality, I decided to take our group driving down a portion of the Natchez Trace. The Trace is an old roadway that stretches from southwest MS to Nashville, TN. There are no big trucks on it and it goes through forested area most of the way. The speed limit is only 55mph, but the scenery is nice, and every once in a while you may see some wildlife roaming about.

A portion of the Trace passes the Ross Barnett Reservoir. There is a place called Lookout Point that we stopped at to see the reservoir.

The boys playing football by the reservoir

Tall trees!

Liz took this nice picture of Brit and I
enjoying a peaceful moment.

Jess enjoying her peaceful moment...
WITH A TREE!!

By the way, the reservoir (not Lookout Point but another place) was where I proposed to Brittany!

This picture was taken in the van at some point during this day. I had to include it because this picture is so awesome. When I first saw it, I couldn't believe it. I mean how can you get your face to do that. Kathleen, that is an awesome picture; one for the ages!

After finishing up there we drove over to Riverwood Bible Church to join their youth group for a night of fun and fellowship. After everyone arrived at the church, we headed for CiCi's for some pizza. After we finished eating we came back to the church where we spent some time in the Word of God. We then played some violent games. Let's see: hockey, scatterball, and bombardment. Thankfully, no one got seriously injured, although Harold Sprayberry (RBC's youth pastor) did get his nose cut (by one of his own youth).

Scatterball is the RBC dodgeball game. It is a lot of fun, but our CBC group wanted to challenge RBC to a game of CBC bombardment. So we did...actually 3 games. The result, RBC beat us 2 out of 3 at our own game. We wanted to get a rematch later in the week, but unfortunately that didn't work out. Here are some pics of the night!

The great Harold Sprayberry!
"No autographs, please"

Hockey

Scatterball

Harold's bloody nose

CBC leaders finding a safe spot

Bombardment

CBC

RBC

Let the game begin!

What a good looking group!

After all of this we were wiped out. But it was a great day. Thanks to RBC for being such nice hosts.

2 days down, 7 to go. Man I'm getting tired just thinking about it all.