The AHQ Tour Update #3
An item of business I forgot to do in the previous update is publish the first contest's Honorable Mention List! Replying with the correct answer:
Merry Yoder, Shelley Graber, Jed Eberly, and Loni Martin.
Here's our team.
6-18-02
Written by Konrad Krabill
At the end of the last Update, we were headed for Shilo Mennonite Church in Due West, SC. Since we stayed at Okefenokee Swamp longer than anticipated, and because of some unforseen road construction and missed turns, we arrived at our destination about five minutes before the service was scheduled to start. I quickly steam-ironed Paul's shirt so that he could go begin the service while I ironed the rest of our shirts and we got ready.
Pastor Paul proudly pounding the pulpit while preaching profoundly with purpose at Shiloh.
We all made it into the auditorium with more than enough time to spare. Tom and By did get to meet three of their friends from Bible School there. We also got to see a friend, Anthony Miller, from our home church in Oregon, but somehow we failed to get a picture of him! Ticks me off.
Some of the 2001 BMA students: By, Sherilyn, LaVonda, Kelly, and the Editor.
It was also after the service that we got to hear another quartet sing. Someone mentioned to me that there were four guys in the church that sang together, which immediately piqued my interest. I asked if all of the members where there, and my informant said he wasn't sure but he'd find out. Sure enough, they were all there! After engaging in a little dialogue, I persuaded them to sing for us. It was great, I always enjoy hearing other groups sing (and also the challenge of getting them to) at the places we go.
After the service, we went over to Mr. and Mrs. Gary Troyer's house where we were served a wonderfully tremendous dinner of something absolutely fantastic! I'm not sure what it was called, but it was a meaty, suacy, wonderfulness, topped by a thin, light, perfectly crusty doughiness. It was very good and we left well filled. When we left the table, we went all the way out to the van because we were staying at someone else's place that night.
6-19-02
Today we visited the Krispy Kreme donut factory!
Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Stoltzfus and family were wonderful hosts, treated us very well, and laughed at our dumb jokes. In the morning they served us a wonderful breakfast of biscuits and gravy, grits, fried and scrambled eggs, fruit, milk, orange juice, etc. It was very good.
What is she reading?!
Jerry being a cabinet maker by trade, after breakfast he took us on a tour of his shop. He employs 10 people and has some real sophisticated cabinet making equipment.
The Editor, Paul, David, and Jerry.
Since we didn't have a very long drive to our next stop, Due West, and were in need of getting some kind of exercise, we asked them if there was good place to go hiking or something and they recommended a place or two to us. As it turned out, we didn't end up having as much time as we planned, so we stopped at a more convenient place and hiked through the wilds of South Carolina around Lake Placid.
The rebel in me rearing its ugly head.
When I say wild, that's what I mean. As we were moseying along down below the dam, we were startled by a rather disturbing scene fairly close to our feet! It was a small fish with a snake attached to its head! Upon further consideration, we realized that the serpent was not attached to the fish, but that the fish was attached to the viper's mouth.
The python would move forth and back rather violently for short bursts and looked rather awful and was a little disconcerting. We were hoping to see the cobra eat the fish, but alas, we eventually scared it under a rock, presumably so that it could consume its meal in private. Although we were disappointed, we tried to understand. We were rather concerned about other cottonmouths that may have been lurking about the shallow waters just waiting for someone to misstep though.
There's a misstep if I ever saw one.
We were almost all the way around the lake when we noticed a sign that pointed down another trail to the "amp-hit-heater". We wondered why they needed a heater in South Carolina in the middle of June, but curiosity got the better of us so we went down the ol' path to find out what it was. Turns out it was just a bunch of rows of tiered seats arranged somewhat like an amphitheater. We took advantage of the situation and broke out in song for the huge crowd that had assembled in anticipation of our arrival. (They knew that our curiosity would get us there.)
The gathered masses.
It turned out fairly well except for the fact that the whole crowd left in the middle of the song. We were not dismayed, however, took heart and sang another!
After arriving back at our starting point, the rest of us took a break while David ran around the trail again (because he wanted to, not because we made him). I don't remember what we did after leaving the park, but it'd be a good guess to say that Paul talked on the phone in there somewhere.
Every time we turn around, Paul's cell phone is ringing. Even during a peaceful walk in the quiet woods we couldn't remain unmolested by its intrusive electronic chirping.
We arrived at the church in Columbus, NC, in plenty of time where they had a wonderful meal prepared for us along with that great Southern "swait tae." (Editor's note: "Sweet tea.")
I feel the services have been going really well this trip and we've really enjoyed being a part of Paul's Team ministering in the different churches.
As we were leaving the church, By and David quickly played Tom and me in basketball in the gym and just waxed us. Final score: 3-0. The young guys had defeated the oldsters just like they should have. It was decided later that evening that since we would have time and since we were staying basically right next to the church gym, we would have a rematch in the morning. We stayed at Galen and Debbie Overholt's house that night. This was a little extra special because Galen is a quartet man himself and also has a studio downstairs in his basement.
Galen at the controls.
So after popcorn, peaches and ice cream, Paul went upstairs to bed (he was planning to get up early in the morning for a very important meeting) and we went downstairs with Galen to the studio! We had a great time down there. He used to sing in a quartet when he lived in Sarasota, and he played us some songs from some of their albums. We also laid down a few cuts on tape for him as well, the last of which he came out from behind the glass and joined us. We generally just had a great time listening to some of his collection of quartet albums and singing.
Back in the old studio again. For a behind-the-scenes look at us working on our latest CD, check out the In the Studio part of our website. Complete with pictures and even outtakes to download!
Mrs. Overholt had a wonderful breakfast prepared for us in the morning, at which Byran began bragging 'bout how they were going to "school" us in basketball again. Well, I guess he hadn't tried to thoroughly think that one through. The rematch was held. Final score? Oldsters 11, Youngsters 7. Justice had at last prevailed.
I got in a little skateboarding too. I should make sure my sister LeAnn shows this to my nephew Craig, he would be proud. Maybe.
We also made a movie of me performing a basketball/skateboard stunt and then giving my impression of a professional athlete being interviewed. Right-click this link -- We Gave it All We Had -- then choose "Save Target as" to download and view it. It's fairly big (3.5 MB). Konrad and I refuse to be held responsible for the content therein!
Paul's meeting also turned out to be very successful. He had gotten up fairly early and gone in to Spartanburg especially for it. He didn't request that we go along, for which we were very grateful (I think he left at 5:00). His wife, Dorcas, had flown in to the Raleigh-Durham airport and taken a bus to Spartanburg which is where his meeting was. In fact, that was the meeting. Anyway, we have been looking forward to having Dorcas join us and are glad that it has worked out. Welcome, Mrs. Smucker!
Contest Update!
We still do not have a winner, so I'm going to give you a hint. This animal was big and black and you wouldn't necessarily think they'd have some at Okefenokee Swamp, BUT THEY DID!