This was my 2nd year to travel with SWSE (Symphonic Wind & String Ensemble) for their tour, and it was again such a blessing to be part of! Last year we went to PA, and this year we headed West.
Day 1 - March 29, 2019 We loaded up in the morning and traveled to Ava, MO.
Jenny was my seat-buddy, with Ms. Jess and Danette right behind us, so we had a delightful time traveling together.
Sweet Kirsten and I
Passing the St. Louis Arch
That evening we arrived at Mt. Zion campus, where we spent the night. We had a service at this location a few days later when we came back that direction.
Just enjoying the country-ness!
Many of the SWSE stayed in the dorms on campus, but others went to homes to spend the night. Bryanna, Rachel, Jenny, and I stayed with Bro. and Sis. Paxton.
Taking pictures of the grape hyacinths for my mother.
Day 2 - March 30 That morning Sis. Paxton brought us back to campus and we traveled the rest of the way to Independence, KS for our first service.
Devotions in the bus
We ate lunch in the Springfield mall and found a telephone booth to get a picture in.
Upon arriving in Independence, the church provided a yummy supper.
Getting ready for the service.
My older brother Tim and his family got to come to that service. It was so good to see them again!
I went to their car for a few minutes to chat after service before we had to leave again.
That night many of us staying at the Independence Bible School.
Day 3 - March 31 That morning we woke up really early, ate some breakfast, and hit the road.
Because of a short night, almost everyone slept on the bus.
We arrived in good time at Tulsa, OK for a Sunday morning service.
My sweet friends! Karina, Karen, and Gaby are all graduating this spring and won't be in SWSE anymore.
Autumn and Allyson being Greeters
Tyler, Ms. Rice, and Priscilla
Daniel and Ashley being Greeters
Before the service started at Tulsa.
After the service, we enjoyed a scrumptious lunch at the fellowship hall.
It was so good to see the pastor and his family again! We knew the Yanceys back in CO years ago.
That afternoon we drove to Oklahoma City, OK for our Sunday evening service.
The church there before service.
Some of the luggage crew guys
That evening, Darrell and Lizzy Stetler took 8 of us SWSE girls to their home for the night. It was so special to get to spend some time with them and get to know them better.
Their kids are being trained with very good people skills and we enjoyed visiting with the kids too!
Little John Luke playing Peek-a-boo with me :)
Day 4 - April 1, 2019 Monday morning we traveled back to Ava, MO.
For lunch we stopped in Branson, MO at Lamberts Cafe'
Excited to be at the "home of throwed rolls"!
I went around and took pictures of almost every table of SWSE people.
The guy beside Mr. H. on the very right is our wonderful bus driver, Mr. Cooley! He does an amazing job driving and we appreciate him!
When we arrived back at Mt. Zion campus in Ava, MO, we had some time for relaxing, getting set up, and ready.
We played some what-I-call Bunt Volleyball in a circle.
The kind people who provided supper for us there!
This is the gym\tabernacle where the service was that evening.
Together time for tuning our hearts and praising the Lord before the service time.
Some of the saxophones
Most of the percussion
Bob and Cinda Thompson, friends of my parents.
That night, Rachel, Bryanna, Jenny, and I stayed with the Paxtons. They fed us a yummy snack before bed. They were so sweet to us.
Day 5 - April 2 We headed back towards Indiana. For lunch we stopped in Illinois and split up for lunch. ~People trying to decide where to eat with so many options~
Danette, Ms. Jess, Jorden, and I eating at Wendys
Playing more bunt-volleyball before getting back on the bus.
All the seniors/graduates put their names in the official SWSE book for seniors and we prayed for the seniors from previous years.
Kirsten is our tuner! We are all supposed to tune with her before each service.
That evening's service was in Frankfort, IN.
Gaby and I
That night we went back to GBS because it wasn't too far away, and I went home for the night.
Day 6 - April 3 We loaded on the bus again early afternoon and drove to Greenfield, IN, not too far away from GBS. Some of us (11 to be exact) played some rounds of Crazy Uno while we drove. Crazy Uno gets even crazier with 11 people playing!
When we got to the church in Greenfield, we had some extra time there for set up and relaxing.
Candace and I - she's graduating too, so I'm going to miss her being part of SWSE.
Almost ready for our last service.
The church served us a delicious meal!
The "real people" table. Mr. Muir, who does all our sound stuff for services; Mr. H, our director; Mr. Cooley, our bus driver; the Sankeys, who do all the PR stuff; and Ms. Jess, our piano accompanist.
Karina and Tim
This was a beautiful location!
We 4 ladies had some special memories from our overnight stays together, so we needed a picture.
Before that evening's service, we had a time of prayer for the seniors and graduates.
Ms. Rice and me - stand buddies half the time when the spacing worked for that.
All the seniors/graduates with Mr. H. They will be missed, but may God bless them as they go out from our SWSE group.
And that was the last service! We drove back to GBS and went home for the rest of spring break.
We thank God for giving us such a wonderful SWSE tour, and for blessing us with His presence in the bus and in the services, and for protection as we drove to Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and back to Ohio. I'm so thankful I got to go!
