We were greeted early (like 5:30 a.m. early) by a thunderous clap of … well, thunder. Of course it was followed by … well, rain. It seemed oddly apt, what with the view from our hotel window. It was a really big … boat.
We made our way over to the ocean liner. Our timing was pretty perfect. No long lines to get in. No wait to get on the bus. Now, after we had roamed around the ark for a few hours, and the rain had pretty well subsided, a few thousand of our new closest friends did make their appearance.
For lunch we took part in the on-site, all-you-can-eat buffet. Josh ate all he ever ate growing up. Fried fish, chicken strips, roast, fries, 2 desserts. Actually, we all came away satisfied.
The Zoo was next. Sloth was the first star to make an appearance. The trainer coaxed him outside through a sliding glass window and began his teaching schpiel. But before he was done, the sloth opened the window, which the trainer didn’t know he could open, and before you knew it, he was back inside. Tricky little critter.
Then we slid over to the zoo. Along with some of the more exotic breeds, they also had some highly trained (and incredibly smart) … barnyard animals. Goats. Sheep. Big hairy pigs. We watched as first a sheep, then a goat showed off their impressive skills. They could count. I mean, recognize how many fingers were being held up. They could add. Subtract. Recognize colors. Amazing critters. AnnaGrace was absolutely enthralled. So much so that her souvenir for this leg of the trip was a stuffed goat.
Just before we left, and just after a final perusal of the gift shop (I may or may not have grabbed a pair of socks for church - emblazoned with a sloth face), Josh, Caleb and I watched a play based a true story. Four theater majors from Bob Jones University presented the story about persecution of Christians in Russia between 1922 and the 1950’s. The story line followed the life of a preacher, then his son as they spread the gospel in spite of the danger. The father was executed in Siberia. The son and his family were “exiled” to America (Actually, they were part of a political prisoner exchange). Very impressive performance
Meanwhile, the kids played on the playground outside as Chris and Christi looked on.
Speaking of play, we all took a round on the carrousel right by the front gate. Chris and I were “assigned” the elephant by AnnaGrace. However, I broke protocol and climbed onto some kind of exotic antelope. I wanted one that went up and down.
Finally we entered the line to board the bus home. But wait! Chris reminded Christi that there was some curriculum she wanted to get, so … out of line and back to the gift shop. Christi knew just what she wanted, though, so it didn’t take long, and we were back on the bus and headed to the hotel.
Some of us took a quick dip in the hotel pool. I mean quick. Really quick. The water was cold! Fortunately, the pizza we ordered was on its way, so we changed into dry (read here “warm”) clothes.
After a slice of pizza and an episode of Ryan and Haley, we played some card games. Even made one up. It was fun to laugh and just hang out together.
Luke 9:23-24 says, Then He said to them all, “If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me will save it.”
Father, thanks for you for experiences like this that remind us of your massiveness. Amen.
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