annnd we're OFF!

view of St. Louis

Myster wants to be awake tonight, so he's planning ahead

Teaching on the top of Monk's Mound, Cahokia Mounds

Monk's Mound, Cahokia Mounds

see the fireflies?

And we're off!
This year's take-off was modified a bit from the usual approach: we had one rendezvous at the church, and a second at Country Crossings! The result was a caravan of four vehicles meandering its way through Milwaukee, Chicago, and endless Illinois prairie. I am happy to report that in this part of the country at least, the corn is well beyond knee-high by the fourth of July!

The evening found us drawing near to the city and pausing at the Cahokia mounds. These human-made mounds served some unknown purpose in the 900 - 1500s (probably religious) and still form an impressive monument in their own right, as well as an expansive view of the City. We're pretty sure they built the mounds in order to have a better view of the Arch, actually.

We took the time to regroup after a long day of travel, and Mike talked through a bit of what we might expect this week: the group we'll be working with (New City Fellowship) decided their "neighbor" was the poor and disenfranchised inner-city population. They began serving here in St. Louis, and eventually started a church in one of the most dangerous parts of town - with church members literally moving into the neighborhood. As we learn from them this week, we hope to take what we learn back home with us.

We prayed and headed down from the mound, pausing to admire the fireflies that are everywhere around the mound this time of year. We were also joined by a friend, Clint, who used to live in the Fox Valley with his family, but is now living in North Carolina! I think we're all looking forward a great deal to all that is in store for the coming week.

The day ended with a meal at Steak n Shake, and then a move in to our domicile for the next week: a school for the deaf that now serves as a dorm for the teams that come and serve here. Tomorrow is tour St. Louis day!