Day 8 - Returning Home

We received a cell phone call stating that the replacement bus had arrived. Everybody gathered in front of the Opry Mills Shopping Center, then we trekked across the parking lot, wondering what the new bus would be like. We were surprised when we arrived, because the bus drivers told us that they had transferred everything from the lower compartments of the first bus into the lower compartments of the second bus. All we had to do was get our other things from the overhead storage.

We completed the remainder of the trip with little delay. In Kentucky, we made a stop at a rest area for people to stretch and use the bathroom, and our next scheduled stop would be for dinner. North of Louisville, we stopped at a Wendy's and the youth ministers advised all of us to order our food "to go" so that we could avoid delays in the trip.

In Ohio, one of the teens offered me her cell phone so that I could call Dad. Dad asked for another notification once we were "in town," and I explained this to the person who loaned me her phone. She agreed. As we reached Columbus, she let me use her cell phone again so that I could call Dad again. He said he'd be on his way.

As we drove through Columbus, the youth minister from the other church revealed his "Quote Book." They traditionally record all of the notable quotes that happen during a trip--and this week's trip had amassed quite a record. The youth minister read the quote book, providing an explanation of each quote, including my "sound out" quote.

Finally, the bus left the freeway and drove the main roads and took a final turning. In the distance, the steeple of the church we had left a week before was visible in the distance. The teens from that church began a slow clap that increased in speed and volume. We joined in, shouting along with them as the bus turned the last corner and pulled to a stop in the parking lot. My trip to Louisiana was finally over.

At the time, I did not know that it was only my first trip.