2012 Senior High Mission Trip Departs

In anticipation of the 2012 Senior High Mission Trip, Judy and I went out to Sanford Airport to pick  up this silver van, in which the cooks departed for Columbia, South Carolina ahead of the bus.  Way ahead.  Judy, Sam, Dave and Rob left Wekiva at 4 a.m.  They had a smooth and uneventful drive north, and were busy getting all things ready for the arrival of the rest of the team when the bus would arrive.  You see Judy with the van in the photo above.

The rest of the photos are of the group gathering at the church around 9 p.m. as they moved toward their departure, at 10:15 p.m.  The first photo shows the church campanile, the bus and the moon, which was very full.

Heidi seems very surprised about something that someone said (above) as does Heather, but slightly less so!

The group gathering included the adult leaders, the senior high participants, their families, their guardian angels and other members of the church who wanted to be present to pray and send them on their way.

Above you see Karen checking people in as they arrived at the church; below you see some of the family seeing the mission trip participants off.

I am not quite sure what Bob is telling them, above, but Myra seems so shocked.  Larry on the other hand, is taking it in stride.  Below, Celina gives a big smile.

Austin is getting his headgear in order (above); below, Karen is still checking people in.

I like the way the stained glass is reflected in the bus window (above); below you see the front of the bus with the bell tower behind it.

Anne and Mackenzie gave everyone a glo-stick bracelet to wear.  What a fun sight, when the bus driver turned out all the lights on the bus, and we saw all those bracelets waving farewell!  Every year as the mission team sets out, we have a farewell prayer as all of us hold hands together.  Now, they are taking the light with them as they go...