Small Group Send-Off
Our Small Group is the best. Last night we were supposed to meet for the RiverDogs game downtown (the RiverDogs are Charleston’s minor league baseball team). Amber and I got to the front gate and waited for the group to arrive. We waited…and waited…and waited… We started wagering on when we thought people would show up. Finally, I called Bryan and he tells us to come over to Brittlebank Park (a short walk from the stadium on the Ashley River). He made up some silly excuse about helping someone with car trouble. I knew the story was fishy, but we walked over to the park anyway. When we got there, the whole Small Group was waiting for us at a surprise going away party!
Bryan was on grill duty, the rest of the group brought drinks and delicious food - including my favorite RiverDogs tradition, boiled peanuts. They even made posters and brought a piñata (I guess they didn’t realize that Costa Rica is not the same as Mexico - ha ha!). Bryan & Christa’s close friends Chris and Kim were also there with their adorable kids Zachary and Jaden. We all hung-out, talked, laughed, ate, swung at the piñata, took a few pictures, then walked over to the baseball game. It was a fantastic night.
To me, baseball always signifies the arrival of summer - the beginning of a new season. Last night had that feeling for me - the start of a new chapter in our lives. But last night also symbolized of the end of a season for Amber and I. We’re leaving Charleston behind in just over a week. We’re also leaving a wonderful group of friends. We’ve been so blessed to be part of such a wonderful Small Group. So a big THANK YOU to Bryan & Christa, Bill & Katie, Matt & Christy, Brendan & Helen, and Emma (& Ben, and Sarah & Corey) for a wonderful farewell party. And thank you for enriching our lives so much through your love and friendship. We look forward to deepening friendships from Costa Rica and we can’t wait to hear about the exciting things God does through the Small Group in the future.
To view the pictures as a slideshow, click here.
Jim said:
Hey, any excuse for a piñata is a good excuse, as far as I’m concerned.
Sounds like fun!