TransAmerica - Final Thoughts

All the youth have safely landed in Atlanta (except for Josh and Matt Newlin, who are sleeping in the hotel beds behind me)... the bus has 6 new tires and the trailer has 1 new tire (installed today!)... Kenneth and I, along with several chaperones, are driving back to Marietta - due to arrive Tuesday, sometime around supper. Things seem... quiet.

Reflecting on the past two weeks is complicated. So much has happened, and yet I cringe at all the ideas and plannings (thank you, Suzann!) that should have happened... and yet the weeks were so packed with activity that everyone left exhausted. I sit and wonder, "Were my goals met? Did we achieve what we set out to achieve?" The answer is, of course, "no... and yes... I think".

The original intent of this experimental trip was to expose ourselves to the glory of God through two primary aspects: His Creation, and His Kingdom. I comfortably can say that we achieved these goals. We met people across the nation, both inside and outside the church, creating relationships that will last through eternity. We stood in awe of His imagination and power as we lay in the middle of Arches National Park, staring into a sky filled with stars like spilled sugar. We worshipped in many different places, at different times, with different people...

However, my secondary intent was to help develop the leadership potential within our youth. The success of this endeavor was less than satisfying, for which I take full responsibility. Though I recognize many different limiting factors that prohibitted my development of the goal for leadership development, I also now recognize where opportunities were lost. HOWEVER... should I decide that a second attempt at TransAmerica in 2010 would be beneficial to this ministry, you can be sure that the lessons learned will only sweeten the potential of things to come.

I am struck at several things regarding our youth:
1) Their diversity is amazing - but not limiting. I love that! Each person is so unique in talent and ability, personality and humor, communication and style... yet somehow we have a group that clicks together quite well.
2) Their love of and for each other. The unity is impressive, and the respect for one another continues to grow...
3) Their adaptability to Change. Several times during this trip we had to make changes, steer different directions, try a new approach. Every time we had to deviate, our youth would respond with positive attitude and energy. One of my favorite moments in this ministry occurred just 2 days ago, after we had our 3rd blowout: The rear tire lost its tread, but still maintained the inner tube filled with air. As we travelled down the interstate at a reasonably slow speed, another flap of rubber came loose and began to whack the inside of the wheel-well. From the inside of the bus, the sound made a kind of rythmic "Whump... whump... whump..." Without a word, Chido began to make his own rythymic sounds. Kelechi joined in, and then Matt Newlin began to tap his bongo drum. Hunter picked up his guitar and began to strum while Brian Walker started his own type of African-style humming. The sounds of our youth, to the beat of a frustrating calamity created a type of spontaneous melody that will live with me forever.


I want to express more about this trip... but still need time to digest. To everyone who recently arrived in Atlanta... I love you guys!

-J.D. Partain