J.O.Y. 2005 Trip Journal #4

Friday 29 July 2005

On Friday we went back to the church.  We finished the cleaning we’d started in the fellowship hall, scrubbing tables and chairs where they have their children’s after-school and daycare programs.  We helped them clean out a storage room that was crammed with things, carting many items off to the dumpster and organizing what we could.  Pastor John was impressed with our work…he didn’t know that there was so much room in there!  We also mopped the floors in the hall, kitchen and store room.  We finished our work by helping hang some banners for their outdoor worship on Sunday.

After a lunch at Wendy’s and a quick trip to the hotel for showers and fresh clothes we headed back downtown.  We saw the Capitol building, the Supreme Court, and the Library of Congress.

Then we went towards Cleveland Park for our Shabbat (Jewish Sabbath) service.  Before the service started we had the opportunity to learn about what would be happening, about the customs surrounding celebrating the Sabbath, and ask questions.  During the service we sat with people who could help us understand what was happening as the entire service was in Hebrew.  The evening’s message was from a woman with “My Sister’s Place” which helps women in domestic violence situations.  After worship we shared in their potluck dinner, discovering many new foods.

Saturday we’re going to the National Zoo, the National Archives to see the Constitution, Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independence, and finally to see the Jefferson Memorial and the Korean War Memorial.  Then we’ll come back to the hotel for some pizza and time in the swimming pool (and rather a lot of time cleaning up rooms and packing before the bus leaves on Sunday).

Peace, Pastor Moira