Thursday 3/3

Today was another great day at the most magical place on Earth. We got to sleep in a tad later than the last three mornings and started our day at 8:15. We went to the Magical Kingdom and met with our Y.E.S. instructors. Today's class, "Energy and Waves", focused on principles of science and physics -- a perfect connection to our IPC class that we take with Mr. Winn! :) The highlight of the class was when we went backstage at the "Haunted Mansion" and discovered how the tricks and illusion of this attraction really work. We realized at the end of the course how light and sound can work together to create true magic.

After the class, we all went on my favorite ride, "It's a Small World" where we saw dolls from all over the universe dressed in their native attire singing in their native tongue. It was fun trying to guess where each resided. When the ride concluded, we were allowed to eat lunch and then ride the attractions at the Magic Kingdom. Many students claimed "Space Mountain" as their favorite ride; others thought "Buzz Lightyear" was more their speed. Whatever the preference, a great time was had by all.

When the day concluded, we headed over to the Polynesian Resort for an authentic South Pacific luau! We feasted on genuine Polynesian cuisine and while we ate, we watched a fabulous show which consisted of hula dancers, singing, Tiki performers, and even fire dancers. We learned a bit more about the South Pacific while having an incredible time.

Although we're having a great time, we miss you all and are eager to return tomorrow evening.

Wednesday 3/2

Today we had a GREAT time at Animal Kingdom here in Orlando. In our Y.E.S. class, "Team Up for Wildlife", we learned various ways people interact with their environment and the effect that interaction has with the ecosystem. We discussed the latest conservation strategies we can employee to help minimize our carbon footprint. We met up with our parents after class and watched "It's Tough to be a Bug". Both parents and students alike left the theater with huge grins and wet shirts. We then headed over to Kilimanjaro Safari where we saw God's majestic creatures in settings designed to mimic their natural habitat. We departed the park at 6:30 and returned to the resort for some well needed R&R. We concluded the evening with an inspirational devotional about how we must remain true to our Christian foundations and not allow temptation or peer pressure to derail us from God's teachings. Tomorrow we're off to the Magic Kingdom. We miss our family, friends, and teachers at SCS and are eager to share with you our experiences here at the "Most Magical Place on Earth."

Tuesday 3/1

What a FABULOUS day we had! We woke up early and arrived at EPCOT tired, but nevertheless, ready to learn. Our first Y.E.S. class, Millennium Cultures, provided great insight into how cultures work together and separate to meet their needs. We talked to numerous people from across the globe and asked them questions about their political systems, economic environments, religious atmosphere, social structures, intellectual opportunities, and artistic achievements. We rode three rides together as a group: Living off the Land -- a ride designed to teach passengers how citizens are using research and technology to improve human-environment interaction, Soarin' -- a hang gliding similator designed to take passengers on a thrilling excursion through various sites throughout the state of California, and Spaceship Earth -- a ride that explains how communications have evolved over time and encourage critical thought as to how they might evolve in the future. As the group leader, I got the pleasure of seeing the ticket taker's expression when I handed him a huge stack of "Fast Passes" and explained I had 111 people behind me. The parks get large groups routinely, but not many venture onto rides all together! We wouldn't be able to achieve this without our "Fast Pass Dads", G.W. Estep, David Dowell, John Harvey, Kerry Dorton, Glen Beede and Greg Higgins. We concluded the evening with a delicious private Mexican food buffet on the water -- the BEST spot in the entire park to view Illuminations laser and fireworks show. God has provided us with wonderful instructors and great comaraderie in a perfect venue, and for that, we are most grateful.

Monday 2/28

Wow! What a very, very, very long day we had. For most of us, it was about a 21 hour marathon day. We all arrived safely in Orlando (praise) and headed to our hotel, the Port Orleans Riverside, where we checked in our carry-ons. (Our checked baggage was delivered to each room later that evening.) We then boarded a couple of buses and headed to WDW Hollywood Studios. We had such a good time riding rides like Aerosmith's Rock-n-Rollercoaster and the Tower of Terror. Because the crowds were quite thin, most students chose to ride each of the rides three or more times! We gobbled down some yummy treats and headed back to our hotel. We didn't have long before having to board the buses once again and then transferring to the shuttles. We arrived at the Fort Wilderness Campground where while waiting for our dinner show, Mr. Richards encouraged us not to be "castmembers" like those Disney employees who audition for their roles or parts. He challenged us to be the type of Christian who is genuine and doesn't merely act the part. We had a great dinner of salad, ribs, fried chicken, cornbread, baked beans, and strawberry shortcake. For the second consecutive year, Mr. Richards stole the show when he was asked to portray a fierce and mighty Native American warrior. By the time we FINALLY arrived back at our hotel, it was very, very easy for us to go straight to sleeep. We ask that you continue to pray for our group of 112!