This is Kirstin writing.  It's our first full day in Tennessee, and I just want to take a few minutes to share some of the things my senses have experienced over the last day and a half or sor, and in doing so, I'll tell the story of the trip so far. 

All of us in Midland, where we stayed with my parents for our first night.  Left to right: me (Kirstin), Sam, Lydia, Katie, Adam, and Helga Mikelnokov (our 12-passenger van!)

1)  Sight:

As we were driving through Ohio, we saw a large golden dome in the distance, with a tall spire on each side.  It took us a while to realize it, but the dome and spires belonged to a gigantic mosque.  I guess I didn't realize there was such a strong Muslim presence in Ohio, but later that day we passed another mega-mosque. 

2)  Touch:

One of the first things we noticed when arriving in Tennessee was the heat: we got out of the van at 10 pm, and it was still about 55 degrees outside.  The high temperature today was 70.  The air is always a tad humid and the sky threatens impending storms, but for now, we can definitely appreciate a break from wearing winter coats.  It's a simple blessing, but God does provide for our mental health :)

3) Taste:

Don't get all excited; I haven't eaten anything spectacular.  When we arrived, though, the church leader who met us gave us a grand tour of the church, including a kitchen stocked with food.  I was a bit blown away by the hospitality they showed us.  Yes, we are sleeping on cots in a church gym, but the congregation is very welcoming.  We got to meet several of the members at church this morning, and every one of them was interested in who we were and how we were doing.  Clara, the woman who had met us when we arrived Saturday night, actually lived for 2 years in Midland.  Another woman at the church said she had relatives in Midland, and a man said some of his relatives lived in the U.P.  I am being reminded of how completely and intimately connected we are as human beings and children of God.  The world is much smaller than you think. 

4)  Smell:

I don't remember who said it first, but we all agree Tennessee smells great.  After church, we went to an old estate named Cheekwood, which had been donated by the owners and converted into an art museum and botanical garden.  We explored around the garden and improvised a song with acorns, reeds, and holly leaves (I'll see if the video turned out and post it on Facebook if it did).  The museum had several 20th-century art pieces, which I geeked out over more so than anyone else :).  As we were walking through the gardens, though, we all agreed nature is amazing.  God has created such beauty and diversity in nature, and getting outside is one of the best ways to connect to Him. 

5)  Hearing:

After Cheekwood, we spent a few hours at the Adventure Science Center in Nashville.  Many of the exhibits were quite cleverly designed, I must admit, and I wished I was younger or smaller so it would be easier to climb through the tunnels (though I managed quite well at my current age and size).  I tell you this just to fill in the context, because the experience I really want to tell you about came after.  We got back to our host church just in time to attend one more church service, but this one drew a different crowd than the morning services: the service was conducted in Swahili. 

Many of you who know me may be aware of my slight obsession with all things foreign and especially African, but please consider this an unbiased statement: Swahili, especially when spoken in praises to God, is the most beautiful language on Earth.  I cannot describe to you the sheer beauty of clear Swahili voices lifted in harmony to worship the Lord.  When it was time for a song, one woman sitting in the middle of the congregation would begin singing and clapping her hands in a rhythm that didn't exactly match that of her melody.  Then others would join in on cue - they all obviously knew the songs by memory - and add their own rhythmic claps or snaps.  One by one, the members (not all of them - there seemed to be a group of 6 that regularly lead songs) would climb out of their pews and walk toward the front of the sanctuary.  There they would stand in a row facing the congregation and sing.  I mean they would SING!  Nobody was particularly gifted with a beautiful voice, but they all seemed to have an intimate knowledge of harmony and rhythm - not to mention the willingness to improvise in front of a crowd.  If I listened hard enough to one person, I could tell they were switching between melody and harmony lines.  Some would sway; some would clap; some would close their eyes.  Every once in a while, the female leader (the one who had started the song) would fill in a gap at the end of a line with a solo phrase of her own.  Whenever a phrase finished, all the singers would end on a unison note, take a breath, and then the leader would start a new line.  Their worship was so spontaneous and genuine and unified.  True worship like this is just the most beautiful thing in the world, and I wish everyone could have experienced that service. 

I am truly loving this mobile missional life.  Tomorrow is our first day of work (we're gutting somebody's basement!), so there will certainly be more to come!