Palmyra - "Where it all began"

Over the weekend I had the nerve to take a journey to up-state New York (Palmyra & Fayette) with a group of complete strangers to visit several historic LDS sites. My journey started on Friday - we all met at a Church building to break into carpools. Well I was not picky on whom I rode with since I knew no one. Well I started off in one car with a guy who actually lived in the LBC - had no idea but the name sounded familiar (Rich Winsor) then he introduced himself as the ward picture board stocker...AND A LIGHT CAME ON! I laughed quite a bit to myself. Then a girl came over and said they had room in there car and I would not be forced to sit on a hump for 6 hours so I said OK I will move over to that car. Well as I am loading my stuff in that car the carpool coordinator came over and said this guy was driving alone and they wanted to know if I would ride with him; she winked and said he drives a BMW a is really nice. I turned and before I said yes or no she takes me over and he is a little Cambodian man who does speak very much English - LUCKY ME!! Well this guy Adam over head everything and he was riding in a car full of girls and kindly volunteered to come join us. (I was praising Jesus in my mind). Well we all got settled in the car - Dai, Adam and me. Not more then 10 seconds in the car Dai turns up the radio and peels out of the lot. He starts playing with his GPS unit and is flying around the neighborhood. Adam and I start looking at each other and thoughts of death come very surreal. Well we stopped for gas prior to the Freeway and Adam has a chat with him about his driving and if he could keep the music to a minimum roar. Once back in the car Dai peels out and flips the hardest U-Turn EVER! (Now that is saying much coming from me) Well for 6 hours we tried to talk and get to know one another but it was like having to clashes - one Peter Republican and one Coming to America and then me in the back. Around 10:30 we drove through Louisville,PA and Dai wanted some KFC - random I know well he found one and drove through and then decided to eat it outside his car while the two of us sat there. Anyway we got to the campsite at 1:45AM. I was relieved and anxious to get to sleep. I found a bunk in a girls cabin and several girls followed within the hour.

Saturday I woke up at 7'ish and found the bathroom full of girls primping - not me. After I did the basics I went over to a table and sat down started chatting with some nice girls and by the end of the chat I was able to secure a spot in their car for the day and tour several sites. Two of the girls are interns from BYU and two were full time DC girls; we started out our visit at the Whitmer House (the home where the church was re-established) - awesome tour and remarkable house. I truly enjoyed the visit to the site and found it quiet fascinating. Then we got back into the car and drove over to Hill Cumorah - wonderful place very green and pretty. We took several blankets to reserve spots for the evening pageant. Then we walked up the hill to the spot where a statue of Angle Mornoni sits. It is a very pretty outlook of the area. After that we determined we were super hungry and went to a place highly recommend - "The Chill & Grill" they are know for this plate called the garbage plate - consisted of baked beans, macaroni salad, french fries, grilled hamburger, chili, mustard, ketchup, onions and pickles. None of us would take this beast on but we found a guy willing to it was the craziest thing I've ever seen. After a greasy lunch we went over to the Printing Press and saw several anti-Mormon protesters claiming "what Mormons don't tell you" written on their shirts. The printing press was cool - it had all the original floors and several walls had ink still on them. After that tour we decided to head over to the Smith Farmhouse and Sacred Grove. The area was very lush and spacious, the home was quaint and very cozy. Upstairs was very somber given that is where we tell visitors that is where Moroni appeared to Joseph. After visiting that I left the group and headed for the grove, I was anticipating this large open spot but that is not the case there are several walking paths with benches for people to sit and take in the area. I just roamed around and sat at a couple different spots. I started to compare it to a labyrinth and then David Bowie came into my head singing the songs from the movie. I guess my sacred moment didn't last as long as I visioned but enjoyed the area very well with a couple good 'ole tunes. After the Farmhouse tour we drove back to the pageant to set comfortable and take a nap. I had a delightful hour nap and awoke to several pageant characters walking around in full costume, I thought my dreams had become reality. The pageant started at dusk and it was spectacular...of course I did fall asleep but I enjoyed all the parts that I was awake for and the music. We got back to the campsite around 12:30AM. The girls in my cabin were getting all excited about the bonfire but people were still trickling in around 1AM. I decided that it was super late and figure that it was not worth waiting up for; so I went to bed.

Sunday, I woke up around 7'ish and got ready for church. I was suppose to then look for my new ride home and for the day. I found a car that had one guy (Jed) and two girls (Deb and Catherine). Deb is severely physically handicap and wheelchair bound but has a mouth on her. We got everything together and headed out for church, it was 8:35; church started at 9:00 and it was 45mins away. Well the car was a tad bit straight laced and only allowed "Sabbath Day" music - Broadway too mainstream and jumpy only classics, church and conference talks. So with MoTab blaring and Jed speeding well beyond safety the whole ride was just a speeding contradiction and I giggled quite a bit. I expressed my irony observation to the car and all gave me a big hmmmmmmm...interesting. Well we made it to the chapel by 9:10; this chapel was packed - it was well know that the service was a special one dedicated to the pageant. Now I failed to mention that Catherine is a Theater perform and was singing the whole way to the chapel. Once we sat down she said she would do her best to not sign along and just listen. Well lets just say this choir was not very together and tone def by a large margin; Catherine was going a little song crazy and really just wanted to sing along. I was just dieing...how did I get myself in this? After the service we walked to the call and determined to hit the grove one more time; Deb wanted to be wheeled into the grove. So we all walked in together and then camped out in our own spots for about 30 minutes. After that we started our drive home; about 3 hours in we needed to take a stretch break - deb needed to stand; we pulled over in SCRANTON, NY...home of the office. I broke the Sabbath and bought a couple treats and juice for Deb. Then we pressed on, two hours later Jed got super tired, pulled over and asked if one of us would drive...me being the control freak I jumped for the chance. We were already an hour over schedule and still had 2 hours to go...so I jumped into the seat. Deb being the co-pilot decided to ask 20 questions and started with Temple attendance questions and about my active status. She was no way bashful or shy in asking about my personal life...very amusing to me. Anyway it was a delightful chat. I told her things and she shared with me what it is like to be handicap. We made it back to the church before dark...thank goodness. From there I gave my best and drove home. All in all a very memorable weekend and one that will last for quiet some time. (computer still broken ... text for now ... pictures to come - hopeful)