Gospel Jamboree 2010

We said our good-byes to the DeRosa’s and Carol and were on our way to the Gospel Jamboree 2010; our first and the jamboree’s last.

It’s a great day when we see Old Glory flying.  This one is atop a granary, waving proudly as travelers pass by.

I love, love, love these farm scenes.

I always appreciate when God and Country are honored.

Entering Newaygo to meet Garth Hall, who is going to guide us to the Gospel Jamboree 2010 location.  11:34 AM

Downtown old Newaygo.  Very neat.

The Centennial Bridge 1953 over….

the Muskegon River.

Garth Hall came to meet us in Newaygo and guided us to the Jamboree site.

To Jack and Kathy Gordon!!!  It’s wonderful to see our Sunscape friends.  Grandson Logan will be really jealous to know that we are eating Jack’s wonderful cooking again.

Garth, you were a wonderful guide!  Thanks for making it easy for us and for parking us in the premier spot under the big tree.

Shari Hall arrived after getting off work.  It is soooo good to see this couple, especially after what Garth has been through after his fall from a ladder while they were still at Sunscape in Arizona.  He’s a walking miracle and we will forever praise God for allowing Garth to still be with us.   That’s Shari’s 87 year old dad in the lower left.

Jack and Kathy spread out lunch as soon as we arrived and we “chowed down!”

All afternoon, the music continued.  Here’s our friend Garth playing his dulcimer.Ray (pictured) and Vivian have hosted this Gospel Jamboree for twenty years!!

These tents cover the two rows of tables that were covered with food, first for breakfast, then dinner(lunch) and again at supper(dinner).  The hosts also provided ice cream cones, elephant ears or during the evening jam, bags of pop corn.  Oh my.  The building in the back is where the music is played and chairs are set up for folks to sit.

I thought the mosquitoes and horse flies were big in Texas!  Sure would like to know who invited this fellow to the Jamboree.

There is someone or some group on this stage playing almost every minute of the day. The stage consisted of two flatbed hay trailers butte together and made stationery so as not to move, covered with outdoor carpet and with a set of steps attached.  The “stage” was parked across the big back door of the barn and a backdrop added half way up, leaving the top portion open revealing the beautiful forest beyond.  So pretty.

Being at a Gospel Jamboree, you just know that each and every person and performer had a story or a dozen to tell and I would have loved to have sat down with each one.  A few shared some of their testimony as they were on stage and each one was such a blessing.  There’s just nothing like being together with the folks who all have Jesus Christ in common in their life.  We’re not perfect, but we’re all forgiven and we love and appreciate each other, even though we don’t all know each other.  That’s just the way it is in God’s family.  It’s just sweet.

This is Laura and what a talented girl she was!  Laura had a tremendous voice and could really belt out a gospel song.  She was one of my favorite singers.  Wish I could have heard her “story.”

I love people and I love expressions on people’s faces so I took a lot of close-ups.  Most folks are not fond of their own close-up, but to me, each one is God’s Work of Art.  This weekend is going to be a thrill for us and for me particularly because I will get to take many close-ups.  These are only a few that I took today and tonight.

Can’t wait until tomorrow.  What a blessing it is to be here.