Day 1 - CCHS Coast 2 Coast II Reaches Oregon

Our has begun.  We left the school at 8 a.m. Tuesday and began our drive to Oregon.  We take this mission trip with our team of 12 girls from Capital Christian High School varsity basketball team, along with three coaches and several other parents/volunteers.  Our journey takes us today to Salem, Oregon–through quite possibly some of the most beautiful parts of the country. 

Our team was divided into three groups, due largely in part to the three vehicles that we took on our trip.  Each team was given assignments during their leg of each drive, including a Q & A of other team members, creating posters for pre-selected team members and a special prayer poster for a wonderful child here in Salem.

We made several stops along our way, to do what we now call our "car swaps." During these car swaps, girls were assigned to new vehicles and also new assignments.  Not only was this trip meant to be a mission trip, with a little basketball too–but a little team bonding as well.

Our journey wound us throughout Northern California areas (I-5), but also into the beautiful Oregon countryside.  We of course stopped for what is now our traditional state-line picture of the team (included in this blog).

For some of our team, this adventure is not necessarily new (as our 2010/11 Coast 2 Coast was their first), but for others, this is their first–but quite possibly not their last–mission trip.

We arrived in Salem at 7 p.m., checked into our hotel, unpacked a little and freshened up a bit, then we all took a little (or nice LONG) walk to get dinner: Mexican food. 

The last leg of Tuesday's journey will consist of a team workout (yes, even after a wonderful dinner), our team will work on their journals (to be posted on our website www.coast2coastmissiontrip.com) and then probably a little more team bonding.  Even with three rooms between them, they always seem to congregate to one or another after a while.

It's a good first day, filled with lots of traveling, some silly pranks, some assignments and just a whole bunch of great people looking to do some great things here in Oregon.

We will sign off for now, but we'll check back in and blog about our day Wednesday.  Thanks to all for your continued support and most of all for your prayers!