'MP Travel Club' goes to Branson, MO'

One of the more popular activities in the Mission Project is the Travel Club.  Participants pick exotic destinations, and meet regularly to plan the event. An outcome of the Mission Project (MP) travel club this Fall of 2010 was a fun-filled trip to Branson Missouri.

The Branson agenda was full from start to finish.  We arrived Friday evening at the Barrington, and headed over to the Back Door Stage Cafe at the Lawrence Welk Resort. After dinner we attended the Ray Stevens show at the theater. We were treated to some of Ray's old songs such as "The Streak," "Ahab the Arab," "Guitarzan," and new songs.  The performance lasted till 10:30 and we headed home for rest.   

The next morning we headed to Silver Dollar City.  The fall craft festival was in progress, and the MP participants watched the skilled craftsmen and craftswomen, rode the rides, and attended the musical shows.  After a full day at Silver Dollar City we headed for a dinner at Montana Mike’s Steakhouse, and then an evening of entertainment with Jim Stafford.  Jim is an excellent guitar player, and sang some of his standards like "Spiders and Snakes."  He introduced his son and daughter, who share their father's talents by playing piano, violin, harp, and organ.  After the show, we all headed back to the hotel for another good night’s rest.   

As a travel sponsor, it was enjoyable to be with different MP participants. Because Silver Dollar City is such a large area, the travel sponsors were assigned all-day responsibility of their assigned participants. This gave sponsors and MP participants a wonderful chance for quality time and to learn more about each other on a more personal level. The participants were always on time and ready for the next event. The Mission Project participants were often praised for their courtesy and kindness to others. The participants enjoyed all the shows and especially Silver Dollar City.   All in all it was interesting to see how far the participants have come as a group, and how they now depend on one another.   

[Story contributed by Bill Porter, 10-20-2010]

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