Day in Dover by Ayana
Saturday was the day I had been looking forward to for a long time–a trip to the cliffs of Dover. We made a short hike in, and then we sat down near the rock’s edge. Fr Dave led an amazing discussion about how we will spread the lessons we’ve learned once we return to Jacksonville. At the end, he asked us to each pick up a stone. He told us that our stone could either represent something holding us back from God, or something that we want to do once we get back. To symbolize our vow to follow God more closely, each one of us threw our rocks off the cliff into the river to remind us that we have given our lives completely over to God. After that experience, some of us hiked all the way down the cliffs (pictures definitely coming when we get back), and some hung out at the cafe at the top.
After the cliffs, Shawn and Jason (our Wonder Voyage leaders) had a surprise–we got to do some castle raiding at Dover Castle! It was absolutely gorgeous, and the castle had views to die for. As Malik put it, “There’s almost too much beauty!” Literally everywhere that I turned, I wanted to take a picture, to document this moment. I restrained myself, but just barely. Dover Castle also had special tunnels focused on Medeival Times and War that several of us visited.
On our way back to Canterbury late Saturday afternoon, we stopped in the town of Sandwich for about 45 minutes. I have to say, if I lived in a town that was the birthplace of a worldwide food staple like the sandwich, I would probably market it a little better. There wasn’t even a plaque telling the story of the sandwich! But Sandwich was a quaint little town, and one of the groups had afternoon tea (no cucumber sandwiches, though). I went into one of the churches that was displaying local youth art from pre-school through high school. When the lady at the entrance signed me in, she said that they had never had someone from Florida at this annual art show–I felt proud.
Saturday night was the final night for two of our youth–Carrison and Travis–so we did the usual last night things for the group. We discussed again how we can make service a part of our daily lives in Jacksonville, and the youth had several ideas. We ended by laying hands on Carrison and Travis, and sending them off in prayer.