Friday Flashback: One Weird Night In Atlanta

The old Springfield gang, including
Natalie, Beth & "Sam!"

Today we flashback to an older post from my days in High Point, NC (1986-1994).  If you follow this blog or know me at all, then you know I have had many adventures in Atlanta over the years (see my posts about getting mugged and table dancing).  One summer (I think 1992) a small group of us travelled from Springfield Friends Meeting to Hotlanta on our yearly trip to see the Braves play baseball.  I remember very little about the game.  I do, however, have vivid memories of two late night adventures. There are few stories I can tell you that reveal more about the weird, wild and wacky nature of youth ministry...

In those days it was not unusual at all for me to drive the church van and be the only adult on short over-night trips, something that would of course never happen today.  We always stayed in "bargain" motels, so the rooms were a bit iffy.  After the game we had returned to the motel and were getting ready for bed when I heard a knock at my door.  Natalie Whitaker (and I think Beth Brown and Jill Gilbreth) were standing there looking a bit goofy.  They explained to me that their toilet was clogged.  I said I would come take a look at it.  They were giggling as we walked over, so I knew something was not quite right. They led me to the toilet, watching me carefully for my reaction.  As I starred into the porcelain abyss, I saw why.  In this room full of young teenage girls, someone had created the single largest piece of poop I had (or have) ever seen in my life.  And it would not flush!  The artist behind this "masterpiece" was not any of the girls named above, and to protect the guilty we will call the culprit Sam.  Sam sat on one of the beds, smiling and blushing as I gasped at the size of her creation.  I called the front desk, but it was too late for maintenance- so they sent up a plunger for me to use.  I could not plunge the toilet- I had to use the plunger to break up the monster into smaller pieces.  Only then could I flush.  I left their room a bit shaken, thinking the strangest part of my night was behind me.  I was so very wrong...

A few hours later, around 1 AM, I was sound asleep when I heard another knock.  This time Sam was standing there, and she had a problem.  That special time of the month had arrived, and she had no supplies.  (As a side note I should mention that any male who plans on being in youth ministry for any amount of time had better learn to talk about these things.  Because you WILL have to do it sooner or later- and, based on my personal experience, you will have to do it on EVERY ski trip!)  So at this ungodly hour I loaded Sam into our 15 passenger church van (name on the side, of course) and drove her to look for a convenience store.  There was very little open, and the part of Atlanta we were in was rather scary.  We finally found an open store, but there was a catch.  No one could actually enter the store.  They had a drive-thru window, with metal bars protecting the worker.  This, of course, meant I would have to place an order for the needed supplies.  I pulled up and placed my order- and was told they did not have the particular brand name that Sam used.  The worker told me what they had, and Sam said she did not use that brand.  My response was simple- "You do now!"  We made our purchase, headed back to the motel and called it a night- AGAIN!  I lay in bed for another hour or so, contemplating my career choice and my sanity, but understanding that this was exactly what I had signed up for- to serve students in the name of Jesus.  Before I knew it, it was morning and I had survived that most strange night. 


"Sam," I know you are out there reading, and I know you know I love ya!  Thanks for a night I will never forget...no matter how hard I try!  Youth ministry is many things.  Dull is almost never one of them...

Because of Jesus,