Goodbye Fun Expedition

 It's been nearly one year, since I first stepped foot into Tri-Cities Fun Expedition to interview for a position managing the Group Sales Department. Today, Monday, Aug. 6 was our first day no longer open to the public.

There's a sadness to walking down the Party Hallway, now lined with boxes and making calls to my partnering groups, and giving back the flowers I traded for to add a look of TLC to our front entrance in June. Even more sad is the silence that fills the air where beeps, boops, crashes and bangs, chimes and bells of games called out among the occasional shouts of children to their friends, howling delight and the familiar hum of the inflatables.

Facebook was part of my job and when I began, we had less than 1,000 Fans. Earlier this year it took 3 months to get 500 more fans. Four weeks later, we had 1,000 more and we burst through the 4,500 mark less than 2 weeks ago, ending with 4,889. Each photo, like, share and message was appreciated and we have the BEST Fans. You all made my job more fun.

My favorite sites this past year were of parents on the bumper cars going hard after their kids and a mom heading up the climbing wall next to her daughter - urging her on. Laughter filled the space and would sometimes even drown out the clinging and clanging of the games.

Even in all of that, the site that takes my heart occurred during the one church lock-in I got to be involved in as over 225 people sat on the buffet-area floor to listen to a presentation of the Gospel by Young Life's Johnson City area Director Scott Caldwell. Ten teen-ages responded to the King of Kings that night and that many more became curious. Kingdom work. How thankful I am for the youth pastors and directors I got to know during that planning. They love on their kids and it's a sight to behold. Keep it up guys!

Goodbyes are never easy. We weren't really made for them, were we? For now, there is sadness at the loss of jobs for most of the staff, a loss of community we shared, a loss of a fun place for many who visited us and those who benefited from our partnerships a loss of hope for a thriving business. A day is coming when that will no longer be the case. Jer 31:13 The Lord says, “At that time young women will dance and be glad. Young men and old men will rejoice. I will turn their grief into gladness. I will give them comfort and joy in place of their sorrow.

I look forward to the day - Do you?