"Hey, what happened to Greenlight/Redlight?!" asked church member Jen's daughter. She is one of the neighborhood kids who literally helped kickoff the first Mission Village Church Summer Block-Party of 2019 with a splash, down the huge waterslide that was set up on the church's side-lot.
Most members (myself included) had expected at most, a small Slip & Slide; but according to Pastor Gino Lizarraga, "Well, we just chose to go all out for the neighborhood." And go all out they did, with a huge jumper castle complementing the water slide, cotton candy, hot dogs on the grill (courtesy of "chef" & Worship Leader Dave Ulrich), sliced watermelon, freshly popped carnival style popcorn, even old fashioned flavored sno cones, which not having had one in years, I simply couldn't resist.
"Watch the bottom, it's going to be messy today", said server Brandon George, the church's Upper Elementary & Middle School Director, as a perfect hot summer sun beamed down in place of the usual San Diego June-Gloom. Thankfully, a couple of canopies & chairs were provided to comfort those in need of shade to sit, eat and chat.
"We're seriously considering creating an enclosure under the stairs where people can cool off for the warmer gatherings.", said associate church pastor Jeremy Aylett, whose wife Natalia, didn't mince words, "It is HOT!"
Still, with the help of church members, aided by some of the summer volunteer youth from the First Baptist Church in Russellville, Arkansas like Gracie Ham, who was kind enough to scoop a bag of popcorn for me, it was an enjoyable afternoon for all the neighborhood families who attended the block party immediately following Sunday morning's worship service, particularly their kids, naturally running a bit overtime; after all, who wants to stop having fun?"
Overcast, 59°