I wrote my last entry on Monday night, following the tire and storm incidents. I fell asleep at about 1am, and slept soundly until about 115 when the mother of all storms broke into a full-on thunder/lightning bonanza! I managed to pass back out, but at 315 I was awakened by a way-too-close sound. It wasn't coming from the street or even the hallway- It was coming from inside the room!
I listened a while longer, and was fairly sure I had pinpointed that the sound was a) in the bathroom, and b) water based. I got up and walked to the bathroom to find water shooting UP out of the toilet onto floor, and then gurgling out of the toilet until it was empty, then repeating.
I stared curiously, then called the front desk. For 315am, they sure answered the phone quickly. I told them what was happening and they sent two gentlemen up right away. The two men explained that the problem was clearly a ghost...then they laughed and explained that no fewer than 6 rooms had reported the same problem, and that there was a huge leak in the roof of the hotel lobby. Water was apparently everywhere, and the toilet issue was due to air in the lines. "After all," one man asked "haven't you seen outside?" I walked to the window and peered across the street. What I saw was both confusing and amazing.
The hotel was located directly across the street from a 250 year old Quaker church/meeting house on a cobblestone yard with cobblestone steps between trees and a wall leading to the street. I found a photo on google Earth.
That staircase was a full-on waterfall! The rainwater was actually breaking over the tops of the steps and splashing into the air. The street had a current. The rain was unreal.
The men emptied the toilet tank and flushed it a few times, and it seemed to rid the lines of the air, so I thanked them and they left. I went back to bed and encountered no further ghosts that night.
In the morning, I called a few tire shops, and asked if any of them could help me out. One was overly helpful and not very far away. He went out of his way to get me info and make suggestions and called me back when he had to go look something up. He told me he could help, but needed an hour or so to get the tires from his warehouse. It was 9am, and I thought maybe I could squeeze in a few sights before I took my car in. I changed and checked out, dropped my bags in my car, and headed for Independence Hall.
En route, I came across the Liberty Bell center, and decided I'd do that first. The line was maybe 5 minutes, but growing. I jumped in and before long was face-to-face with this beauty.
Wow. It's big. And again, really cool. And as I was taking all these photos of it, I look out the window behind it, and guess what I see....INDEPENDENCE HALL!...DUH.....
So I head across the square and see the huge line at independence hall, and settle for a few shots of the clock tower and the yard.
Then I went to Starbucks. What? Don't judge!
I left Starbucks and walked back through Independence square and tried to decide where to go in the little time I had left. I had to get back to the hotel, and there were a few sights along the way.. too many in fact. Every other building was the site of something, or the first something, or the home of someone. I took a few photos of some of the buildings, and determined my ultimate destination.
On my maybe 20 minute walk, I came to the following conclusion: I like Philadelphia. But it needs help. Almost every street had a fortune teller or tarot card reader or witch or shaman on it. There were monuments to 'gay founders' everywhere, and there was a real 'coexist' movement in regard to all the different religious and spiritual representations in the city. The city seems lost. Ironically, my destination during this epiphany was Christ Church.
I entered the church and was greeted by a woman who asked "are you on a scavenger hunt?" I told her no, and she said that a number of people had been, but that the church held no clues. I chuckled and told her I was just a tourist. She invited me to have a look around and take pictures if I would like. It's quite a neat little church. There are brass plaques on the pews that were used by the founding fathers.
I stopped in the gift shop and picked up a few small trinkets, thank the woman, and went back to the hotel. I picked up my car, and tried consciously to plan to take the streets which were short and slow and would be easiest on my tires. What my GPS didn't show me was that almost all of the roads I chose were COBBLESTONE and were just horrible to drive over.
While they replaced my tires, I went to the home of the Best Cheesesteak in Philly- Geno's! I had "one-Whiz-wit." A Philly way of saying "one cheesesteak with cheeze whiz and onions." It was messy and great!
I went and picked up my car and hit the highway bound for Selinsgrove.
Now I'm not sure that anyone will ever need a tire repaired or replaced in Philadelphia, but if any of you ever do, please, please, please go to Mid-City Tire & Auto. These guys were awesome. Absolutely the best.
I hit the road and drove as quickly as I could, confident that I saw almost everything that I had hoped to see in Philly. Next stop was the Billings residence is Selinsgrove.
I arrived at the house and quickly met Scott Billings, the organizer of the clinic and my host for the next few days, Scott's Wife, Son, Daughter-in-law (from Stouffville, Ontario!), and daughter. Also there was Jeff Hearron. Jeff is Don Gordon's best friend, and after a short time with him, I could see why. What a great man and great believer. Jeff and Don played together in the Minor Leagues and with the Toronto Blue Jays.
They left as soon as I got there, I changed and rode over with Scott's son and daughter-in-law. We arrived to find nearly 100 kids in the field preparing for the clinic. Scott called them all over to the main area, and gave a prayer and introduced Jeff.
Jeff explained the mission of the clinic- spreading the gospel- and then gave a quick hitting lesson.
We broke off into our groups- Scott and I took a hitting group of 7-9 year olds and had a BLAST!
I was teaching a skill I didn't normally teach to an age group I didn't normally deal with!
After the hitting lesson- soft tossing- Scott shared a quick testimony and scripture reading and one of the children volunteered to pray. It was a beautiful and moving prayer about thanks and opportunity.
We went back to the house and had a great night of fellowship and laughs and making new friends. I was truly happy and blessed to be included in such a great event. I went back to the room they prepared for me, changed, laid down in bed, and CRASHED!
Ok, I lied. Only one entry tonight. I'm too tired and it's 133am. 2 tomorrow- I promise!
Verse for today? Colossians 3:17
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
And please keep praying for my friend's son. Thank you.
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