Of History Fairs and Life Lessons

Friday we embarked on a quest for fame, fortune, and the chance to win title of first or second place in the state history fair competition. My brother and I had entered a documentary on the topic of The Gamma Knife procedure, a very fascinating subject if one would take the time to learn about it. Unfortunately the date of the regional history fair was right before the date of a charity 5k race that my club was hosting to raise money to build a church in Southern Sudan. (www.studentsforsudan.org, check it out) Anyways, we had our minds preoccupied on the race, and therefore could not create the best of documentaries. Sam and I went into the history fair expecting the inevitable, and received no less. Out of five we got fourth, and only 1st, 2nd and 3rd were allowed to move on to the State History Fair. After the race was over, we were contacted and told that by default, we had placed 2nd, and were now going to move on to the state competition. Not unlike the charge of the light brigade, we charged into the valley of death with our project that, only by default, had made it to the State. We worked vigorously, interviewing, writing, reading and studying our subject. We had been cheated of our chance to win once, and would not chance it again. After hours of work, we packed our bags and left for Nashville on Friday. We spent the night at my cousins house, and taught her how to make bombs. The next day we went to the senate building, and waited for our turn to present our documentary. After a few hours we walked in, presented it, answered questions and were out in twenty minutes. We waited for a few more hours until the winners that would go to the next round were announced. We scanned the screen diligently, seeking for our name, but it was nowhere to be found. After all that, we did not place. We were not bothered however, because there is always a reason for what happens. Thats why I have a club that helps the people in Sudan, because I lost a history fair contest, and wanted to tell people about the Christians over there. So even though a loss can mean not going on in a contest, or missing out on something, or not seeing someone again, God can use that as leverage to do something great. Like me being able to have enough time to go back home and attend a birthday party:) The party was fun, and I felt like I was going to throw up more than once. We played a strange version of hockey on a tennis court, where I got a large bruise, and made a kid bleed. After that we went inside and tried to find more food and a place to sleep. I, having the kind of luck I do, wound up sleeping on a small sofa where my legs hung off the end. But I rested very well, and long into the morning, because my friends church starts at 10:30. We ate a breakfast of pancakes, and then I went back to sleep. Then I had to get dressed, did so, and went back to sleep. Eventually we had to leave for church, so reluctantly I rose from my comfortable yet small sofa, and got in the car. And here I am, writing my blog so that you may read it.