Recently 29 youth and parents from Dexter’s First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) travelled to Pigeon Forge, Tenn., for a summer adventure. The crew left Dexter June 5.

“Over the years the CYF (Christian Youth Fellowship) had many lock-ins and campouts,” but youth leader Tim Holder said this trip was the longest and biggest journey under his leadership.

Two carloads with Holder and his wife Kaye and daughters Kristin and Kelsey, as well as Greg, Kara and Ian Lummukka, Bethany Christian and Erika Cobb left a day before the main group to settle in at Pigeon Forge. According to Holder the group rented two cabins for their week. The cabins were rustic homes, nestled back in a valley less than a mile from the hustle and bustle of Pigeon Forge.

“On Monday the rest of the 20 young people, parents and chaperons left Dexter. Upon arrival the entire group headed to a show at the Comedy Barn – a great family-oriented show with slapstick humor, a ventriloquist, juggler, a trained dog act using rescued shelter dogs, Gospel music and the kids’ favorite, comedian Eric Lambert.” Holder said.

Holder said the Dexter group yelled loud enough that comedian Lambert called Holder to the stage during the act. Holder said video has been posted on the group’s Facebook.

“On Tuesday morning we went to the NASCAR Speed Park where we spent most of the day riding go-carts, climbing on a rock-climbing wall and riding other amusement rides,” he said. That evening the group went to Dixie Stampede.

“You eat everything with your fingers – except Mary Kate Miller, who brought her own silverware in because she knew it was provided at Dixie Stampede,” Holder said.

On Wednesday the group divided, with some going to Scenic Helicopter Tours and some taking in the sun by the pool. That afternoon they all went to Wonder Works, a an “amusement park for the mind” combining education and entertainment in over 100 hands-on exhibits that spark the imagination and challenge the mind.

Dollywood was the destination on Thursday and that evening the youth and adults headed to Great Smoke Mountains National Park for a drive around Cades Cove – an 11 miles drive through the park.

“On the drive we saw more turkeys than I have ever seen there before and I didn’t even count how many deer we saw, including a lot of bucks in velvet,” Holder said. “While on this drive I never heard one person complain that they would rather be playing a video game!”

Holder said that a steady. Light rain was falling on their drive to Cades Cove, but as soon as the group reached the drive the rain stopped.

“God set the stage for a beautiful drive,” Holder said. Each evening the group would gather together for devotional and prayer. “I asked the youth and parents to text me what was the most memorable and almost everyone said the spending time together, doing the lessons and bonding with an extended family was important,” he said. The group returned to Dexter on Friday of that week, and on Sunday, June 26 they led worship for the church family. Those attending included Greg, Kara and baby Ian Lummukka, Bethany Christian, Erika Cobb, Barry, Kim and Jacob Crumley, Tori Buck, Melissa and Julia Hahn, Candy and Mary Kate Miller, Laura and JT Putnam, Valley Reynolds, Cheryl Christian, Kendall Adams, Jordan Dodson, Andrew Garner, Noah Kronk, Addie Kruse, Drake Mitchell, Delany Pullen, and Tanner Rickman.