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Singles Breakaway to Swingin'
London *Click here to see the pictures* As I made my way down the halls of Philadelphia International Airport last month looking for Gate 21, I didn't quite know what to expect from this Singles Breakaway trip that I had signed up for a few months before. I was accompanied by two of my friends from Nashville, and none of us had ever really gone to a UPC event specifically designed for "singles." I am averse to being labeled a "singleton," so I have pretty much steered clear of the “singles only” scene (i.e. singles banquets, singles retreats, and singles conferences). Not surprisingly, then, when I heard about the Singles Breakaway trip being sponsored by the General Sunday School Division of the United Pentecostal Church, I was a bit reluctant to investigate. But with the prompting of some friends and because the trip destination, London, was so appealing, I decided to plan my vacation accordingly and set sail with the handful of people that would probably pony up enough cash to spend the week of May 20–26, 2003 in London, England. So having prepaid for my slot in this vacation excursion, I was anxious to see with whom I would be spending the next six days. Would there be a dozen, twenty, thirty? Would they all be older than me? Younger than me? As I neared the gate and saw the host of people waiting for our departure flight, I realized that this event was much bigger than I had originally thought. There were Pentecostals everywhere (over 100 in all) from California to New York, of all different ages. I immediately knew that the UPC had a hit on their hands with this innovative thinking for the Singles ministry. Kudos to Bro. Gary Erickson, the national UPC Sunday School Director, and his very capable staff for doing a fantastic job of planning and making this trip a reality. For a tour group of this size, the trip hit surprisingly few snags. “It was as near perfect a vacation as a tour group could have” was the observation of Phyllis Welcher from St. Louis. London was an awe-inspiring place to visit. We made the most of our time there, taking in all the touristy sites we could squeeze in—the Tower Bridge, Windsor Castle, Buckingham Palace, the British Museum, the London Eye, Westminster Abbey, a cruise down the Thames, Big Ben, the Crown Jewels. In addition to planning group activities, the trip planners had the foresight to include a lot of free time so that we could explore London on our own. And with our Underground passes in hand, we were able to go just about anywhere we wanted in this very picturesque and historical city. Some elected to take day tours outside the city, to places such as Oxford, Stonehenge, Stratford, and Bath. It was cool to meet in the hotel lobby at the end of the day to hear what other groups had seen or done. Of course, as some were coming in for the day, others were just leaving to catch a play, eat a nice dinner, or just roam around on the “tube” until the wee hours. On the very long flight back home, everyone was buzzing with his or her favorite stories from the trip. Brittney Mernick of Peoria, IL, related a few of her favorite moments: “Being held hostage on a bus in the ghetto by an overly friendly bus attendant; the two guys we met at Wagamama (a noodle restaurant) who entertained us with their Tony Blair impressions; the makeshift dressing room in the outdoor market created from a large pet cage and a blue tarp; and navigating the city from the Underground.” The trip was designed to be nothing more than a time of fun, fellowship, and sightseeing. And that struck a very positive chord with many of us who went. Many of the vacationers are heavily involved in some type of ministry in their local churches. This trip was a nice respite. How nice it was for someone to recognize the need for a time of leisure and relaxation for those of us who might not have children or spouses with whom to enjoy a vacation. Tori Jefferson from Atlanta, said that “the relaxed yet positive atmosphere of the trip was wonderful. And contrary to the horrible stigma associated with singles events, there were no expectations to 'meet' someone in particular, only to establish new friendships.” Indeed the friendships gained on the trip were as memorable as Big Ben or St. Paul's Cathedral. Susan Justice of Jacksonville, FL, stated it simply when she said, “Not only did I have a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but I also gained friends that will last a lifetime.” It is my understanding that the Sunday School Division is planning another Singles Breakaway trip for 2005. If this year's trip was any kind of bellwether, the 2005 excursion should be a huge success—provided I'm still single, of course!
ninetyandnine.com © 2003, Phillip Hampton --------- Phillip Hampton is an Executive Editor of ninetyandnine.com. |
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