After another solid night of sleep in our hotel just outside of Cincinnati, in Kentucky, we started our day. Considering I made a bed out of extra pillows that we had on the floor, I slept really well. Those pillows turned out to be quite comfortable. It was great not having our first interview until 10:00, rather than 9:00, too... that extra hour of sleep makes such a huge difference!
SO we got our room cleared out and cleaned up, packed the back back up, and we were on our way to the Cincinnati Union Bethel to interview Mary Carol Melton. Once again, another program that was very exciting to hear about. She started "Off the Streets", which is a program focused on getting women stuck in prostitution off the streets of Cincinnati. The really cool thing is that the staff are all women who had previously been stuck in prostitution themselves and have since recovered from their trauma. I think that opens up such a huge door of comfort for the women they bring into the program. We actually had the opportunity to interview one the staff ladies out of the blue; Mary Carol thought of the idea and called her in. This lady, my goodness... She told us that after being on the streets for 14 years, she has now been off of them for 17 years. The craziest part was when she told us her age. I wouldn't have put her a day over 40, but she actually turned 60 today. Happy birthday Carol! But really, I don't understand how she looked so young, especially after the life she had endured. So powerful.
After the interviews, we got to spend some time hanging out taking pictures downtown. The first thing we did was go find somewhere to eat. By suggestion of Mary Carol, we ended up at this place called Skyline Chili. What an awesome place! All of the staff must have known it was our first time because it seemed like every one of them came over to greet us at our table at one time or another during our meal. Everybody was so nice, the food was awesome, Andrew got a bib, and they even gave us goody bags before we left. Really, what restaurant gives their first time customers goody bags?? So cool! I definitely recommend it to anyone visiting downtown Cincinnati. Then we decided to be creative and take about 500 pictures downtown between Luke and Andrew. Those boys really like water. I will say that the pictures did come out really sweet.
We left downtown to head to interview Noel Bouche, Vice President of Pure Hope. Pure Hope is an organization that brings Christian solutions to a sexualized culture. I really, really like what they do. I knew Noel's interview was going to be good when Luke told us that he asked to do it at his home. We arrived to his place, an we were instantly welcomed in. What an amazing God seeking, justice seeking family. We probably sat and just talked for an hour before we even started the interview. And then we got to just talk even more after the interview. Noel and his wife, Vanessa, are just so encouraging. It is so obvious that God is moving through them in huge ways, and they love to share that with others. It was just so encouraging to talk with them about how God is moving in this journey with us because we don't often get those chances other interviewees. And Noel reminded us another important thing, noting down the blessings God has provided as we journal through our experience. I honestly don't know if I can keep track of them all from amazing hosts to free meals. This entire trip has been an incredible blessing on its own.But like I said, we are now in Louisville catching a little break before we move on to DC and continue this journey. I'm looking forward to this rest more than I would have ever imagined coming into this trip. We didn't know we would need it, But God has surely provided it.
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