US East Coast 2018: Good 'Ol Fashion Southern Hospitality

When Hurricane Florence made landfall in South Carolina, we were forced to take the inland route to get from Florida to North Carolina. We therefore looked at Google Maps, and randomly picked a town to stop for a day. Thomasville was this town, given its location and historicity.

We also chose an Airbnb location for our accommodation, and chanced upon this charming place - Popes Store Museum. (Check out the listing here.) We realised that it is actually the oldest folk art museum in the country, and dedicated to Laura Pope Forester, a folk artist from the 1900s who built more than 200 sculptures to honour great men and women such as World War Two heroes Eisenhower and MacArthur, the first woman senator Mrs W. H. Felton, Revolutionary War heroine Nancy Hart, Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, and many others. The place has an interesting history, and many of the sculptures were destroyed by a previous owner, who in a drunken fury, felt that the sculptures had outlived their usefulness. Thankfully the current owners are in the process of restoring this amazing site; and we were the first visitors who got to stay in the place!

But historicity of the place aside, we got to know the owners, Dan and Michelle Dean, a homeschooling family big on education, training, fostering and Christian ministry. We were so amazed at how our paths crossed, since the family was initially not going to rent out their rooms yet, but chose to do so only to provide lodging for evacuees from Florence.

And the couple's two youngest children, aged 11 and 9, were quick to take our two boys into their care. So the young 'uns went around feeding chickens, goats, a donkey and also playing games such as Twister.

Michelle also invited us to her church, Family Worship Center in Cairo, and we experienced a lovely worship service in a Southern Church. What struck us was the warmth of the church members, many of whom came to talk to us spontaneously, and we really felt this is a close knit community big on good 'ol fashioned family values.

Worship service at Family Worship Center in Cairo. We experienced a deep encounter with God during worship
and learnt much from God's Word during the service.

Cell Group at the Deans'. The lesson was on cultural perspectives and we were glad to share
our views from a Singapore/Asian perspective. Michelle is an amazing teacher
and when she teaches God's Word it is like an arrow that goes straight to the heart!

We grew to love the Deans, sharing many precious conversations with them about education, culture, family, Christian living, fostering, and so many other topics close to our hearts. Indeed our children became good friends with the Dean children, and constantly asked about them even after our departure. And although the time spent with the Deans was just a little over a day, but we almost felt that their place was a "home away from home".

We believe there was a reason why our route was diverted from South Carolina. In Georgia, we found a family who has such a deep love for God. We found a family who has such a strong sense of values and character education. We found a family who has so much in common with us; even though we live more than 10,000 miles apart. We know we will miss the Deans; although we also know that there are some things that distance cannot separate.

Meet the Deans, our dear friends from Cairo, Georgia!

The Previous Page - The Wind Blew Us - Hurricane Florence & Its Impact. Read here.
What's Next? The Little White House. Read here.

From the Beginning - Start reading the record pages of our US East Coast Travel Adventure here.

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