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We meandered our way through the city of Chicago to a residential area where Wrigley Field is located. We were dropped off right under the red marquis of Wrigley Field. After meeting our tour guide, Kyle, we began a tour of the second oldest baseball stadium in the country. In addition to giving us a great deal of information about the history of Wrigley Field, Kyle gave us the opportunity of visiting the press box and seeing the entire field from where the press sits as well as sitting in the Cubs dugout. We also got to go inside the visitors locker room. Kyle told us that no other room in the country, other than perhaps the Oval Office, had hosted more celebrities. Some of the people who had used the visitors locker room include Michael Jordan, the Beatles, Sir Paul McCartney, Harlem Globetrotters and every imaginable baseball player from Babe Ruth to Hank Aaron. We thought of many of you and knew how much you would have enjoyed the tour with us. Maybe next year.

Jackie "Harry Caray" Rampey tried to get Take Me Out to the Ballgame" started, but not many joined in. Jackson Garrett wore his Red Sox jersey through the entire tour, much to the embarrassment of his Chicago Cubs fan dad, David. David told him he had no class if he wore that jersey on the Wrigley Field tour. After taking a group picture down on the field, we sang the national anthem so that we could be sure to tell folks we had sung the national anthem at Wrigley Field in Chicago. The 10% discount card allowed the kids to buy some merchandise at the Cubs store next door.

We ate at Vines, a popular restaurant near the field. They were having at half price special for lunch. One table of our older boys ate enough food for a small army. The guys pooled their lunch allotment and carefully figured how much money they could spend together, tip their waiter, and still come in under budget.

During our lunch break we were able to watch the Clemson Tigers' visit to the White House on Monday. Carol Jo insisted we sing "Tiger Rag," but the group rebelled and we simply watched. Instead, we sang our traditional blessing in the restaurant. I'm not sure the Chicagoans responded like the folks down South.

After lunch we decided to go directly to the Illinois Youth Center where we would sing for the juvenile detention center there. The assistant director, Michael Byrd, spoke to our kids and contrasted the lifestyles of these young men with our own group. These young men ranged in ranged in age from 12 to 19 years old. Many of them have never traveled more than 8 miles from their own neighborhood. Some, in fact, had never even traveled to downtown Chicago, despite the fact of being able to see the skyline from their own homes.

Most of them were involved in gangs in the neighborhoods where they lived. About 1/3 of the audience we sang to last night were there because of substance abuse. Some had even had been charged with murder. He warned us before we sang that some seeds would fall on rocky ground and shallow ground and Satan would be working hard to steal the seed. In talking with our group after the performance, he told about a fight that had broken out five minutes after the boys left. Both boys had actually been in the service before the fight broke out. What he had warned us about Satan's desire to steal the seed had actually come true.

After we left IYC (Illinois Youth Center), we drove downtown so the kids to see Chicago at night. After checking into the hotel, Ella Hennessee began our devotion time by leading us in several songs. Bryan Pickler led our devotion and received a grand ovation at the end of it. Everyone was tired, so they were thrilled with the brevity of Bryan's devotion. It was an inspiring time of worship. The chrysalis cards continue to be a big hit and everyone enjoyed getting a note of encouragement.