Day 9, Crystal's Blog

Hello, I’m Crystal Baldwin. I will be covering Mae’s relay blog in her absence until Wednesday. I look forward to sharing updates about the relay as well as my own thoughts and reflections along this journey!

I am happy to report that today at our chapter meeting in Nashville, TN there were about 20 alumni present! This is an amazing number, considering that the Chapter has not been active for several years! The Chapter was held at Martha’s at the Plantation. The restaurant opened its doors to us to dine after hours simply because we mentioned Berea College! Ok, it wasn’t that easy! As it turns out, the owner of the restaurant is great-granddaughter to Berea’s President Frost! They served a delicious meal of chicken croquettes, green beans, and a salad. I wasn't paid to say that it was delicious either! Vice President Bill Laramee shared updates on the College’s latest happenings. The alumni group included Berea College Trustee Hal Moses, Dr. Sarah Sell, Ken Roberts, Randall and Sarah Reynolds, Tom Lawson, and many more!

The Chapter meeting was definitely a highlight as a relay roadstop. The morning jaunt of the relay was to include a proclamation delivery to the city of Gallatin in the presence of the Mayor, and the fire and police departments. Additionally, two alumni, Ken Roberts and Glen Lawson were to participate in the stretch. However, due to tornados, 8 reported deaths, disaster and devastation that occurred in Gallatin, TN, we cancelled that portion of the relay. All participants of the Berea College relay are fine and our relay was not affected by the weather. We are thankful for that and we thank everyone for their prayers in wishing our relay well. If we had planned for our relay to be in Gallatin, TN only a few days earlier, we would have been in the midst of the wreckage. I feel fortunate that we were not. I am certain that much had to do with all your prayers.

Please, continue to pray for the families in that area of Tennessee and all the areas in the country that have had natural disaster. Thank you.

Signing off from Nashville, TN.
-Crystal