AN UNFORGETTABLE JOURNEY: THE MPA SOPHOMORE CLASS ADVENTURE TO OHIO

On Sunday, we left Pisgah around 9:30 in the morning, excited to begin our trip. Along the way, we made a few stops at gas stations, and the highlight was definitely Buc-ee’s. We stocked up on snacks and grabbed some fun souvenirs. The drive to Ohio was a blast! The boys sang karaoke with Dean Nash, while the girls chatted, sang along to music, and enjoyed

spending time with Ms. S. We arrived at the hotel around 5:00 in the evening and were greeted by our friends from Tri-City Christian Academy (TCA) with hugs and laughter. That night, we all gathered around the fire pit for a special worship session. Later, we practiced acrobatics, played volleyball and basketball, caught up with old friends, and played games with Mr. Klein, our biology teacher. By 10:30, everyone was ready to call it a night.

On Monday, we woke up at 8:00 and enjoyed breakfast before Valerie, our class pastor, led worship. Afterward, we headed to the Cincinnati Zoo, which was incredible. The zoo’s layout was beautiful, and the sunny weather made the animals active and easy to spot. We split into boys’ and girls’ groups to explore. Lunch at the zoo’s restaurant was delicious. Afterward, we treated ourselves to funnel cakes and continued exploring. We saw monkeys, lions, and giraffes. Some of the girls even got to feed the giraffes by hand, which was so cool! Seeing all the animals reminded us of how creative God is in designing each one so uniquely.

After the zoo, we returned to the hotel to get ready for dinner at Olive Garden, which felt like a fancy treat for students. Everyone left stuffed, but we still made room for their signature mint chocolates! Back at the hotel, we relaxed and enjoyed another worship session before winding down for bed at 10:30.

Tuesday started with breakfast and a worship session led by TCA’s class pastor. By 9:00, we were on our way to visit the Ark Encounter. Even from the parking lot, the ark was breathtakingly huge. A shuttle bus took us up to the entrance, and we took a ton of photos with both our class and TCA’s class. Inside, we explored life-sized replicas of animal cages and exhibits depicting Noah, his family, and their daily lives. The second floor showcased the six days of creation through detailed timelines and artwork. Outside, there was a small petting zoo where we got to interact with goats, which were adorable. Many of us also visited the gift shop to pick up souvenirs like keychains, fudge, and hot chocolate. On our way out, Mr. Klein found a mouse in the road, caught it in a cup, and used it to prank us—it was hilarious!

After a lunch break, we headed to the Newport Aquarium. The entrance featured a massive turtle statue, and inside, we saw an amazing variety of fish, from ugly to beautiful, and big to

tiny. The jellyfish exhibit was mesmerizing, and we even got to touch sea urchins and starfish. The highlight was a giant net suspended over a shark pool, which was a little scary at first

but so much fun once we got used to it. For dinner, we went to a Mexican restaurant, where the bean burritos, enchiladas, and quesadillas were the most popular choices. Back at the hotel, we wrapped up the night with worship and some relaxing hangout time before going to bed around 10:30.

Wednesday, our final day, was more relaxed. We got to sleep in, had breakfast at 9:00, and were on the buses with our luggage by 10:00. The ride home was much calmer since everyone was pretty tired. We made a few stops—including Buc-ee’s again—before finally arriving back at Pisgah.

This trip was such an amazing experience. It’s one we’ll never forget, and the sophomore class of 2027 will always treasure these special memories.

—by Natalia Quevedo, Class of 2027