Our Exciting Thursday

Since we were in Charlotte, the plans were made for us to go visit the Billy Graham Library/Museum and Grounds on Thursday.  It was oh, so worth the time we spent there!!  Like one of the workers there said to me, "It is like walking on Holy Ground."

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At the entrance

Our first glimpse

Our group. . . . .

with the sun shining in their eyes :o)

Sign outside the homeplace

This is the home where Billy grew up in.  His dad built the house and it was "rebuilt" the second time when it was moved here on these grounds.

Going to the library/museum

So peaceful and serene

The view when first walking into the library/museum.  There is Scripture on the beams and everywhere imaginable!!

The talking cow ~ Doris :o)  She told the background of the grounds and some history of the Graham Family

This cat was so cute ~ of course, it was fake, but yet it's tail would move and it was moving like it was breathing.

Milk cans, crates & a wagon from the Graham farm

Scene from by the fireplace

Ruth Bell Graham was born in China to Missionary parents.  This represented her and a little of her life's story.

A scene compared to where Billy did radio broadcasts

In this room it showed pictures with all the US Presidents that Billy Graham worked with.  No matter their faith, Billy was always invited to participate with everyone of these Presidents!

This was an Appliance Store front and all the TV's were tuned to a Billy Graham Program where he was either preaching or being interviewed.  Pretty neat!

One of Billy's preaching Bible's

He was over sea's numerous times and that's what this represented.  There were also pictures of when he went over sea's at Christmas and joined Bob Hope with soldiers who were in war!

This was really interesting as it showed and talked about Billy and his son, Franklin, as they preached and did ministry together.

At the end of the tour these big doors opened and this was the scene you saw.  It was absolutely breath taking seeing all of those Crosses that you walked through!!!

And the painting ~ well, there just aren't many words for me to describe it other than beautiful!!  Thomas Kincade was the artist.

When you finish the tour you come into the bookstore called none other than "Ruth's Attic".  How appropriate!  I was talking to one of the men who volunteer there and he was asking me where I was from and I told him Grand Cayman.  He proceeded to tell me that he had talked to someone else already from Cayman and I mentioned that my husband pastored a Church there.  He went on to say that they always like to pray with Pastor's and he asked where Dennis was.  I pointed him out and sure enough he walked up to Dennis and had prayer with him.  How nice of that man!! 

Look at the masses of books in the bookcases at the top of these walls.  They are all from Billy's personal library!!  Wow!!  The statue is supposed to be of the Sower in Luke 8 and compared Billy to sowing the seed of God's Word worldwide!!  How appropriate is that?

This, too, was really neat!

On Monday, November 7th, Billy will be celebrating his 93rd birthday!!  We were asked to sign the birthday banner for him.  I wonder how many of these banner's have already been filled up with signatures?!?!  What an honor to do this for such a Spiritual Giant of our day!!  I asked one of the volunteer's how he is doing physically and he just got over pneumonia.  Other than that he is doing well for his age.

Miss Samm's writing a note on the banner

This was really touching going through the Memorial Prayer Garden!

Doug, Miss Debbie & Dennis

This is where Mrs. Ruth Bell Graham is buried.  Again, what a serene & beautiful place!

This is her grave marker

Please click on the below picture and read.

A view of the back of the Graham home

We were able to go inside and tour the downstairs.  Here are some pictures:

The dining room

Formal living room

Another sitting area

The office

And I just love this old timey kitchen

Another view into the kitchen

Another view of the pretty turning leaves

Slowly walking to the parking lot

When we left the Billy Graham Library/Museum, we went to McDonald's for lunch.  Two of our group were craving their food :o)  No, we don't have McDonald's in Cayman.  Part of our group said "NO" to Mickey Dee's and went on!  We also found out that they have ice cream cones for only $.49.  Oh, were they ever good!!  When we left there we were off to shopping for the rest of the day until we stopped at good old Cracker Barrel for dinner.

Yes, the Staff/Teacher's from Jamaica and Cayman, sure did enjoy their stay in the States and especially all the time they got to spend shopping.  I have to share this yet.  Miss Blake asked us last night on the way back to the hotel, "When you are in the States, do you go shopping everyday?"  Of course, we told her no!  She continued by saying, "If I lived here, I would go in everyday just to say hi to the stores!"  Did we all ever laugh.  But the truth is that she really would!!! :O)