Friday, October 22, 2010

SURPRISE!!!

"Auntie, I see an African Children's Choir bus."

"AUNTIE, I SEE AN AFRICAN CHILDREN'S
CHOIR BUS!!!!!!!!"

I lo
ok and look, but I don't see an African Children's Choir Bus, but wouldn't you know...the children were right. Suddenly, I could hardly contain myself. I looked at Rachel and said, "Rachel, for the truth, was there an African Children's Choir bus??" She looks at me with that little grin and I almost fall off my seat. For the truth, we are meeting Choir 37 and Rachel, Vic, Craig and David had planned this 'little' surprise for us. Now, you may be wondering why this is so wonderful, but let me tell you....meeting up with another choir doesn't happen everyday. AND when it does, it you might not know anyone else on that team. But for Choir 35, this was a reunion of mass proportions. Uncle Vic, Auntie Chelsea, Auntie Jackie and Auntie Laura all live on Village 4 and have carried the hearts of Choir 35 to Choir 37. Not to mention, Stella and Esther, our precious girls that are giving Choir 37 a hand for awhile. We go to park but there is a baseball game going on. Vic starts circling the block as Rachel follows him. I'm practically bouncing out of my seat. In my head, I'm yelling at Vic to hurry up and find a place to park.


Fi
nally, we pull into the lot. I'm out of my seat waiting for Rachel to open the door. I see Chelsea. I can't get off the bus fast enough. I hug her for long minutes, so thankful to have my precious friend in my sights, if only for a brief moment.


Then, off the bus comes Laura. I can't hold myself back. I haven't seen my kindred sp
irit in over a year. This moment was so unexpected. I hug her with all my might. I have no words, just hugs.



Sudde
nly, I remember that there are a whole lot of other people, little people, swirling around us. Hugs from all directions, chaos ensues as Choir 35 meets Choir 37, some of them seeing other children that they went to school with or maybe knew from church. Rogers finds his cousin Bob and his best friend Joshua. He is so excited. Laura and I link arms as the children settle down. "Let's walk", we say. I'm excited to meet her kiddos, but I'm more excited to see her, to talk, to laugh, to catch up. Ah, even as I type, I'm remembering the wonderful feeling it was to have her there.

I can't think of a more beautiful s
urprise. I loved seeing Choir 37's bus, chatting with Vic like we used to, hearing Chelsea's laugh, watching our kids make friends with people who know just what tour is like. I couldn't be more grateful for that hour. It was a lift to my spirit, a smile to hold in my heart. These memories, they won't be forgotten.



Saturday, October 2, 2010

Where does my passion lie?

What do I love? What am I passionate about? These last few days have found me thinking about what it is I want to do when tour ends. I have two months to think about it, but I'm realizing that time passes so quickly. I want to seek God now before I turn into a frantic mess at the end of tour.

I'm taking a passion inventory. I sat myself down to think of what I love the most and where I hope that will take me. I miss conducting more than I ever thought possible. I REALLY hope that in God's plan, there will be something to do with choral music. Is there a way to incorporate conducting into ministry? Should I be looking at teaching internationally? Should I look at getting my masters so that I can teach at a Bible College? Or maybe there will be a ministry that calls me to work with youth but I can conduct on the side? I have no idea - at least not about the specifics. I do know that not conducting this year has been very hard. I really do love it. Not singing this year has also been very hard. I love worship and its role of ministry. However, I don't feel the calling to be a music minister, so I think that is out.

I am passionate about education. You may not know it from the way this year has been going, but I really miss being in the classroom. My one day of teaching the children English made me realize how much I have missed using that skill. I'm guessing that finding a way to incorporate teaching will be much easier than finding a way to incorporate conducting, but if I believe that God knows my passions, then it shouldn't really be an issue.

I am passionate about fulfillment. I don't want to live a life of mediocrity. This year on the road has shown me that God's will creates a sense of fulfillment. If there is one word I rarely use on tour, it is that I'm bored. I'm not bored. Although tour has become routine, I'm not bored in that routine. There is still so much happening and God teaches me so much every day that there isn't time to be bored. I have many dreams that I pray will be fulfilled and I believe that in God's plan for me they will be.

Still so many questions, still very few answers, and yet, I think in God's time, it will happen. He will look down on me and say, "Yes, Stacy. That's what I want. Good job at listening to my voice. This won't be easy, but it will fulfill my purpose in your life."

Seek ye first the kingdom of God
And His righteousness
And all these things will be added unto you
Hallelujah