Visit Daily for updates in the words of the Choir Members

Yes, that was Jack you saw in the last couple of day's worth of pictures. We had been planning in secret for him   to fly out and spend a couple of days with the choir. He really surprised the kids, (and adults) when he showed up at the Thursday night concert at Grace Methodist in Charleston. He joined us for worship each evening and spent the day with us as we worked at the food bank and toured Ft Sumter and the Yorktown.

You might have noticed, even Rick got in on the act. Normally when we do our sightseeing and other activities I encourage Rick to rest. After all, he is responsible for getting us there safely. But, like I said in the parent meeting, this man is special. He insisted on working with us at the food bank, and spent the day on the beach with us. As usual he has really looked after all of us very well.

One of the retirement centers in Charleston offered us a love offering following our performance. Because we sing for the Glory of God, w reluctantly accepted it, with the stipulation that we were going to donate the funds to someone that could use them. We passed the contribution onto the  Low Country Foodbank in the name of Testament and Sandpiper retirement and Convalescent Center.

We are all pretty tired, but are still having fun and glorifying God in Song. Tonight's concert was a little different, as you can see in the pictures. We ran into a traffic snarl east of Atlanta, that delayed us by almost an hour and a half. So we rushed to the college, ate dinner and promptly got turned around looking for the retirement center. (Why would any city name all of their streets with numbers going both directions and include diagonal streets as well that are numeric?) We were able to find the place with the help of my trusty GPS hiker. But we were very late. the residents said we don't care what you look like. We just want to hear you, so we sang in our bus clothes.

We head to Shreveport tomorrow morning and then home Sunday. Everyone is really looking forward to being home. Can't wait to see you.  - ROGER

7-19-07

Today was a very eventful day. It started out with us going to the food bank to sort things from a CVS. Next we went to Patriots Point and took the ferry to Fort Sumter. It was exciting to be standing on the island where the Civil War started! Then we came back and walked on the USS Yorktown. It was so big and if the paths hadn’t been there to show us the way we might have gotten lost. Finally, we went to see the Riverdogs, a single a ball team that feeds into the Yankees. They won 10 to 0! In all the day might have seemed boring to most of us now, but in a few years we will look back and appreciate it.   - Reid Hamberlin         

Much to most of the choir’s dismay, we had to wake up very early this morning, due to the long day ahead of us.  WE went to the food bank where we sorted food and other items that had been donated to them because they were damaged or a surplus.  It was very interesting the range of things that turned up in the boxes.  We sorted everything from pill crushers to spaghetti, and pop tarts to what I am pretty sure were a diabetes thing.  The food bank was an un-air-conditioned warehouse and we were all dying, until just as everything wrapped up, one group informed the rest of us that there was a fridge full of Gatorade that we could have! We sang for the people there, and they all seemed to really like it, even with our trashcan drum! After that we headed out to Patriot’s Point and Fort Sumter, were countless pictures were taken of us pretending to shoot, and/or get shot by old cannons.  By then, everybody was dragging and our memory cards were getting full, but we still mustered up the energy to appear somewhat interested in one of the most important boats of WWII, the U.S.S. Yorktown.  The Riverdogs game that followed, courtesy of Grace United Methodist Church, was eventful, despite the win of 10-nil.  We were easily the most enthusiastic crowd. Unfortunately one section cannot do the wave by themselves. The bus ride back was quiet and worship was good, but short.  The day closed, and opened, with a bang and it was very much enjoyable.  - Megan Brown

Hello
This is Alex Henkel writing on behalf of my brother, Danny Henkel, and myself. We decided that, because we are twins, our words might be the same, so I took the honor of typing for both of us.
Choir Tour is great. We went to the beach today, which was fun, but (sorry mom and dad) I got sunburned because I am defiant to my own good reasoning. I told myself “no, Alex, it’s just the sun….it can’t burn you.” People, I am telling you now that YES indeed the sun CAN and WILL burn you over an extended amount of time without sun block. Danny kinda got burnt, but not really. Leading worship nightly is fun and I am really enjoying the atmosphere this year.
Though I am somewhat defiant to good reasoning, nothing sharp and pointy has been thrown at any walls this year. And it WILL NOT happen, again. I promise mom and dad.

-Alex & Danny (sort of, Danny really didn’t have ANY input on this whatsoever. I am obviously the better twin because of it.)
 

7-17-07

WOW! I’ve really had a blast on Choir Tour this year. Today we had two concerts, and they were my favorite ones. All of the people were so sweet! One lady I remember was so caring and whenever she hugged me I didn’t want to let go! Everything has been really fun, and I look forward to the rest! Love ya nana, mom, dad, Jackson, and Ann Taylor! -  Caroline E. 

This mission trip has been a fabulous experience; we have touched so many lives and open people’s eyes! We’ve also been white water rafting that was amazing! We also went to Harry Potter movie that was so good!!!! I miss you mom, dad, nanny, and kitties!!! I love you lots!!!!! - Hannah 

I have had loads of fun on this amazing choir tour.  Today we sang at two different retirement homes, where we met a lot of interesting people.  For lunch we ate at Bessinger’s BBQ where we had some different kind of BBQ.  We then came back to our rooms and changed, then we saw the new Harry Potter movie at the IMAX.  That was a big screen.  Choir Tour has been a lot of fun and I want to thank everyone who has helped put it on. - Sam Emmerson 

The trip has been fun so far.  We ate at a place called Bessinger’s, it was good BBQ.  We sang at two retirement homes today. The people were nice and gave us cookies and juice.  We got a donation from them for $50. We are going to donate it to the food bank. We saw the new Harry Potter and it was great!  It was at the IMAX and had a big screen and one part of the movie was in 3D.  I have been having so much fun and would like to thank all the people that made a donation to the church to make this Choir Tour possible. - Jacob Weber

Morning in Junaluska was gorgeous; fog rolling across the lake as the geese and ducks chuckled lightly as the sun came up. Breakfast was very filling, and we were off. The trip to Charleston was uneventful, other than Greg's penchant for wearing those silly underwear on his head. ( you will have to ask Jack about that). Our dorm rooms are great, we all have a small lounge area in our suites, much more room than at Junaluska.

The performances so far have been outstanding. you can see just what kind of impact these kids have in the e-mail I posted last night from Jackson MS. Sunday worship was unbelievable. the acoustics in the sanctuary, though poor for a sermon were excellent for music, and these kids made the place swell with song. Many in the congregation commented on the beauty of the work your kids are doing.

Tonight's performance in Charleston is no exception. In the 4 performances so far, the sound continues to develop beautifully. They are having fun singing and you can see they understand what it is they are singing about in their faces.  Tonight one woman insisted that he Activities Director chase me down to tell me that the kids had "lit her soul" with their music.

We rounded out he evening with worship at 10:00. Just a normal worship, a few songs, some announcements, and a student led message. Only tonight. in a fitting fashion since everything today had been going so well, I witnessed the best student led devotional I have ever seen in the 10 years of my involvement with FUMC Student Ministries.

Callie Cunningham led us in the devotional, and spoke on the lyrics of one of the songs they are performing, "Voice of Truth". She truly understood the message of the song, and conveyed that to the group in terms that they could all understand. Her choice of scripture, her examples and her presentation were awesome. I for one was moved to tears I was so wowed by her.

What an ending for a great day.

Two concerts tomorrow, BBQ form Bessinger's and then Harry Potter! Stay tuned. And keep those e-mails coming.  - Roger

 I have had a blast in this trip so far, this is my first choir tour and I am having an amazing time here; meeting new people and friends! I hear so much that our songs touch a lot of people!!!! Well just for 3 days already and I have had so much fun on this trip and a lot of great experience!!!    - Marilyn Carey

So far the trip has been a great experience.  The first day we sang for a nursing home.  We were able to speak with the residents.  Today we sang in a church with excellent acoustics.  Afterwards we went white water rafting.  The Smokey Mountains are beautiful.  We’ve all had a wonderful time.     -William Sovic

The note below was received from the daughter of one of the residents of the retirement center we sang for on Friday Night.

Hello "Testament"....... 

My mother is a resident of the Chateau Ridgeland Retirement Home located in Ridgeland, MS. I visit with her every Saturday and have been doing so for the past 13 yrs that she has lived there. When I saw her this past Saturday, which was July 14th, all she could talk about was the bus-load full of young people who came to sing to them on Friday (7/13).  My mother has never been as excited about a singing group before!! 

She loved your 2007 concert and mission tour program!!!  She told me that the young people were very talented and you could tell that they all loved the Lord. Her favorite song was the last one on your program "Go Light Your World". Apparently several of the Chateau residents got teary-eyed during that particular song. 

I have a feeling that "Testament" will not only touch my mother's life.....but everyone else who will be fortunate enough to come in contact with your special group during their week of touring. 

My mother and I are Methodist and we are very familiar with Methodist youth "going on choir tours" during the summer time.  There were many summers that I did the same thing that your group is doing and I still (at the age of 55) have very fond memories of my Alta Woods United Methodist Church choir trips. 

We pray that God will richly bless each and every person involved with your 2007 concert and mission tour.

 Happy Homecoming!! 

Mitzi Braswell Jones and Mac Braswell (Chateau Ridgeland)