Our team has completed it's mission. Ultimately all members of the team (except for 5) were back in the U.S. by Thursday night. On Friday the entire team was back in Colorado. YEA! What began two weeks ago as an unknown adventure is now one of the most memorible trips many of us have ever taken or will take in our lives. We are very thankful for the experience.
This is probably the final entry to the blog for this trip. You can continue to access the entries made and make comments for as long as you want. The site will be available indefinitely.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Jerusalem - Our final day
The schedule has been packed with touring and seeing the Holy Land sites. Today included The Pool of Bethesda, St. Anne's Church (named for the mother of the Virgin Mary), The Mount of Olives which overlooks the Kidron Valley and The Golden Gate the place where Jesus will enter the city when he returns and the Garden Tomb another site believed to be the place of crucifixion and burial of Jesus. In the garden we were led in a time of worship followed by the serving of Communion by Pastor Jim Dixon and Pastor Mike Anderson and the CHCC elders on the tour. At the conclusion Pastor Jim gave us a charge to go out and be "salt and light" in the world.
We are very thankful for all the planning and preparation that has gone into making this trip a reality. The Choir Leadership Team is still busy finalizing arrangements for our flights home. We are tired and a bit road weary. Many would say this has been "the trip of a lifetime" and have pushed through because it has been so worth it.
We hope in some small way you have gotten a taste of Israel from following us on this blog. The pictures posted were taken by members of our team on their personal cameras. So the photos are real and untouched. I think I can truthfully say we have each been impacted and probably changed, even in a some small way, by this trip. We have a bond because of our time spent together these past 13 days in the Czech Republic and Israel. It has been a privilege to serve Christ and the people we have met and ministered to during this trip. May we continue to be faithful in our service to him when we return home.
Tomorrow we begin the journey back to Colorado. Right now Plan B is being implemented. We will be on various flights from Tel Aviv to London and then back to the U.S. If everything goes according to this plan we all should make it home Thursday night.
Until then...Shalom Ya'll!
We are very thankful for all the planning and preparation that has gone into making this trip a reality. The Choir Leadership Team is still busy finalizing arrangements for our flights home. We are tired and a bit road weary. Many would say this has been "the trip of a lifetime" and have pushed through because it has been so worth it.
We hope in some small way you have gotten a taste of Israel from following us on this blog. The pictures posted were taken by members of our team on their personal cameras. So the photos are real and untouched. I think I can truthfully say we have each been impacted and probably changed, even in a some small way, by this trip. We have a bond because of our time spent together these past 13 days in the Czech Republic and Israel. It has been a privilege to serve Christ and the people we have met and ministered to during this trip. May we continue to be faithful in our service to him when we return home.
Tomorrow we begin the journey back to Colorado. Right now Plan B is being implemented. We will be on various flights from Tel Aviv to London and then back to the U.S. If everything goes according to this plan we all should make it home Thursday night.
Until then...Shalom Ya'll!
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Jerusalem: The Old City
A visit to Jerusalem means visiting the Old City which is the location for many of the most familiar sites to westerners and probably some of the most photographed sites. It is the location of the the Western Wall (sometimes referred to as the Jewish Wailing Wall), the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock. We were given the opportunity to walk the Via Dolorosa - the path Jesus walked on his way to his crucifixion at Golgotha where the Church of the Holy Sepulcher now stands. For many who come here a trip to the Holy Land is not complete until these sites have been visited.
Our final concert of this trip was for an audience that included a 100 or so members of CHCC on the tour with Jim and Barbara Dixon. This event was also promoted to local residents. We have appreciated the partnership between the local promoter and production team for all the advance work and preparations they handled to make these local concert events possible. It's something we could not have done on our own. We hope that our music and the message conveyed in the songs continue to resonate with the people we've ministered to during our visit here.
Our local tour guides and bus drivers have been fantastic! We have been privileged to have these very skilled and knowledgeable men provide additional context to the history and Biblical references many of us came with on this visit. We have experienced their passion and pride for their homeland. Thank you Doron and Ikey and Amiel Tours Ltd.
We wrap up our time here on Wednesday taking a walk down the Palm Sunday Road to the Garden of Gethsemane. When we arrive at the Upper Room we'll have a time of worship. Together with the Church Tour we will enjoy a time of reflection followed by a communion service led by Pastor Jim Dixon.
It's our final day in Israel. We have seen and experienced a lifetime of memories. This blog will be updated again until we make it back home to Colorado. So please check back.
Our final concert of this trip was for an audience that included a 100 or so members of CHCC on the tour with Jim and Barbara Dixon. This event was also promoted to local residents. We have appreciated the partnership between the local promoter and production team for all the advance work and preparations they handled to make these local concert events possible. It's something we could not have done on our own. We hope that our music and the message conveyed in the songs continue to resonate with the people we've ministered to during our visit here.
Our local tour guides and bus drivers have been fantastic! We have been privileged to have these very skilled and knowledgeable men provide additional context to the history and Biblical references many of us came with on this visit. We have experienced their passion and pride for their homeland. Thank you Doron and Ikey and Amiel Tours Ltd.
We wrap up our time here on Wednesday taking a walk down the Palm Sunday Road to the Garden of Gethsemane. When we arrive at the Upper Room we'll have a time of worship. Together with the Church Tour we will enjoy a time of reflection followed by a communion service led by Pastor Jim Dixon.
It's our final day in Israel. We have seen and experienced a lifetime of memories. This blog will be updated again until we make it back home to Colorado. So please check back.
Monday, June 8, 2009
MISSION: Qumran and The Dead Sea
We continue our journey by bus from the northeast region of Israel heading south along the Jordan Valley to Jerusalem. The landscape change is dramatic: going from an area with lots of vegetation and trees to the hot dry desert. We go from sea level to what is the lowest place on Earth at 1200 feet below sea level when we reach the Dead Sea. Some of our team members took a dip and immediately experienced "floating" in knee-deep water. Due to the high mineral content in the sea you only have to go out a short distance, turn around and sit down to experience this unusual phenomenon. Check out the pictures!
We were also able to visit the site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were first discovered. Finding these ancient writings of the scripture in the original Hebrew is particularly significant not only to archaeologists and historians but also to the Jewish people. The scrolls provide evidence and help authenticate the accuracy of the scriptures which had been translated into Greek and Latin. This is still an active archaeological site and new discoveries are still being made.
We enter the capital city of Jerusalem just before sundown. From the top of Mt. Scopus we have one of the best views of the entire city. Our Israeli tour guide is very proud to bring us to "his capital" and leads us in a traditional blessing and prayer.
We are coming to the conclusion of this amazing journey. Tuesday we continue touring a section of Jerusalem known as the Old City. We will also hold our last concert at a hall located in the Jerusalem YMCA facility. We'll sing for local residents as well as be joined by the folks on the tour with Jim and Barbara Dixon. It should be an exciting time.
The majority of our team is doing just fine. There are a few that are battling with fatigue and minor ailments. We're missing home but we are aware that we are on a mission for the Lord. Pray for our physical endurance and that we finish strong.
Shalom
We were also able to visit the site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were first discovered. Finding these ancient writings of the scripture in the original Hebrew is particularly significant not only to archaeologists and historians but also to the Jewish people. The scrolls provide evidence and help authenticate the accuracy of the scriptures which had been translated into Greek and Latin. This is still an active archaeological site and new discoveries are still being made.
We enter the capital city of Jerusalem just before sundown. From the top of Mt. Scopus we have one of the best views of the entire city. Our Israeli tour guide is very proud to bring us to "his capital" and leads us in a traditional blessing and prayer.
We are coming to the conclusion of this amazing journey. Tuesday we continue touring a section of Jerusalem known as the Old City. We will also hold our last concert at a hall located in the Jerusalem YMCA facility. We'll sing for local residents as well as be joined by the folks on the tour with Jim and Barbara Dixon. It should be an exciting time.
The majority of our team is doing just fine. There are a few that are battling with fatigue and minor ailments. We're missing home but we are aware that we are on a mission for the Lord. Pray for our physical endurance and that we finish strong.
Shalom
Sunday, June 7, 2009
MISSION: Tiberias and Rishon Letzion
We arrived Saturday evening after a day of touring. We visited Caesarea which is a very recent excavation, saw a ancient aqueduct and stood on Mount Carmel where you can view the Jezreel Valley according to the Bible a very significant location - believed to the the place of the final battle before the return of Christ. WOW! The baptismal service held at the Jordan River was a big highlight for many in our team.
Today we continued touring an area around the Sea of Galilee. We sailed onto the sea where our boat and another boat carrying members on the tour with Jim and Barbara Dixon were linked together for a time of worship and a teaching from Jim about the miracles performed by Jesus in this area. What a wonderful experience. The place where Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount.
We presented an evening concert to an audience of about 250 Jewish locals in Rishon Letzion a suburb of Tel Aviv. They were the most responsive crowd yet. They clapped to a lot of the songs and even sang along when asked. We definitely felt God's presence upon us during that concert.
We feel so blessed and privileged to have this opportunity to serve in this way. We will have many more stories to tell than what we're able to convey through this blog. We appreciate our church family, friends and loved ones who have helped make it possible for us to be here.
Thank you.
Today we continued touring an area around the Sea of Galilee. We sailed onto the sea where our boat and another boat carrying members on the tour with Jim and Barbara Dixon were linked together for a time of worship and a teaching from Jim about the miracles performed by Jesus in this area. What a wonderful experience. The place where Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount.
We presented an evening concert to an audience of about 250 Jewish locals in Rishon Letzion a suburb of Tel Aviv. They were the most responsive crowd yet. They clapped to a lot of the songs and even sang along when asked. We definitely felt God's presence upon us during that concert.
We feel so blessed and privileged to have this opportunity to serve in this way. We will have many more stories to tell than what we're able to convey through this blog. We appreciate our church family, friends and loved ones who have helped make it possible for us to be here.
Thank you.
Friday, June 5, 2009
MISSION: Israel
For some in our team today started very early with a flight just after midnight (local time) taking off from Prague to Tel Aviv. Our final team members arrived in here just a few hours before the concert. We were warmly received by the audience of local residents attending the event in one of the largest halls here in Haifa. We are having the time of our lives.
Tomorrow we will take time to tour the northern part of Israel before heading to our next stop in Tiberias. Along the way we will be joined by Cherry Hills pastor Mike Anderson who will conduct a service of baptism at the Jordan River.
Thank you all for your prayers. We can feel them. We are experiencing the presence of the Lord every step along this journey. Check back Saturday for another update.
Tomorrow we will take time to tour the northern part of Israel before heading to our next stop in Tiberias. Along the way we will be joined by Cherry Hills pastor Mike Anderson who will conduct a service of baptism at the Jordan River.
Thank you all for your prayers. We can feel them. We are experiencing the presence of the Lord every step along this journey. Check back Saturday for another update.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
MISSION: Prague
If you get to this part of Europe be sure to visit Prague. It is one of the most beautiful cities in Central Europe - the architecture, the landscape and the history. We were privileged to record a collections of Classic Anthems in The Rudolfinum. This Neo-Renaissance structure was built between 1876-1884 and played an important role in the early development of Czechoslovakia. The building is magnificent inside and out. Today it is home to the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. We spent today recording in the largest concert hall, Dvorak Hall with this renowned orchestra. From the first note they played they were stellar! I can't wait to hear the finished recording..
Our time in the Czech Republic has been amazing. There are so many stories to be told and experiences to relate. If you're following this blog and you are related to someone on this team make sure they tell you their own personal story about Pisek and Prague.
This is our final night here in Prague so members of the team are picking up souvenirs and taking pictures around town. We leave very early for the airport to catch our flight to Tel Aviv, Israel.
Pray for the next leg of our journey. We will arrive in Israel by Friday afternoon (local time). We are scheduled for our first concert in the city of Haifa on Friday evening. Check back tomorrow for the next update.
Our time in the Czech Republic has been amazing. There are so many stories to be told and experiences to relate. If you're following this blog and you are related to someone on this team make sure they tell you their own personal story about Pisek and Prague.
This is our final night here in Prague so members of the team are picking up souvenirs and taking pictures around town. We leave very early for the airport to catch our flight to Tel Aviv, Israel.
Pray for the next leg of our journey. We will arrive in Israel by Friday afternoon (local time). We are scheduled for our first concert in the city of Haifa on Friday evening. Check back tomorrow for the next update.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
MISSION: Community workday #2
Some of our work groups returned to the schools they were in yesterday. Visiting a nearby retirement home was on the agenda for some and the prayer walking group resumed praying over various areas of the city. Still another team went to minister to what the locals call "the undesirables" or what we would call the homeless.
Tonight we had a final meal with Elim Church members. We will also hear about Josiah Venture, a mission to reach young people of Eastern Europe. It has been a very productive and impactful time in the few days we've been here. For some it is very difficult to leave and move on. For now we say goodbye to our new friends and ministry partners in Pisek.
We leave for Prague in the morning. We'll spend the day touring the city and moving into our rooms. We will prepare for the recording scheduled in Dvorak Hall with an orchestra from Prague. Check back tomorrow for more details.
Tonight we had a final meal with Elim Church members. We will also hear about Josiah Venture, a mission to reach young people of Eastern Europe. It has been a very productive and impactful time in the few days we've been here. For some it is very difficult to leave and move on. For now we say goodbye to our new friends and ministry partners in Pisek.
We leave for Prague in the morning. We'll spend the day touring the city and moving into our rooms. We will prepare for the recording scheduled in Dvorak Hall with an orchestra from Prague. Check back tomorrow for more details.
Monday, June 1, 2009
MISSION: Community work
Our group was divided into four work groups dispatched to go to several local schools to teach English. From speaking on various topics, current events and issues of interest to singing catchy songs each team went prepared to interact with students at each school. Another work group went to help a family that needed to move from their current home to a new place. There was also a group that walked and prayed. The Elim Church asked us to pray that they would have opportunities to share the Gospel through English-speaking camps for kids and other programs they are offering to the community. We also prayed for people to have a desire to know Christ.
The concert in the park was great! We did not know how many people would show up. Several dozen stood around during our rehearsal at 4pm. When we returned to sing at 6:30 several hundred were there to hear us sing. Young and old clapped along and applauded enthusiastically after each song. They especially enjoyed the upbeat Gospel songs. There was a testimony about the Christian life from a long-time choir member. Following the concert we talked and visited with people. Many came for the music and we hope they return to Elim Church after we are gone.
Tomorrow is another workday. Check back for a new posting. We appreciate all your comments. Keep them coming!
The concert in the park was great! We did not know how many people would show up. Several dozen stood around during our rehearsal at 4pm. When we returned to sing at 6:30 several hundred were there to hear us sing. Young and old clapped along and applauded enthusiastically after each song. They especially enjoyed the upbeat Gospel songs. There was a testimony about the Christian life from a long-time choir member. Following the concert we talked and visited with people. Many came for the music and we hope they return to Elim Church after we are gone.
Tomorrow is another workday. Check back for a new posting. We appreciate all your comments. Keep them coming!
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Elim Church
What an amazing day! We now have our entire team of 92 in Pisek. We received the warmest of welcomes from the members of Elim Church. We sang together and following the message from the pastor we received Communion. Then we were treated to a potluck meal. The hospitality has been wonderful.
Monday we will begin working in the community. English-speaking camps will start tomorrow. The youth and their parents are very open to learning English which can also be an opportunity to talk about our faith. We learned that in this town of about 30,000 people about 1% (300 people or less) consider themselves to be Christians. There is a lot of opportunity to witness and talk about living for Christ.
A evening concert of Gospel music will be presented in a park here in the city. It is free and open to the public. Please pray that it will be a time for the Lord to move in the hearts of people and that we would lift up the name of the one whose name is above every name - JESUS! We will let you know tomorrow how it turns out.
P.S. Thanks for posting your comments. It is such an encouragement to us to know that many of you are following us via this blog. Keep them coming.
Monday we will begin working in the community. English-speaking camps will start tomorrow. The youth and their parents are very open to learning English which can also be an opportunity to talk about our faith. We learned that in this town of about 30,000 people about 1% (300 people or less) consider themselves to be Christians. There is a lot of opportunity to witness and talk about living for Christ.
A evening concert of Gospel music will be presented in a park here in the city. It is free and open to the public. Please pray that it will be a time for the Lord to move in the hearts of people and that we would lift up the name of the one whose name is above every name - JESUS! We will let you know tomorrow how it turns out.
P.S. Thanks for posting your comments. It is such an encouragement to us to know that many of you are following us via this blog. Keep them coming.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Mission: Pisek, Czech Republic
Welcome to Pisek! We arrived Saturday afternoon (local time) a few hours later than planned. Due to some changes in logistics our team was placed on muliple flights out of Denver with various connecting points (Chicago, Dallas and Los Angeles). It was a little disappointing for us to not all be together but we continue to be enthusiastic and excited.
Thank you for your prayers. We made all our flight connections and so far all our luggage and equipment have arrived. We have felt the presence and peace of the Lord throughout the day.
We're a little tired but gearing up for singing in the morning service at Elim Church. If you happen to attend the 9am or 10:45am service at Cherry Hills you'll be in for a surprise. If everything works and goes as planned we will all experience worship together utilizing some wonderful technology.
We'll check-in with you on Sunday.
Thank you for your prayers. We made all our flight connections and so far all our luggage and equipment have arrived. We have felt the presence and peace of the Lord throughout the day.
We're a little tired but gearing up for singing in the morning service at Elim Church. If you happen to attend the 9am or 10:45am service at Cherry Hills you'll be in for a surprise. If everything works and goes as planned we will all experience worship together utilizing some wonderful technology.
We'll check-in with you on Sunday.
Friday, May 29, 2009
COUNTDOWN: Day of departure
In preparation for this mission we attended a Pre-Field Orientation conducted by the Discover the World Short Term Missions staff at Cherry Hills Church back in February. We did some team building exercises which included various scenarios to help sensitize us to what we may experience in real world situations on the mission field. Differences in language, food, access to certain conveniences would be put to the test. We were given a phrase during this training that was repeated throughout the day: "We make plans and they WILL change." This is not just a cute catchphrase. It's true.
Our group was suppose to leave all together on one flight from Denver and fly non-stop to London. Those plans have changed. We are NOT flying together as one group. We will be on various flights leaving Denver today. If all goes according to plan we will all arrive in London tomorrow morning where we will then board the same plane and fly as one group to Prague.
There's a lot you can pray for: logistics of checking in 93 individuals on 4 different flights in Denver, luggage and other equipment making it on the correct flights for each leg of the trip, flight connections happen the way they should and that we ALL arrive in London tomorrow morning to continue together to Prague. WHEW!!! I'm getting tired just thinking about.
Your prayers on our behalf are valued and appreciated. I am confident that the Lord is in the middle of this and I trust Him. I believe this momentary inconvenience cannot begin to compare to what He has in store for us on this journey.
Check back for another update on Saturday morning.
Our group was suppose to leave all together on one flight from Denver and fly non-stop to London. Those plans have changed. We are NOT flying together as one group. We will be on various flights leaving Denver today. If all goes according to plan we will all arrive in London tomorrow morning where we will then board the same plane and fly as one group to Prague.
There's a lot you can pray for: logistics of checking in 93 individuals on 4 different flights in Denver, luggage and other equipment making it on the correct flights for each leg of the trip, flight connections happen the way they should and that we ALL arrive in London tomorrow morning to continue together to Prague. WHEW!!! I'm getting tired just thinking about.
Your prayers on our behalf are valued and appreciated. I am confident that the Lord is in the middle of this and I trust Him. I believe this momentary inconvenience cannot begin to compare to what He has in store for us on this journey.
Check back for another update on Saturday morning.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
COUNTDOWN: 2 days to go
The excitement is building with the members of The Choir Missions trip. Some choir members are being joined by spouses and others will have the entire family including children. Packing, repacking and deciding what to take and what to leave behind. Our tech team is responsible not only for their own personal luggage but they are also transporting audio and video equipment. The instrumentalists are also taking their instruments. Pray that everything makes it unscathed and that it also clears Customs.
The rehearsal was great! The choir and rhythm section (piano, bass and drums) have been working overtime preparing for this. It's really paying off too. Please pray that everyone continue to be in good health for the journey.
Check back for the next update on Friday when The Choir begins the next leg of this amazing journey.
The rehearsal was great! The choir and rhythm section (piano, bass and drums) have been working overtime preparing for this. It's really paying off too. Please pray that everyone continue to be in good health for the journey.
Check back for the next update on Friday when The Choir begins the next leg of this amazing journey.
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