Salutations, this is Billy Michael. This trip has been so awesome; probably my favorite one yet, over this year I’ve grown close with so many of the guys and girls of this choir and this tour has only brought me closer to them. There have been many fun times this tour, one time in particular was the first time all the seniors got together to brainstorm for crowns for everyone else in the ministry, we were throwing out the most random and craziest names for people and the ridiculous comments people were making up was hilarious. Somehow we were able to finish crowns with good names for everyone but the thought process that went behind them was even more hilarious. Another fun time was at Niagara Falls when Evan Swiatek, Alex Tadevich, and Nick Greene, and I went off the tourist area and into the downtown but because it was so humid I tied my sweatshirt around my waist and just went strolling through the mall looking like a total weirdo. Tour isn’t quite over yet and I’m sure more fun things are about to happen. Whoever is reading this take care.

Word is bond, Billy Michael

Hello friends, fams, and Tour followers,

This is Dan, the Youth Director.  The picture you are looking at took place at roughly 5:15 Wednesday morning.  Four other youth and I got up early to watch the sunrise over a chilly and calm Lake Chaplain.  Though the colors of the dawn air were beautiful, it didn’t take very long to realize two flaws in our plan:  1) It turns out the sun rises on the side of the lake we were residing on (not the side we were looking at…oops) and, more importantly, 2) The sun already rose.  oops again.

Our determination unwavering, we continued with our trek, down the ravine to a small stone peninsula that stretched into our own private bay, the same bay that filled yesterday’s afternoon with brisk shouts and shivering giggles as a few brave souls took a dip in the crystal clear mountain water.  When we reached the peninsula in the cold morning air, some of us sat, and some of us stood, but we all looked around with our hearts.  Though we couldn’t see the already-risen-sun, we could see its effects on the opposite shore.  Orange, faded-red, and yellow illuminated the countenance of the lake’s distant cliffs, and we saw the first signs of morning on this beautiful mountain-scape.  Even the tiny waves lapped up color on to the solid stones at our feet.  It was beautiful, and no one said a word.

Soon enough, awe gave into curiosity, and that child like instinct to play and explore took over as one student began making use of the perfectly formed skipping-stones that lined the lake’s edge, while the other three remained perched on the look-out stone.  The picture above is the scene that played out.  Stillness and movement, awe and action, wonder and motion.   This too was beautiful, to see the different ways our students tackled natures beauty so early in the morning.

This tour has been a wonderful experience so far, with much wonder and much motion.  Whether gently bouncing along in the bus, holding out a note, or holding up a puppet, this trip has played out many scenes that are not too disimilar from the picture above.

Standing before these congregations, in Basilicas and Sanctuaries across our Continent, we have be confronted with a beauty and energy that challenges our comprehension.  Not all of us notice it, and not one of us manages to take it all in, but sitting or standing, singing or puppeteering, in awe or in action, we have all seen with our hearts.  We all take in the beauty that is lapping up at our feet.

Our tour is coming close to its end, and we look forward to coming home, and sharing with you our stories.  In doing so, perhaps we can all take in a little bit more of the beautiful scene at play before our eyes.

Peace and hugs, from all your kids and us,

Dan

Facebook Photo Album: Ministry Tour 2010 – Part 7

Because this is my last tour and I only have a couple days left, I have definitely tried to make this the best tour I’ve been on, and so far it has been amazing. There have been so many times when I have been impacted by something someone has done or said. The Good News Garage was one of those moments; those workers fix up cars to give to people who can’t afford to buy their own. What they do is truly amazing and being able to help them was a great way to serve the community.

So far this tour has had many great moments from funny situations like bus rides to serious times like vespers. But either way, this tour has been a week that I will definitely remember for the rest of my life. I’m so glad I joined choir freshman year because if I didn’t, I wouldn’t have so many opportunities to experience all the adventures I have encountered on my journey through Eagles Wings.