As they often say in show business, "It's a wrap!"
The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square has finished their week long tour in Mexico City--and the Choir Presidency has concluded that our mission objectives were achieved. I almost feel silly trying to add my two bits about the tour because SO MUCH has already been published about it. If you're a fan of the Choir (which I assume you are), then you've surely watched or read all about the tour already. (See HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE if you want a refresher)
Because of the extensive media coverage, I won't be providing a play-by-play of the tour, or even an overview of it since you can get that information elsewhere. What I do want to provide is some of my personal thoughts about it and maybe share an experience or two that you won't likely read about anywhere else.
First, my personal thoughts:
I had a lot of excitement going into this tour experience. I knew that the concerts themselves were going to truly help bring peace, light, and hope to the Mexican people--and I was excited to lend my particular voice and testimony to the collective voices of the Choir and Orchestra to make that happen. I was also excited to spend time with other choir members; I was excited to have Wes as my roommate; I was excited to see a different people and culture; and I was excited for what I'd learn.
Along with excitements though, I had a lot of fears too. I was afraid my emotional energy would fail; I was afraid I'd be put in situations where I'd have to pick between spending time with person A or person B (and then letting down whoever I didn't pick); I was afraid the food wouldn't sit well with my sensitive stomach; I was afraid that I wouldn't a good enough roommate; I was afraid that I'd get too "peopled-out" (being the introvert I am); and I was afraid that, looking ahead, I'd have a really hard time coming back to my current life situation.
Thankfully the excitements were enough to help offset the fears. And though many of the fears did come to pass in one degree or another, God was there for me. Which made all the difference.
Two experiences....
#1: As choir and orchestra and staff members began to get sick (and there were many of them), there were suddenly a lot of ministering opportunities to be had. Whether it was giving priesthood blessings, making runs to the nearby convenience store to get Gatorade, foregoing scheduled sight-seeing events just to be there for the ill, or even simply giving words and hugs of encouragement, I (along with many, many others of course) found joy in trying to help. I must admit though, that when I tried putting myself in the shoes of the sick, I wondered what my emotional/spiritual response would have been. I kept thinking "Are those who are sick and in pain wondering why they even came on tour? Are they a bit frustrated with God that their preparations and faith seemingly weren't "enough" to allow them to do what they came to Mexico City to do? Do they wish they never came? How are they making sense of it all?" It was hard, emotionally, to think about the potential complexities.
So I took the opportunity to ask one of my good friends what he was thinking about it all (he had gotten sick fairly early on and had to miss the first concert in Tuluca). And he said something I found to be really insightful. He said that he looked at this unanticipated turn of events as simply a "mission transfer". In other words, at first his mission was to come to Mexico and sing at the concerts--including this first one in Toluca. But for that particular day, his mission had simply changed. And while he didn't know yet what that change would entail, he was eager to find out.
I just sat there in awe. Dumbfounded, really.
What an awesome perspective!
(I know for certain that would not have been my response.)
#2: While waiting behind stage to eventually go onto the stage, I had been contemplating the day and lamenting some things I had done earlier. I was also beginning to doubt a blessing my dad had given me before the tour about staying healthy. “Why would God want to sustain that blessing given my weak faith and all the mistakes I make?” Not a second after I thought that though, a voice came into my head that still chokes me up as I sit here and think about it. It said “Ryan, it doesn’t matter what you’ve done or who you are. I love you. And don’t forget it!” The voice was so distinct and so clear that it took me by surprise. As I walked on stage and began to sing songs centered on the tour's theme of HOPE, I'd like to think that my contribution to those listening was hearing a renewed conviction of God's love for all of Their children. After all, hope is felt more powerfully and definitively when it's coupled with a knowledge that you are loved.
Before ending, I wanted to include a few quick gratitude shout-outs and also post a few pics I took on tour. I'm thankful for all the many, many people who worked behind the scenes to make tour happen. Thankful for the Mexican audiences that are truly the BEST audiences (the love that came from them was simply stunning). Thankful for Ron Gunnell giving us a fascinating fireside on the process of securing guest artists for our Christmas concerts. Thankful I got to see some beautiful cathedrals, the pyramids at Teotihuacan, and various local landmarks. Thankful for the fun time and conversations I had with friends--including a last-minute adventure with my roommate to find a churro, haha. And I'm thankful for the various individuals who ministered to me and my needs in the very moment I needed them to (you know who you are).
Ah--and one more thing. You are all invited to attend (or tune into) the Summer Concert that we'll be putting on mid-July. The wonderful, spirited Adassa will be joining us and we'll be sharing a lot of music we sang on tour. You won't want to miss it!
Until next time, God be with you.
Checking out the sites not far from our hotel 
Right after our concert in Toluca. Waiting for the buses! 
Wes and I waiting for the elevator from the 15th floor 
A shot of my friend Jason at the Toluca Botanical Gardens 
Enjoying the beautiful gardens 
Had to get a pic of my friend Sean Taylor (who I swear looks like Goose from Top Gun!) 
Evan, Mike, Ben, Jeremy, and I headed to see a cathedral 
Huge, beautiful, and ornate cathedral in Zocalo 
My view in the Toluca Cathedral where we performed 
The three amigos 
Having lunch before seeing the pyramids 
Great time hearing this mariachi band 
Wes and I at the Teotihuacan pyramids 
The Auditorio Nacional advertising our concert! 
View of us singing at Sat night's concert 
Looking out at the audience who turned on their phone lights 
Lunch on Sunday (a view looking down at everyone eating) 
Another view of our concert 
Patrick and I riding back to the hotel after our last performance 
Wes wanted so badly to find a churro...And we did! 
Wes, Matt, and I at the Cathedral in Toluca
