I wanted to take a few minutes and update y'all on a few things.
TOUR
First, the roster for who's been selected to participate in the Mexico City, Mexico tour in June, was posted on Friday. I was rather surprised to see that almost everyone who signed up to go, is going! About 315 of us. And the standby list is only 14 people long. So why is this so surprising you may ask? Well, for tours in the past, the number of choir members going has been quite a bit less. I've been told one of the reasons for this is because there's often a logistical problem of trying to fit so many people onto a typical stage (at a typical performance venue). Also, for tours in the past, the standby list has been pages long. I'm thinking that maybe more people have wanted to come on this tour because it's shorter and overall more do-able for many who don't want to use a lot of their vacation time. Perhaps another reason more are being allowed to go is because now that they aren't taking any spouses--which has caused the overall number they're taking to actually be LESS than what it was before. Roommate selections, itineraries, getting passport info and physician sign-off info finalized, etc. will all be a part of the next month or two.
EASTER CONCERT
We found out on Thursday that the Easter Concert for this year has been canceled. I'm personally glad they did that because it was just going to be too much. We've had all of these extra rehearsals to learn ELIJAH and after performing ELIJAH we'd launch right into all of the Easter Concert extra rehearsals, intermingled with General Conference rehearsals. Anyway, the Easter Concert is being replaced by what they're calling "Music & the Spoken Word PLUS". As for what the "plus" means, we haven't been told. But if I had to guess, it would either include some unique music elements or it would just be an extended performance (maybe 45-60 min, rather than the traditional 30). Or maybe both!
ELIJAH
I've mentioned this several times before, but rehearsing ELIJAH has been so difficult for me. My wife helped me realize that maybe all of these lyrics that talk of a very vengeful and wrathful God who loves to punish and destroy are triggering me into confronting into some of the ways I used to view God in my own life. Ways that included Him punishing me for who I am, being disappointed in me for not measuring up, and not caring to compassionately intervene when I feel like I needed Him the most.. On top of that, I just struggle when God is portrayed in those ways. Such a god cannot be the God I worship. At any rate, I almost broke out in tears during rehearsal as it was just too much to handle. Not sure how I'm going to get through the next few weeks.
COLLIN
Today we gave a standing ovation to Collin Jefferies who has served on the stage crew for many, many years and is finally ending his service. What makes Collin so special in my mind is that he falls into a select category of people who, despite their limitations or disabilities, goes forth in faith and serves and makes a difference. Collin can't use too much of his right hand, AND YET he's just as valuable as the rest of the crew that does all of the various manual labor tasks (setting up chairs, tables, stands, microphones, etc. etc). It's been a weekly inspiration to watch him and he will be missed.
Make it a good week everyone!
Until next time, God be with you.
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