Day 5---Recap

Well we've started day 6 but i realized that I didn't blog about our amazimg day yesterday.

The beginning of the day started with tributes, announcing section leaders for/next year (Which I am one again,) and then loading buses for Tulsa. We got to Tulsa early and checked into our hotel which is B-E-A-UTIFUL. Reid and I shared a room with each of us having a double bed.

We then rehearsed in the beautiful hall we were singing in. Choir did a nice job of being professional, way proud! Then came dinner which was okay, lasagna (3rd time.) Got into my first bit of drama but its typical considering who its from.

The concert was great. We did a short set because we shared the stage with Simon Estes and Denyce Graves, what an honor.

After the concert the people that paid for everything treated us to an amazing reception at a Mexican Bar. So fun to see the choir enjoy the night.

We're now on Day 6 and have a free day. Tie shopping here I come. :-)

* Picture of Kate and I en el autobus.

Alec



Location : North Campbell No. 1, MO,

Day 4---Kansas City

We made it through day 4. As you may have seen on the earlier posts during today we've had an odd day. We made some extra stops but had lots of fun. Really bonded with Courtney Westling, Alison Nicoll, and Scott Ehlinger.

After our odd trip we made it to Atonement Lutheran Church in KC. What a beautiful church! It brought back fond memories of singing there with Festeburg a year prior. We then rehearsed for way too long, ate some lasagna (2nd time), and then preped for the concert. Andrew gave an emotional prayer that started an emotional concert.

We sang beautifully tonight and this concert brought us closer together. We all sang tonight for Paul Cunard, Andrew, and his family.

As for the personal junk, I still have a lot on my mind, too much. That is why I keep busy at Wartburg, to avoid that personal junk. ;-) But honestly I just need to let things leave my mind and focus on the remainder of tour. Time to focus on having fun and working with the choir!

*Picture of Atonement Lutheran Church in KC

Alec

Location : Center, MO,

Day 4---Target Run Picture #2

Oh hey Carlson!

Location : St Joseph, MO 64503,

Day 4---Target Run

So while some certain people went to Olive Garden some of us went to Target to try on hats. :-)

Location : St Joseph, MO,

Day 4---En Route

We had an incident and needed to stop and wait for a dress and found the Nutcracker!

Location : 4582-4610 Nebraska 2, Dunbar, NE 68346,

Day 3---Lincoln, NE

What a great day today. (Choir Joke)

We woke up this morning bright and early to get to the church to sing at thier 845 traditional service. This is the service i earlier elluded to that was taking place at the same time as their contemporary service, it saddened me. As Kate summed up it was 2 churches under one roof. :-(

After worship we loaded up for Lincoln. It was a nice bus ride that i napped on, ate lunch and spent some great time talking with Kenton. We arrived at the church and set up. It was a beautiful space that was set up for centemporary worship but fit us well. It was a tough place to sing in but overall the choir did well. Its about that time tho when people start having problems with each other.

Reid and I met our hosts after the concert and they are amazing. This has been undoubtably one of the better homestays ive had. We had amazing conversation and I have a beautiful room all to myself again.

I can't lie though I've been fighting something today. Its a compilation of lots of stuff going on in my head that is driving me insane. I don't know.

* Picture of the Basement Reid and I are staying at.

"When I Want to Sing Give Me Jesus"

Alec

Location : 8912 Sandhills Ct, Lincoln, NE 68526,

Day 2---Sioux Falls, SD

Whew! What a draining but great day 2. Our day started with tributes galore followed by some quality football in the church parking lot. (Game Off, Game On) Then came the bus ride that was quite plesently entertaining thanks to Mean Girls. Haha! Then lunch, more tributes and then the church.

We arrived to a panicked Dr. Nelson who had found the contemporary worship space instead of the traditional sanctuary (yes they seperate them) we fixed the issue then rehearsed, ate, and chilled. For our preconcert time Kate sang her amazing version of TicToc for Dr. Nelson and cracked the choir up, then Murray gave a moving devo. Then we sang one of our best concerts thus far.

We met up with homestays, this time we're with Sid. Nice guy, nice hous, and i have my own room, what more can I ask for?

Just about bed time, but one of the things that got to me today was the issue of conetemporary vs. traditional worship. Why would anyone not only split services but split spaces, something has gone wrong. Not only this church, but the corporate church has wronged in sperating music styles. Its all music and its all for God. (More to come....Bed time!)

Alec

*Picture of piano at my homestay!

Location : 2401-2499 E 52nd St, Sioux Falls, SD 57103,

Day 2---En Route

So we get a bit tired on tour! Ahaha!

Location : Address not available

Recap of Day 1---Mason City

Good Morning Sun.

Well day one is done. Yesterday we took off for our week-long miidwest tour this year. It is amazing to me that this is my third tour with this choir.

We loaded up the music, programs, cds, luggage, and people and headed for our first stop, Mason City. The church was amazing, though the accoustics were bad the church was beautiful. We rehearsed and then started the tedious but great job of tributes, followed by diinner and prayer, then game time. The Mason City High School Choir opened the concert beautifully and then we came on and did our thing.

After the concert was a reception and then met with host parents, our host mom was the youth director at the church. And then her husband was hilarious! His first comment was that he was hoping for 4 girls not guys but his wife said no, haha! I had my own room, the one with the stuffed bears!

Well, time for breakfast and then on to South Dakota!

Alec

Location : 13 Charlestown Square, Mason City, IA 50401,

Day 1---Mason City