More Video

Here are the links to a few more videos. The two in the British school are pretty blurry but you can hear the kids singing in the second video.

Nuttin For Christmas: http://youtu.be/4CNTJHAVb9M
Feliz Navidad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkEOZ5AIeWg
Oh Come All Ye Faithful: http://youtu.be/rx1W-XayZhs

School Visit and Mate

Yesterday we went to the British school to play during the lunch hour for the equivalent of high school in the states. We had a great time playing for the kids there, however there was a somber atmosphere because a young women who graduated from the school tragically died the day before. After we finished playing at the secondary school, the director of the school (along with his super cool British accent!) asked us to play for the primary school (K-6). We agreed and we are so glad that we did. We added a little bit of teaching time of each of the instruments, which delighted the music teacher and the students. We played a few songs that required a few bells to be rang along with. Normally we have some trouble getting teens and adults to ring the bells, but not here! Poor Anita was mobbed my kids wanting to get the privilege of ringing the coveted bells. She ended up making many children sad because all of them wanted to have opportunity to play.  We finished with the song Feliz Navidad. The kids loved this piece, and we loved watching them respond to it! They started to sing along, sway back and forth with the music in rows, clap along, and their faces just lit up. It looked like a sea of synchronized swaying.  We have a video of the kids singing and Nathan will try to get that uploaded this evening. It was just incredible to see joy in the kids' faces. When we finished they started chanting, "Another one, another one...". We obliged and played We Three Kings. When we finished that one they started to chant all over again. We were actually saved by the bell. We finished the song, looked around at the chanting children, and suddenly a bell sounded calling for a period change. As the kids walked out, the teachers greeted us and thanked us for coming. The one teacher looked down at her student, saw his smile and said to us, "Look at his smile!".

That afternoon we did some shopping and got to experience the different culture even in shopping. Instead of picking up your item and carrying it to the check-out booth, you asked for it and then they gave you a ticket so that you could pick it up at the front desk, wrapped and waiting. It's a great system... if you speak Spanish! =D

Later in the evening we went to another international worker's house and had a pizza party with the group. The pizza here is different. Traditional pizza is on flat bread with sauce.  We ate "mozarella", which is closer to our traditional pizza, but the main topping is cheese. The pizza was delicious! We also experienced a cultural tradition called, mate (maw-tay). Mate is a very strong green tea that a lot of South Americans drinks. Below are some pictures of events listed above.

Playing at the Senior British School

Anita handing out the bells

There were lots of kids

Group picture!

Nathan and the traditional mate stance

Pastor Doug didn't like it....at all!

Its just strong tea!

Some people didn't like it so much...

The mozzarella

Pictures

Emily

Doug

Dean

Dale

 Anita

Ed

Our make-shift drum for rehearsal

The sunset

 Testimony time 

Video

Here is the link to a video of the group playing this evening. Enjoy!


http://youtu.be/1nrgfgEMENU

New Things

Last night was an incredible time of fellowship and music. We enjoyed spending time with the people there and we REALLY enjoyed the food! Hamburgers and chorizos (sausages) on the asado. Yum! This morning we enjoyed spending time at the beach and hanging out with our new friends while playing ultimate frisbee and swimming. Some of us went to explore the mall. The mall was very modern and they even had an Xbox Kinect, which some of our friends played. This evening we had a concert at a cafe with elaborate christmas decorations. The audience enjoyed our performance and several asked when and where we are playing next. We were able to mingle and enjoy a cup of tea with the people there. We are having lots of fun as a team.


Here are a few of our most recent observations/experience:
Exchanging money (19.8 pesos = $1)
Driving on the Rambla (highway), road lines mean nothing!
Playing Christmas music in the heat!
Seeing 30 degrees on the thermometer (Celsius, of course)
Badets in the bathroom
Eating fresh papayas and pineapples for breakfast
Greeting with a kiss (on the cheek of course)
Buying things in Pesos

Thank You!

We just want to take a moment to thank all of you for your prayers and support. We received an e-mail this evening from the kids at Lancaster Alliance's (Doug and Anita's Church) Caraway Street that was a great encouragement to the team. You are all very special to us and we just want to thank you for all the love and prayers that you pour into us. We praise God for you! Thanks again!!

Our First Concert

This morning we had the privilege of being with our C&MA family at the Tres Cruses Alliance Church.  Pulling up and seeing the C&MA logo made it "feel like home".  The church family greeted us warmly and several commented afterward about the ministry of music and how it encouraged them.  Nathan and Steph spent last evening translating our screen lyrics so that the people could connect with the songs.  Bruce preached the message and thankfully we knew that it was based in Luke 15, otherwise we would've been in the dark.  :O  A meaningful part for everyone was when Emily and Doug shared their testimony.  God ministered encouragement through their words of faith in God and the lesson of continued trust.  Keep praying!  We've only just begun.

-Anita