Day 10:: Tour 2025

When the roll is called up on the bus, we all answer if we're there, and another day begins on this journey.  We are on a journey as an ensemble.  We have now traveled many miles together and we have sung our songs more than a dozen times (including the rehearsal run throughs).  And yet, the journey is not over.  In some ways its only begun.  Although, we have officially ended the touring segment of this journey, we continue on, looking toward the BIG day with our largest audience being the unseen individuals who may happen to listen to the album in the future.  Pray for us as we prepare our hearts for that part of our ministry.

Another aspect of this journey that may be not so quickly understood, is that of our individual personal stories that are being impacted by learning and interacting with this repertoire.  We pray that God would speak to our hearts and that we will have the faith to stand on the promises of God's Word.  He is also leading us on a journey as a group. We are individuals coming together with a united purpose of sharing the unchangeable truths of the gospel of Christ through psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.  And when we come together on this tour, one of the fist things we do after we depart is to have a sharing time.  Others have mentioned this time as well, so maybe you are beginning to realize just how important and meaningful this is to all of us. 

There is some laughter (involving possum potluck dinners) and also encouraging personal and/or audience testimonies.  

This morning we had a delightful snack of freshly made (and still warm) donuts from one of the host families to go along with our storytime.  

Normal morning activities of games, naps, and more music happened after as we made our way to our evening destination of Wilkes-Barre, PA.  

Our stops were mostly uneventful as we we had a unified goal of reaching our destination early if possible, and together we made it happen.  One exception for lunch time was a shopping cart race in the Wal-Mart parking lot. 

We arrived about a half hour early, and everyone dispersed immediately to do the thing they most needed to do. For many, it was grabbing a short and sweet nap, while others enjoyed a game or two of volleyball in the school gym which was right there beside the church.  

4:00 p.m. call time to rehearsal came and we spent a little extra time working out our glitches in each of our parts for a brief half hour before Lyle called us together to execute the "quietest" full set rehearsal we've ever done.   As the men wrapped up rehearsal for their men's song, we ladies dug into the supper spread of Big Mac stacks, fresh fruit, and bars.  It was delicious! 

In our sharing time before the program, Phoebe shared about her study and reflections on the piece "Steal Away".  I appreciated her perspective of the call to worship that was passed on from one person to the next as they encouraged each other by stealing away to meet with Jesus.  May we all be encouraged to steal away to Jesus in our hour of need, when the storms are raging, and when we are longing for heaven, because God is our Rock and He is the One who gives us His peace.  

As we entered into worship with yet another community of God's people, there was meaningful connecting happening in our ensemble. Some moments were personal connections within our spirits and other times we leaned into the connection as a group, unified in the present reality of what we've been given and what we are called to give.  I felt the reality of part the one line from "Tungamira" as it says "I [God] am with and will lead you" because it seemed to be the Spirit of God unifying and leading us through many of our songs last evening. 

But wait, this is not the end... I am beginning to feel long-winded as I share about only one specific day, but to be fair, we had a long day.  After our concert we were directed to be back on the bus by 9:15 p.m. in order to depart a.s.a.p. for our final drive back to Lancaster, PA.  Our wonderful tour manager surprised us with an immediate stop for pizza and a shout of gratitude raised the roof!  What a treat and a blessing.  On the other hand, we were admonished, and rightfully so, to remember to take care of our voices for this particular ride home.  Let's be honest here, even adults love to live it up on such occasions but we reigned it in and maturely did the right thing.  And since it was the final bus ride after a concert we did our post concert storytime and it felt extra special to be able to have that twice in one days time.

We arrived back in Lancaster shortly after midnight and the weary travelers dispersed within minutes to our homes or "home away from home" for some much needed rest and rejuvenation.   

~ Rachel Weaver