Tuesday, January 17

Where has the month of January gone? We have been in Bend, Oregon for most of this month with 2-3 performances scheduled every day. Today, at last I had my break, my much longed for "day off" – Luciana was sick in the night, and I volunteered to stay home with her, and in the process get some work done on my computer. I spent most of the morning working while Luciana slept, then helped her start a movie this afternoon, then took a nap myself for an hour. And now... well, I'm ready to go back. She still has some stomach pain, but hasn't vomited since 4:30 this morning, and she kept down all the food she ate today. Pray for her health. I'm afraid that if the pain in her abdomen doesn't go away we may be taking her in for appendicitis. It's weird, she's not vomiting, she doesn't have a fever, and she's not tired, but her stomach hurts as much now as it did this morning when she got up... and much less than when she was writhing in pain on the floor trying to fend off the vomit. Any doctors out there know a possible prognosis?

We are currently in Prineville, a town of 9,000 in the western foothills of the Cascades. They've predicted 11 inches of snow tonight, and a major storm in the mountain passes – which is exactly where we are heading Thursday on our way to Portland. We'll be in Portland for a week beginning Thursday night, then head down to southern Oregon, and we'll be in Northern California before the month is out. The way time flies around here that's not much time at all.

I'm greatly looking forward to the day we reach the heat of Southern California and I can shed my winter clothes until the year is through. The kids are looking forward to reaching warmer weather, as well.

Tomorrow morning we perform in a school at 9:45am and at our host church at 6:45pm, leaving the afternoon free... I hope we can finally start school! Everything's crazy around here, and much more involved than I ever could have imagined. But I love it all, and I love the crazy leaders and choir kids that I am blessed to spend my days with. Three months ago I was bored beyond belief and looking for a change, a way to get involved. Well, I've found it. I may never get any work done, but I love every minute of it!!

Wednesday, January 4

We're on our way!

Early Monday morning we met up for the final time in Washington. It was the day after New Year's Day, and let me tell you, it seems like it was a week ago already! Our 3-van caravan headed south down I-5 with plans to arrive in Bend, Oregon in the late afternoon. I would say mid-afternoon, but we were scheduled to be here for dinner between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m., and it gets dark around here way before that time.

This was our first day of long travel, and we did relatively well getting everyone in and out of single-restroom gas stations at our various stops. We slipped and slid over the base of Mt Hood as we made our way into the high desert that is central Oregon.

It's beautiful here - mountains tower to the west while barren, rolling hills surround us. For our first week on the road we are all staying at a Catholic camp about 30 minutes outside of Bend. Comfortable beds, beautifully paved & graded walking paths, and the magnificence of creation surround us at this spiritual retreat. And did I mention the sun? How I've missed seeing it in the last month. We've been given the run of the campground, even providing our own breakfast, which is a nice change. As long as we have eggs of some sort, everyone is happy.

As I said earlier, by the end of Tuesday I felt I had been here a week already - and we had only been on the road two days. And this isn't in a bad way. We are constantly changing schedule, adjusting plans, slowing down, speeding up, as we get our bearings and really start to work with the people on this team. There are no others around us anymore. There is no going home at the end of the day. There is only the tour, the choir, the team, and the lessons that God will teach us along the way. There are kinks - there will always be kinks. There is also a bet that I will marry one of the guys on the tour before the year is through. Did I mention we've only been here since Monday? Oh, the adventure!!

The sunrise yesterday morning as I was on my way to breakfast. I've missed the sun.

Sunday, January 1

What a tour it's been... And we haven't even left Washington!! Tomorrow is our day of reckoning as we hit the ground at 8a.m., destination Oregon. The trailer is packed and organized. Everyone should have a suitcase full of clean clothes, there will be no turning back. Our first stop is Bend, OR where we'll be performing and recording for two weeks. Yes, recording. Someone has made their recording studio available to us free of charge, and the whole team will be working together to produce a great CD. The new year has arrived and the fun is about to begin. In other news, we had our final performances in Washington this morning, and with the pastor's promotion we saw 19 kids receive the gift of sponsorship. All of the choir kids have sponsors already, so this was sponsorship for children who haven't yet been given that gift. If the sponsors stick with the Program, these children will receive food, clothing and an education all the way through the university level. We have definitely been blessed by our week here in Enumclaw, WA.