Reflection

It truly is hard to believe that just over a week ago we returned home from our five day tour of Boston and Portland. When we look back, we see how God sustained us every step of the way.

Sunday morning, April 15, 2012, We woke up, loaded the buses, and departed from the hotel. After a quick fifteen minute drive across town, we arrived at Cape Elizabeth United Methodist Church. The students provided the music for the sunday morning service. After a brief warm-up time, the service began. The students sang beautifully. The church was very quant and the folks who came enjoyed themselves very much (many of them even sang along to the songs they knew!)

      

      

After the service, the church provided us with a potluck lunch. What a blessing. The students were able to fellowship over a quick lunch before changing out of their concert attire - into travel clothes - and boarding the buses for the 9 hour bus ride home!

Both the guys and girls buses benefited from the nine hours together. Whether it was enjoying a movie together or reflecting on the trip, or sleeping, or spending quality time with new friends, the ride home was a great opportunity for everyone to thank God for a fantastic trip!

And that it was. Through all the trials and joys of the tour, God was at hand to help ease our minds and help us see that his plan is above all. God was with us every step of the way, through the rain and the sunshine. God used the students to minister to the folks of New England and we were able to bless them through all that we did. The students were responsible and God-honoring which was a beautiful reflection on the school. Praise God for the safety he provided and the beautiful memories he has given us that will stay with us forever.

Today's Verses:

I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High." - Psalm 7:17

"Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation." - Psalm 68:19

We are excited to see how the Lord provides for us next season as we begin to prepare for the 2013 tour!

All for him!

Yarmouth, Freeport, Camden, Rockland, MAINE!

After an 8:15 wake up call and breakfast at the hotel, we loaded the buses and set out for all that the day had in store!

Our first stop today was Yarmouth, Maine - home of Eartha, the world’s largest globe! We took some time to look through the gift shop of the Delorme building which hosts the globe. Some students made purchases and, of course, the students took the opportunity to sing! The building has three balcony levels over looking the globe. The students equally spaced themselves and sang a few songs from their repertoire. The acoustics were wonderful and we used the opportunity to show the love of God to museum staff and guests.

After Eartha, we drove just up the street to Freeport, Maine. Freeport is a wonderful little town that also happens to be the headquarters of L.L. Bean Outfitters (there were four individual stores within sight of each other!). We stopped some outlet stores for about two hours and the students were able to stretch their legs, enjoy some food, and do some shopping.

Our next stop was about an hour and a half northeast in the town of Camden, Maine. We only spent about forty-five minutes here, but the students were able to walk along the rocky shore and some of them even climbed some rocks and wade into the water.

           

A short drive from Camden found us in Rockland, Maine. We stopped here for dinner, but none of the restaurants were large enough to hold our whole group so we divided into four smaller groups. Two groups went to local seafood restaurants while the other two found a Mexican restaurant. Once again, God blessed us with delicious food and wholesome fellowship. We thanked our servers with singing as usual.

      

Our final actual destination for today was Littlefield Memorial Baptist Church. We arrived at about 5:45. The church was beautiful and God blessed us with an opportunity to sing there. The church is actually the home church of Art Hill, former principle of AACS and friend of the choral program. It was Art who invited us to his church and it was wonderful to be able to sing for the people of Rockland.

      
      
      
      

The students and audience members could really feel the presence of God tonight. God can move greatly and He did tonight in the students' performance. Praise be to God!

On the ride back to the hotel, both buses spent the majority of the time singing hymns and worship songs together mixed with prayer and reflection. God has been faithful to establish lasting relationships and memories. Isn’t it wonderful that the fondest memories we have from the trip are centered around bringing praise to God? May that always be our focus and goal!

Today’s tweets:

Jodi Hoffman (sophomore)

"Yay, we're at the world's largest globe!" "Isn’t the world's largest globe actually....u know, the earth?"

Nicole Densmoor (sophomore)

Flash mob at the world's largest globe

Jane Brown (principle)

The closing song moves me every time. God is so good.

Amanda Densmoor (freshman)

That awkward moment when you get stuck in an elevator with 27 girls..

Jodi Hoffman (sophomore)

Most amazing night ever! God, I thank you for working in all our hearts and showing us how amazing you are!

God has truly shown us during this trip what it means to operate in community and to have a fellowship of believers who strive for a common goal. He has helped us deal with obstacles and has remained faithful as always. We thank him and praise him for his faithfulness and compassion. We thank him for the protection and safety he has provided thus far on the trip and was continue to pray for wisdom, safety, rest, presence of mind, and that God’s name will be above ours. As the Latin saying goes, “Soli Deo Gloria” or “to God alone be the glory”. May that be our prayer today and always.

Today’s verse:

“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”
 – I Corinthians 15: 58

All for him!

Lobsters, lighthouses, ferry rides, a concert and a chocolate moose!

This morning, after an 8:45 wake up call, everyone met in the hotel lobby for breakfast. The lobby was barely big enough to hold all of us! Despite the close quarters, the students remained pleasant and we even received some compliments on our behavior!

After breakfast, we walked two blocks over to the harbor where the students were given some brief instructions before setting out on some sight seeing in Old Portland. The city was beautiful. God truly blessed us with a great day. Not only was the weather fantastic, but the food and fellowship were as well! Lobster was the selection of choice for most students (since we are in Portland after all!). Some students decided to eat whole lobsters while other decided to eat lobster roll - a sandwich consisting of pulled lobster meat mixed with mayonnaise. Lobster roll is a delicacy of New England and we certainly got a taste of Portland!

      

After about two hours in Old Portland, we loaded up the buses and drove over to Portland Headlight - a national park and famous lighthouse. The weather here was beautiful as well!  Students spent their time throwing Frisbee, playing soccer, eating lobster, and climbing the rocks along the shore. God blessed us with beautiful New England weather and we glorified Him by enjoying his creation!

         

On the way back to the hotel, we stopped by the renowned Maine chocolate shop, "Len Libby" – home of the world’s largest chocolate moose, Lenny!  This was a great opportunity for the students to get their hands on some delicious candy at a local novelty!

When we returned to the Hampton Inn and Suites after our tour of Portland, we quickly changed into our concert attire. After a brisk walk to the harbor, we loaded the ferry to Peaks Island. We were blessed with fantastic weather and an enjoyable thirty minute ferry ride to Peaks Island where we would be singing in just three hours!

    

When we arrived at Peaks Island, we walked from the ferry to Brackett Memorial United Methodist Church. After about an hour and a half of rehearsal and a pizza dinner, we were ready to perform.

We started the concert at 7:30 and sang to a crowd of about forty. The choirs sang Hark I Hear The Harps Eternal together before splitting up into the individual choirs. Men’s Ensemble sang My Lord what a Morning, The King of Love My Shepherd Is, and Old Brown’s Daughter. Bell’arte followed with Prayer For The Gifts, Lux Aeterna, Blessings, Simple Gifts, and Say A Little Prayer For You. Men of Note jumped in with Bridge Over Troubled Water. The Madrigals sang The Lonesome Road, Give Me Jesus, Every Night, and Build Me Up Buttercup. When all the choirs had sung, everyone gathered on stage for an African song medley and closed with the gospel tune Faithful Over A Few Things. Overall, the choirs sang beautifully and the concert was a huge success. We recieved a standing ovation, countless complements, an interview with a local journalist, and even sold some CDs! The lord really blessed us with the opportunity to sing praises to his name and show his light to the people of Peaks Island. A special thanks to Faith Cox and Larry Ducharme from Brackett Memorial United Methodist Church.

               

When we returned to the hotel, the girls and guys split into separate groups. The guys had free time to use the hotel weight room and pool. The girls had a desert reservation at the restaurant connected to the hotel. Each group had ample opportunities to fellowship and make some lasting memories. We thank God for a good day.

      

Today's Tweets:

Jane Brown (principal)

what a great day. Loving the trip

Nicole Densmoor (sophomore)

Sung blessings down the street of Portland ☺

Catherine Mayes (senior)

lighthouse and lobsters

Nicole Densmoor (sophomore)

Ate lobster for the first time!

Jodi Hoffman (sophomore)

Awww, doesn't everyone look dapper in their gowns and tuxes :)

Trent Owens (freshman)

Say A Little Prayer For You is probably my favorite song out of all the songs the choir sang.

Today's Verse:

"The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world." - Psalm 19: 1-4

We look forward to the challenges and joys that tomorrow will bring! May God continue to bless us, keep us safe, and allow his light to be clearly seen in how we interact with each other and those we meet along the way!


All for him!