Today, Karen and I started our first full day at the Music Camp. There are 200 kids, and the day is broken up into 4 classes: 2 sectional rehearsals and 2 elective classes (choosing from musical games, violin, guitar, and another that I don't know.) The class teachers teach 4 times. They end with a joint choir rehearsal. I'm helping with the Musical Games (rhythmic notation) class, and the teacher is using the rhythm syllable system that I'm familiar with, so she had me teach two of the classes. She said that the students pay more attention because I speak English, and they're concentrating on that as well as the music theory. I've still got the "teacher look" when trying to get the kids to be quiet in the big choir, and now I can say "listen" and "no talking" in Romanian. Kids are kids and teachers are teachers; I guess there's no stereotyping there - just the reality of human nature and professions. We're enjoying the 10-minute walk to/from the Music Camp, as it crosses the Piata Mare (Big Plaza) and we get a quick view of Romanian life as the people go through their daily routine.
The last member of our team, Tony Bolivar, arrived safely tonight and had enough energy to go to a men's bible study, saxophone in hand. I can't wait to see what Connie will have him do at the Music Camp.
As I've said before, this is not exactly the camping-in-the-wilderness/hard-physical-labor/ sacrificial missions trip that many people associate with the word "mission." It's making me think what exactly a "mission" is supposed to be, or rather, how the expectation/stereotype of the word has kept me from recognizing that I am called to do a mission for God all the time, every day. What is that mission? It can be different things in different situations, but this mission is to come alongside and encourage/support/ admonish/care for/love the saints around the world. If our mere presence (or modest attempts at Romanian praise singing) can do that, then we are fulfilling our mission here, now. It's still a situation where we praise God for His almighty power, thank Jesus for His sacrifice to bring us into the Father's presence, and ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom and guidance to do the Father's work, wherever we are. And to be in a foreign country means that we're only expectant for His plans, not ours. That's an expectation I should live with.
Pace (pah-chay) [peace],
Joanne
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1 comment:
Hi Joanne,
Keep those blogs coming. What a great experience. My nephew, Scott, also went to Romania on a mission trip through Lake Ave. By the way his wife, Ester, gave birth to their first son, Micah last March.
Blessings,
Barb Clauson
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