Sunday, August 10, 2014

         Relief has washed over me this evening since the recital is behind us now.  It was a great program and I’m so happy to have had the chance to participate and help with so many numbers.  The numbers with the flute and viola were my biggest concern and they turned out great—not perfect, but rewarding.  Gina and her brother are such talented musicians and it was a treat to have them perform and get to play with them. 

The program was long but there was great variety with lots of beginning piano students playing with teacher back-up; vocal ensembles including Primary children, Young Women, and senior missionaries, a beautiful sister duet, and a mother and son duet; and instrumental ensembles including a flutaphone solo and our piano duet.  Pres. Cazier, a beginner, played a hymn on the keyboard; and Sister Amado debuted with a hymn on the piano.  The final presentation was by the young students—fifteen or so—playing the “bells” (pipes cut into different lengths for the notes of the scale that were struck by a bar creating a beautiful tone) with four hymns while the congregation sang a verse or two of each.  Pres. Cazier cut and made all of the “bells.”  

Sister Cazier has worked very hard to bring music to the lives of these families.  Most don’t have any means of practicing at home and lots of the music was copied by hand by the teachers.  She made time in her schedule to help anyone who needed it. 

Sister Ocampo surprised us with a home-made pizza for our dinner today after Church.  It was so thoughtful, especially with her having a house full of company.  It even had pineapple on it, so Glade was happy!

It rained on and off again today—a real treat for me!  And tonight I’m grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for my precious family, for my awesome husband, for the wonderful friends made here, for the privilege of working in this beautiful temple next door to us, and for the many lessons learned from the experiences of this mission.

Love and prayers coming your way!!