Guatemala City, Guatemala
CELEBRATION ORCHESTRA
Dec 27, 2023 - Jan 4, 2024
Wow, what a great project to Guatemala! Brian Hedrick was a co-director on this project and brought 19 people from his orchestra at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church to join the Celebration Orchestra, which totaled 31 people. Our team was joined by around 20 Guatemalan musicians. We LOVE getting to play with the local musicians. Music is truly unifying...despite the fact that we don't all share a common language, when we're playing music together, we are one.
We were so happy to play at some of our 'regular' churches, including Access Church, Jesus El Buen Pastor, Union Church, and First Presbyterian Church. We've been there so many times that they feel like our second home. We were joined by a choir for 3 of our concerts and performed a few selections from the musical, "God With Us", and Brian Hedrick narrated the powerful "No Other Name".
It was a great blessing getting to work with Coro Filarmonico again. They've added about 10 new students since we saw them last year! Most of them have only been playing 2-3 months and they are already sounding so good (they really are). They are persevering and serving the Lord with grace and faithfulness.
If you've never seen the fireworks in Guatemala on New Years Eve... they are a sight to behold. They love their fireworks! We had a great view from the 17th floor and even saw airplanes landing in the midst of it.
While we were in Antigua, we went to the top of the mountain to see The Hill of the Cross. It's a beautiful cross that overlooks the city. Every year we perform at Casa Santa Domingo in Antigua. Even though it's at a hotel, about 150 people came to our concert that evening. Many were very touched by the music and testimonies given during the concert.
On our last day we traveled to San Juan Sacatepequez to do master classes with the kids from the music school, "Escuela Elemental de Musica". Over 100 kids showed up! We broke into sections by instrument and went over the basics (breathing, scales, embouchures, etc). The school is run by Carlos Antonio Real. He said,"I've seen the impact of music in the lives of the children and in the community. The kids here are taught to look beyond the music for their spiritual lives as well."
That evening we donated over 20 instruments to their program, which will be a big blessing to them. We had a great time after the concert getting to meet people in the audience. We were sad to leave after having been with them all day.
Like any project, it's always bittersweet to come home. Words really can't describe the bond that forms between the team during those 10 days. People who were complete strangers on Day 1 are suddenly like family when you leave. Not to mention the bond that forms with the locals... If you go once, you go twice, because you just can't help but go back and see the people.
It’s amazing to see how God has a spot for everyone…whether you’re playing an instrument, doing instrument repair, or turning pages for the keyboard player, God has a purpose for you.
Here's what a few participants had to say about this project -
"Every project reinforces my faith in God's plans and His use of His people to bring about His will to spread the Good News to the ends of the earth."
"I am so grateful that God allowed me to see the heart that He has for the Guatemalan people and for young people in particular.”
"God has just confirmed my calling to continue to participate in these trips."
"We always go to serve and always return being blessed."
See all of our pictures from the project on our Facebook page.