Mission Trips - Genesis Choir Tour 2007

Genesis Choir - Choir Tour
The Genesis Choir started its third annual summer choir mission tour with excitement and joy as we presented our musical to our own congregation. The musical this year was put together piece by piece with skits and songs about temptation, listening for God’s plan, prayer and forgiveness and we staged it for the congregation exactly as we presented it on the road…no sets, portable sound, stashed-away props and lots of anticipation. We reminded everyone that we hardly ever know what to expect when we walk into one of our mission venues. We could be on the street, we could be in an auditorium on a stage or on the floor, inside or outside…and this year, we had all of those experiences!


DAY ONE:
After a successful and loving presentation to our church family, Genesis had dinner together, prayed in the parking lot and loaded up for Santa Cruz. Our first stop was Santa Cruz First Presbyterian Church where we attended worship at Vintage Faith. This emerging worship-type service was packed into standing only status and the enthusiastic worship of the band and the congregation filled us. The message that evening seemed to be chosen just for us and was a theme that kept popping up all week long. It was a message on community and one that God obviously wanted us to hear a lot. Following the service and some fellowship at the church’s coffeehouse, we found our way to Trinity Presbyterian Church, which was to be our home base for the next three nights. After evening devotions and prayer, we went to bed to prepare for the week.


DAY TWO:
Genesis started Day Two (and every day of the trip) with morning devotions and prayer. Following that, we headed back to Santa Cruz First Presbyterian Church where we were scheduled to work with a group called Cindy’s Celebrations. This unique ministry is a daily luncheon program and serves about 300 lunches a month. It offers a fun and social day out for many seniors who suffer from loneliness, poor health and mental limitations as well as vital rest time for their caregivers. Upon arrival, Genesis set to work immediately. We moved furniture so that seniors could enjoy their lunch and our program. We set tables and, as seniors arrived, we visited and helped them to their seats. What a joy it was to listen to these older folks and learn from their lives! As lunch was served, Genesis took the stage so that we could offer some entertainment. The seniors obviously enjoyed the performance as they called out to us from their seats and joined us in worshiping. We then served dessert, played a little Trivial Pursuit with the seniors and helped them to their rides home. After helping with clean-up, Genesis enjoyed bag lunches outside and then went to our second service location for the day.

The afternoon of Day Two saw us at Elm Street Mission. On Monday afternoons, Elm Street offers a coffeehouse for local street kids. The coffee house offers a light supper as well as a bible study and, today they got entertainment as well as about 60 pairs of socks that Genesis brought as a love offering. Upon arrival, we learned that we would be setting up outside and performing in the parking lot. Risers were set up, sound plugged in, places set and we were ready to go! Two of our choir members set out with one of the Elm Street staff to invite people to the event and learned that there is a very large homeless population of teenagers in the downtown Santa Cruz area. We found that, unless you are looking for them, you might never see these young people. This was a group quite unlike any other wehad met. Some were argumentative. Some were friendly. Some simply wanted food and to be left alone. In any case we were grateful to God for opening our eyes to them. As we performed, some smiled, some ate, some clapped along…and some left. Following the musical, Genesis branched out into the group to talk with the people there and share some fellowship and companionship with many of whom were close to our own age but faced with very different circumstances.

After a long day, we met with the youth group from our host church and enjoyed an evening of fellowship and winding down on the Santa Cruz Boardwalk.

By the time we drive to Butler Church, where FIRM is ministering to some children, Genesis is heating up…both physically and spiritually! Temperatures have climbed to 110 and we are performing outside. Genesis mobilizes its unloading and unpacking routine and we set up risers, props, and sound. Unfortunately, it is SO HOT outside that our sound equipment malfunctions but God is greater than 110-degree weather and we eventually get things working. The children laugh, clap and dance along with us and we have laid a strong foundation for the rest of the week.


DAY THREE:
As with every day, Tuesday started with morning devotions and breakfast. Following that, we set out for Felton, where we met with Felton Presbyterian Church’s soup kitchen staff. This soup kitchen arose from an obvious need to feed the homeless population in the area. According to the church’s pastor, there was a consistent stream of people coming to the church asking for food, so it was decided to make the offering of such a regular event. This homeless population was different from those we met yesterday. They were a little older and were not as transient as yesterday’s group. In fact, they might even be called “campers” as they often sleep in the same area night after night. Genesis helped set up the tables and prepare the place settings and the food for lunch and then we set about preparing our performance. Lunch was served, along with the bread that we brought for them and we enjoyed performing for the lunchers. Again, some enjoyed the performance and some didn’t. Some who left this particular performance, however, left in tears, hopefully touched by the message of forgiveness and love.

At the end of this day, Genesis needed showers, as it was hot and Trinity Presbyterian didn’t have showers for us to use. We made an evening of it by reserving a campsite at New Brighton State Beach and having a BBQ dinner and camp showers at the beach.

DAY FOUR:
Freshly showered and a little emotionally tired from everything that we had seen over the past two days, Genesis settled in for a long drive to Los Angeles. On this day, we drove about 7 hours, headed to Disneyland. Unfortunately, before we left, we had to deal with a flat tire on one of our vans, but before noon, we waved good-bye to our Trinity Presbyterian friends and were finally on the road.

We arrived in Los Angeles around 7pm and were greeted by the youth group at First Presbyterian Church in Westminster where we slept for the next two nights. Incredibly gracious, they had dinner ready for us! Chicken, bread, fresh fruit and drinks were a great welcome and we were more than grateful. After they fed our bodies, this group continued to feed our souls. We joined them in a study on communion and we were all able to participate in a very meaningful joint evening communion with our new friends.

DAY FIVE:
Up early and ready to take on Disneyland, Genesis arrived at the entrance at 8:00am when the park opened. We were scheduled to take part in Magic Music Days and had a workshop at 2:30. Genesis spent the morning exploring the Magic Kingdom and, in the afternoon had an incredible time learning new performance tips and techniques from one of Disney’s seasoned performance professionals. We even met a photographer who lived in San Martin and not only attended MHPC in her youth but also actually sang in the youth choir. Marilyn Markham remembered her family. It’s a small world after all! (pun intended) If you want to enjoy some fun, ask a choir member if you can see their DVD of the final result of the workshop. It was joyous!

DAY SIX:
Another all day drive back to Morgan Hill. Our tired but happy and blessed group arrived home around 5:00.

Once again, Genesis met a new and different group of people on choir tour. These people enriched our lives and we hope that we brought the love of Jesus to them. As these tours progress, we learn that people don’t need to come to a building to meet Jesus…we can bring Him to them…and we pray that this is what we accomplish every year. While it is a wonderful opportunity to come closer to each other and to those “on the street,” we also find that this is one of the best opportunities that we have to draw closer to God. Thank you for sending us!


Genesis Choir Mission Tour Members:

• Aly Inouye
• Amy Hollis
• Brandon Mancini
• Chris Lahr
• Daniel Daly
• Danny Galli
• Dom Lucido
• Emma Lucido
• Eric Tolson
• Erin Toombs
• Greg Wong
• Jen Hinman
• Kiley Woodward
• Koedy Brant
• Kyla Hanes
• Lacey Kral
• Nick Faz
• Rebecca DeVillez
• Rebekah Inouye
• Sydney Main

Chaperones

• Sandy Hanes: Director
• Charlie Miller: Assistant Director
• Marilyn Markham: Accompanist
• Mark Markham: Equipment
• Penny Bell: Devotions
• Roger Bell: Equipment
• Julie Lucido: Stand-in driver
• Roger Bell: Equipment
• Renee DeVillez: Navigator
• Joy Jones: Kitchen
• Julie Bayle: Kitchen