Johnson Ferry Choir/Mission Tour 2011

The last day

We had a great final ministry day in Las Vegas. We had a giant block party where we served over 750 hotdogs and had a concert where we shared the Gospel in the suburb of Henderson. Can't wait to see everyone at the homecoming concert Sunday night!!

Mission Work Day 3 - Thursday

Well last night was really fun! We got to see the awesome Cirque de Soleil show, and also the Bellagio Fountains. We got up early this morning, and we all headed over to Opportunity Village to set up and get ready for our concert. Since we have been working here all week, it was really fun to do the concert, because we have been able to build relationships with many of the clients there. Many of the students would tell you that this concert has been the highlight of the trip so far. There were about 200 people there, and everyone was very excited about it. After the concert, they asked for an encore, so we played several more songs, and had a great time dancing and singing with them. What a blessing it has been for us to serve there this week. After the concert, we split off to go to the different mission sites for the afternoon. Some groups stayed at Opportunity Village, some went back to the Las Vegas Rescue Mission. Those who went to the Rescue Mission worked in the kitchen, and sorted hygiene items. Another couple of groups went out to Mission Hills Park to set up for the Music Classes and the Soccer Clinic. It was very hot outside, but the students were great, and really kept positive attitudes, and lots of energy. We can’t wait to go back to the park for our Block Party tomorrow!

Wednesday

Last night we had a wonderful concert at Henderson Hills Baptist Church. We got there, and the tech team and the band had set up an awesome set with lights and everything for our concert. We did a sound check, then got to go out to the courtyard and have pizza with the youth and other church families that were going to come to the concert. The weather was beautiful today, so it was nice to sit outside and have some fellowship time with everyone. The congregation really loved the concert, and we all enjoyed worshipping together. This morning, we got up extra early for breakfast. We left at 7:30 for Taylor Elemntary School in Henderson (right outside LV). This school is in the same area as the church we were at last night, which is also where the block party on Friday will be. It was a really neat opportunity to be in the Public school! We could not do most of our “God” songs, but we put together a program that was about making good positive choices. The kids really loved it, and so did we! We had some fun minute to win it games, some good choice/bad choice skits, some fun movement songs, and even Miley Cirus and Justin Bieber made an appearance. The choir sang “Somebody to Love,” and “The Power of One.” It was neat that we could sing about the difference that “one” can make…we knew that we were talking about The One, so we still snuck the Message in there, and, of course, invited them all to hear the full concert and participate in all the fun activities we will have at the party on Friday. Please join us in praying that many of them will come and bring their families! This afternoon we are going to see the Hoover Dam, and then do some shopping at the outlet mall. Then, we will head back to UNLV to clean up for our show tonight! We are very excited to see Cirque de Soleil.

Mission Work Day 3 - Tuesday

Quick recap of last night – we drove up to a large Morman tabernacle to have a prayer time and enjoy a great night view of the city skyline. Some photos from that are included in the day 3 album. We kicked off today just like yesterday: A delicious breakfast over in the Student Union Building, then our quiet times and morning meeting, then grab our sack lunches (that come with our choice of a full candy bar! What!?) and load the buses. Two groups took flyers and balloon animals and went out to canvass some parks and neighborhoods where we will be doing a block party and concert on Friday night. Another group went to a charity thrift store and a donation distribution center. They spent most of the day sorting, organizing, and tagging items to be sold in the store. The remainder of the groups went to the Opportunity Village campuses that we mentioned yesterday. Some of the students helped the people with their daily work and activities, while some others led a special karaoke event! Everyone had a ton of fun doing the karaoke! We have a concert tonight at Highland Hills Baptist Church. Before the concert, we are going to have dinner and fellowship time with their youth group. We are really praying that many of the youth will have brought their lost friends with them tonight, and that our students will really have some great opportunities to share!

Mission Work Day 1 – Monday

Well, its been another awesome day. We spent the morning split into groups for our mission activities. One group got to go to The Shade Tree, a shelter for homeless or abused women and children. Our students split up into groups there and did Teeny Tykes and Tunes music class with the moms and their children, they sorted items for the food pantry, they assembled hygiene kits, and they planted a garden. The rest of the group went to 2 different campuses of a program called The Opportunity Village. It is a work program for mentally disabled adults. We helped with their daily activities and work, and really had a great time ministering in a way that many of us had never experienced. We were very restricted on taking photos today for confidentiality reasons. Enjoy the photos we did take!

 

Viva Las Vegas!

Wow, we have had a great couple of days so far. The students have already sung 4 concerts, and its only Sunday night of the tour! We had a wonderful time at Hope Baptist Church this morning, and wrapped it up tonight with concerts at the Las Vegas Rescue Mission. We were scheduled to do a concert tonight at the mission, but they asked for an encore concert to take the place of their regular chapel service! These were two very powerful concerts. We wish all of you could be here to see these students pouring out their hearts in song and worship. The stage was very small, so the students were cramped together and sweating like crazy, but you would never know it from their faces. We were all especially moved when members of the audience just began to stand and lift their hands in worship right along with us. Cory gave a clear gospel presentation after each concert, and we heard people throughout the audience giving their hearts to Christ. WOW! What awesome opportunities we had to share today!