Stuff

The meeting went well yesterday and I'm getting more and more excited with a few details. Our team of 8 seems pretty laid back and will hopefully gel well here in the coming days. The format is similar to what I mentioned previously...a short program at 1 school each morning (and whatever else they may want us to participate in...ie-1 day we'll then be leading break-out sessions with the kids in smaller groups) and then a heavier focus on the Creative Arts Academy in the afternoon and evening. All that we teach the students in the Academy will then culminate in a 1 - 1.5 hr concert on Friday night with the intention for the students to perform what they learned (be it song, dance, drama, etc.) in an effort to reach out and minister to parents and the community at large. Apparently this is a pretty big deal in Ballymena, b/c last year they had around 200-300 people show up without a great deal of advertisement (it's been a meeting of both Protestant and Catholics...even the mayor came).
Our team is only 8 strong which works well for Hillside Community this year as their congregation is taking over more and more of the ministry. We've got a drummer, guitarists, singers, visual artists, teachers, dance instructors, drama, etc, and a huge demand of students this year (can someone say David and Goliath?...but a must to keep reminding ourselves that the battle is the Lord's). We'll be coming alongside Hillside on their worship team on Sundays (by the way, there are 2 morning services and 1 night service on Sunday!) as well as in Kids Zone (ie-Sunday School for the kids of the church and community). Then during the week, we'll be taking our cues from Hillside in the schools and with the Academy.

Lots of music for me during this week :)...we've been told to prep around 15 praise and worship songs to play over the course of the week...on Sundays and in the schools, and also a couple cover songs to teach the kids in the Academy at nights (in the past they've done anything from Coldplay to U2 to Switchfoot, etc)...fun!

We'll also have a chance to see a few things in the area. Steve has said if we're not doing ministry, we're going to be trying to see something. Anything from the Giant's Causeway, to touring in Belfast, to seeing the amazing landscape, to visiting historic pubs and restaurants (and I'm sure I'm leaving out a few things). One restaurant we'll got to is very old and historic...that C.S. Lewis and J.R.R Tolkien used to meet up in. Another is a pub that was built in the 1600's that apparently has "jam sessions" where locals will bring in their instruments...we'll definitely be taking guitars to see what they can teach us!

Whew...I am typed out for now...so much stuff!