Musical moments

During the middle of the week were some marvelous musical moments.  An early moment came when presbytery  leaders were stalling while the Crescent Hill and presbytery youth leaders were planning children's and youth activities.  Doug played flute, Raul Contreras sang, and Ramiro - who had gotten almost no sleep during the previous two nights, as traveled to and from Guatemala City and participated in national church board meetings - played the keyboard.  No offense to Doug and Ramiro but Raul Contreras - so heartfelt - and intense - had a voice that particularly divine.

Then, in three of  church visited Wednesday, different women's groups sang for the team, including one woman solo with a microphone. Other times the team sang in Spanish hymns that at least some presbytery leaders knew - "Holy, Holy, Holy" and "How Great Thou Art," for example.  No offense to the team, but the presbytery leaders' vocals, including harmony vocals - enhanced the team's sound - and in some cases part of the congregations (for example, on "Labore") helped the sound swelled even more (a bit like the sound of everyone praying at once - in Spanish, English, and Q'eqchi').  Sometimes these sounds also swelled when all or some of these were singing in smaller churches, which magnified the volume.

Another intense musical moment came during the team's visit to the Pastor Fidel's Peniel church in Boqueron.  The worship band that sang and played in this church included two young boys, including Darwin, who wailed away on percussion and belted out, singing with the other worship band members.

Presbytery leaders and team members were also serenaded by a Doug flute solo during several worship services.  The last night in El Estor Doug also serenaded team members and other hotel guests that a long flute solo that helped close out a long day for all.

-Perry