{FECA Vision Choir} Report 2

Monday July 22

Adam and Rita, both music students from last year, joined us just before breakfast.  Mickey and her friend Chloe (a new music student), joined us just before lunch (and Terry will join us in the middle of the week).  After a delicious breakfast cooked by the music students from our host church (Michael, Jack, Vivi, and Belle), we started the day with morning devotions.  Then we broke into sections and learned the notes for Lamb of God and Holy, Holy, Holy.  We tried to learn the Bernstein Gloria Tibi, but the Latin, modern 5-8 rhythm and syncopation proved too challenging.  We then headed out to Tongtex School and found out the assembly room we met in last year has been turned into the administration office, so we are assembling at the outside (non-air conditioned) covered patio, a reminder that missions is about being flexible and adaptable.  So at 1 PM, the teachers brought the 38 children from their two classes and sat them down on the floor.  We sang He's Calling My Name and Gabbie started sharing her testimony.  A few seconds later, the battery powered amplifier died, but Gabbie and her translator, Josh gamely carried on, and were heard quite clearly.  Then Pastor Chou started to share, but only a few minutes in to his talk, the heavens opened and thunder, lightning, and rain poured down and the wind picked up so that those sitting in the middle of the covered patio started to get wet from the rain splashing on the ground with the wind carrying the mist to wet the children's back.  Fortunately, there was room to move the children forward and Pastor Chou was able to complete his talk but instead of trying to teach the assembled group their song and dance, we dismissed them to their classes so we could start our English teaching program.  A few minutes after getting into their classroom, the whole patio is completely wet with splashed rain carried by the wind, so again we experienced God's perfect timing.  In spite of the interruption, things are proceeding as (we kind of) planned.  We taught about St. Valentine, played games and everyone had a great time.  We finished at 4, the rain stopped, so we returned to the church without getting soaked to rest up and clean up before dinner.  After dinner, we spent two hours vocalizing and practicing our songs for our hospital visit tomorrow morning, before debriefing our day's activities.  The feedback is we feel these seventh graders are better behaved and understood English better than last year's kids but we (teachers) could be better organized so the classroom flow could be smoother.  Our Taiwan music students were excellent in translating and being the bridge to the seventh graders.  It was in all, a good day!  Praise the Lord.

Attached photos are pictures of the two seventh grade class, with 19 students in each class and 10 teachers per class, a great 2:1 student to teacher ratio!