A Summer of Hope!

What a whirlwind last week it has been! Monday morning I flew back to California to begin a weeklong rehearsal camp for summer small group Hope. We had four days to learn, memorize, and be ready to perform an hours worth of music before we head out on the road to tour for nine weeks of the summer. Needless to say, the week was exhausting, fun, wonderful, challenging, etc., etc.! The week was meant to stretch us as musicians, performers, and speakers, and it certainly did just that. I can already see ways our group, and myself individually, has begun to grow. It has already been an amazing experience and I am so excited to see where we will journey together over the course of the summer.

The nature of a tour such as this absolutely requires a sense of cooperation from each member of the group. Because we will be spending nine long weeks together crammed in a van with all of our equipment and luggage for hours on end, only to arrive and perform and interact with the people we encounter, it is crucial that we maintain good relationships. Over the last six days with these seven people, I have been truly amazed at how quickly we have bonded both musically and personally. We "clicked" from day one and it has been exciting to see how we work together and use our strengths and weaknesses to balance one another. I am truly blessed to be a part of Hope Summer 2011!

Tomorrow is our first official day of tour, although we already have two concerts behind us. Over the next nine weeks, please be in prayer for us as we dive into this incredible ministry. Pray for travel safety and health. Pray for group unity. Pray for our spiritual lives. Pray for our musical abilities to remain strong and continue to grow together. Pray for opportunities to touch people's lives. Pray that we would take each opportunity given to us. But most importantly pray that we are able to represent Christ at every moment of the day.

He must increase; I must decrease.

-John 3:30