NLF Mission 2015 Postcard
intro
The NLF Mission Team (47-strong) traveled to Tuxtla, Mexico for Mission 2015. The mission goal: share God's grace with others through outreach performance and VBS (Vacation Bible School).
During the Spring 2015 semester, the NLF team prepared for the mission with monthly rehearsals. At the end of the semester, NLF held a 2-day lock-in (rehearsals) for NLF orchestras and the choir. The semester concluded with an outreach concert performed by each NLF orchestra and the choir. The Spring 2015 outreach concert was held at River of Life RCCG in Riverdale, MD.
Prior to the mission trip to Mexico, mission team members were required to complete online training and attend two mission training sessions. The following tabs provide a photographic Mission Report of the 2015 NLF Mission.
During the Spring 2015 semester, the NLF team prepared for the mission with monthly rehearsals. At the end of the semester, NLF held a 2-day lock-in (rehearsals) for NLF orchestras and the choir. The semester concluded with an outreach concert performed by each NLF orchestra and the choir. The Spring 2015 outreach concert was held at River of Life RCCG in Riverdale, MD.
Prior to the mission trip to Mexico, mission team members were required to complete online training and attend two mission training sessions. The following tabs provide a photographic Mission Report of the 2015 NLF Mission.
training
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Mission Training
Mission team members attended two training sessions, May 23 and August 1. Mission Training informed team members of the mission goals, expectations, and cultural differences. Training allowed team members to get to know one another better and prepared them in activities planned for the mission (e.g., praise dance routines). The August 1 training also included rehearsal with our members joining us from South Korea. |
August 4
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Mission Day 1
Weather: Sunny, high 80s F, low humidity, cool breezes Events: Dinner, Rehearsal, Worship News: Travel to Mexico was over 18 hours due to a plane change in Mexico City and a 5 hour bus ride from Tuxtla Airport (we stopped for lunch midway). We are staying in Comitan, a mountainous region at elevation approximately 5,200 ft. We arrived safely and everyone is a bit tired but doing well. We are staying at a school campus with excellent accommodations. The dinner menu was Lasagna with Korean sides, followed by soft-serve ice cream. Rehearsals followed dinner (first concert is tomorrow!). |
rehearsal
August 5
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Mission Day 2
Weather: Sweatshirt temps morning and evening, warm daytime Events: Morning Outdoor Concert: Comitan Town Square Evening Concert: Comitan Town Square Theater News: Two concerts today, morning and evening, with a siesta in the afternoon. The morning concert was followed by VBS activities with the local children. The children really enjoyed meeting with our kids after the concert. VBS was followed by lunch and an afternoon siesta. Just two things to say about the evening concert: 1) standing ovations and 2) three encores! |
August 6
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Mission Day 3
Weather: Sunny and warm again, cool evenings Events: VBS and Concert: Village of Tzimol News: We spent the day in a small village named Tzimol. We arrived a bit before noon and set up in the village center marketplace. After lunch, we split into two groups and traveled throughout the village stopping to share music and invite people to the concert later that evening. Before the concert, we held VBS activities for the children including face-painting, manicures, and arts and crafts. The concert was a success with several encore performances. Pastor Jose shared the gospel followed by "one more" performance. It was a blessing to share the joy of the audience. |
august 7
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Mission Day 4
Weather: More of the same: Sunny, warm during the day, cool nights, no rain Events: Travel to Tuxla, Village Concert, Overnight stay at hotel News: We traveled to Tuxla by bus. On the way, we stopped by a village and walked through neighborhoods announcing VBS activities and an evening concert. So many seem so joyful participating in VBS and attending our concerts. The evening was again filled with encore performances until it became too dark to play. Eventually, we had to get back on the bus and resume our trip to Tuxla. We arrived around midnight at the hotel, but we plan to sleep late (8am) since most of the travel to the next concert is behind us. |
august 8
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Mission Day 5
Weather: More of the same: Sunny, warm during the day, cool nights, no rain Events: Afternoon Childrens Concert: Church School, Tuxtla Evening Concert: Church School, Tuxtla News: The NLF team performed two concerts today. The first was for children attending the school. The evening concert was open to others. The people we meet at VBS and concerts seem so appreciative that we have come to share fellowship, VBS, gospel, and music. |
performance
august 9
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Mission Day 6
Weather: More of the same: Sunny, warm during the day, cool nights, no rain Events: Morning Worship Afternoon Concert News: After returning late last night, we had a graceful morning of late wake-up, breakfast, and worship. Following lunch, we took the buses to Teopisca, a village about 1.5 hours away. Before the concert, we found a small Mexican resturant and ate excellent tacos and chicken. God blessed us again with a wonderful performance and appreciative audience. |
august 10
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Mission Day 7
Weather: More of the same: Sunny, warm during the day, cool nights, no rain Events: Morning Prison Concert, Afternoon Siesta, Evening Shopping and Dinner News: The morning began with a trip to a prison in Comitan (No cameras allowed, so no pictures). The NLF team performed concert inside the prison on an outdoor basketball court. The concert was followed by a tour of the prison -- something not to be forgotten soon. The afternoon was free-time. The evening was a time of shopping at a local marketplace followed by dinner at a local Mexican restaurant. |
