Today we made our way from Maryland to Pittsburgh. We had a good trip to Mount Airy but we had much to look forward to in Pittsburgh.
Our first stop was Manchester-Bidwell. MB is a wonderful organization which seeks to provide job training and life skills to people who are in need of this type of support. The founder is Bill Strickland. The very cool thing is that he will be the keynote speaker for a Western Avenue Community Center fundriaser this coming Monday June 21. MB is an amazing institution. We were able to work alongside one of their graduates and many of their students. We did two and a half hours of amazing landscaping and the people we worked with said that our students were the hardest workers and the most kind students they worked with. They even commented that our students were properly and appropriately dressed for which they were grateful. After we worked we sang several songs for our team leaders. They were so appreciative. We then got cleaned up and then went off to our afternoon concert.
I cannot explain how meaningful of a stop Manchester-Bidwell was for us. In addition to getting the students exposed to a very successful adult vocational program, they got to visit the place that will serve as the inspiration for some new ministries at 2PC. Chef Paul and others are exploring the possibility of a culinary arts work training program. Roane is thinking about a fine arts program. And other things are possible. Tom, Chip, and Jan had a meeting with their staff to learn more. They left inspired and excited about the possibilities. I also hope that our students can get inspired to be a part of the new ministry.
We then went to Reformed Presbyterian Home and did a concert for the retirement community. It was a heartwarming experience for all involved. Senior Elizabeth Pouliot said, “It was great to bring a smile to the older adults’ faces.”
We then had dinner at Primanti’s Brothers for their famous sandwiches and then headed to a Pittsburgh Pirates game. It was a great day on Tour.
We have just finished our day in our nation’s Capital. Our day began by meeting IL Senators Durbin and Burris. All of the adults were doubting that we would actually meet them. But we in fact did. We had about an hour with them. It was a good experience for our students.
From there we made our way to see some of the monuments. We saw the Lincoln Monument, the Vietnam War Memorial, the Washington Monument and part of the WWII Monument. We made the long walk from the National Mall all the way back to the Capitol Building.
We then had lunch in the Capitol Building and then had our tour of the Capitol. We saw the center dome and other parts of the Capitol. Congress was in session and voting on a bill while we were there. We then got to visit the Senate for a few minutes. It was a nearly empty chamber.
We are about to get back on to the bus and head to our next concert and homestay which is in Mount Airy, Maryland. It has been a good visit to the nation’s capital.
Just got finished with our visit to our nation’s cemetery. The students were extremely respectful for the whole time. It was a memorable stop and one we hope is not soon forgotten by the students.
Our stop featured visits to JFK’s tomb and eternal flame, the Challenger memorial, and the Tomb to the Unknown Solider. We witnessed the changing of the guard at the tomb. We were especially glad to be there as a group of WWII veterans were there.
We are now on our way to Alexandria for our evening homestay.
Greetings from the Tour! Just a quick blog update. Reid had to go home because he got a job interview! So we are happy to for him but sad because that means he will not be finishing Tour. So that means that I (Josh) will be managing the blog. This means that I will largely doing this from my phone so posts might be shorter unless I get a chance to use my laptop.
One short note. Our concert at Cherry Hill was amazing! It was truly the absolute best I have ever heard the Chancel Choir sound. It was a Holy Spirit filled event. The churn is begging us to come back next year. And even though it will be South next year we might be able to make it work! More to come later on all things Tour!
Can you tell my bent? My bias? We’re a tired bunch. Not in a bad way. But in a “we’re doing a lot in a little time, and we’re stinkin’ tired. Of course, we’re indestructible beasts for the Lord, but we’re tired indestructible beasts for the Lord.” And where do people like us belong? New York City! Go, go, go!
We drove from Upper (northern) Manhattan to Lower (southern) Manhattan on our way to Battery Park. Now usually, this would be a nightmare for a tour bus. But as you can see from the photo above, Sunday morning at 9:00 is the time to visit NYC. Most people are still sleeping, and us Midwestern rubes assume that anyone who is out on the streets is on their way home to bed from the night before. It was easier to hit green lights than it is on Veteran’s Parkway.
You may know that Battery Park is most popular as a place to board a boat to Liberty Island where you can stand at the feet of the Statue of Liberty. The National Park Service has made sure anyone who may have a nervous disposition is put at ease with helpful statues showing what happens in an emergency.
However, the view of Lower Manhattan it provides is impressive. It is already hard to imagine what the World Trade Center looked like towering over the giant wall of urbanization that abuts the park.
Unfortunately the day was quite hazy, so while we weren’t able to get a full view of the skyline. What a hazy day offers is an ethereal and mysterious view of the city against an icon that so many have found inspiring.
After taking ourselves on a brief tour to the statue’s platform, we regrouped in order to hold our own brief church service and, just as our church was doing at home, hold a communion service. Our service included singing, prayer, scripture, and a message from senior Drew Blickensderfer, and 2PC Choir Alum and newly donned Princeton Theological Seminary Alum, Susan Tindal who joined us in Guilford to deliver a critical element of our concert that night—our accompanist. New to Choir Tour this year are not only devotionals, but small group time as well. We have been studying the book of Matthew.
Upon arriving back on the other island (Manhattan), Josh pointed out to us something we had walked past when we entered the park, but hadn’t noticed:
This sculpture stood between the two towers of the World Trade Center for 30 years before the events of 9/11/01. It was constructed as a symbol of peace, and when the two buildings were destroyed, the sculpture, though damaged, somehow survived. It was placed in its current location less than a year after 9/11 and has stood as a symbol of resilience. Additionally, an Eternal Flame was also placed at the site (not pictured). While looking at the statue, I noticed a number of people had placed paper cranes—a symbol of peace to the Japanese—at the foot of the sign describing the sculpture’s history.
Can you believe it’s not even noon yet? Afterwards, we took a short bus ride and a short hike to catch our lunch, and visit the WTC site. On the way, we stopped at Trinity Church, which was featured in the movie Nicholas Cage Looks for Treasure, and other actually important things. The students went inside while I walked down toward the WTC.
1. The building accross the street from the WTC still shows damage.
In the morning we thought we were entering a relatively subdued Manhattan. It was a Sunday. However, Manhattan had other plans. Specifically the Puerto Rican Pride Day parade, which draws tens of thousands of marchers as well as 3 million spectators.
The parade offered an interesting observation on the culture of the city. But that wasn’t the only major event going on in the city. Broadway’s prom night. The Tonys were in town.
The Tonys offer a different view of New York, and two different sides of the Entertainment industry: the talented, hard working, unknown theater actor in the city who were the people in tuxedos and elegant gowns getting out of cabs and walking up subway steps on their way to the ceremony. And we saw the other side: Will Smith getting out of his limo.
Later we were able to stop by St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The Basilica de Notre Dame, where we sang in Montreal, is the second largest building used as a house of worship in North America. St. Patrick’s is the largest. We weren’t able to stay for long, as we needed to make it to Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center. I wasn’t able to join the group for dinner at Ellen’s Stardust Diner, but I suspect video of it is out there somewhere.
1. To the north, Central Park
2. To the south, the Empire State Building was hiding in the clouds.
3. A small crowd of tourists gathered to hear us sing. The choir sounded exceptionally cool with their voices disappearing into the sky just above their heads.
4. While they were singing, a familiar sight appeared.
From Top of the Rock, we boarded the busses and headed across the river to a hotel in NJ for some much needed sleep. Tomorrow, we head down to Princeton, NJ for a tour of the university, then on to nearby Ringoes, NJ for a concert.
Aren’t trundle beds adorable? You know, the kind where a second bed pulls out from under what appears to be a normal twin sized bed? You know, it looks kind of funny when adults sleep in a trundle bed. One, on a tiny twin, the other sleeping on an even smaller mattress in a drawer. But you know what feels good? Sleeping on a flat surface. It feels so good.
We awoke to a surprisingly good continental breakfast (really we’re grateful, we just had low expectations after the unorganized night before). We were quickly out the door to beat the traffic to downtown for our scavenger hunt/tour in Old Montreal. However, the F1 fans and jazz-festers had yet to hit the streets, so the drive that took over an hour the night before, took us to our plaza in the city in just ten minutes, leaving plenty of time for a wonderful devotion led by Jack Kuntz.
1 JK getting things done.
Our tour took us through much of Montreal’s history and gave us the opportunity to observe architecture on side streets we wouldn’t have otherwise encountered. Did I mention it was a competition? Congratulations to Dana’s Dudes, our self described “disinterested tortoises who just wanted to find a Starbucks.” The tour turned out to be great bonding time and much needed exercise before our second longest bus ride of tour.
We were able to leave the city before noon, but were quickly knocked off our schedule by an expectedly slow border crossing (they don’t just wave you back into the U.S. like they do when you head into Canada) and rain in the Adirondack Mountains. But the drive was peaceful, taking us through beautiful country. But between the rain, the mountains, and the border crossing, we were already behind schedule again.
When we finally arrived in Guilford, CT, hometown of director Chris Hollingsworth, the counselors rushed the students into the church and downstairs for a delicious potluck and pasta dinner. Home cooked food was a welcome sight after seven straight meals on the road. While the students ate, the counselors sorted suitcases and delivered them to the students rooms before heading down to dinner ourselves while the students got dressed. The students had positively nervous energy moving into our first full concert of the 2010 tour. And Chris Hollingsworth’s surprise solo (which received a mid-concert standing ovation) wasn’t the only delight of the night.
Heavenly Father, thank you for blessing us with the opportunity to share our enthusiasm for your word. You have taught your children to graciously give, Lord, and with humble hearts we thank you for each mission opportunity. In the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, who loves us the best and teaches us to love, Amen.
