The time has come!
With only 5 hours sleep after getting everything packed up, prayers, and making sure my hair doesn’t look like a broom, this is the day where the choir has been training week after week!
Taking a selfie with my team during the final rehearsal on site, 3 hours before the show starts
It was nothing short of both stress and miracles for all of us: Constantly remembering all the parts, cues, on-stage, off-stage routines, carefully making sure no one falls from the elevated platform / tripped by the wires, getting the timing right all in 2 hours after food.
Thanks to my team (and their moms) who took all these pictures while we were all super busy
I was so everywhere to the point that my team reminded me that I have not changed haha; and they started joking with the “octopus mother hen” term for me, and jokingly and in factually I replied with a wink,
“Now you all know the next conductor’s criteria: hair dresser, makeup artist, usher, mother hen, on top of conducting”
Everyone laughed with the dread to be called as the next conductor (?)
(saw it on some of their faces. It was too funny)
Besides that, all the last minute checking, negotiating with the event organisers, convincing them to trust the sound engineers and don’t “add too many cooks unto dealing the broth”, getting thank you gifts ready (thanks to my leads and team) while I was still running around checking each and every choir has just the right amount make up for stage spotlight, making sure the musician team mood and stress level is well managed with hugs and encouragement, cramping in last minute re-listening run-through songs to make sure I remembered the timing , making sure all voices were warmed up, and then pray with them before heading to stage was that final run was truly requires catching of breath!
This was the clip one of my choir recording when we did our final warm up run before prayers.
The anxious final run was here. Waiting for the sound engineers to be ready, lyrics and prompting on time, and…
The choir nailed it! Finally!
It was so good that I wished that was the actual event and not just the final run through. Tears were already at the corner of my eye but I couldn’t break down now. We still have the main event! To keep that enthusiasm up wasn’t easy, but we must make sure the show must run smoothly! One for Jesus!
_My cheeky team snuck a snap right before it happens. This is what my team was staring while I was facing
Taken by one of the family member of the choir
Then the magic happened! Well, at least for the first round. Everyone enjoyed the praise and worship of 4 different languages, astonished and in awe that the whole choir of mix ethnic group could muster the languages they were not familiar with, but they nailed it!
My leader took this picture with his iPhone before the people came in
The we get to dine in at least a few dishes before running off to get ready for the final run. I only managed to eat a tiny bit of each for the first 5 out of 9 banquet dishes presented. My stomach was just not hungry, and getting everything ready was more important than to enjoy a meal.
However, the chicken soup was DIVINE….
I am so glad that I get to try that herbal chicken soup that warmed my stomach and my heart, and gave additional strength for my legs.
The moment of truth arrives. One more time for JESUS!
Everyone looked nervous in the beginning, courtesy from the official Facebook page
And then...
The choir nailed it one more time! I know my first lead soloist was very nervous, but he started well, and the full team ended with goosebumps! For “considered” amateurs, they were perfect! Every note hit correctly, tempo was right, musicians were on fire, and the presence was God was so tangible. HIS strength carried us through and through!
Thanks to one of the parents who took the short video of the middle final part of the song!
We ended with a grand closing after the benediction prayer. It was so magical and the whole choir never expected this closing, and everyone was just too happy and excited!
Happy Birthday to my church for 60 years of endurance!
May God bless HIS people to persevere this race another 60 years!
Last but not least...
To my team, my forever pride and joy… Words cannot express my gratitude for each and every one of them who seriously put effort to make this happen. This is not a one-man-show. Every single one of them was an important entity. It is the Body of Christ, every limb is equally important, equally tangible and harmoniously shining together.
This was from one of my pastors who shared with me the impact when the choir sings. I hope this genuine worship will continue from this flock , and let their life be an impactful ripple effect for others who are in the same ministry to keep shining.
Here's the snippet from the pastor's husband YouTube channel that was shared to my group this morning. Hope you'll enjoy watching it
Until Then
Thank you again for all your thoughts and prayers HIVE community!
All photos taken by me is using Samsung A23,
other than that, my team’s phones comprises of iPhone, Oppo, and other android phones which I am not certain but contributed into this content
Now we can probably plan for a durian feast haha!
This report was published via Actifit app (Android | iOS). Check out the original version here on actifit.io
