Louise Craig arrives in ZA and coments about the first rehearsal

Hello everyone,

Here are some great thoughts from Louise regarding her experience so far and even some comments on how the first rehearsal went.

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25 July 2012

Lou, Connie and Louise rehearsed with the Arise, O Man chorus at the Orlando West SDA Church in Soweto. Like their American counterparts, they were struggling to learn the Hallelujah Chorus. Connie was struggling to play the accompaniment. It’s a challenging piece to play in the best of circumstances but the piano was not only out of tune, several of the keys were sticking.

Rehearsal broke up around 8:45, followed by prayer. Then we hightailed out of the parking lot on our way to the airport to greet Group 1. Fortunately (unfortunately if you’re Virginia Oliver), one of Virginia’s suitcases didn’t show up – or was picked up by someone else as there was a suitcase of similar color left on the carousel. That made them very late entering the terminal.

On our way to the airport, we came upon a very serious accident. Several cars were involved, one of them very badly smashed. We said a quick prayer for those involved and worked our way through the traffic. Because of the luggage issue, we were able to make it into the arrival terminal before they came through.

A group of singers from the African chorus were on hand, standing apart from us so they wouldn’t be readily identified as belonging to us. Once all of the Americans were through the gate, the African chorus burst into Bawo Thixo Somandla, with all the gusto and passion of those who really understand what the song is about.

The arrival terminal is open vertically to a couple of stories. People were lining the railings on the floors above us, some of the locals joining in.

Judging by the smiles on the American faces, it was a joyous reception.

The wonderful thing about being part of the worldwide Adventist family is just that – a family was clearly welcoming and being welcomed.

Another group arrives tonight, but their reception will be much more subdued. The African group is hosting a fundraising event tonight so the singers will be occupied. Wish those coming tonight could have experienced those amazing moments.

At this moment, a busload of jet-lagged Americans is experiencing a tour of Soweto, the birthplace of the antiapartheid movement in Africa. The Orlando West church is just a couple of blocks from the heart of the events that changed a nation. This country’s recent tumultuous history surrounds the area and deeply affects those singing with us.

Black and white people talking, hugging, working and ultimately singing together is the face of hope and change in South Africa. We can hardly wait for our first joint worship Friday evening.
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Louise Craig

Richard Crowley arrives in ZA

Hello Everyone,

There is lots of exciting material coming in from South Africa (ZA) right now so there will be a number of blog posts going up. This first one is from Richard Crowley and his experience of the trip and arrival in ZA.

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Thursday morning, Randburg (Johannesburg suburb), South Africa

Group 1 met at the Sunnyside church to collect our baggage and ourselves in preparation for the long journey to South Africa. Alas, because the President was in town, the group of guys from Idaho (Gem State Academy) were delayed and not able to arrive in time to join us. But they were re-scheduled on a later flight. (Editor's Note: delayed do to mechanical problems not the Pres.)

The PAA bus took us and our luggage to PDX where we made it through all the check-in, TSA screening, etc. and relaxed for a while at gate D11 for the first leg to Amsterdam.  The flight was long but bearable. Many of our were seated together and enjoyed getting to know each other better during the flight. We arrived in Amsterdam a bit early, but were significantly delayed while we waited for them to find stairs tall enough to reach our aircraft door. The one they finally found was only 6 inches too short.

After the delay getting off the plane we had just enough time to walk across the large Amsterdam airport to get to our departure gate for the leg to Jo’berg. Another even longer flight due south down the length of the African continent and we finally arrived at O.R.Tambo International Airport, again a bit early due to tailwinds. And again we were delayed for a while, this time by a problem with luggage (somebody else picked up one of our bags and left us theirs). But then we exited the international arrivals area and were greeted by an enthusiastic group of our African brother singers welcoming us to their country.

A long bus ride across Johannesburg late at night took us to the very nice Apollo Hotel in the Randburg suburb north of the city where we checked in and finally got horizontal for the first time in ~24 hours.  Fortunately, the exhaustion helped us start adjusting to the 9 hour difference in time zone. On Thursday morning, we had a great breakfast in the hotel. We had warned them that a large contingent of vegetarians/vegans were coming and they did a great job accommodating us, even proving a good supply of vege-sausage along with all the other tasty breakfast items.

 

We are planning on leaving the hotel around noon for a sight-seeing trip out to Soweto and then we may be singing this evening for a fund-raiser program to help more of our African brothers join us on the journey singing around their country.  

Camp Meeting 2012 Rehearsal Pictures

Camp Meeting 2012, a set on Flickr.

Here are some additional pictures from the evening rehearsal including a couple of shots of the King's Heralds warming up with us.

Rehearsing for evening program

We've taken the stage for our rehearsal for a run-through with the orchestra. If you can't be with us, you can see tonight's program via live video streaming at 7 pm at http://www.oregonconference.org/

Arise, O Man!

One of OAMC's anthems is a familiar hymn, "Rise Up, O Men of God," a call to which the men of OAMC have chosen to respond. 


The theme of the mission in South Africa has been named "Arise, O Man." 


So far some of the festival concert dates we know are:

• Cape Town, ArtsCape, August 4 
• Grahamstown, Guy Butler Theatre, August 7 
• Durban, University of Durban-Westville, August 9
• Johannesburg, WITS Great Hall, Witts University, August 11 

Be sure to follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/oamchorus

Members & families fellowship

P1040065
Originally uploaded by oamcsinger

After our rehearsal on July 14, many members and their family members enjoyed the potluck picnic on the lawn of Sunnyside SDA Church.

In addition to an African tune or two, we rehearsed a couple of pieces we anticipate singing with the King's Heralds.

Be sure to join us for the Sabbath evening meeting on July 21 at the Gladstone camp meeting.

Herb Kroschel memorial on March 19

The memorial service for Herb Kroschel will be held on March 19 at 4 p.m., at the East Salem Seventh-day Adventist Church, 5575 Fruitland Rd. NE, Salem, OR. Get directions.

Peggy Kroschel and the boys are recovering at her parents' home in Vancouver, Wash.

OAMC website: www.oamc.org