Chengdu Update

Hi everybody,

First off, WE ARE ALL SAFE AND SOUND DESPITE THE 6.0 EARTHQUAKE THE OTHER DAY. The earthquake hit about 80 miles away and we only felt slight tremors. Also some people back in the states have been relaying back that the news report are saying that most of China is in rubble. This is untrue. We have come across few sections of rubble as most of these places are impossible to reach and are about 50-100 miles away from where we are. The most we see are broken walls or the occasional damaged house.

We had a hard time dealing with the moratorium, because we could not do concerts and we wanted to so badly to do our part for the victims and relief workers.


On Thursday, we had a concert at Guangya IB School outside Chengdu. They are our hosts while we are here in Chengdu. It was a good concert despite there only being about a hundred instead of the 500 that were supposed to be there.

Friday, we did a concert at Pivot Point College here in Chengdu. They really enjoyed our performance and we enjoyed getting to know the students. All of us are very excited to finally be doing concerts again because we want to so badly but couldn't because of the earthquakes and moratorium.

Saturday, we participated in the graduation for the seniors at Guangya IB School. It was hosted at the Crown Plaza here in Chengdu which was a very nice ballroom/ hotel. It was a five hour service, but it was very enjoyable. We were glad to be some of the entertainment during their service.

Sunday, we got to do the service at the Chengdu International Christian Fellowship. This is linked to the BICF we did last Sunday. It was a special time serving them as this was their first Sunday back since the earthquake. It was a blessing to be able to be apart of their service because we weren't sure if their building would be structurely ok for a service to be held. The people here in China so badly need Jesus, and one positive we can take away from the earthquake is that their hearts are open more then ever to the Word. Another benefit of our being here is we are breathing new life to the foreigners over here and ministering to them as well as the Chinese.

Sunday night, we did an outdoor concert at the relief camp. It was so special to see the excitement on their faces as we gave them some joy in the midst of darkness. This camp will be their homes for the next 2-3 months and it broke all our hearts. The people at the concert really were drawn to all the students and it was sad to have to leave them and go back to our hotel while they were stuck in government issued tents.

Monday, today, we had a concert at an Experimental Middle School in Chengdu. It was a huge school which was very nice. Our concert had about 3000 kids at it. The kids treated us like rock stars asking for autographs and having us sign their shirts and books. We were the first American group to ever be allowed to do a concert at this school so that is truly a blessing.

Please pray for safety for the group as well as health as we continue our tour. Also some members are the group are beginning to become homesick, so please pray that the group can stay of sound mind and spirit.

We are trying to get government clearance to do a concert for all the troops helping in relief efforts. This would be a blessing because no American group has ever be able to do that and we are hoping and praying that we are the first group to do so!

We have one concert tomorrow, two on Wednesday, two on Thursday and Friday we head for Guangzhou!!!

We love and miss all of you,

The China Team

Pictures

Great Wall, Chengdu and Pandas

The Great Wall was truly amazing. However, we have left Beijing and are now in Chengdu. It is much closer to the epicenter of the earthquake. We are now only 100 miles away. We have experienced some hardship because of the earthquake which is understandable. We were unable to go to Hanzhong as many of you know. That city is in total disrepair and much help is needed. So instead we went to Chengdu 3 days early. However, the government has issued a mandated 3 day period of memoriam which began on Monday. This means no sporting events or entertainment. So we have to wait to begin our concerts. This has given us time to go more sightseeing and relaxing. Many of us have done more shopping, gotten massages, and many other things here in the city.

Last night a group of students went to the town center and saw a mass of people. We inquired as to what was going on and were told it was a candlelight vigil for those who died in the earthquake. It was truly miraculous to be in the crowd experiencing it with the people. We could see the pain and anguish on their faces, something not often seen in the US. Many people asked us to pray which is amazing. God is doing amazing things in China by His grace, we are simply his feet and hands.

But as some of you know, last night around midnight we all were awoke and told to meet in the lobby. They wanted us all to be together in case anything bad happened. The Chinese government predicted an earthquake of around 6.0 would occur that night so we met to discuss the plan if anything bad were to happen. Thankfully nothing bad happened, there was an earthquake about 80 miles away but not much was felt in Chengdu so praise the Lord for that.

On a happier note today we did more touring and visited the Panda Reserve in Chengdu. We got to see giant, red, and baby panda's and they were so cute we all wanted to take them home. After that we did some more shopping at a town market and had a relaxing rest of the night and were free to do as we pleased. Tomorrow will be more touring before our concerts begin up again on Thursday.

So we are all safe and sound, and Joanna and Cheriss (Members of the Vanguard Singers and Band last year) are meeting us in Chengdu tomorrow and we are all looking forward to that. Please pray for safety, guidance, and health and we continue our trip in China.

I will continue updating as I have a chance so keep checking back.

Love, The China Team

On to Chengdu...

We have had a very nice stay in Beijing but it has
come to a close. We leave tomorrow (Monday for us) for
Chengdu. There we will begin more of our tour phase
and less sightseeing as we have a big chunk of our
concerts in Chengdu. Today we had a wonderful time at
the BICF (Beijing International Christian Fellowship)
which is a Christian church for foreign people. We did
two services one which was bilingual (Mandarin &
English) and the second in just English. It was a good
time of worship and praising God. The group is having
a lot of fun bonding together and getting to know new
people everyday! Thanks for the prayers and support we
love you all!!!! Please continue to pray for the
people affected by the earthquakes and for our group
as we move closer the the impact center of the
earthquake.

Love, The China Team

Beijing!!!

Hey guys, we are safe and sound in Beijing. I tried to get online and update the blog last night when we came in but the internet wasn’t cooperating, so this is the first chance I have gotten.

The flights went well and the check-in procedure worked well with all the equipment plus our personal luggage on top of that. Customs went by much smoother then it has in past years and we made it to the Jin Jiang Inn in decent time for Beijing traffic. The preparations for the Summer Olympics can be seen everywhere and the last minute touches are being added. Our plane landed at the New Terminal 3 which was built especially for the Olympics and was just opened in late March so we are some of the first American’s to go thru such a state of the art facility.

The first night it started raining when we got here and some thunder/ lightning accompanied it, which reminded some of the Midwest thunderstorms from back home. However, today is a “good” day for China standards considering all the smog and pollution within the city.

We now have had three concerts which have all gone pretty well. The first one was at an elementary school which had to be done without sound because of technical issues but the kids still loved it. Our second concert was at one of the Three Self Churches here in Beijing. This particular church we have been to on all three of our trips so that is truly a blessing. Our only concert yesterday was at another Three Self Church in Beijing.

Before our concert yesterday we went to the Forbidden City, Tianamen Square, and The Temple of Heaven. In just a few minutes we will be going to the Great Wall so I will update that later! God Bless!

Love, The China Chorale

Rockin' it in Beijing...

Dear Friends & Family--

We have had contact with the China Team through e-mail and they are safe but a little tired. In the words of one of the students on the trip they are, "Rockin' it in Beijing." They have had two concerts yesterday and have another two concerts today. Once they wake up they will be off singing and playing again. Continue to keep them in prayer as God uses their ministry.

Blessings,
Rachel and Holly
VUSC Music Department

Travel Update

Dear Friends & Family--

As you know, the Vanguard China Chorale is on their way to China tonight! Our contacts just outside of Chengdu, particularly Joanna Bogosian & Cheriss Bayard (VU Alums, teaching in China), have communicated to us that despite the large earthquake, they are safe—and it is safe for us to travel at this time. We will continue to keep tabs on how things progress, and are open to making changes at the last minute if necessary. Please contact the Music Department if you have any questions.

On behalf of Dr. James Melton and the rest of the Music Department, thank you for your prayers and support of Vanguard University’s Music Department, and the spreading of the Gospel throughout the world!

Vanguard University
Music Department

Ready, Set...

Getting ready for China takes a lot of energy and hard work. We are currently working on the choreography for the music, and we are even learning some native Chinese songs.


You can play an important role as we prepare to leave in just under 10 days!!! Please keep us in your prayers this next week and even more so once we are on our tour through the People's Republic of China.


Thank you for all your love and support!


We will be updating all throughout our tour so keep checking back regularly!!


Love,
The Vanguard University China Chorale