mom, today i checked my facebook for the first time...tell my friends i love them :) and miss them a whole heck of a lot.
i saw my roommate!!! she said that she would take care of the fridge and something else and that i should get the tv. i wrote her back and gave her my e-mail so it would be easier for you to check. that is all :) love you
ps I almost cried today from the beautiful mountains. my pictures don't do it justice. at all. it's amazing. my host family here is awesome. we stayed with them for 2 nights. tomorrow we leave for someplace far away (i forget the name) but it's about 7 hours away not including stops for lunch, bathroom, gas, ect. I need to get some sleep. good night.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
I'M IN ALASKA!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey everyone! So guess what?!?! I'm finally in Alaska! It's so beautiful and I have a lot of scenery pictures. Our flight came in at about 11:22 am Alaska time. We didn't arrive at the church until about 10:00 pm. We have 3 vans (12 passenger) and we got lost a lot so it took us a while to get here. Our first Alaskan concert is tonight so I will update you later on how it went. :)
Penni, I'm very excited for your son and the decisions he's making. It's so amazing how young he is and how into it he is...I never would have really understood so much at his age. God is awesome.
Penni, I'm very excited for your son and the decisions he's making. It's so amazing how young he is and how into it he is...I never would have really understood so much at his age. God is awesome.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Washington!!!
So tonight I am staying in Yakima, WA. There are 8 girls staying in this house and we're having a lot of fun.
I thought I'd tell you all about the actual show we are doing. We start out with the musical "The Dreamer". It is the story of Joseph, written by Cam Floria, the president of Continentals. It's a 48 minute show that is kind of like Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat, but not... After that, we leave and come back in another outfit (black pants and pink shirt) and we sing 6 more songs. In between songs we have different things like an "invitation" which is an invitation to accept Jesus as your savior for the first time or as a rededication. We have a presentation for "Compassion" which is a child sponsor organization. Then we have an offering which is mainly being used to get us to Alaska right now. (we originally needed to raise $3500 as a tour and we are getting pretty close.) That's about it. It's fun!
People are telling me to get off the pc now so I must go. But until then, I will miss you all a whole heck of a lot.
monday i'll be in alaska.
ps mom and dad, our Kent concert was canceled for another concert in kent...so i don't know how I'm gonna get the package (could you call the church???)
I thought I'd tell you all about the actual show we are doing. We start out with the musical "The Dreamer". It is the story of Joseph, written by Cam Floria, the president of Continentals. It's a 48 minute show that is kind of like Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat, but not... After that, we leave and come back in another outfit (black pants and pink shirt) and we sing 6 more songs. In between songs we have different things like an "invitation" which is an invitation to accept Jesus as your savior for the first time or as a rededication. We have a presentation for "Compassion" which is a child sponsor organization. Then we have an offering which is mainly being used to get us to Alaska right now. (we originally needed to raise $3500 as a tour and we are getting pretty close.) That's about it. It's fun!
People are telling me to get off the pc now so I must go. But until then, I will miss you all a whole heck of a lot.
monday i'll be in alaska.
ps mom and dad, our Kent concert was canceled for another concert in kent...so i don't know how I'm gonna get the package (could you call the church???)
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Long drive ahead!
So I think tomorrow, We're off to Idaho. I think it's like a 6-8 hour drive. I'm excited. That means a lot of sleepy time!
yes mom, my garment bag was the right type. but the zipper broke. If you could send me a new one, that would be GREAT! and a watch would be nice...and maybe some more black socks because I don't know where all of mine went. haha love yooouuu!
The bus is probably out of the early 80's. It says "Continentals" really big on the side and the seats recline really far. we have to turn off the air conditioning when we go up big hills so that we will have enough energy to get to the top and then coast down and possibly miss a stop sign because the breaks don't work and then the cops pull us over our giant bus full of missionaries and yell at us. Don't worry, we got the breaks fixed. It was kind of a comical situation...but it does get very hot going up the mountains.
So I forget to tell you...our first concert...we have this thing called counseling and it's the part of the concert where people can actually accept Christ into their lives for the first time or rededicate their lives to him. At that time, a group of us go out into the audience and pray for the people with their hands up. The first concert, I was one of the "counselors" and I had the opportunity to pray for a girl about my age that wanted to rededicate her life to Christ. It was a neat experiance to be on that side. Usually I'm the one at the concert being touched by the music. And this time it was someone else whom God touched so much through us, that she wanted to rededicate her life. It was really cool.
Peace Out! I'll update again soon.
PS I really like getting the comments! You guys are awesome. JCAse, you make me laugh every time. :)
yes mom, my garment bag was the right type. but the zipper broke. If you could send me a new one, that would be GREAT! and a watch would be nice...and maybe some more black socks because I don't know where all of mine went. haha love yooouuu!
The bus is probably out of the early 80's. It says "Continentals" really big on the side and the seats recline really far. we have to turn off the air conditioning when we go up big hills so that we will have enough energy to get to the top and then coast down and possibly miss a stop sign because the breaks don't work and then the cops pull us over our giant bus full of missionaries and yell at us. Don't worry, we got the breaks fixed. It was kind of a comical situation...but it does get very hot going up the mountains.
So I forget to tell you...our first concert...we have this thing called counseling and it's the part of the concert where people can actually accept Christ into their lives for the first time or rededicate their lives to him. At that time, a group of us go out into the audience and pray for the people with their hands up. The first concert, I was one of the "counselors" and I had the opportunity to pray for a girl about my age that wanted to rededicate her life to Christ. It was a neat experiance to be on that side. Usually I'm the one at the concert being touched by the music. And this time it was someone else whom God touched so much through us, that she wanted to rededicate her life. It was really cool.
Peace Out! I'll update again soon.
PS I really like getting the comments! You guys are awesome. JCAse, you make me laugh every time. :)
Monday, July 21, 2008
Host Homes
Thank you to everyone who has hosted me. You've all been great and without you our ministry would not be possible. Please keep in touch and feel free to comment on any postings.
Thank you to:
The Anderson family (Riverside) -Thanks for putting up with us for 2 nights. :) I had a lot of fun and have a new appreciation for frozen yogurt!
Bev (Fresno, CA) -Your "eggs goldenrod" was delicious!
Becky and Steve (Nevada) -Your house is beautiful and I really enjoyed talking with you and hope to see a herd of wild horses tomorrow morning!
Pennie Carroll-I really enjoyed talking to you. Thank you so much for hosting us! It wasn't my black sock that was left, but I'm sure it was left special to you as a going away present. haha Thanks again!
O'Grady family-I had a really great time talking with you. Thank you.
Weber family-Thank you for the delicious breakfast and a wonderful night. I really liked your robotic fish pond :)
Peggy and Darrell-Thank you for taking in all 8 of us girls. We had a lot of fun!
Mark and Charlotte Hooper (AK) - Thank you so much for taking us in for 2 nights! It was really great meeting you and talking with you. All the girls say hi.
Whisenhant family (AK) - Canoeing was AWESOME! I'm so happy we got to do that in Alaska nonetheless. Thank you.
Grandpa Jack and Grandma Joyce (AK)- Alex and I had a wonderful time visiting with you. Thank you for the special hot choc. treat before bed and the delicious breakfast in the morning. You guys are a really cute couple. :)
Hannah Pennell (AK)- Thank you so much for insisting on hosting Selah and I. You guys were so much fun and it was especially cool to be hanging out with hosts our age. I don't regret staying up until 1:30. lol We had an awesome time.
Cleon and Joyce Glaze- I loved visiting with you and learning about the FBI. :) The scones in the morning were delicious! I'll make sure to e-mail you and get the recipe!
Curt and Edie Komning (John Day, OR)- Elliotte and I had a great time at your home. All of your paintings are very beautiful. I'm a little jealous of your talent... :)
Mary- Thank you for taking all 10 of us girls. We had a wonderful time! You're house is beautiful.
Anna and Dave Stewart (Sacramento, CA) - It was so great to spend my night off at your house. I really enjoyed talking with you and learned a lot from our conversations. Thank you also for the DELICIOUS food! :)
Maggie and family- Natisha and I had a great time at your house. It was neat being in a house where the Continentals was literally a part of your lives. Thanks for the huge lunch! :)
Thank you to:
The Anderson family (Riverside) -Thanks for putting up with us for 2 nights. :) I had a lot of fun and have a new appreciation for frozen yogurt!
Bev (Fresno, CA) -Your "eggs goldenrod" was delicious!
Becky and Steve (Nevada) -Your house is beautiful and I really enjoyed talking with you and hope to see a herd of wild horses tomorrow morning!
Pennie Carroll-I really enjoyed talking to you. Thank you so much for hosting us! It wasn't my black sock that was left, but I'm sure it was left special to you as a going away present. haha Thanks again!
O'Grady family-I had a really great time talking with you. Thank you.
Weber family-Thank you for the delicious breakfast and a wonderful night. I really liked your robotic fish pond :)
Peggy and Darrell-Thank you for taking in all 8 of us girls. We had a lot of fun!
Mark and Charlotte Hooper (AK) - Thank you so much for taking us in for 2 nights! It was really great meeting you and talking with you. All the girls say hi.
Whisenhant family (AK) - Canoeing was AWESOME! I'm so happy we got to do that in Alaska nonetheless. Thank you.
Grandpa Jack and Grandma Joyce (AK)- Alex and I had a wonderful time visiting with you. Thank you for the special hot choc. treat before bed and the delicious breakfast in the morning. You guys are a really cute couple. :)
Hannah Pennell (AK)- Thank you so much for insisting on hosting Selah and I. You guys were so much fun and it was especially cool to be hanging out with hosts our age. I don't regret staying up until 1:30. lol We had an awesome time.
Cleon and Joyce Glaze- I loved visiting with you and learning about the FBI. :) The scones in the morning were delicious! I'll make sure to e-mail you and get the recipe!
Curt and Edie Komning (John Day, OR)- Elliotte and I had a great time at your home. All of your paintings are very beautiful. I'm a little jealous of your talent... :)
Mary- Thank you for taking all 10 of us girls. We had a wonderful time! You're house is beautiful.
Anna and Dave Stewart (Sacramento, CA) - It was so great to spend my night off at your house. I really enjoyed talking with you and learned a lot from our conversations. Thank you also for the DELICIOUS food! :)
Maggie and family- Natisha and I had a great time at your house. It was neat being in a house where the Continentals was literally a part of your lives. Thanks for the huge lunch! :)
Nevada
Hi everyone! You all make me so happy to see 12 comments!!! Right now I'm sitting at my host home's computer in Nevada. They have an awesome house overlooking everything you could imagine. It's so beautiful here. Yesterday, we left Fresno, CA on our bus and drove about 5 hours to South Lake Tahoe. We had a night off (because there was nothing booked) and went out to dinner and then went swimming in the lake. It was soooo beautiful. Last night we had to stay in a hotel because of some confusion with a church and then this morning, we performed at the 11 am service. After that we drove to Nevada (about a 1 1/2 hour drive) Our bus is very old so it is very slow going up hills. And there are a lot of them. It was my first time driving through the mountains and it was really cool. I took lots of pictures.
We had a really good show tonight. The past 2 were full of technical difficulties so tonight's success was definately a blessing. Did I mention to you guys that I'm the stage manager for our tour. That means they picked me to be in charge of setting up and breaking down and things like that. It's a pretty big job and is kind of fun when people have to ask me for things to do. :)
I'm learning a lot about all the different people on my tour and I really love them all so much. I never realized how much having christian friends can make an impact on you. Everyone is truly in love with God and their ability to share stories has brought everyone together even more. I've already been taught so much and have been impacted by the people I've met.
I just wanted to say again how happy I am to be here and that I can't imagine being anywhere else at this moment. A cool thing that happened yesterday: we drove past a herd of buffalo...yes buffalo. I think only the Seeds of Hope people can truly understand this. It was kind of like God telling me this is where I'm suppose to be. I'm missing the South Dakota trip this year and yet I still saw my buffalo that I thought I would have only been able to see in SD. That might be a little far fetched but it was cool for me.
To mom & dad, I'm going to try and call you tomorrow, but you might be working...just an fyi I swam in lake tahoe with my beautiful zebra striped watch on and it ceases to work. and my garment bag ripped. so i am without a watch and sharing a garment bag for the time being. The care package you sent me is awesome and i've been carrying it around with all of my stuffcuz there's so much food, I don't know what to do with it all. I already ate all of the fig neutons...haha
mommy, i really like what you sewed into my pants because whenever I see it I think of you. :)
ps stop using my blog to update on other things. silly goose. my blog. :)
does anyone have any questions they want to ask? miss you all!
pps mom, tomorrow morning I plan to jump rope. We've been fed extremely well and I've probably gained a few!
ppps Jcase, I've actually showed a couple people the pelvic jazz square. they haven't quite mastered it yet. and elyse, everyone really likes the "squeeze the ketchup" move.
pppps i thought we were going to idaho tomorrow but actually we're going to winnemucca...wherever the heck that is.
We had a really good show tonight. The past 2 were full of technical difficulties so tonight's success was definately a blessing. Did I mention to you guys that I'm the stage manager for our tour. That means they picked me to be in charge of setting up and breaking down and things like that. It's a pretty big job and is kind of fun when people have to ask me for things to do. :)
I'm learning a lot about all the different people on my tour and I really love them all so much. I never realized how much having christian friends can make an impact on you. Everyone is truly in love with God and their ability to share stories has brought everyone together even more. I've already been taught so much and have been impacted by the people I've met.
I just wanted to say again how happy I am to be here and that I can't imagine being anywhere else at this moment. A cool thing that happened yesterday: we drove past a herd of buffalo...yes buffalo. I think only the Seeds of Hope people can truly understand this. It was kind of like God telling me this is where I'm suppose to be. I'm missing the South Dakota trip this year and yet I still saw my buffalo that I thought I would have only been able to see in SD. That might be a little far fetched but it was cool for me.
To mom & dad, I'm going to try and call you tomorrow, but you might be working...just an fyi I swam in lake tahoe with my beautiful zebra striped watch on and it ceases to work. and my garment bag ripped. so i am without a watch and sharing a garment bag for the time being. The care package you sent me is awesome and i've been carrying it around with all of my stuffcuz there's so much food, I don't know what to do with it all. I already ate all of the fig neutons...haha
mommy, i really like what you sewed into my pants because whenever I see it I think of you. :)
ps stop using my blog to update on other things. silly goose. my blog. :)
does anyone have any questions they want to ask? miss you all!
pps mom, tomorrow morning I plan to jump rope. We've been fed extremely well and I've probably gained a few!
ppps Jcase, I've actually showed a couple people the pelvic jazz square. they haven't quite mastered it yet. and elyse, everyone really likes the "squeeze the ketchup" move.
pppps i thought we were going to idaho tomorrow but actually we're going to winnemucca...wherever the heck that is.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Mission
The Congregational Church of East Hampton Connecticut has a lot to be proud of. Mission.
This morning members, includiing 4 adults and 12 teens are waking in the Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota. (From 1980 to 2000, the counties that make up Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota comprised the poorest of our nation's 3,143 counties.)
Throughout the week these volunteers, will participate in various work projects across the Reservation, helping to rebuild relationships, homes, and lives. Today, after breakfast they will go to Wounded Knee Cemetery for a time of reflection, communion, and prayer. Lord be with this group as they bring your good news of love and hope into a world of pain and suffering.
This morning Jillian wakes in the home of a host family. Her day will be busy. The Continental Singers will be performing at an 11 am service at the First Baptist Church in South Lake Tahoe. After, they will travel to Gardnerville, NV for a 6:30 pm performance at High Sierra Fellowship. We’re anxiously awaiting any news from Jillian and recall frequently that “no news is good news”. The tour itinerary shows that so far they have had 3 performances; 1 in Riverside and 2 in Fresno CA. Lord keep Jillian safe as she journeys into the homes and lives of strangers.
Posted by Nancy and Lance
This morning members, includiing 4 adults and 12 teens are waking in the Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota. (From 1980 to 2000, the counties that make up Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota comprised the poorest of our nation's 3,143 counties.)
Throughout the week these volunteers, will participate in various work projects across the Reservation, helping to rebuild relationships, homes, and lives. Today, after breakfast they will go to Wounded Knee Cemetery for a time of reflection, communion, and prayer. Lord be with this group as they bring your good news of love and hope into a world of pain and suffering.
This morning Jillian wakes in the home of a host family. Her day will be busy. The Continental Singers will be performing at an 11 am service at the First Baptist Church in South Lake Tahoe. After, they will travel to Gardnerville, NV for a 6:30 pm performance at High Sierra Fellowship. We’re anxiously awaiting any news from Jillian and recall frequently that “no news is good news”. The tour itinerary shows that so far they have had 3 performances; 1 in Riverside and 2 in Fresno CA. Lord keep Jillian safe as she journeys into the homes and lives of strangers.
Posted by Nancy and Lance
Monday, July 14, 2008
at the hotel...
HI everyone! I miss you all so much! I'm having so much fun and can't believe I'm actually here. I don't have much time to right anything because i'm at the hotel and there's a lot of people in line for the computer. But I just wanted to tell you all how grateful I am for your love and support. Everything just feels so right being here and I couldn't wish to be anywhere else in the world right now.
Talk to you soon!
~Jill
Talk to you soon!
~Jill
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Rehearsal Camp Day 7
1:00 AM and the phone rang....it was Jill....yahoo!
All is VERY WELL...This is day 7 of 10 days of Rehearsal Camp, then they take the tour on the road.... they are working hard on the performance, about 12 hours/day, they even focus on their music duing lunch. "No time to be homesick"
There are 10 boys and 15 girls in her group. The group has amazing talent. They were allowed to try out for 1 solo, she sang "When I Survey", the song she sang on Children's Sunday. They practice at a huge church with many buildings. The other Continental groups are also rehearsing at same place but will be touring seperate from the Frontline Continentals. She said she's enjoying the religious conversations.
Jill is anxious to write in this blog and was happy to hear that people are checking in. Once on the road, she hopes to get access to a host family computer.
Posted by mom and dad
All is VERY WELL...This is day 7 of 10 days of Rehearsal Camp, then they take the tour on the road.... they are working hard on the performance, about 12 hours/day, they even focus on their music duing lunch. "No time to be homesick"
There are 10 boys and 15 girls in her group. The group has amazing talent. They were allowed to try out for 1 solo, she sang "When I Survey", the song she sang on Children's Sunday. They practice at a huge church with many buildings. The other Continental groups are also rehearsing at same place but will be touring seperate from the Frontline Continentals. She said she's enjoying the religious conversations.
Jill is anxious to write in this blog and was happy to hear that people are checking in. Once on the road, she hopes to get access to a host family computer.
Posted by mom and dad
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Rehearsal Camp Day 3
Jillian has left a phone message, 5:30 am (PST)
"Pactice is hard. Trying out for solos today.
Long day planned, won't be back in room till 9:30 pm"
posted by mom
"Pactice is hard. Trying out for solos today.
Long day planned, won't be back in room till 9:30 pm"
posted by mom
Saturday, July 5, 2008
New Beginnings
Jillian just phoned and she has safely landed in LAX. She sounded very excited and asked us to update the blog until she got computer access.
At the airport she met other groups that are also beginning their tour today. The groups included Jillian's group: Front Line Continentals (age 16-28), as well as the Young Continentals (12-16) and a Worship Band (age 16-28). Jillian said she was being bused to Oxnard CA where they would be staying during the 10 day rehearsal camp. (Actual rehersals are at a Baptist Church in Ventura CA). She also said everyone that she's met so far "are great".
FYI....we asked Wes what to title the blog post and he suggested "New Beginnings". I was really surprised at his response because little did he know that the concert program is titled, NEW BEGINNINGS, which is year-long continuing celebration of the Continentals 40th anniversary!
Nancy and Lance (mom & dad)
At the airport she met other groups that are also beginning their tour today. The groups included Jillian's group: Front Line Continentals (age 16-28), as well as the Young Continentals (12-16) and a Worship Band (age 16-28). Jillian said she was being bused to Oxnard CA where they would be staying during the 10 day rehearsal camp. (Actual rehersals are at a Baptist Church in Ventura CA). She also said everyone that she's met so far "are great".
FYI....we asked Wes what to title the blog post and he suggested "New Beginnings". I was really surprised at his response because little did he know that the concert program is titled, NEW BEGINNINGS, which is year-long continuing celebration of the Continentals 40th anniversary!
Nancy and Lance (mom & dad)
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
HOW TO LEAVE A COMMENT:
If you would like to comment on a post, it is very easy. Go to the bottom of the latest post or whichever one you would like to comment on. It will say "0 comments" or a different number depending on who has commented. Click on that. On the right hand side of the page will be a box that says "Leave your comment". Type your comment there. Under the comment box, it says "choose an identity". If you click on "name/url" then you can type your name in (ignore url). Last, but not least, click the orange rectangle that says "Publish Post".
I look forward to hearing from you!
I look forward to hearing from you!
Fundraising Complete!
I am officially done fundraising and I still can't believe thel $5000 was raised. It's all because of every one of you and it's just amazing that we pulled it off. :)
I leave this Saturday at 4am with a 6am flight. I'm so excited!!! I should arrive in Los Angeles at about 11am (Pacific Time).
And this is when I will begin to take the final steps of the journey we started together in November.
It's amazing how all of this started. I just applied to Continental Singers after hearing positive remarks from a cousin who also was a part of its ministry. The first step was wondering if I'd even get in. It started out as just being a traveling choral group which toured around singing the type of music I liked and spreading beliefs that I shared. Through all of the fundraising stages and learning what the Continental Singers actually are, as a ministry, I have learned an incredible amount about myself, God, my faith, my family, and my church community and I haven't even gone on the trip yet. If I had left for this trip right when I signed up, I only could have imagined I was spiritually ready for it. At first everyone's generous contributions were supporting me to go on a mission trip of musical ministry. Now I realize that you were giving your money to God, and sending me to do his work. I have a much deeper understanding now than I did in the beginning and it would not be so without your help. God Bless You All.
Be with me on the last leg of the journey to spread the love and word of God.
I leave this Saturday at 4am with a 6am flight. I'm so excited!!! I should arrive in Los Angeles at about 11am (Pacific Time).
And this is when I will begin to take the final steps of the journey we started together in November.
It's amazing how all of this started. I just applied to Continental Singers after hearing positive remarks from a cousin who also was a part of its ministry. The first step was wondering if I'd even get in. It started out as just being a traveling choral group which toured around singing the type of music I liked and spreading beliefs that I shared. Through all of the fundraising stages and learning what the Continental Singers actually are, as a ministry, I have learned an incredible amount about myself, God, my faith, my family, and my church community and I haven't even gone on the trip yet. If I had left for this trip right when I signed up, I only could have imagined I was spiritually ready for it. At first everyone's generous contributions were supporting me to go on a mission trip of musical ministry. Now I realize that you were giving your money to God, and sending me to do his work. I have a much deeper understanding now than I did in the beginning and it would not be so without your help. God Bless You All.
Be with me on the last leg of the journey to spread the love and word of God.
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