The Spain trip in the rearview mirror

It's been three weeks and a day since the Spain music mission team returned from our trip across the Atlantic. Upon reflection and conversations with people I've come in contact with since then, I think it's important to share a few thoughts on the journey.

I've been asked by many friends and family the same question, "How was the trip?"

At first I stumbled through an answer with a standard, "It was remarkable," and that usually did the trick. But, to leave it at that does our experience an injustice in my opinion.

As a trip, yes, it was an unbelievable time in Spain. The beauty of the land, people, and food was truly exquisite. As a music mission trip, it was the sort of experience that lingers and if we are listening to God, can shift words and actions as we move forward.

For us to have played a small role in God accomplishing his purposes in the life of the church in San Sebastián and its congregation is still an amazing thought to me. Taking a group of musicians and singers (even though each of us are flawed people) and allowing us to serve the living God through our music tells me we did what we were called to do. For a brief moment in time, we were fulfilling our short-term purposes.

Not everything was as expected and the group had to work through a variety of challenges brought on by internal as well as external influences. Looking back, it is obvious that we had a group of prayer warriors interceding on our behalf and covering us as we went. We are truly loved and richly blessed to have such support networks in our lives.

We've all seen this written on a car's side mirrors: "Objects in mirror are closer than they appear." Getting perspective on this trip means allowing the experience stay close to our hearts.
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Meet the Team

This post is long overdue especially since we leave on Thursday, March 11. Here is the McKinney Memorial Bible Church's Spain Music Mission Team:

(Left-Right)
Richie Escovedo – saxophone 
Robert Campbell – bass
Cheryl Sanders* – keyboard/piano
Rod Nelson – vocals
Vaughna Kromann – vocals
Thomas Beach – drums
Scott Miller – guitar
Stephanie Cessna – vocals
Shaun Cessna – sound
Steve Newman – guitar, vocals

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Earlier this evening we had our final rehearsal before Thursday's departure. We are tightening up the music and have a better idea of what our daily activities and evangelistic concerts will be once we get to Spain.

*The unexpected
Additionally, we were met with some unexpected news. A member of the original mission team will not be going with us. Cheryl will need to stay here to attend to a personal family matter. Updated 3/10/10 - Unfortunately, an alternate team member will not be able to join us as previously stated.
Please keep praying
Thank you for your faithful prayers. They are much needed and appreciated. Don't stop. We need your prayers. As we prepare to leave, our families, work, and individual situations need covering.

More to come
Let us know what you think about our efforts. Thank you for visiting. We'll have more soon as this blog develops. The comments are yours.

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord

While wrapping up the Book of Psalm, I came across Psalm 150 that I think speaks to the motivation for this short-term mission trip for many of us: 

Psalm 150

 ¹ Praise the LORD.
       Praise God in his sanctuary;
       praise him in his mighty heavens.

 ² Praise him for his acts of power;
       praise him for his surpassing greatness.

 ³ Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
       praise him with the harp and lyre,

 ⁴ praise him with tambourine and dancing,
       praise him with the strings and flute,

 ⁵ praise him with the clash of cymbals,
       praise him with resounding cymbals.

 ⁶ Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
       Praise the LORD.

Although we won't be taking a harp, flute, or trumpet. And I don't even know what a lyre is, I believe our music is going to do great things. The music and singing is coming along. Thank you so much for the prayers covering the team and the support.

First music mission band rehearsal

It has been a while since our first post but be patient with us as we get into the routine of writing. It seems fitting to share thoughts from yesterday's first band rehearsal.

Each band member received the CD of songs to learn and was given another binder, only this one had sheet music, lyrics and charts for the songs. Out of 14 songs currently on the official Spain 2010 Music Mission song list, we went through a grand total of four on Monday. Of those four songs, I think we have one pretty close to being ready to add vocalists.

For the record, I think the process will go quicker once we add the singers to help fill out the sound. Also, we may not chronicle each rehearsal. I just wanted to give you a behind-the-scenes view.

We'll rehearse every Monday night leading up to the March trip. More to come including introductions of the team, music, and more.

It is also exciting to see the support coming in through prayers and financial considerations. Muchas gracias to our support team.

(Photo credit: labanex)

In the beginning there was a binder

Thank you for stopping by the blog for the Short-term Music Mission trip to Spain for McKinney Memorial Bible Church. More posts on the team, location details, and more will be provided in the coming weeks leading up to the March 2010 trip.

 

The photo above is of the binder each team member received explaining a variety of necessary steps, important information, and other items to get us started on this remarkable opportunity to share God's Word through music. More to come...