DAY 39 – Sendai, Japan

Jesus, being healing to the hurting people of Sendai Japan. On this anniversary of the Tsunami that struck them on March 11,2010, let your people shine a brighter beam of hope than any other.

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Bring healing and salvation to the children of Sendai. May they reach out to YOU and turn away from the gods of their ancestors. Set them free from tormenting spirits that are appearing as ghosts of their lost family members. Start with the children and let miracles, signs and wonders compel families to Christ!

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You have faithful laborers in Sendai. Encourage them to keep sharing the Gospel. Keep loving the people. Keep sharing the power and presence of God that is available and can change their lives. Bless the Christian pastors and ministries there. Let them begin to see a great harvest of souls in 2013!

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DAY 28 – Misaki Kawamoto

MIsaki Kawamoto singing with all of her heart!

I met Misaki Kawamoto last summer when I was in Japan. I got to spend some time with her when we were at the Doshisha University retreat center working with some of the college students.  She loves to sing Gospel music and is always smiling when she sings.  She told us all that Diana Ross is her favorite singer and she sang a special song for us that Diana Ross had recorded.

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Misaki singing the Diana Ross song for us.

What I remember most about Misaki is a question she asked me one day while we were eating some delicious chicken curry & rice in the dining room.

“How can I FEEL that God loves me”

I received a message from her again today asking a very similar question about how can we know God loves us along with a desperate request for prayer as her faith is fading.

As desperate as she is to feel God’s love, that is how much I am praying for Misaki to KNOW Jesus in a personal way and to feel God’s love for her.

Father God, I am lifting up my friend Misaki Kawamoto today.  She is reaching out for answers about you and needs to feel your presence.  Reveal yourself to her even now and let the seed of faith that was planted in her begin to grow as she learns more about you and of Christ as her savior.  I am praying that she receives the Truth that Jesus is the one true God and you love her.  You love her so much that Jesus sacrificed his life, died, and rose up from death so that we can be saved from an eternal death, live and be free from the curse of sin.  Because of what Christ did, we really can be free from sin and death. Misaki can know you personally and be FILLED with the Holy Spirit, filled with your love, power and joy.  I pray and believe that you will reveal yourself to her in a way that she can understand and receive Jesus, be filled with your spirit and feel your love for her!  

She feels lost and desperate today.  Overwhelm her with your peace.  Give her REST as she sees you as her source of strength and wisdom.  I pray that she puts her trust in you today… fully, completely. 

In Jesus name I pray all these things… AMEN!

Proverbs 3:5-6  (NIV)

DAY 24 – Manifest Conference

My prayer today is for details concerning a conference I’m planning to attend in April in Melbourne, Australia.

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All I can say about this is that I prayed about it and was rather surprised when I felt like The Lord wanted me to attend this conference. I submitted this plan to my Pastor and he graciously affirmed and encouraged me to continue the plans to attend AND agreed to help gather the funds to make this happen.

I have budgeted for $400 in travel costs (cost for taxes & fees for flight as a pass rider) and an additional $400 in expenses for food/tips/conference registration/incidentals.

Dianne Manusama - Pastor at Melbourne Life Church
Dianne Manusama – Pastor at Melbourne Life Church

I am excited to attend this conference and continue the growth that began when I went through the Discipleship ministry School in January. I’m sure I will talk about this more in the coming weeks but for now, this is my prayer:

Father, thank you for such a wonderful opportunity to learn and grow closer to you. I am honored and humbled that I even get to go with both YOUR blessing and my Pastor & church’s support.

Thank you for being my provider for all my needs. I feel like singing a round or two of “Waymaker” right now because I just feel like celebrating your faithfulness and ever surprising goodness! You know the financial need I have for this trip and the cost in my life of being gone. Thank you for providing for every bit of this! I just believe that YOU pay for YOUR plans… You always have. Thank you Jesus!

Thank you for the generous people at church today who made contributions for this trip to happen. Bless them 100x’s back!

My heart is full of thanks. I’m learning to see my needs as simply more space in my life to fill with YOU! Less of me, more of you.

I love you Jesus.

Click HERE to Donate

Pic and a Prayer – DAY 10 The Bridge Ministry Service Project

My prayer focus today is for The Bridge Ministry in Nashville, TN. To learn more about this ministry you can visit http://www.bridgeministry.org/  This ministry reaches the homeless of Nashville, meeting each week under the Jefferson Street Bridge, rain or shine.

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My favorite peanut butter. I had just bought this jar because I was out… but I’m giving it today to someone who needs it more than me.

Today, the members of Christ Church are bringing donations that will be distributed this Tuesday at the Bridge Ministry. People are donating new tents, sleeping bags, blankets, bikes, new underwear, travel sized toiletries and yes…. PEANUT BUTTER.
I love that the church as a community is doing this service project and hopefully people will continue to participate in this ministry in some kind of regular basis.  http://www.christchurchnashville.org/2013/02/05/the-bridge-ministry-service-project/

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A bike, A cart, A sleeping bag… all to be given away at The Bridge Ministry

“The best way I know to pray is to pray the Word of God, so that’s what I’m going to do today. Father God, In Leviticus 19:10 you (God) commanded the Jews that they not “gather every grape of thy vineyard”, but instead : “LEAVE (a portion of) THEM FOR THE POOR AND STRANGER”. Help me to see those less fortunate around me so that I can leave a portion of what you’ve given me to help someone else.  

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The Christ Church Choir sang for The Bridge Ministry in September 2012 and have continued this relationship.

In Matthew 25 you said that if we give to the LEAST of these, we’ve given to you.  I don’t want to be found withholding good from someone when all that I have is yours.  I will give to others as if I am giving it to you.  When the woman with the alabaster box came and poured out all of the expensive oil on your feet, the religious people complained about the cost of her sacrifice… as if it has been wasted on you.   You said “the poor will always be with you and you can help them anytime you want but you won’t always have me.”  You wanted us to know that it was never a waste of resources to GIVE lavishly in thanks and worship to God.  (Mark 14)  Help me see that when I give LAVISHLY to others, leaving a portion of what you have given to me for the poor among us, I am pleasing your heart and you receive those gifts as worship to you.  

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Christ Church Choir members helping unload the food donations

I want to be a living example of Proverbs 3:27 “Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them.”  *one version says “do not abstain to do well to the needy;”

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Members of the Christ Church choir handing out clothes at The Bridge Ministry

*some photos shown courtesy of Sam Mayercik, Christ Church Choir member and faithful volunteer at The Bridge Ministry

Pic and a Prayer – DAY 7 – Austin Cagle family

I hear about so many needs that people have and more often than not, the crux of the need is money. Even if the need itself is some THING, it cost money to have, do, be, acquire that THING.  God has ways of accomplishing things without money but even when He is working things out, He’s simply moving resources from one person to the next.  That said… I am not one of His kids that He’s given alot of money to, though I have assured him that if He wanted to send me several million dollars, I would be happy to pay off several churches debt and fund all sorts of ministries!

Walking down Shop Street in Galway Ireland
Walking down Shop Street in Galway Ireland

This brings me to my pic and a prayer for today. I am praying for my friends Austin and Tiffany Cagle and their girls Moira, Sabra and Isla.  Last summer the Cagles moved to Ireland for a year long mission and adventure as Austin began studies to complete his masters in the study of classical languages (Latin/Greek). Austin is an ordained minister in the Anglican Mission in American and while he has been in Ireland has continued his ministry through a longtime friendship/relationship with Discovery Church in Galway as well as simply building relationships with people at the university.

Austin with his girls Moira, Sabra and Isla
Austin with his girls Moira, Sabra and Isla

I have said before that I don’t have alot of money but I do have a voice and a measure of influence.  I can pray and I know the one who has ALL things in HIS hands. The Cagles still need about $10,000 to finish out this journey in Ireland.  I don’t have the money but I am praying.

“Jesus, I thank you for Austin & his family. I believe that you lead them to Ireland for this year of education/training and ministry. You don’t appoint and plan anything without also having a plan for the financial provision to complete it.  I simply ask that you would send the funds needed for them to finish this time in Ireland and be able to say, We had ALL that we needed. God provided MORE than enough.  Send them fuel for their car, food for their table, shoes for their feet, clothes for their children, money for school, friends for their soul, and encouraging word for their spirit, health for their bodies and rest for their minds.”

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Tiffany at Ashford Castle (one of my favorite places in Ireland!)

If you would like to contribute financially to the need to help the Cagles finish out their mission in Ireland, feel free to click on the link below which will take you to the Non-profit organization that receives their donations, The Global Foundation. Click on the link that says “donate”. You will be taken to a secure page to make your donation. Use the drop-down link and choose “IRELAND-CAGLE” and then make your donation. http://www.theglobalfoundation.org/Contact.html

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Austin preaching in Japan and Pastor Izaya interpretting for him

This isn’t a pic from Ireland but I just wanted to add here at the end that I had the pleasure of going to Japan in 2011 with the group from Christ Church and Austin traveled with us preaching everywhere we went. He was a hit in every city, school and church… people loved him. We started calling him Austin Beiber because he was so popular with the young Japanese girls. We traveled all over the country of Japan on that trip in 2011 and spent alot of time on trains and planes. I always enjoyed sitting and talking with Austin on those long rides, hearing his stories and getting to know him. He loves Jesus and has a genuine heart to do God’s will.

A story of FAITH

This is by far one of my most favorite stories of a prayer of faith. 

George Mueller:

The Mueller’s set off for the United States in August 1877 aboard the Sardian. Off Newfoundland the weather turned cold and the ship’s progress was seriously retarded by fog. The captain had been on the bridge for 24 hours when something happened which was to revolutionize his life. George Mueller appeared on the bridge.

“Captain, I have come to tell you I must be in Quebec by Saturday afternoon.”

“It is impossible,” said the captain.

“Very well, ” said Mueller, “if your ship cannot take me, God will find some other way–I have never broken an engagement for 52 years. Let us go down into the chart-room and pray.”

The Captain wondered which lunatic asylum Mueller had come from.

“Mr. Mueller,” he said, “do you know how dense this fog is?”

“No, my eye is not on the density of the fog, but on the living God, who controls every circumstance of my life.”

Mueller then knelt down and prayed simply. When he had finished the captain was about to pray, but Mueller put his hand on his shoulder, and told him not to.

“First, you do not believe He will,  and second, I believe He has, and there is no need whatever for you to pray about it.”

The captain looked at Mueller in amazement.

“Captain,” he continued, I have known my Lord for 52 years, and there has never been a single day that I have failed to get an audience with the King. Get up, captain, and open the door, and you will find the fog is gone.”

The captain walked across to the door and opened it. The fog had lifted. It was the captain himself, who later told the story of this incident, and who was subsequently described by a well known evangelist as “one of the most devoted men I ever knew.”

It was prayer that swept his soul free of doubt, distemper, and the after-effects of a trial by the incoming tide of peace. For this reason he could make such remarks as this entry on March 9, 1847, “The greater the difficulties, the easier for faith.” And a later one, “The greater the trial, the sweeter the victory.”

His victories came through prayer, trust in the Lord’s unfailing promises and a faith that God’s truth would not fail.

“It is not enough to begin to pray,” he advises us, “nor to pray aright; nor is it enough to continue for a time to pray; but we must patiently, believe & continue in prayer, until we obtain an answer; and further, we have not only to continue in prayer unto the end, but we have also to believe that God does hear us and will answer our prayersMost frequently we fail in not continuing in prayer until the blessing is obtained, and in not expecting the blessing.” 

Each One Reach One

original posting: 06/18/2012

Years ago when I was traveling with the evangelist Lowell Lundstrom singing for his crusade ministry, I used to sing a song every Sunday morning called “Each One, Reach One”.  Babbie Mason, of course, made this song popular and she sang it with so much conviction and passion, I fell in love with both her delivery and the message she shared with us all.

(a pic of me with the Lundstroms)

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Very simple.  Each one, reach one.

The task to “go into the world and preach the Gospel to every nation” is really a very simple one that could be accomplished quite quickly if every Christian would actually do just that.  Which also reminds me that if every Christian would tithe to their local church – there would be no need for government assistance, no government tax system or health care option because the church would have more than enough money to take care of the widows, the fatherless – the poor.  There would be abundance & we’d be looking for places to give the money because there would be more than enough! That’s God’s plan – 10% versus the 40% we pay to the government.  But… that’s another blog.

Just the other day, I looked up some information online about the total population of the earth today.  As of 2011, it is estimated that the population of the earth was approximately 6.9 Billion.  The estimate is that by 2050 we may have a population of around 9 Billion people.

Here is the power of 10.

If I, as one person, reach 10 people

and that process is replicated by each one of them

and that is done 10 times over

… the total would be 10 Billion.

1 x 10 = 10

10 x 10 = 100

100 x 10 = 1000

1000 x 10 = 10,000

10,000 x 10 = 100,000

100,000 x 10 = 1,000,000

1,000,000 x 10 = 10,000,000

10,000,000 x 10 = 100,000,000

100,000,000 x 10 = 1,000,000,000

1,000,000,000 x 10 = 10,000,000,000.

Now, I know this is a little more than each ONE reaching ONE but seriously… do you know 10 people?  Do those 10 people know 10 people that you don’t know? Well, of course they do. Talk about a grass-roots-revival!  If every Christian would make it a commitment to find 10 people to talk to about Christ – and then pass on the challenge to each of those 10 to do the same… look at how the numbers begin to multiply!   Wow… what a challenge to think about.  Even if within the 10 people you talk to – half of them are Christians, you still have touched 10 lives and passed on the challenge for them to talk to 10 people.

What if just within your LIFETIME you simply worked toward the goal of sharing Christ with 10 people & passing on the challenge to do the same.  The numbers are still the same….even over the course of the next 40 years, the population still will not have reached the 10 Billion mark.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this.  Why have I not lived my life more PURPOSEFUL in this way?   I know I have tried to live Christ-like but have I truly lived my life purposeful not only reach the people around me for Christ but to also challenge others to do the same. I would have to honestly answer, no.  But I want to!

I leave you with the words to Babbie’s amazing song.  I cried just now reading them.  I want to do better than I have done in the past.   I commit to reach one, and one, and one and….

Each One, Reach One

by Babbie Mason

Tonight a man is somewhere proclaiming the good news
Winning families to Jesus all around his neighborhood
He tells them that God is able to make their house a home
He wants to win his world for Christ, but he can’t do it alone

But each one can reach one
As we follow after Christ we all can lead one
We can lead one to the Savior
And together we can tell the world that Jesus is the way
If we each one reach one

The message is unchanging, “Go ye into all the world”
And share the love of Jesus far away or door to door
You see, just like somebody told you that Jesus loves you so
You must tell someone, who will tell someone,
Until the whole world knows

That each one can reach one
As we follow after Christ we all can lead one
We can lead one to the Savior
And together we can tell the world that Jesus is the way
If we each one reach one

So will you go and labor
Will you hold high your light
One by one and two by two
We can win our world for Jesus Christ

And each one can reach one
As we follow after Christ we all can lead one
We can lead one to the Savior
And together we can tell the world that Jesus is the way
If we each one reach one

New recording…on the way + more MISSIONS

original post: 02/22/2012

I don’t have alot of details for you right now but just thought I would let everyone know that I am getting ready to record a new project in the coming weeks.  About half of the songs will be public domain favorites and the other half are great church worship standards.

After we recorded the Missions Vol 1 project last summer to raise funds for the Japan missions team, I really wanted to do something similar as a solo project.  I will continue to do missions trips, as God  leads & provides, and I believe this project will be both a tool to help raise funds for those projects and  a vehicle to minister to people who want and need to feel encouragement in the presence of God.

This year I will be traveling to areas in the Middle East to walk & pray as well as a specific missions trip to Israel in June.  My dear friends, Frank & Sandra Young from Houston, TX have invited me to go with them to Israel as part of a group tour but more specifically, to sing and minister in some of the Arab Christian churches in the Haifa area.  I will be able to sing on their radio and TV programs that air the gospel in the Middle East region 24/7 each day. http://www.haifancc.org/
We will also be ministering in a Messianic congregation on Mt. Carmel http://carmel-assembly.org.il/   This Messianic congregation and the Arab Christian congregation fellowship with each other and work well together.  This is a beautiful testimony of what Christianity really is and the wall of separation does not exist!

The trip to Israel is a $3600 trip.  A portion of that cost is for airfare and I am blessed to be able to fly using my companion status so my trip costs will be closer to $2000.   If anyone is interested in going on this trip with me, I would love to have some more friends on the trip!   Feel free to check out the information at the following website and get back with me as soon as possible.  You will need to purchase your airline tickets asap and the balance of $2000 will be due at a later date. http://israeltour.webs.com/

As I mentioned, part of the purpose of the recording project is to fund missions efforts.  First, I have to pay for the project!  The initial cost of the project has already gone down from approximately $5000 to $3500 due to generous donations from people directly involved in the recording.   Deadlines for money are coming up quickly so if you feel that you can make a donation to help with this project, your help is appreciated.

MARCH 12:   deadline for $1500
MARCH 19:   deadline for $1000
MARCH 23:   deadline for $1000

Click on the link below to make a donation for this project and the upcoming Missions trips for 2012.  Any donation of $10 or more will receive a copy of the cd recording.

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=H88NEEF5EGK34

You can also make donations in cash or check.  Make checks payable to Vanessa Maddoux.

Quotes

original post 1/16/2012

I was thinking today about many quotes I’ve heard from missionaries & evangelists who ministered back in the 1800’s and early 1900’s.  I love to read of their faith and courage.  It inspires me to great faith, in the same way I am inspired when I read of Abraham, Moses or Joseph.

“God, send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me. And sever any tie in my heart except the tie that binds my heart to Yours.”
 David Livingstone 
“If you have men who will only come if they know there is a good road, I don’t want them. I want men who will come if there is no road at all.”
― David Livingstone

“I have always said that I have no idea how or why God has carried me over so many funny and hard places, and made these hordes of people submit to me, or why the Government should have given me the privilege of a Magistrate among them, except in answer to prayer made at home for me. It is all beyond my comprehension. The only way I can explain it is on the ground that I have been prayed for more than most. Pray on, dear one — the power lies that way.”  –  Mary Slessor

“Prayer is the greatest power God has put into our hands for service — praying is harder than doing, at least I find it so, but the dynamic lies that way to advance the Kingdom.”    – Mary Slessor

”I wasn’t God’s first choice for what I’ve done for China. I don’t know who it was. It must have been a man—a well–educated man. I don’t know what happened. Perhaps he died. Perhaps he wasn’t willing. And God looked down… and saw Gladys Aylward. And God said, ‘Well, she’s willing.’” – Gladys Aylward

“We never know how God will answer our prayers, but we can expect that He will get us involved in His plan for the answer. If we are true intercessors, we must be ready to take part in God’s work on behalf of the people for whom we pray.” – Corrie Ten Boom

“Never pity missionaries; envy them. They are where the real action is – where life and death, sin and grace, Heaven and Hell converge.” – Robert C. Shannon

“God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supplies.”
– J. Hudson Taylor

“If you are sick, fast and pray; if the language is hard to learn, fast and pray; if the people will not hear you, fast and pray, if you have nothing to eat, fast and pray.”
– Frederick Franson 

“If sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies.  And if they perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay.  If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unprayed for.” – Charles Spurgeon 

God uses people. God uses people to perform His work. He does not send angels. Angels weep over it, but God does not use angels to accomplish His purposes. He uses burdened broken-hearted weeping men and women. –David Wilkerson 

When asked how much time he spent in prayer, George Mueller’s reply was, “Hours every day. But I live in the spirit of prayer. I pray as I walk and when I lie down and when I arise. And the answers are always coming.” — George Mueller.

Japan trip 2011

*This blog post was reposted from my previous website. Original posting was on 8/15/2011

Exactly three weeks from today, I leave for Japan with a team from Christ Church Nashville to sing in a series of concerts across the country, Sept 5-15th.  I am sure you are aware of the devastation that took place in cities like Sendai when the earthquakes earlier this year spawned a massive Tsunami that destroyed everything in its path.  We will be visiting these areas and bringing a message of hope and healing to those who have been affected by this catastrophe.  It’s very surreal to think that God has somehow made a connection between Nashville and Japan for us to bring the Gospel to them in this way and at this time.

A truly divine connection has been made with a young pastor from Kyoto named Yasunori Ayoki.  He was visiting with us in Tennessee when the Tsunami hit (some of you may have heard him pray at the Joel Osteen event in Nashville that week) and in a few short days the invitation to go to Japan was extended to the Christ Church Choir. In just a few weeks, we sent 6 people on a preliminary trip to do some ministry while gathering information to better plan a trip with more people.  The result of that trip was an invitation for a group of 15-20 people to return in September to sing at the Jozenji Jazz Festival in Sendai City along with a series of other concerts from Osaka to Kyoto to Tokyo to Kanazawa!  Something we have learned in these past few months is that the Japanese people LOVE Gospel music and specifically Black Gospel Music. Many choirs there are filled with Christians and non-Christians who all gather to sing together simply because they love the musical style.  This is a wonderful opportunity to share the reason why they are drawn to this music.  The Japanese people are not looking for another religion.  They have plenty of religion.  Introducing them to something greater than religion – a living God, Jesus Christ, who brings them hope and healing – they are interested in that!  I’m so honored to have the opportunity to sing and share Jesus with them.

There’s a song by William McDowell called “As We Worship” and I’ve always loved it. (My friend Lici Brown sang on that project, it’s A-MAZING.)  I was listening to it the other day and at one point in the song he just starts saying, “We’ll see miracles, signs and wonders… miracles, signs and wonders… miracles, signs, and wonders…”  Now, I’ve heard this song a million times so this was not new to me but I felt distinctly that the Holy Spirit was saying that WE WILL SEE MIRACLES SIGNS AND WONDERS as we worship HIM in Japan. So many times in the Bible when you hear about healings and other signs & wonders, it was for the unbeliever, so that he would believe.  Japan is filled with people who need to meet the supernatural, loving, faithful, healing, miraculous God, Jesus Christ. I believe we are going with the power of Christ and we will see these things.   Acts 14:3 (NLT) “But the apostles stayed there a long time, preaching boldly about the grace of the Lord. And the Lord proved their message was true by giving them power to do miraculous signs and wonders.”

Please pray for me during this time…. pray for the whole team.  We have a long trip there and back as well as a very packed schedule while we are there.  It will be easy for our physical bodies to wear down quickly.  I’m blessed to be going on this trip with people that are truly close friends but this will also be hard because we will need to rest our voices as much as possible since we are singing every day (sometimes 2 concerts a day).  Everything we are singing is something that will take 100% energy to do well.  Pray that I have 1000% energy and health during this entire trip!

Some of you know that I have a HUGE blessing in that I am able to fly for free on Continental/United using a companion pass from my dear friend Rhonda.  Because we are leaving on a holiday weekend (Labor Day), this may make my travel a little more difficult.  Depending on pass-travel factors, I may even have to leave for Japan a few days earlier than the rest of the group as well.  I am praying that I can leave on Monday, September 5th so that I don’t have to leave the states earlier than the team.   I will leave Nashville on September 1st to avoid the Labor Day travelers on the weekend and be in Houston, ready to board the plane for Tokyo.   When I arrive in Tokyo, I will have an adventure ahead of me since I will have to board a train to get from Tokyo to Kyoto.  (pray!)   I am told that there are plenty of signs at the Narita Airport that are written in English.  Still, I may be praying for a guiding angel that day!  Once again… pray pray pray!

It’s so fun to see the posters they have created to promote our concerts!

201108~1


Here we are…. with our names written in Japanese!
Alicia Newberry  (soprano and my roomie for the trip)
Elicia Brown  (Who doesn’t like seafood. at. all. Did someone say sushi?)
Vanessa Maddoux  (This Japan trip is part of my weightloss plan)
Shelly Justice  (Soprano but she’s singing alto.  She’s just a sang’n wail’n fool.  That’s all)

singers pic in japanese


and the altos…
Denise Palma  (who just may debut her first solo on this trip!… and will be my peanut butter buddy when I just can’t take the seafood any longer.)
Vicki Pointer  (who has already learned more Japanese than all of us)


our Tenors….

Daniel Palma (well, Daniel is a Bass who is singing Tenor. He’s one of our signs and wonders!) Jay Hodge  (who wins the award for most scrap metal sold to fund the trip) guys


Our AWESOME band!!!  I can’t tell you how excited I am that these guys are going on this trip.  5 STAR TALENT and 5 STAR HEART!
Christopher Phillips (musical director, Mr. Everything)
Garth Justice (drums and resident comedian)
Rich Alves (acoustic guitar and too nice to say anything bad about)
Leif Shires (trumpet and our honorable Japanese language guru)
Randy Smith (bass and vocals…. and Zach’s dad)band


What would we do without these friends?
Amanda Phillips (our cruise director for the trip, also married to Mr. Everything)
Austin Cagle (that’s Reverand Cagle… with his 1 suit)
Lynn Fuston (who will make sure we all sound fabulous)
Zachary Smith ( who will make sure there are plenty of pictures and videos for you to experience Japan as if you were right there with us!)