Hey, whatcha Gonna Do, Ms. Jones?

  We are in the middle of the longest stretch of driving Ian, Emily and I will have all summer.  We just finished working at the Ashland Kroc Center yesterday and headed out this morning for our Boston Kroc Center performance to be held tomorrow evening.  I love Boston!  Or Beantown as my Aunt Carolyn so lovingly calls it; as do many other native Bostonians.  After tomorrow night's performance, we are getting a day and a half break!!  Yipeee!! In Boston!!! Sign me up!  The only thing that looks bad for us is this dreadful heat wave.  Lord make is stop!!  Oh well, we will try to enjoy that wonderful city with 104 degree weather or not.

The Ashland performance went very well last night.  They put us in the paper the day of the show and the article was great! Except that now the team likes to call me Ms. Jones.  If you know me at all, you know that's not my name, but now the town of Ashland thinks it is.  Haha!
The Kroc Center kids did a wonderful job.  You should have seen Taylor (a.k.a. Joseph) standing there in his bright coat with all of these kids surrounding him singing, "Any Dream will do".  The picture was just beautiful!  The rest of the CAST stood with the kids singing and then at the end of the song danced off stage with them.  It was so enjoyable to watch.  Everyone seemed like they were having a blast.  While the kids sang, I saw one little boy in the front of the stage who was so excited to be singing he mimed playing the drums with our drummer, Aaron.

I have to tell you that the people in Ashland, OH are wonderful!  The kids are wonderful, the staff is wonderful and if you ever get to meet the nice lady in the big grey house who lives on center street, you will be blessed by God for the rest of your days.

Colossians 3:23 (NLT)

²³ Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.

( CAST 2011 - Sweatin to the the Oldies!  Richard Simmons would be proud!)

Next day, far from home. . .

  We are currently finishing up our time at the Dayton, Ohio Corps Community Center.  In fact, we leave today to drive three hours to Ashland, Ohio.  Our time in Dayton has been a joy and the team loved working with the young people here.  We had an older group than we have had at our previous camps, so it meant a bit of adjustment to our usual plan.  But, we had fun adjusting things and being able to do things we are not able to do with a younger crowd.  
On Thursday evening the team performed "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" and there was a dessert party afterward.  They performed a great show, even with one of the leads being ill.  Our Narrator went up there and gave it her all and blew us away with all the energy she was able to muster for the performance.The dessert party was a lot of fun and many of the CAST members were able to see family and friends they had not seen in a while.  The room was wonderfully decorated with an Egyptian them and Joseph's coat in the center. 
On Friday afternoon at 3:30pm the kids performed the pieces they had learned at the Music and Drama Day Camp the team conducted.   There was a chorus, drama and worship band.  The kids learned all of the material in a week and pulled off a fantastic finale.  We were all beaming with pride, as were the parents who were able to see their children on stage.
So, today the team will be conducting the call to worship, worship and performing a sketch written by one of the CAST members for Dayton's Sunday service.  Then at 2pm we will be leaving for Ashland, OH were the team will be conducting another day camp from Monday through Thursday and performing on Thursday evening.  
Please keep us in your prayers as we travel and minister to children through the performing arts.  It is such an honor for me to be able to hang out with such a talented group of young people whose hearts love the Father and are eager to grow in knowing Him more.

Love & Blessings to you all!
-E

Below is a picture of us bowling during the week of rehearsals in New Jersey.  You will notice the horrendous neon colored bowling shoes. 

CAST 2011 - Performance Dates

   These are the dates, locations and times of our upcoming performances:

• Camp SWONEKY in Oregonia, OH - Wednesday, July 13 @ 7pm

•  Dayton Kroc Center in Dayton, OH - Thursday, July 14 @7pm

• Ashland Kroc Center in Ashland, OH - Wednesday, July 20 @12pm & Thursday, July 21 @6pm

•  Boston Kroc Center in Boston, MA - Saturday, July 23 @ 7pm

• Newburyport, MA in the outdoor village square - Wednesday, July 27 @1pm

• Old Orchard Beach, ME pavilion - Thursday, August 4 @ 7pm

• The School for Officer Training in Suffern, NY - August 7 @ 6pm

If you happen to be nearby to any one of these locations, we invite you to come out and see us.
Admission to all of these shows is free and families are encouraged to bring everyone.

Hope to see you soon!