2/24/2013 Oriental Piano Recital

     We had no power when we got home last night so didn't get blogging done for the day. Saturdays are such busy days!  After the first two lessons that have taken all morning - we are ready to go home and rest but that doesn't happen.  At La Caleta we found a couple of ways to help the kids reach the keyboards:

The first one was the stand that went behind the pulpit for the bishop. etc to set on. Scott had them help him move it down and so they could set higher to play the keyboards.  Worked really well!  The next was a bunch of hymn books that actually didn't work quite as well since the kid with the grey shirt ended up on the floor.  But" whatever works" is the key to working here! 
   At the Los Molinos ward we didn't have enough tables so we improvised by using chairs for tables and getting the little chairs from the Primary room to get them at a better level to play.

  Then we got to Hainamosa where there was no power again.  We started a new class there a month ago.  Each week we have new students.  This week we had 17 students - 3 were members of the church.  The problem with that is this program is set up to help members learn to play so they can help their wards.  So what do you do?  We couldn't have our second class because there was no power to play the keyboards.  Scott was so frustrated.  It's so nice not to be in charge.......We will have to get ahold of the stake president and see what he wants to do.  At least we were home before dark!
  Today we went to Sarah's going away meeting instead of taking the little kids to church.  Katty has the flu and has been really sick.  You never quite know what to expect here.  Pres. Sivac and his wife were at the meeting and actually took all of the time.  Sarah and some guy sang a number.  She has a very nice voice.  Just love that girl!  She will make an awesome missionary.  Then we came home and had lunch and got everything ready to take to San Cristobal and Oriental for the recital.  By the time all of the students arrived we only had 45 minutes before we had to leave for Oriental.
   Our first recital - a learning experience!  How kind the Lord is to help the kids learn even though we don't even resemble music teachers.  However you would never know that if you listened to Scott teach!  When we got there a few of the students had decided they wanted to do the recital in the Chapel on the piano/organ.  Others didn't like that idea so we took a keyboard in and set it up.  Well I had never played this piano and I was to play the opening and closing song.  What a wash..  The sound of the piano was weird and the organ was much worse.  It completely threw me off.  Should have had Scott play!  The kids did pretty well though.  The whole stake presidency was there along with parents, relatives and friends so it was a nice crowd.
  Gathering for a prayer:

Picture with the stake presidency:

   It is great to have that over - just sad that we won't see these kids anymore.  We are starting another class next Sunday there.  It was interesting that when the stake president handed them their graduation certificates, their parents came up on the stand to have their picture taken.  I have never seen people who like their picture taken as much as these Dominicans do!  It was great for us though.  Now we will get them developed and see if we can find some way to get them to the kids.  At the end of this day we are relieved and now know what to expect from a piano recital here.