Thursday was our usual temple and lesson day but also preparation for the two recitals we had this weekend. Might I say that we weren't nearly prepared enough . . .
After two classes at the Institute we left for San Cristobal for the first recital. We had asked the students to come an hour and a half early so we could go through the order of who was playing when and give them an opportunity to play on the church keyboard. Of course that should have been done last week but they hadn't even decided what they wanted to play by then. And when they arrived at the church some still changed what they were going to play so we decided not to use the program. Especially when one of the guys pointed out that we had left a girl off the program and I had the same man giving the opening and closing prayers! Talk about incompetence... Here's how they showed up:
Most in basketball shorts and levis and very casual clothing, I was startled. We hadn't told them what to wear assuming they would know - thank heavens before we started they one by one disappeared and came back in church clothes. So by time to start most had changed and were still practicing on the keyboards we had set up for them. The Bishop said he was expecting 100 people - this was at 7:00 when it was supposed to be starting and there were eight people there besides us and the students. We laughed! You need to take tranquilizers to work with these people! We sure love them though...
We took cookies from PriceMart and of course I wanted to get the refreshments all set up and ready for after the recital. Scott wouldn't let me get them out of the car because he didn't think there would be any left for the recital if anyone noticed they were there. And that is the way it is! So an hour after we were to start, we were setting up chairs. Bishop Polanco was hilarious - he was so worried about playing - as if he had time to practice. Finally began the meeting with about 10 people in attendance.
He's looking far more at ease than he was! Such a great guy.
Here they are all calm and collected... That was about as nervous as I have ever seen a Dominican.
These kids haven't been playing long enough to play very well with two hands but they did a good job. We promised another recital before we leave so they could play well - now that was insane!
And before the program was over there were over 60 people there. The Bishop was almost right. Guess he knows his people...
In every group there are one or two who really struggle but are determined to learn and do their best. Carolina was one of those. The Bishop had a keyboard he gave her to practice with the week before and she did and awesome job. I was so proud of her I just wanted to cry.
Then there are young boys like Luis, the Bishop's son, who are so quick to learn it is amazing.
It was so much fun to meet their parents and every other relative they had. They love to visit so after having ice cream brought by the Bishop for everyone, and our scrumptuos PriceMart cookies, we finally left to come home. What a wonderful time it turned out to be! Who would have guessed that at 7:00.
After two classes at the Institute we left for San Cristobal for the first recital. We had asked the students to come an hour and a half early so we could go through the order of who was playing when and give them an opportunity to play on the church keyboard. Of course that should have been done last week but they hadn't even decided what they wanted to play by then. And when they arrived at the church some still changed what they were going to play so we decided not to use the program. Especially when one of the guys pointed out that we had left a girl off the program and I had the same man giving the opening and closing prayers! Talk about incompetence... Here's how they showed up:
We took cookies from PriceMart and of course I wanted to get the refreshments all set up and ready for after the recital. Scott wouldn't let me get them out of the car because he didn't think there would be any left for the recital if anyone noticed they were there. And that is the way it is! So an hour after we were to start, we were setting up chairs. Bishop Polanco was hilarious - he was so worried about playing - as if he had time to practice. Finally began the meeting with about 10 people in attendance.
Here they are all calm and collected... That was about as nervous as I have ever seen a Dominican.
And before the program was over there were over 60 people there. The Bishop was almost right. Guess he knows his people...
Then there are young boys like Luis, the Bishop's son, who are so quick to learn it is amazing.
It was so much fun to meet their parents and every other relative they had. They love to visit so after having ice cream brought by the Bishop for everyone, and our scrumptuos PriceMart cookies, we finally left to come home. What a wonderful time it turned out to be! Who would have guessed that at 7:00.
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