Joseph Woodruff—Idaho Falls, Idaho, Vocal Studies, Tenor II

Sickness swept the choir all week long, but it was particularly bad on this day. We had been spending too much time talking and many had begun to lose their voices. Consequently, e were given time in the morning to recuperate and do whatever we wanted. The extra time to sleep was more than needed for some. Others took the transit system over to the the Dragon Centre ahead of schedule to shop and have a hoot in the mall. Sone [Naunau] found an all new low price for ties: 18 for $260 HK, which comes down to about $1.5 US per tie. Several others went ahead of the group as well.

We all met up that afternoon to perform our second to last venue, however several members were too sick to perform. Teren [Taniuchi] and Tori [Silfverberg Simpson] were both too sick to be there, as well as others. During the performance, some of us had to go off stage and sit down. At one point, both the people on either side of me were down and out. All in all, the choir was hurting health wise. Many sought blessings, and our prayers were answered, more especially that evening at the concert.

Following more shopping and ice cream filled waffles, we traveled to Poly U and prepared for our show. Back stage, the bathrooms were generally packed with poor souls with the squirts. Sone fell ill and was missing from our rehearsal—no one knew where he'd gone. Later he said he could hear everything we said but didn't have the strength to get up and join us right away.

When it came time to perform, more blessings were given, and many promises of health were granted. Many, if not all of the choir was able to perform at their best ability. Sone, Mark [Serrao] and Teren were all very sick, but through the grace of our Lord, they danced as well as they ever had. Sone was able to get the rougher Hong Kong crowd to loosen up and have a good time. In fact, he was even able to get them to clap and cease clapping by raising and lowering his hands.

Following the concert, I asked Brother Johanson how it went. He said that it was the best yet here in Hong Kong. My heart was touched. There was nothing short of the divine help that would allow a choir as sick as we were and as vocally drained and tired as we had become to perform our best yet. The people I talked to had nothing but great comments. The director of the boys choir that sang with us was equally impressed and was very, very grateful that we could sing with her little ones. My feelings while talking with her are that she would be willing to have the exchange we had with her children again in a heart beat.

Following the concert, some of the choir went to the restaurant called the Modern Toilet. :) It is a place which uses see through toilets as chairs, squatters (eastern style toilets) for plates and other toilet paraphernalia for the various things you need at a fancy restaurant. Other choir members caroused the Lady's Market and several of us opted to eat some standard American food from McDonald's/ Burger King. Many searched for a way to spend all of their money. Seeing as we wouldn't have to be in the lobby till 12:45 the following afternoon, there was plenty of time to do whatever the heart desired.

All in all, we were richly blessed. As His servants, the Lord took extremely good care of us. In the words of my father, when the Lord wants something done right, it will happen. This day, we were able to represent His University well. I'm sure Hong Kong is the better for it.