Days 3&4: Performances at Coquitlam
The morning after our performance at Maple Ridge, it was time to pack up. The Maple Ridge community was once again a large help, as they assisted with the entire clean-up effort. The kids then finally got to meet Rob, our bus driver who has been taking us all over Canada for the last three tours. Many of the boys wanted to meet him, since a few of them want to be bus drivers when they are older. After our traditional farewell song, it was off to Coquitlam.
The drive was not a long one, so when we arrived earlier than expected, we decided to have our lunch at and walk through the park that is beside Westwood Alliance Church. It was a little sad to see so many of the team be under the weather, as several team members seem to have caught some kind of bug before coming to Canada. The park and wildlife within seemed to lift everyone's spirits, as the kids were amused by the geese, squirrels and turtles that resided there.
Our time at Westwood Alliance would be different from our other stops, as we would not only do one full performance, but take part in four separate services at the church. We would also spend the night there, which the kids found exciting. After unpacking everything inside the church, the kids did some rehearsing before the church staff fed us supper. We would then be part of the Saturday night service, where the girls would perform the Lord's Prayer dance, and two testimonies would be read. The rest of the team would interact with the Church's Sunday school, which the kids greatly enjoyed. The atmosphere at the church was very different, as three of the four services were in Chinese (two in Cantonese, one in Mandarin), adding an additional language barrier to overcome but also a unique cultural exchange.
The performance was just as good as the one at Maple Ridge, and the first-time jitters had been largely worked out. There were no missed cues or mid-performance schedule changes, leading to a smooth presentation. What impressed me most was the kids ability to perform on a stage that was much smaller than the one at Maple Ridge, as some of the dances require maneuvers that could take the children right off the stage.
After the performance, we all prepared for sleep. I always find it amazing how little the kids require to get comfortable. Mats were provided for all of us to put our sleeping bags and pillows on, but some of the children were content to sleep directly on the floor. I, being the needy figure I am, slept on a couch upstairs. I was woken up by a female janitor, both of us startled by the other's appearance. From what I heard from the others, the night was uneventful, with the kids falling asleep rather quickly.
The next day saw us be part of three different services: one in Cantonese, one in English, and one in Mandarin. The girls performed their dance at all three services, while the adult testimonies rotated between the six adults. Srey Top's testimony had a moving moment, as the Mandarin translator became emotional when relaying her speech to the audience. Those not on duty once again assisted with the Sunday school program, playing games and teaching them the Stick Dance. After each service the congregation visited our market, where we saw some of the highest foot traffic of any tour performance. The amount of $100 bills handed to me was surprising. Once all the services were finished, we were treated to a delicious lunch by the church staff.
After lunch, it was time to pack up. This was more challenging than our time at Maple Ridge, as we did not have as many volunteers, but a few of the kids were lethargic from the aforementioned bug. After the packing was finished, we were treated by pastor Ray to ice cream in the park. Strawberry was by far the most popular flavor, with all but three of the kids choosing it. Once we said our goodbyes, it was time to go to Abbotsford.
Our destination at Abbotsford was Crossroads, a western-style restaurant owned by a Cambodian man who treats us to a free meal every tour. This meal was special to my mother and I, as we were joined by my sister, Kristie, her husband, Mike, and my three nephews, Ben, Luke and Jesse. I caught up with my family while the Cambodians enjoyed their meal. I was surprised to see how many orders of spaghetti there were, as I was not aware of the kids' fondness for it.
After our meal, we were picked up by our billets. Because we were picked up a little earlier than usual, everyone had more time to have fun at the houses they were staying at. I was more tired than expected and had an early night, but stories from the Cambodians this morning tell of trampolines, hikes, small dogs, and an adorable infant baby. Thankfully, many of the adults on the team were able to get photos of some of these events.
The next blog post will cover our stay at a camp. Before I end this post, I request prayer for the team, as the bug seems to be hitting some of the team harder than others. We would hate to have a compromised team for a performance.
God bless,
Adam Sylvester
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