Choir Tour Updates:

Audience in St. John's Demands an Encore

(The President's Page Blog is pleased Clement Morton and Rachel Slaunwhite have agreed to submit regular updates as CUC's choir tours and performs through eastern Canada.) 

  

Monday morning started off with us bouncing out of our sleeping bags and making our way to the basement of the church where we were greeted with cereal, toast and fruit as well as hot drinks for breakfast. As we ate our fill the conversation focused on whether or not we might get to take a shower that morning. Dr. Munroe had booked a local YMCA but it turned out that they were closed for a holiday. So, we unfortunately couldn't shower today. On the bright side, we were all looking forward to the events of the day.

The plan was to tour the St. John's area and that is exactly what we did. While the city is much too large to see in one day, we were able to see many things that were incredibly interesting.

We had a wonderful guide who took us to Cape Spear the most easterly point in North America.  There we saw military fortifications in the form of underground bunkers built to protect the entrance to the St. John's harbour from invasion, as well as the lighthouse which protects ships from being dashed against the jagged rocks of the coast.

We also visited Signal Hill, just across the bay from Cape Spear. It is the birthplace of the first transatlantic radio contact and is also where the Cabot Tower stands. Cabot Tower was built to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee as well as to mark the 400th anniversary of John Cabot's land fall.

As we left Signal Hill we made our way to a small fishing village called as Petty Harbour. This site has been occupied since 1598 making it one of the oldest European settlements in North America! As we walked along the docks the seagulls circled overhead and the fishermen busily went about preparing their crab pots for the season.

Lunchtime came and we were set free with coins in our pocket and smiles on our faces, as we went in search of some local cuisine. After we had filled our bellies we had free time to roam downtown St. John's and explore the many wonderful shops, which we all took great advantage of. I fear our suitcases will be bulging a slight bit larger than when we first arrived!

  

After our sightseeing we hurried back to the church, and like ravenous wolves we devoured a delicious meal of lasagna, salad and garlic bread that was prepared for us by some wonderful ladies from the St. John's Seventh-day Adventist Church.

As we ate, people began arriving for our concert.  As the church filled up we got changed and then made our way into the sanctuary, to sing praises to the Lord! As we finished the first half of our performance, members of our group who had stayed in Lacombe for graduation arrived and were able to join us while still in their travelling clothes! Together we sang the last song and exited but were called back to sing an encore, so we sang "Joy in the Morning" a second time which was followed by much applause.

 

 As the activities of the day catch up with us, fatigue starts to set in and we look to the families of St. John's to take us in for the night, which they do with open arms. Rest, oh sweet rest, has never felt so good.

  

Until tomorrow, God bless you all and thank you for your prayers.