June 5, 2013
Family! So, I am over halfway through the mission. Crazy right? I thought that I would be going home in March of next year but this mission is on a different transfer cycle than others so I go home early in February. So WOW! It's bittersweet. But I still got a lot of time so I'm not worried about it. :)
I hope all is going well! This last Sunday was Night of Music and Inspiration (which I was producing/in charge of). So one rule is that Sisters and Elders cant sing together in the performances and also we cant practice all together until the day of. SOO thank you to the many years of theatre tech rehearsals, it was all under control and the practice ran smoothly. There were 6 songs total, 2 mormon messages and a photo slide show. Everything was going fine, then the storm outside started to pick up and the rain was loud with thunder. Suddenly the power went out then back on. We lost connection to the sound system and control of the lights 20 min before the performance was about to start. The senior couple missionaries were running around frantic as I sat in the audience having the slightest idea of what we should do. They called me over and asked me what I thought. One of the sisters suggested we could have the performance in the smaller theatre or in the upstairs lobby.....I got a really strong feeling and said lobby! So we rounded up the missionaries and explained the situation then we had them all grab as many chairs as we could find to put in the lobby facing the Temple. (Luckily it was pouring outside so the people were all still in traffic so we could get all of the seats out before they came). We moved the piano out and a podium and did it all with 5 min to spare. Then came the people. We had one of the biggest turn outs for night of music in a long time. About 200 people and they all fit! So as the program started we didn't have the videos so it was a good thing there were so many songs. One of which I played the Uke to the Lord is My Shepherd (Regina Spektor style) super cute. haha. The night was beautiful and intimate and the spirit was strong. The rain and temple were in the background while the missionaries were singing songs about life and how God loves us. Then as we were about to come to a close, we still had about 10 min and we had the idea to play the narration or Jesus Christ that we play near the statue of Christ. The words filled the room and after it was over complete silence. I looked around and so many of the peopel were crying. Then 3 sisters sang a song called Take it Home (with a cello = for you mom) and it was soooo good!!!
I am so grateful that even when everything fell apart, it came together again, even better than I ever thought it could be. It reminded me a lot of our experiences at AYT and how so many times seemingly bad things would happen but most times they turned out making the performance even better. Sunday was a miracle! And I had many comments that it was the best they had been to. I believe less and less in coincidences every day. I know that night touched many hearts, especially mine.
Love you all so much!!
Hermana Corrinne Clement
